Optical targets for machine vision vehicle service system
AssigneeHunter Engineering Company
InventorsDaniel R. Dorrance, Nicholas J. Colarelli, III, Timothy A. Strege, Thomas J. Golab, David A. Voeller, Mark S. Shylanski
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Abstract
An optical target for temporary application in non-determined placement on a surface of an object such as a vehicle wheel assembly within the field of view of an imaging sensor of a machine vision vehicle service system. The optical target consists of a flexible body which is relatively thin and generally flat, capable of conforming to the contours of a surface onto which it is secured in releasable manner by a means of adhesion. A set of visible optical elements are disposed on a front face of the target body for observation and imaging by the imaging sensors.
Claims17
An optical target for temporary application to a surface of a vehicle wheel assembly within a field of view of an imaging sensor of a machine vision vehicle service system, comprising:
- a generally planar body having a set of two-dimensional optical target elements disposed on an visible front surface, a rear surface of said generally planar body, opposite said front surface, adapted for direct adhesion in a non-determined placement onto the surface of the vehicle wheel assembly;
- and
- wherein said generally planar body is sufficiently flexible to temporarily conform to a contour of the surface of the vehicle wheel assembly.
A method for using an optical target with a machine vision vehicle service system having at least one imaging sensor for acquiring images of a surface of a vehicle wheel assembly consisting of a tire mounted to a vehicle wheel rim, within a field of view, comprising:
- providing at least one optical target, said optical target having a generally planar flexible body with a plurality of visible optical elements on a front face of said generally planar flexible body and a means for adhesion to a surface of the vehicle wheel assembly on a rear face of said generally planar flexible body;
- disposing said at least one optical target in a non-determined placement on the vehicle wheel assembly surface, said at least one optical target conforming to a contour of said vehicle wheel assembly surface at the placement position;
- acquiring, though said at least one imaging sensor, at least one image of the field of view including said visible optical elements;
- processing said acquired image to identify said visible optical elements and to determine measurement data associated therewith;
- and
- upon completion of image acquisition, removing said optical target from said surface of the vehicle wheel assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.