Snap-on Inc.

Snap-on Technologies, Inc.

Fmc Corporation

Patrick O'Mahony

David A Jackson

George Michael Gill

Michael J Robb

Manjula Gururaj

James L Dale, Jr

Eric F Bryan

Steve L Glickman

Norman H Johnson, Jr

Brian M Bliven

R Steven Brozovich

John C Brennan

Stephen P Ward

A vehicle interface device (VID) switches to a first vehicle data transmission mode (VDTM) from a prior VDTM based on a trigger for transmitting vehicle data messages (VDMs) and which VDMs have been requested at a vehicle data receptor (VDR). A decreased data transfer rate may result from selecting the first VDTM such that some portions of VDMs received while the VID is operating in the other VDTM are transmitted to the VDR from the VID and other portions of those VDMs are not transmitted to the VDR from the VID. An increased data transfer rate may result from selecting the first VDTM such that some portions of VDMs received while the VID is operating in the first VDTM are transmitted to the VDR from the VID whereas those same portions would not have been transmitted to the VDR from the VID if the VID was still operating in the prior VDTM.

Methods and systems for switching vehicle data transmission modes based on detecting a trigger and a request for a vehicle data message

A diagnostic system allows a service technician to diagnose a malfunction that occurs during operation of a wheel alignment system after the malfunction has occurred and is no longer apparent. The system, which includes one or more cameras for gathering images of the alignment, gathers information in real time about the alignment of a plurality of wheels. The images include reflections from a target mounted on each wheel, and a processing system in communication with the cameras receives the images and generates analysis data based on them, the analysis data providing an analysis of the alignment of the wheels. A memory device stores the images and the analysis data, and a storage control causes the memory device to store the images and the analysis data in response to activation of the storage control by the operator during the occurrence of the malfunction. A display device in communication with the memory device selectively displays the images and the analysis data, and a play-back control causes the display device to selectively display the images and the analysis data to the service technician in response to activation of the play-back control after the occurrence of the malfunction.

Diagnosing malfunctioning wheel alignment system

In a machine vision system utilizing computer processing of image data, an imaging module incorporates the image sensor as well as pre-processing circuitry, for example, for performing a background subtraction and/or a gradient calculation. The pre-processing circuitry may also compress the image information. The host computer receives the pre-processed image data and performs all other calculations necessary to complete the machine vision application, for example, to determine one or more wheel alignment parameters of a subject vehicle. In a disclosed example useful for wheel alignment, the module also includes illumination elements, and the module circuitry provides associated camera control. The background subtraction, gradient calculation and associated compression require simpler, less expensive circuitry than for typical image pre-processing boards. Yet, the pre-processing at the imaging module substantially reduces the processing burden on the host computer when compared to machine vision implementations using direct streaming of image data to the host computer.

Gradient calculating camera board

A position determination system comprises a data processing system, a first measuring module, and a second measuring module. Both of the measuring modules are coupled to the data processing system. The first measuring module includes a first sensing device for obtaining positional data of a first testing target. A calibration sensing device is rigidly linked to the first sensing device. The positional relationship between the first sensing device and the calibration target is known. The system has a rotation mechanism for rotating the sensing device of the first sensing device. The second measuring module includes a second sensing device for obtaining positional data of a second testing target. A calibration target is rigidly linked to the second sensing device, and is used with the calibration sensing device to obtain a positional relationship between the calibration target and the calibration sensing device. The positional relationship between the second sensing device and the calibration target is known. A rotation mechanism is provided for rotating the second sensing device. The data processing system provides a user interface for indicating the positions of the first and second sensing devices.

Self-calibrating position determination system and user interface

A position determination system comprises a first measuring apparatus and a second measuring apparatus. The first measuring apparatus includes a first sensing device having a sensing field for obtaining positional data of a first testing target, a calibration target rigidly linked to the first sensing device, wherein the positional relationship between the first sensing device and the calibration target is known. The system has a repositioning mechanism for repositioning the sensing field of the first sensing device. The second measuring apparatus includes a second sensing device having a sensing field for obtaining positional data of a second testing target, a calibration sensing device rigidly linked to the second sensing device for obtaining positional data of the calibration target, wherein the positional relationship between the second sensing device and the calibration sensing device is known, and a repositioning mechanism for repositioning the sensing field of the second sensing device. Depending on different needs, the repositioning mechanism readjust the viewing fields of the sensing devices such that the testing targets are properly within the sensing fields of the sensing devices.

Self-calibrating position determination system

An apparatus and methodology for diagnosing an alignment condition of a vehicle. The methodology includes determining an alignment condition of the vehicle using an apparatus set forth herein, and calculating a result corresponding to a difference between the determined alignment condition of the vehicle and specifications for a plurality of alignment conditions stored in a memory. The methodology further includes selecting one of a plurality of graphics stored in the memory, each corresponding to a value defined by the stored specifications, by determining the value to which the result corresponds, and outputting the selected one of the plurality of graphics.

Vehicle alignment condition measurement and display

In combination with a vehicle wheel aligner comprising at least one sensor for generating data indicative of the relative angular orientation of one or more wheels of a vehicle, a computer for calculating alignment values for the vehicle from the data and a video display for displaying the alignment values, the invention is the improvement comprising a digital memory for storing a plurality of vehicle attributes, a computer processor for causing two or more of the attributes to be displayed on the video display, an input device for allowing the operator to select the attributes relating to a subject vehicle, and a digital memory for storing the attributes relating to the subject vehicle which are selected by the operator, whereby a computer model of the subject vehicle is created.

Custom vehicle wheel aligner

A wheel alignment apparatus comprising eight sensors for measuring the toe angles of the wheels of a vehicle and a computer for calculating toe angle information from any six companion sensors and for comparing the toe angle information calculated using the six sensors with the toe angle information calculated using at least the remaining two sensors to determine if the wheel alignment apparatus is in calibration.

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

Patrick O'Mahony