Hunter Engineering Company

Timothy A Larson

Nicholas J Colarelli, Iii

Timothy A Strege

Daniel G Eberhart

James M Smith

Michael T Stieff

Michael Wayne Douglas

Daniel R Dorrance

David A Voeller

Daniel B January

John Kenneth Korte

Steven K Molbach

Blackford F Brauer

Steven F Johnson

William D Heine

Roger Butler

Ken Brookings

Christopher H Johnson

Theresa M Houska

Arthur J Blumenthal

Robert J Pfistor

Scott E McIntyre

Jason Smith

Mark Erdrich

Dennis D Bowen

Tom Kirkevold

Richard L Brandt

Methods for operating a vehicle inspection or measurement system to facilitate selection of specification sets associated with a vehicle undergoing inspection or measurement based on an evaluation of vehicle identifying features and acquired vehicle measurement.

Method for vehicle specification filtering in response to vehicle inspection results

A procedure for evaluating tire tread depth measurement data points acquired from a tread region on the surface of a tire in order to generate a representation of the tire tread region having an appearance of having been worn over time, so as to convey to a recipient a visual indication of potential tire tread wear at a point in time subsequent to the acquisition of the tire tread depth measurements.

Method for generating images of predicted tire tread wear

A vehicle wheel service system configured to present an operator with an interactive visual display of vehicle service system components and a virtual model of the actual wheel assembly undergoing service. The interactive visual display includes representations of various parameters associated with the wheel assembly and vehicle service system and enables virtual manipulation of the positional relationship of components such as imbalance correction weights and the tire relative to the vehicle wheel rim, providing a visual representation of the resulting effects on the parameters of the vehicle wheel assembly, and enables viewing of various real-time operations from a safe location away from moving components, as well as visualization of operations prior to implementation.

Visual display of vehicle wheel assembly for vehicle wheel service system

A method and apparatus for carrying out a set of vehicle inspections including, but not limited to, wheel alignment measurement, brake testing, tire tread depth measurement, tire pressure monitoring, vehicle battery testing, and a review of vehicle diagnostic trouble codes in an efficient manner using a multi-function vehicle service system and a single vehicle service bay or inspection lane. Results of the vehicle inspections are incorporated into customized reports generated for a customer or for a technician, and which may be utilized to obtain approval from the customer to conduct necessary repairs and/or provide beneficial vehicle services.

Vehicle service procedures

An intuitive and context sensitive system facilitating the proper identification and service of a vehicle undergoing a vehicle service procedure. The system is configured with a mapping of relevant vehicle identification assistance data or vehicle specific information to one or more selection locations in the user interface of a vehicle service software application. The mapping identifies the availability of additional vehicle identification assistance information, vehicle specific functional applets, and the context within the vehicle service software application at which the additional vehicle identification assistance information or vehicle specific functional applets are relevant. The additional vehicle identification assistance information or applets are maintained external to the vehicle service software application, permitting the additional vehicle identification assistance information and applets to be updated, changed, or replaced without altering the vehicle service software application.

Method and apparatus for assisted vehicle identification and service

An improved vehicle wheel alignment system includes at least one sensing device for acquiring automotive data, interface circuitry in communication with the sensing device for generating data representative of automotive data acquired by the sensing device, and a computer in communication with the interface circuitry. The computer is configured with an operating system adapted to provides one or more vehicle service or vehicle wheel alignment software applications with a protected operating environment, and which facilitates remote updating and servicing of the vehicle wheel alignment system.

Computerized wheel alignment system with improved stability and serviceability

A method and apparatus for guiding an operator in the alignment of the wheels of an automotive vehicle which has been either modified from a original manufacturer configuration, or for which no previously established alignment settings are known. Initially, the operator identifies known information about the vehicle and selects a desired characteristic of the vehicle for which the vehicle alignment is to be optimized. A set of initial alignment settings are presented to the operator, based upon the selected characteristic for the vehicle, and the vehicle alignment is adjusted thereto. One or more subsequent measurements of the vehicle are acquired. Alignment adjustments to further improve the selected characteristic, identified in response to the vehicle measurements are presented to the operator. The process of alignment adjustment, measurement, and presented adjustments is repeated until an optimal alignment setting for the selected characteristic is reached.

Methods for measuring alignment in customized vehicles

An apparatus and method for providing automotive vehicle information from a remote system to an automotive service device through a communications link wherein a first processor associated with the automotive service device is configured to obtain automotive vehicle information from a remote system over said communications link, the remote system configured to provide to the first processor an index identifying at least one set of automotive vehicle data available from said remote system such that the first processor can select and access at least one set of automotive vehicle data from the index for display at said automotive service device and for use in the service of an automotive vehicle.

Method and apparatus for update and acquisition of automotive vehicle specifications in automotive diagnostic equipment

A wheel alignment system including at least one sensing device for acquiring automotive data, interface circuitry in communication with the sensing device for transferring data representative of automotive data acquired by the sensing device, and a host computer in communication with the interface circuitry for performing a sequence of operations on the data transferred by the interface circuitry. The host computer provides integrated Internet access to allow for transmission to the vehicle wheel alignment system, from a remote server, via the Internet, updated information and software applications and components necessary to accurately diagnose a vehicle, and the return of diagnostic, statistical, and log information associated with the vehicle wheel alignment system. The host computer provides integrated Internet access to allow for transmission of electronic commerce and statistical information, alignment logs, error messages, status messages, or diagnostic information to a remote system, and for the receipt of information including updated software applications, diagnostic commands, and remote information queries therefrom.

Method and apparatus for networked wheel alignment communications and services

A wheel alignment system including at least one sensing device for acquiring automotive data, interface circuitry in communication with the sensing device for generating data representative of automotive data acquired by the sensing device, and a host computer in communication with the interface circuitry for performing a sequence of operations on the data generated by the interface circuitry. The host computer provides integrated Internet access to allow for transmission to the vehicle wheel alignment system, from a remote server, via the Internet, updated information and software applications and components necessary to accurately diagnose a vehicle, and the return of diagnostic, statistical, and log information associated with the vehicle wheel alignment system. The host computer provides integrated Internet access to allow for transmission of electronic commerce and statistical information, alignment logs, error messages, status messages, or diagnostic information to a remote system, and for the receipt of information including updated software applications, diagnostic commands, and remote information queries therefrom.

Method and apparatus for networked wheel alignment communications and service

An integrated automotive repair shop network is designed to greatly enhance the efficiency and quality of diagnostic and repair work performed in an automotive repair shop. The network employs a data entry terminal for the entry of routine customer information into a shop management system, including the identification of the vehicle to undergo diagnosis or repair. The shop management system is configured to generate an appropriate repair order. Computerized diagnostic and repair devices linked through the network to the shop management system are configured to access the customer information contained in the repair orders, as well as to extract relevant technical specifications, service bulletins, parts listings, and prior services records from interconnected information databases. Each computerized diagnostic and repair device provides updated information to the repair shop management system upon the completion of a diagnostic routine, enabling other computerized diagnostic and repair devices to access the most current vehicle parameters. Completed repair orders are stored in a customer information database for rapid retrieval and display of the prior work history for each vehicle serviced.

Integrated automotive service system and method

A three-dimensional wheel alignment display system (,) and method includes a processor (,) and display unit (,) interconnected with a motor vehicle wheel alignment system (,) adapted to determine vehicle wheel angular relationships such as camber, caster, and toe. The processor of the display system is configured to manipulate portions of a digital three-dimensional model (,) of at least one motor vehicle wheel and associated suspension components to correspond to the angular relationships determined by the wheel alignment system. The processor is further configured to interactively display a perspective image (,) of the digital three-dimensional model on a display screen (,), to continually update the perspective image as signals are received from the associated wheel alignment system representative of alterations to the angular relationships made by a technician, and to smoothly alter the interactive display of the perspective image to focus on a particular angular relationship of interest, or to view the overall wheel and suspension layout of the motor vehicle, response to user input commands.

Three-dimensional virtual view wheel alignment display system

A vehicle alignment and inspection system is provided which uses context sensitive information from several sources to enable the user/operator to achieve a more efficient alignment or inspection than previous systems. Features include digital photographs responsive to point-and-click operations by the operator, drop-down menus allowing direct access to specific operations, a database of tools and parts required for the job, and a 'smart' alignment procedure.

Context sensitive vehicle alignment and inspection system

A diagnostic vehicle alignment system includes an electronic controller for guiding a user through a series of diagnostic steps to determine probable causes for particular vehicle symptoms. Vehicle wheel alignment measuring instruments determine the alignment of at least one wheel of the vehicle. An input device is manually operable by a user for providing symptom identification and answers to diagnostic questions. A digital memory stores a set of possible causes for each selectable symptom and also stores diagnostic questions and an identification of diagnostic procedures. The stored diagnostic questions and procedures are preselected to eliminate possible causes of the selected symptom from consideration. A display is provided for displaying diagnostic questions and procedures to the user. The electronic controller is responsive to the selection of a particular symptom to cause the display to display diagnostic questions associated with that symptom to the user as well as the display of instructions to the user to perform diagnostic procedures, and the user uses the input device to interactively supply answers to the diagnostic questions and diagnostic procedure results to the electronic controller. The electronic controller is responsive to user provided input and to information from the vehicle wheel alignment measuring instruments to eliminate at least one possible cause of a symptom from consideration and identify any remaining possible causes of the symptom.

Growing community of inventors

Ferguson, MO, United States of America

Timothy A Larson