James Rodney Harrell

US Patent:

20210387637, Dec 16, 2021

Filed:

Jun 15, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/347896

Inventors:

- Kenosha WI, US
David A. JACKSON - Point Roberts WA, US
Eric R. SELLERS - Conway AR, US
Ronald D. SWAYNE - Sherwood AR, US
James Rodney HARRELL - Greenbrier AR, US
Chance ROBINSON - North Little Rock AR, US
Robert J. D'AGOSTINO - Conway AR, US

Assignee:

Snap-On Incorporated - Kenosha WI

International Classification:

B60W 60/00
H04W 4/48

Abstract:

Systems and methods are disclosed for calibrating and aligning automotive sensors, such as advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) sensors. Embodiments include a system having an image sensor mounted on a fixture in a known pose relative to the fixture. The image sensor is for viewing a target disposed on a vehicle and having a known pose relative to the vehicle, and for capturing image data of the target. A data processor is provided for performing the steps of calculating, using the image data, a pose of the target; calculating a pose of the image sensor relative to the vehicle using the calculated pose of the target; and generating instructions for positioning the fixture at a predetermined pose relative to the vehicle using the calculated pose of the image sensor relative to the vehicle.

US Patent:

20210319586, Oct 14, 2021

Filed:

Jun 25, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/358555

Inventors:

- Kenosha WI, US
David A. JACKSON - Point Roberts WA, US
Eric R. SELLERS - Conway AR, US
Ronald D. SWAYNE - Sherwood AR, US
James Rodney HARRELL - Greenbrier AR, US
Chance ROBINSON - North Little Rock AR, US
Robert J. D'AGOSTINO - Conway AR, US

Assignee:

Snap-On Incorporated - Kenosha WI

International Classification:

G06T 7/73
G01B 11/275
G06T 7/60
H04N 5/247

Abstract:

A vehicle wheel alignment system includes a pair of wheel mounted targets, a pair of reference targets mounted to a stationary reference, a pair of gravity sensors, and a pair of vehicle-mounted active heads mounted on first and second sides of the vehicle. The active heads each have an image sensor for producing image data of one of the reference targets and one of the wheel mounted targets. The gravity sensors are disposed on each side of the vehicle in a known relationship to either the respective reference targets or the image sensors. A data processor calculates, using the image data, a plurality of poses of the wheel mounted targets as the vehicle wheels rotate; calculates a vehicle drive direction using the target poses and a measured orientation relative to gravity from the gravity sensors; and calculates a wheel alignment measurement using the vehicle drive direction.

US Patent:

20200158501, May 21, 2020

Filed:

Jan 14, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/742241

Inventors:

James Rodney Harrell - Greenbrier AR, US
David A. Jackson - Point Roberts WA, US
George M. Gill - Conway AR, US
Brian K. Gray - Conway AR, US

International Classification:

G01B 11/275
G07C 5/08
G06K 9/00
G01B 11/14
B60R 1/00
G06T 7/73

Abstract:

Methods and systems measure a vehicle body parameter; e.g., a wheel alignment parameter such as ride height. Embodiments include a system having a target attachable to a vehicle body, and an image sensor for viewing the target and capturing image data thereof. A processor processes the image data, determines an initial spatial position of the target based on the processed image data, compares the initial spatial position of the target with a reference position, and prompts a user to align the target to an adjusted spatial position when the initial spatial position differs from the reference position more than a threshold amount. The vehicle body parameter value is determined based on the target's adjusted spatial position. In certain embodiments, the adjusted spatial position differs from the reference position by a position error value, and the processor mathematically corrects the vehicle body parameter value based on the position error value.

US Patent:

20200088515, Mar 19, 2020

Filed:

Sep 13, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/570583

Inventors:

- Kenosha WI, US
David A. Jackson - Point Roberts WA, US
Eric R. Sellers - Conway AR, US
Ronald D. Swayne - Sherwood AR, US
James Rodney Harrell - Greenbrier AR, US
Chance Robinson - North Little Rock AR, US
Robert J. D'Agostino - Conway AR, US
Adam C. Brown - Maumelle AR, US

International Classification:

G01B 11/275
B60R 1/00
B60W 40/10

Abstract:

Vehicle alignment systems and methods are disclosed which operate based on a calculation of “drive direction,” or the direction in which a vehicle is moving. Since a vehicle can be assumed to be a rigid body, each wheel has the same drive direction. Consequently, an alignment parameter of one wheel can be compared to the same parameter of another wheel by equating their drive direction, eliminating the need for the aligner to “see” both sides of the vehicle at the same time. Embodiments include a system having one or more cameras on a fixture carrying a calibration element for an ADAS system, and one or more targets placed on the vehicle to measure the drive direction of the vehicle. The drive direction is assumed to be parallel to the vehicle thrust line and can be used as the line for orientation of the fixture to the vehicle.

US Patent:

20200041266, Feb 6, 2020

Filed:

Sep 30, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/587702

Inventors:

- Kenosha WI, US
David A. Jackson - Point Roberts WA, US
Adam C. Brown - Maumelle AR, US
Ronald D. Swayne - Sherwood AR, US
Brian K. Gray - Conway AR, US
Bryan C. Minor - Conway AR, US
James Rodney Harrell - Greenbrier AR, US

International Classification:

G01B 11/275
G06T 7/60
G06T 7/73
B60R 11/04
G06K 9/00
H04N 5/247
B60S 5/00
G06T 7/00
H04N 7/18

Abstract:

A portable vehicle alignment system has a vertical central column with a carriage movable along its length, and a pair of camera arms pivotably attached to the carriage, each with a camera pod. The camera pods each have a camera for capturing image data of a respective vehicle-mounted target. One pod also has a calibration target disposed in a known relationship to its camera, and the other pod has a calibration camera disposed in a known relationship to its camera for capturing images of the calibration target. The camera arms pivot between an extended position where the cameras are disposed to capture image data of the vehicle targets and the calibration camera is disposed to capture images of the calibration target, and a folded position where the aligner has a width smaller than the width between the camera pods.