Vehicle headlight measurement system instrumentation structure

Abstract

A vehicle (9) headlight measurement system instrumentation structure (1) comprises: a support structure (3); a vehicle calibration assistance structure (4), which is carried by the support structure (3) and includes a headlight aiming device (40), configured to facilitate alignment or calibration of a headlight (90) of the vehicle (9), the vehicle (9) being positioned within a service area (8); a processing system (11) configured to receive, from the headlight aiming device (40), data correlated with a light beam emitted by the headlight (90) and to provide, through an interface (10), an informative indication relating to an operating condition of the headlight (90), where the processing system (11) includes a communication port (12) connectable to an electronic control unit (91) of the vehicle (9).

Claims

1. A headlight measurement system instrumentation structure for a vehicle, comprising: a support structure; a vehicle calibration assistance structure, which is mounted on the support structure and includes a headlight aiming device, configured to facilitate alignment or calibration of a headlight of the vehicle, the vehicle being positioned within a service area; a processing system configured to receive, from the headlight aiming device, data correlated with a light beam emitted by the headlight and to provide, through an interface, an informative indication relating to an operating condition of the headlight; a communication port which is connectable to an electronic control unit of the vehicle, wherein the processing system is further configured to: retrieve, from the electronic control unit of the vehicle, input data including information relating to faults or informative indications regarding the state of the vehicle; process the input data and generate drive signals; send the drive signals to the electronic control unit of the vehicle to control the headlight of the vehicle through the electronic control unit of the vehicle, wherein the headlight measurement system instrumentation structure further comprises: a positioning target element, having a surface provided with a predetermined graphical feature, the positioning target element being supported by the support structure and oriented in a forward direction towards the service area; a positioning device, configured for aiding a relative positioning between the vehicle, positioned in the service area, and the vehicle calibration assistance structure; wherein the processing system is operatively coupled to the positioning device to receive data therefrom.

2. The headlight measurement system instrumentation structure of claim 1, wherein the drive signals include a command to switch on the headlight or a part of the headlight, thereby instructing the electronic control unit to switch on the headlight or the part of the headlight.

3. The headlight measurement system instrumentation structure of claim 2, wherein the drive signals include a command to make the headlight or part of it perform a reference movement by instructing the electronic control unit to vary the orientation of the headlight according to a predetermined path in order to check a correct operation of the headlight or the part of the headlight.

4. The headlight measurement system instrumentation structure of claim 1, wherein the information relating to the faults includes a plurality of fault codes and wherein the processing system includes a matching logic for associating each fault code of the plurality of fault codes with a corresponding fault item.

5. The headlight measurement system instrumentation structure of claim 1, wherein the processing system is configured to generate a report document containing at least the input data and to send the report document to a printer or to an external network.

6. The headlight measurement system instrumentation structure of claim 1, wherein the communication port includes a wireless device connectable to the control unit of the vehicle.

7. The headlight measurement system instrumentation structure of claim 1, wherein the communication port includes a vehicle communication interface, VCI, which is connectable to the control unit of the vehicle.

8. The headlight measurement system instrumentation structure of claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit of the vehicle includes a memory unit connected to the processing system to store the information relating to the faults or informative indications regarding the state of the vehicle, and wherein the drive signals include one or more delete commands to delete from the memory unit one or more of the information items relating to the faults or informative indications regarding the state of the vehicle.

9. The headlight measurement system instrumentation structure of claim 1, wherein the processing system is programmed with instructions to process the data received from the positioning device to determine measurements including at least a spatial relationship between the vehicle calibration assistance structure and the vehicle, wherein the positioning device is spaced from the support structure and includes an optical device, oriented in a lateral direction to view graphical features of the vehicle, and a matching camera, oriented in a backward direction to view the positioning target element.

10. The headlight measurement system instrumentation structure of claim 9, wherein the optical device includes a first camera and a second camera, arranged in stereo configuration, the processing system being configured to derive a 3D representation of a vehicle portion viewed by the first camera and the second camera.

11. The headlight measurement system instrumentation structure of claim 1, wherein the vehicle calibration assistance structure, which is mounted on the support structure, includes a safety calibration device, configured to facilitate alignment or calibration of a safety system component of the vehicle.

12. A method for checking a headlight of a vehicle, comprising the following steps: capturing data correlated with a light beam emitted by the headlight of the vehicle positioned in a service area, this step being performed by a headlight aiming device; processing the data correlated with the light beam emitted by the headlight of the vehicle, the step of processing being performed in a processing system; sending to an interface an informative indication relating to an operating condition of the headlight; connecting the processing system to an electronic control unit of the vehicle through a communication port; receiving at the processing system input data retrieved by the electronic control unit of the vehicle, the input data including information relating to faults or informative indications regarding the state of the vehicle; in the processing system, processing the input data and generating drive signals; sending the drive signals to the electronic control unit of the vehicle to control the headlight of the vehicle through the electronic control unit of the vehicle, positioning between the vehicle, located in the service area, and the vehicle calibration assistance structure by means of a positioning device and a positioning target element, including a surface provided with a predetermined graphical feature, the positioning target element being supported by the support structure and oriented in a forward direction towards the service area.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the drive signals include a command to switch on the headlight or a part of it, thereby instructing the electronic control unit to switch on the headlight or the part of it.

14. The method of claim 12, comprising a step of generating a report document containing at least the input data and a step of sending the report document to a printer or to an external network.

15. A headlight measurement system instrumentation structure for a vehicle, comprising: a support structure; a vehicle calibration assistance structure, which is mounted on the support structure and includes a headlight aiming device, configured to facilitate alignment or calibration of a headlight of the vehicle, the vehicle being positioned within a service area; a processing system configured to receive, from the headlight aiming device, data correlated with a light beam emitted by the headlight and to provide, through an interface, an informative indication relating to an operating condition of the headlight; a communication port which is connectable to an electronic control unit of the vehicle, wherein the processing system is further configured to: retrieve, from the electronic control unit of the vehicle, input data including information relating to faults or informative indications regarding the state of the vehicle; process the input data and generate drive signals; send the drive signals to the electronic control unit of the vehicle to control the headlight of the vehicle through the electronic control unit of the vehicle, wherein the electronic control unit of the vehicle includes a memory unit connected to the processing system to store the information relating to the faults or informative indications regarding the state of the vehicle, wherein the drive signals include one or more delete commands to delete from the memory unit one or more of the information items relating to the faults or informative indications regarding the state of the vehicle.

16. The headlight measurement system instrumentation structure of claim 15, wherein for each type of fault or informative indication, the drive signals comprise a respective delete command configured to delete the respective fault or informative indication from the memory unit.

17. The headlight measurement system instrumentation structure of claim 15, wherein the drive signals include a delete all command to delete from the memory unit all the information items relating to the faults or informative indications regarding the state of the vehicle.

Description

(1) These and other features are more apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a headlight testing instrument system according to this disclosure;

(3) FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate respective embodiments of a vehicle calibration assistance structure of the headlight testing instrument system of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 4 illustrates a positioning device of the headlight testing instrument system of FIG. 1.

(5) With reference to this disclosure, the numeral 1 denotes a headlight measurement system instrumentation structure (or headlight testing instrument system) for a vehicle 9.

(6) The headlight testing instrument system 1 comprises a base unit 2. The base unit 2 comprises a plurality of wheels 20.

(7) The system 1 comprises a support structure 3. The support structure 3 is connected to the base unit 2.

(8) The system 1 comprises a vehicle calibration assistance structure 4. The vehicle calibration assistance structure 4 is mounted on the support structure 3.

(9) In an embodiment, the vehicle calibration assistance structure 4 includes a headlight aiming device 40. The headlight aiming device 40 includes an optic housing having one or more Fresnel lenses.

(10) In an embodiment, the vehicle calibration assistance structure 4 is removably attached to the support structure 3. In an embodiment, the vehicle calibration assistance structure 4 is slidable along the support structure 3 in a vertical direction V (parallel to the weight force).

(11) In an embodiment, the vehicle calibration assistance structure 4 includes a headlight aiming device configured to facilitate alignment or calibration of a headlight 90 of the vehicle 9. During the procedure, the vehicle 9 is positioned in a service area 8 and the support structure 3 is placed in front of the service area 8. The vehicle 9 comprises an electronic control unit 91.

(12) In an embodiment, the vehicle calibration assistance structure 4 includes a positioning target element 54. The positioning target element 54 includes a surface provided with a predetermined graphical feature. The positioning target element 54 is supported by the support structure 3. In an embodiment, the positioning target element 54 is connected to the headlight aiming device 40.

(13) The positioning target element is oriented in a forward D towards the service area 8.

(14) In an embodiment, the vehicle calibration assistance structure 4 includes a plurality of positioning target elements 54. For example, one positioning target element 54 might be connected to the support structure 3 and another positioning target element 54 might be connected to the headlight aiming device 40. In an embodiment, the mutual position between the positioning target element 54 and the headlight aiming device 40 is known beforehand.

(15) In an embodiment, the system 1 comprises a positioning device 5.

(16) The positioning device 5 is spaced from the support structure 3. The positioning device 5 is movable independently of the support structure 3.

(17) The positioning device 5 includes an optical device, oriented in lateral direction L to see graphical features of the vehicle 9 (for example, to see a wheel or targets fixed to the vehicle 9). The optical device includes a first camera 51 and a second camera 52. Preferably, the first camera 51 and the second camera 52 are connected in a stereo configuration. The first camera 51 and the second camera 52 are connected to the frame 50.

(18) The positioning device 5 includes a matching camera 53 oriented in a backward direction to see the positioning target element. The matching camera 53 is connected to the frame 50.

(19) The headlight testing instrument system 1 includes a processing system 11.

(20) The headlight testing instrument 1 system includes an operator interface 10. The operator interface 10 includes an input device and an output device. The operator interface may be on the support structure 3 or in proximity to the support structure 3 or on the positioning device 5.

(21) The processing system 11 is configured to receive, from the headlight aiming device 40, data correlated with a light beam emitted by the headlight 90 and to provide, through the interface 10, an informative indication relating to an operating condition of the headlight 90.

(22) The headlight testing instrument system 1 includes a communication port 12 which is connectable to the electronic control unit 91 of the vehicle 9.

(23) The processing system 11 is configured to receive input data from the electronic control unit 91 through the communication port 12. The input data include information relating to faults or informative indications regarding the state of the vehicle 9.

(24) The processing system 11 is configured to send drive signals to the electronic control unit 91 through the communication port 12 to control the headlight 90 through the electronic control unit 91.

(25) The processing system includes a processor.

(26) The processor may be positioned on the support structure 3 or in proximity to the support structure 3 or on the positioning device 5.

(27) The first camera, 51, the second camera 52 and the matching camera 53 are operatively connected to the processing system. The processing system is configured with logical components and software instructions to receive image data from the first camera 51, from the second camera 52 and from the matching camera 53, to process the image data and to identify the relative spatial positions of the surfaces viewed, such as, for example, optical targets mounted on the wheels or on other surfaces of the vehicle 9 (viewed by the first camera 51 and by the second camera 52) and the surface of the positioning target element 54 (viewed by the matching camera 53) and to determine a spatial correlation between the vehicle 9 and the positioning target element 54 (hence the support structure 3 and/or the headlight aiming device 40).

(28) In one embodiment, the positioning device 5 includes an operator interface connected to the processing system.

(29) In other embodiments, the positioning device 5 may be structured differently; for example, it may comprise a pair of arms connected to a vertical post (in one embodiment, forming part of the same support structure 3), configured to position the first and second cameras at positions where they can view graphical features or targets associated with the vehicle 9.

(30) In an embodiment, the vehicle calibration assistance structure 4 includes a carriage 43. The carriage 43 is movably connected to the support structure 3. The carriage 43 is slidable along the support structure 3 in the vertical direction V. The vehicle calibration assistance structure 4 is vertically movable along a portion of said support structure 3 by means of the carriage 43.

(31) The headlight aiming device 40 is mounted on the carriage 43. In an embodiment, the headlight aiming device 40 is removably mounted on the carriage 43. In an embodiment, the positioning target element 54 (or a target of the plurality of positioning target elements 54) is connected to the carriage 43. In an embodiment, the mutual position between the positioning target element 54 and the headlight aiming device 40 is known beforehand.

(32) In an embodiment, the operator interface 10 is positioned on the carriage 43.

(33) In an embodiment, the vehicle calibration assistance structure 4 includes an optical projection system 6. The optical projection system 6 is connected to (supported by) the support structure 3. The optical projection system 6 includes a laser emitter 60. The laser emitter 60 is configured to project a ray onto a surface in proximity to the headlight testing instrument system 1 (for example, onto the vehicle 9).

(34) In an embodiment, the system includes at least one safety calibration device connected to the support structure 3; in this case, there may be a first positioning target element 54 connected to the carriage 43 (or to the headlight aiming device 40), a second positioning target element 54 connected to the safety calibration device and (in one embodiment) a third positioning target element 54 connected to the support structure 3.

(35) In an embodiment, the safety calibration device includes a reflector configured to reflect electromagnetic waves to facilitate alignment or calibration of a radar sensor of the vehicle's safety system.

(36) In an embodiment, the safety calibration device includes a target panel 42 having a surface which faces the vehicle service area 8 and which bears an image providing a predetermined graphical feature to facilitate alignment or calibration of a camera or a LIDAR sensor of the vehicle 9.

(37) In an embodiment, the target panel 42 is mounted (removably or displaceably) on the support structure 3 in addition to the carriage 43 which the headlight aiming device is (removably or displaceably) connected to.