Device for measuring gap and step for vehicle, and system for measuring gap and step including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10228235-B2
Application number	US-201715631971-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2017
Priority date	Dec 14, 2016
Publication date	Mar 12, 2019
Grant date	Mar 12, 2019

Abstract

A device for measuring a gap and a step between two panels is disclosed. The device includes a laser radiating unit for emitting laser beam over a first panel and a second panel and in a first linear pattern across a gap between a first panel and a second panel. The device further includes a lighting unit for emitting a non-laser light beam over a first panel and a second panel and in a second linear pattern overlapping the first pattern across the gap between the first and the second panel. The system further comprises a camera for capturing images of the first linear pattern of laser and the second linear pattern of non-laser light projected over the first panel and the second panel. The system analyzes at least one image captured from the camera and estimates a width of the gap between the first and second panels.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for measuring a gap and a step, comprising:
a device for measuring the gap and the step, the device comprising:
a laser radiating unit disposed so as to radiate at least one straight laser to first and second panels and the gap formed between the first and second panels,
a light radiating unit configured to radiate light overlapping the straight laser radiated from the laser radiating unit, and
a camera disposed so as to detect the laser and the light, which are radiated to the first and second panels and the gap formed between the first and second panels by the laser radiating unit and the light radiating unit;

a robot, in which the device for measuring the gap and the step is installed in a front end of an arm of the robot;
a controller configured to control the robot to radiate laser and light along the gap between the first and second panels; and
a rotation module, which is configured to vary radiation angles of the laser and the light radiated by the device for measuring the gap and the step,
wherein the rotation module comprises:
a body, in which the device for measuring the gap and the step is installed and fixed, and which is disposed so as to be rotatable based on a rotation center part,
a rotation arm connected to one side of the body, and
a driver, which is configured to pull or push the rotation arm to enable the body to be rotated based on the rotation center part, and further configured to adjust a radiation angle of the laser or the light radiated from the laser radiating unit and the light radiating unit,

wherein the driver comprises:
a motor that is a rotation force source,
a pinion gear connected with an output axis of the motor,
a rod, in which a rack gear circumscribing with the pinion gear is formed, and
a pin, which is fixed to one side of the rod, and passes through an end portion of the rotation arm.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the controller, which is configured to analyze an image detected by the camera, and further configured to extract shapes of the first and second panels and characteristics of the gap and the step formed between the first and second panels.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein:
the controller is configured to calculate the gap and the step formed between the first and second panels in numerical values.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a display device, which is configured to display the shapes of the first and second panels, and the gap and the step formed between the first and second panels.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the controller is configured to cause radiation of the laser and the light to the first and second panels and a set area, in which the gap is formed, and further configured to correct a position characteristic of the arm of the robot so that a direction, in which the gap is formed, and a direction, in which the laser or the light is formed, have a predetermined angle.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the rotation arm is formed with a slot, through which a pin passes through and which is formed in a longitudinal direction of the rotation arm.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a return elastic member, which is disposed at a rear side of the rod so as to elastically support a rear end of the rod; and
a tension adjusting cap, which is disposed so as to adjust compression force of the elastic member.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the pinion gear is formed only in an area set in a rotation direction.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the controller is configured to receive shape data including the first and second panels, and is configured to control the robot according to the shape data to move the device for measuring the gap and the step along the gap between the first and second panels.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

• Park Sangkyu

Classifications

• B62D65/005 Primary

  Inspection and final control devices · CPC title

• G01B7/14

  for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures (G01B7/30 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01B9/02

  Interferometers · CPC title

• B62D65/00

  Designing, manufacturing, e.g. assembling, facilitating disassembly, or structurally modifying motor vehicles or trailers, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• H01S3/0933

  of a semiconductor, e.g. light emitting diode · CPC title