Positioning assist device and positioning assist method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12583398-B2
Application number	US-202218282546-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 1, 2022
Priority date	Mar 19, 2021
Publication date	Mar 24, 2026
Grant date	Mar 24, 2026

Abstract

A positioning assist device includes a first fixator installed on a front wheel on one side of an automobile; a second fixator installed on a rear wheel on the same side of the automobile; a first connecting rod connected between the first fixator and the second fixator, wherein the vertical plane, where a center line in a lengthwise direction of the first connecting rod is located, is parallel to the center axis plane of the automobile; a second connecting rod arranged to be perpendicular to the first connecting rod; a horizontal reference rod which is installed on the second connecting rod and can rotate around the second connecting rod; and a laser device movably installed on the horizontal reference rod, wherein the horizontal angle, relative to the horizontal reference rod, of the laser device can be adjusted to be the angle, relative to the central axis surface of the automobile, of the energy receiving and transmitting surface for installing a radar assembly when the radar assembly to be installed is installed on one side of the automobile.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A positioning assist device, comprising:
a first fixator installed on a front wheel on one side of an automobile; a second fixator installed on a rear wheel on one side of the automobile, the first fixator and the second fixator being located on a same side of the automobile; a first connecting rod connected between the first fixator and the second fixator, wherein a vertical plane, where a center line in a lengthwise direction of the first connecting rod is located, is parallel to a center axis plane of the automobile; a second connecting rod disposed perpendicular to the first connecting rod; a horizontal reference rod installed on the second connecting rod and rotatable about the second connecting rod, wherein a horizontal plane, where the center line in the lengthwise direction of the horizontal reference rod is located, is perpendicular to the horizontal plane where the center line in the lengthwise direction of the first connecting rod is located; and a laser device movably installed on the horizontal reference rod, the laser device being used for emitting laser light downwards to form a laser line on an object located below the laser device, and a horizontal angle of the laser device relative to the first connecting rod being adjustable to be an angle, relative to the center axis plane of the automobile, of an energy receiving and transmitting surface of a radar assembly to be installed when the radar assembly to be installed is installed on one side of the automobile, wherein the horizontal angle of the laser device relative to the first connecting rod is the angle between a direction of the laser line emitted by the laser device and the center line along the lengthwise direction of the first connecting rod in the horizontal plane where the center line along the lengthwise direction of the first connecting rod is located.

2 . The positioning assist device according to claim 1 , wherein
the laser device is horizontally rotatable relative to the horizontal reference rod.

3 . The positioning assist device according to claim 2 , wherein
the laser device may slide along the center line in the lengthwise direction of the horizontal reference rod.

4 . The positioning assist device according to claim 3 , wherein
the positioning assist device further comprises a second locking mechanism for locking the laser device relative to the horizontal reference rod to limit a movement of the laser device relative to the horizontal reference rod.

5 . The positioning assist device according to claim 4 , wherein
the second locking mechanism comprises a locking plate, a second locking bolt, and a second locking nut, wherein the locking plate is fixed to the laser device, the locking plate is provided with an arc-shaped hole for the second locking bolt to pass through, the horizontal reference rod is provided with a sliding groove for the second locking bolt to pass through, and the second locking nut is used for cooperating with the second locking bolt after the second locking bolt passes through the arc-shaped hole and the sliding groove; wherein the second bolt can slide in an arc direction of the arc-shaped hole, and a sum of radians of the arc-shaped holes is greater than or equal to 180 degrees.

6 . The positioning assist device according to claim 5 , wherein
a sliding block is sleeved on the horizontal reference rod, the sliding block can slide along the lengthwise direction of the horizontal reference rod, a second via hole through which the second locking bolt passes is provided on the sliding block, and the second locking bolt cooperates with the second locking nut after passing through the arc-shaped hole, the second via hole, and the sliding groove; wherein when the second locking nut is tightened, the second locking nut abuts against the sliding block.

7 . The positioning assist device according to claim 5 , wherein
a second arc-shaped scale is provided on the arc-shaped hole, and a second reference indication line is provided on the second locking bolt.

8 . The positioning assist device according to claim 1 , wherein
the horizontal reference rod is slidable relative to the second connecting rod along the lengthwise direction of the second connecting rod.

9 . The positioning assist device according to claim 8 , wherein
the horizontal reference rod comprises a moving part and a rotating part extending vertically from the moving part, the moving part is sleeved on the second connecting rod, the moving part can slide relative to the second connecting rod along the lengthwise direction of the second connecting rod, the rotating part can rotate relative to the second connecting rod, and the laser device is movably installed on the rotating part.

10 . The positioning assist device according to claim 9 , wherein
the positioning assist device comprises a first locking mechanism, wherein the first locking mechanism can lock the horizontal reference rod relative to the second connecting rod to limit a movement of the horizontal reference rod relative to the second connecting rod.

11 . The positioning assist device according to claim 10 , wherein
the first locking mechanism comprises a locking ring, a first locking bolt, and a first locking nut; two ends of the locking ring are provided with a first via hole and a first through hole through which the first locking bolt passes, the first locking ring is sleeved on the moving part, and the first locking nut is used for cooperating with the first locking bolt after the first locking bolt passes through the first via hole and the first through hole.

12 . The positioning assist device according to claim 1 , wherein
at a junction of the horizontal reference rod and the second connecting rod, one of the horizontal reference rod and the second connecting rod is provided with a first arc-shaped scale, and the other is provided with a first reference indication line.

13 . The positioning assist device according to claim 1 , wherein
the first fixator comprises a first installation seat and two first claw assemblies, wherein the two first claw assemblies are clamped on a hub of the front wheel, the first installation seat is located at center positions of the two first claw assemblies, and a first end of the first fixing rod is installed on the first installation seat; the second fixator comprises a second installation seat and two second claw assemblies, wherein the second installation seat is located at the center positions of the two second claw assemblies, the two second claw assemblies are clamped to the hub of the rear wheel, and a second end of the first fixing rod is installed on the second installation seat.

14 . A positioning assist method, comprising the positioning assist device according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:
adjusting the first fixator and the second fixator to ensure that the vertical plane, where the center line in the lengthwise direction of the first connecting rod is located, is parallel to the center axis plane of the automobile; rotating the laser device until the direction of the laser line of a laser light emitted by the laser device on the horizontal reference rod is parallel to the center line of the lengthwise direction of the horizontal reference rod; rotating the horizontal reference rod until the direction of the laser line of the laser light emitted by the laser device on the first connecting rod is parallel to the center line of the lengthwise direction of the first connecting rod, and denoting this position as a zero point position; acquiring an installation angle and an

Assignees

• Autel Intelligent Tech Corp Ltd

Inventors

• Zhou Junyong

Classifications

• B60R2011/0052

  using screws, bolts, rivets or the like · CPC title

• B60R2011/004

  outside the vehicle · CPC title

• G01B11/27

  for testing the alignment of axes {(means for centering or aligning a light guide within a ferrule G02B6/3834)} · CPC title

• G01S7/4086

  in a calibrating environment, e.g. anechoic chamber · CPC title

• B60R2011/008

  Adjustable or movable supports · CPC title