System and method for calibrating reference system for vehicle measurement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9903712-B2
Application number	US-201214007377-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 12, 2012
Priority date	Mar 29, 2011
Publication date	Feb 27, 2018
Grant date	Feb 27, 2018

Abstract

A measuring station system for calibrating a reference system for vehicle measurement has at least one image recording device, a calibration device having multiple calibration device reference features, and a calibration frame having at least three support points which are designed for accommodating a reference system carrier for the reference system to be calibrated. The calibration frame has at least three calibration frame reference features. The positions of the support points and of the calibration frame reference features in a shared coordinate system are known.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A measuring station system for calibrating a reference system for vehicle measurement, comprising:
at least one image recording device;
a calibration device having a plurality of surfaces that form a measuring space and having multiple calibration device reference features, wherein:
the plurality of surfaces includes at least three plates,
a first of the plates serves as a base plate that is horizontally disposed,
a second and a third of the plates serve as side plates that are oriented parallel to one another,
each of the second and third plates extends vertically from a plane of the base plate,
the measuring space is delimited by the side plates and the base plate, and
the references features are disposed on respective surfaces of the first, second, and third plates facing the measuring space; and

a calibration frame disposed in the measuring space and having (i) at least three support points configured for accommodating a reference system carrier for the reference system to be calibrated, and (ii) at least three calibration frame reference features, wherein the positions of the support points and the calibration frame reference features in a shared coordinate system are known.

2. The measuring station system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least three support points of the calibration frame are not situated on a shared straight line.

3. The measuring station system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the at least three calibration frame reference features are not situated on a shared straight line.

4. The measuring station system as recited in claim 3 , wherein the at least three calibration frame reference features are not situated in a shared plane.

5. The measuring station system as recited in claim 3 , wherein the at least one image recording device is an image recording device of the reference system.

6. The measuring station system as recited in claim 3 , wherein the calibration frame reference features are configured as at least one of (i) registration marks and (ii) locating holes.

7. The measuring station system as recited in claim 6 , wherein the calibration frame registration marks are configured to be at least one of (i) insertable into locating holes and (ii) adaptable to the support points.

8. A method for calibrating a reference system for vehicle measurement in a measuring station system which has at least one image recording device, a calibration device having multiple calibration device reference features, and a calibration frame having (i) at least three support points configured for accommodating a reference system carrier for the reference system to be calibrated, and (ii) at least three calibration frame reference features, wherein the positions of the support points and the calibration frame reference features in a coordinate system of the measuring station system are known, the method comprising:
introducing the calibration device and the calibration frame into the measuring station system by positioning the calibration frame onto a surface of a plurality of surfaces of the calibration device and into a measuring space of the calibration device, wherein:
the plurality of surfaces includes at least three plates,
a first of the plates serves as a base plate that is horizontally disposed and corresponds to the surface onto which the calibration frame is positioned,
a second and a third of the plates serve as side plates that are oriented parallel to one another,
each of the second and third plates extends vertically from a plane of the base plate,
the measuring space is delimited by the side plates and the base plate, and
the references features are disposed on respective surfaces of the first, second, and third plates facing the measuring space;

optically detecting the calibration device reference features, the calibration frame reference features, and the support points with the aid of the image recording device;
evaluating images taken by the optical detecting in order to determine coordinates of the calibration device reference features and coordinates of the calibration frame reference features, wherein a relative position of the calibration frame reference features and the support points is known;
introducing the reference system into the measuring station system by situating the reference system on the support points of the calibration frame; and
calibrating the reference system on the basis of the known relative position of the calibration frame reference features and the support points.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 , wherein registration marks are mounted on the support points, and wherein the registration marks are removed from the support points after the optical detection.

10. The method as recited in claim 8 , wherein a reference system carrier, the reference system to be calibrated, and the at least one image recording device are mounted on the support points.

11. The measuring station system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the reference features are disposed in a grid pattern on each one of the first, second, and third plates.

12. The measuring station system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the grid pattern includes more than two rows and more than two columns of reference features.

13. The measuring station system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the reference features disposed on the second and third plates respectively face one another.

14. The measuring station system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the references features are reflective.

15. The measuring station system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the reference features include incidental contrast patterns resulting from a texture of the first, second, and third plates.

16. The method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the reference features are disposed in a grid pattern on each one of the first, second, and third plates.

17. The method as recited in claim 16 , wherein the grid pattern includes more than two rows and more than two columns of reference features.

18. The method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the reference features disposed on the second and third plates respectively face one another.

19. The method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the references features are reflective.

20. The method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the reference features include incidental contrast patterns resulting from a texture of the first, second, and third plates.

21. The method as recited in claim 8 , further comprising determining three-dimensional coordinates of the reference features.

Assignees

• Pucnik Darko
• Wagmann Christian
• Backes Jochen
• Hodissen Sven
• Uffenkamp Volker
• Bosch Gmbh Robert

Inventors

• Pucnik Darko
• Wagmann Christian
• Backes Jochen
• Hodissen Sven
• Uffenkamp Volker

Classifications

• G01B21/042

  Calibration or calibration artifacts (G01B3/30, G01B9/02072 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01B2210/303

  fixed to the ground or to the measuring station · CPC title

• G01B11/275 Primary

  for testing wheel alignment · CPC title

• G01B2210/12

  Method or fixture for calibrating the wheel aligner · CPC title

• G01B21/02 Primary

  for measuring length, width, or thickness (G01B21/10 takes precedence) · CPC title