Wheel Alignment Diagnostic System Malfunction Replay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automotive wheel alignment systems are prone to malfunctions due to environmental disturbances and the complexity of their components, making it difficult for operators to diagnose and correct issues, especially when the malfunction is no longer observable by the time a technician arrives.
Innovation Solution
A diagnostic system that records and stores real-time data during malfunctions, allowing technicians to replay and analyze the data later to diagnose the issue, using cameras to gather images of wheel alignment, a processing system to generate analysis data, and a memory device to store and display this data for troubleshooting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If wheel alignment systems use sensitive measurement techniques and multiple cooperative components, then measurement precision is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to increased susceptibility to environmental disturbances and malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously collects and stores operational data before malfunctions occur, enabling retrospective analysis. The data collection mechanism is activated in advance and maintains readiness to capture malfunction events, allowing technicians to diagnose issues after they occur by reviewing previously stored data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback to technicians through stored operational data that can be reviewed after malfunctions occur. This feedback mechanism allows technicians to analyze what happened during malfunction events, understand the root causes, and prevent recurrence, thereby improving system reliability without sacrificing measurement precision.
2Ease of operation
If operators lack diagnostic skills and technicians cannot be present during malfunctions, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to inability to diagnose and correct issues timely
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-diagnosis by automatically collecting, storing, and making available operational data that enables technicians to diagnose malfunctions remotely. The system serves itself by preparing diagnostic information in advance, eliminating the need for technicians to be physically present during malfunction events while maintaining reliable diagnosis capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Stored operational data acts as an intermediary between the malfunction event and the technician's diagnosis. This intermediary carries the essential information about what happened during the malfunction, enabling technicians to diagnose and correct issues without being present at the time of the malfunction, thus maintaining both ease of operation and reliability.
3Reliability
If the system stores and replays real-time data for diagnostic purposes, then reliability is improved by enabling post-event analysis, but device complexity increases due to additional memory and data management components
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and stores only the essential operational data needed for diagnostic purposes, separating this functional requirement from the main alignment measurement functions. By taking out and storing specific data elements (operational parameters, timing information, component status) rather than all possible data, the system manages complexity while maintaining reliable post-event analysis capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables skilled technicians to diagnose and correct malfunctions even after they have occurred, reducing the need for costly component replacements by recreating the malfunction event through stored data analysis, thus improving the reliability and efficiency of wheel alignment system maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a light may be directed toward the targets with sufficient intensity to cause the targets' reflections to be detected by the optical sensor means
Data Source
AI summary
A diagnostic system allows a service technician to diagnose a malfunction that occurs during operation of a wheel alignment system after the malfunction has occurred and is no longer apparent. The system, which includes one or more cameras for gathering images of the alignment, gathers information in real time about the alignment of a plurality of wheels. The images include reflections from a target mounted on each wheel, and a processing system in communication with the cameras receives the images and generates analysis data based on them, the analysis data providing an analysis of the alignment of the wheels. A memory device stores the images and the analysis data, and a storage control causes the memory device to store the images and the analysis data in response to activation of the storage control by the operator during the occurrence of the malfunction. A display device in communication with the memory device selectively displays the images and the analysis data, and a play-back control causes the display device to selectively display the images and the analysis data to the service technician in response to activation of the play-back control after the occurrence of the malfunction.