Hands free automotive service system

A voice control system for an automotive service system includes a microphone, through which a technician can communicate voice commands to an item of automotive service equipment within the automotive service system, a speech processor module for converting the voice commands into digital instructions which can be processed by a system controller and for converting data from the system controller into synthesized voice audio, and a speaker for communicating the synthesized voice audio to the technician. The system of the present invention may also include a pair of goggles incorporating a heads-up display which displays the data from the system controller by virtual image in the technician's forward field of vision without blocking his general forward field of view.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a system for operating automotive service 
equipment and, in particular, to an apparatus and method for operating 
such a system through voice commands, thus leaving the automotive service 
technician's hands free to effect adjustments on the vehicle. 
2. Description of Related Art 
Existing automotive service equipment, such as vehicle wheel aligners and 
balancers, often include computers to process data input by the technician 
or generated by sensors and display the results and additional information 
and instructions through video monitors. Since this equipment incorporates 
a considerable amount of computerized data processing, the automotive 
service technician is typically required to operate the equipment by means 
of a keyboard while viewing the monitor, which is usually mounted on a 
main console. The technician is therefore often required to direct much of 
his attention to the console and away from the vehicle being serviced. 
The introduction of a hand held remote control devices has reduced the need 
to use the keyboard as often, but still requires the technician to use his 
hands and direct his attention to a main console in order to operate the 
equipment. While remote displays have further reduced this requirement by 
displaying some of the information generated by the computer, they too 
must be hand carried and hand manipulated. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention disposes of the need for the technician to approach a 
main console to enter data through a keyboard and observe a central video 
monitor during operation of the automotive service equipment. It likewise 
requires no hand-held devices such as remote displays or controls. The 
technician may therefore service the vehicle more quickly and efficiently 
since his hands are free to work on the vehicle without the need to punch 
a keyboard or monitor a video console to operate the equipment. 
The system of the present invention enables the technician to operate the 
automotive service equipment through voice commands, and to receive data 
and instructions from the equipment through pre-recorded or synthesized 
voice audio. The system comprises a microphone, through which the 
technician can communicate the voice commands to the automotive service 
equipment, a speech processor module for converting the voice commands 
into digital instructions which can be processed by a central processing 
unit ("CPU") and for converting data from the CPU into pre-recorded or 
synthesized voice audio, and a speaker for communicating the pre-recorded 
or synthesized voice audio to the technician. The microphone and speaker 
are preferably housed in an audio headset which is worn by the technician. 
In addition, the headset is preferably connected to a radio frequency 
transceiver worn on the technician's belt which transmits and receives 
information to and from a corresponding transceiver connected to the 
speech processor module. For those that still wish to have a visual 
display of the data and instructions generated by the CPU, the system of 
the present invention may also include a pair of goggles incorporating a 
heads-up display which displays the information by virtual image in the 
technician's forward field of vision without blocking his general forward 
field of view. 
The system of the present invention can be used to control any type of 
automotive service equipment that includes or is controlled by a CPU, or 
any similar computer control means, such as wheel aligners, wheel 
balancers and vehicle lifts and jacks, or any combination of such 
equipment. 
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be 
made apparent from the following detailed description, with reference to 
the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The system of the present invention comprises several components which 
enable an automotive service technician to operate automotive service 
equipment through voice commands, and to receive data and instructions 
from the equipment through pre-recorded or synthesized voice audio, 
messages. The system can be used in combination with any item of 
automotive service equipment which comprises or is otherwise controlled by 
a central processing unit ("CPU"), or any similar computer control means, 
and can be used to control multiple items of automotive service equipment. 
Referring to FIG. 1, the automotive service equipment control system of the 
present invention is shown to comprise a microphone 10, through which the 
technician can communicate voice commands to a central console (not 
shown), and a speaker 12, through which data and instructions in the form 
of pre-recorded or synthesized voice audio are communicated from the 
console to the technician. Microphone 10 and speaker 12 are preferably 
mounted in a headset 14, such as the "DCNC" headset available from the 
David Clark Company of Worchester, Mass., which can be worn by the 
technician to thereby free up his hands so that he can make adjustments to 
the vehicle while operating the automotive service equipment. However, 
either microphone 10 or speaker 12, or both, may be mounted to other 
components, such as the console. The system also includes a transceiver 16 
for transmitting and receiving communications between headset 14 and the 
console. While transceiver 16 can be connected to the console by wire, it 
preferably is a wireless transmission means, such as a radio frequency 
transceiver of the type generally known in the art, which communicates 
with a corresponding transceiver 16a located in the console (FIG. 4). In 
this fashion, transceiver 16 can be worn on the belt so that the 
technician is free to move about the vehicle being serviced. 
The control system of the present invention also preferably includes a 
portable video display means, such as heads-up display goggles 20, which 
may display data and information received from the console via a wireless 
receiver 22, such as a radio frequency receiver, worn on the technician's 
belt. Receiver 22 communicates with a corresponding transmitter 22a 
located in the console (FIG. 4). Heads-up display goggles 20 may comprise 
an LED or an LCD display, but a suitable embodiment of goggles 20 is the 
"Virtual Vision Sport" portable television available from Virtual Vision, 
Inc. of Redmond Wash. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, heads-up display goggles 
20 contain the components of a video display 24 on a brow bar 26, and a 
reflective lens 28 mounted to a transparent goggle lens 30. The image 
generated by video display 24 is reflected off of lens 28 and appears as a 
virtual image projection 32 approximately five feet wide at a distance of 
eight to fifteen feet in front of the wearer. Outfitted with goggles 20, 
the technician is able to simultaneously view both the vehicle and the 
information and data received from the console. Thus, the technician is 
allowed to, for example, view information regarding a particular 
adjustment that needs to be made while at the same time perform the 
adjustment. 
Referring to FIG. 4, the control system of the present invention is shown 
combined with one possible configuration of an automotive service system. 
The automotive service system comprises several operational components, 
including a vehicle wheel aligner 34, which, as described more fully in 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,749 issued to Titsworth et al., includes four wheel 
mountable alignment heads 36 containing sensors for generating signals 
indicative of the orientation of each wheel. The automotive service system 
also comprises a vehicle lift or rack 38, which may include one or more 
jacks 40, and a wheel balancer 42. Aligner 34, rack 38 and balancer 42 
communicate with the console, indicated generally by reference number 44, 
through appropriate interfaces 46, 48 and 50, respectively, which may be, 
for example, either electrical wires, wireless radio or infrared 
transceivers, or fiber optics. 
Console 44 comprises a system bus 52 which is powered by a power supply 54. 
Power supply 54 also provides power for a number of functional modules, 
including a number of communications modules 56, each of which is disposed 
between system bus 52 and an item of automotive service equipment and 
operates to transmit data between the automotive service equipment and 
system bus 52, as described in applicant's co-pending U.S. patent 
application Ser. No. 07/817,250. A speech processor module 58 is disposed 
between system bus 52 and headset 14 and operates to provide data to the 
system bus in response to voice commands received by microphone 10 and to 
provide pre-recorded or synthesized voice audio to speaker 12 in response 
to data carried on system bus 52, as will be described. A video control 
module 60, which includes a video graphics array ("VGA") card such as the 
"VG 7700" card available from DFI, Inc. of Sacramento, Calif., is disposed 
between system bus 52 and heads-up display goggles 20 and operates to 
drive video display 24 so that data on system bus 52 may be displayed 
visually by goggles 20. A printer control module 62 is disposed between a 
digital input/output means 64, which in turn is coupled to system bus 52, 
and a printer 66 for providing data from system bus 52 in printed form. 
Each of the functional modules M include a controller. For example, each 
of communications modules 56 preferably includes a microprocessor such as 
the Siemans 80C535 microprocessor. 
A main CPU 68 is also connected to system bus 52 and provides overall 
control for the automotive service system by performing calculations and 
managing tasks. CPU 68 comprises a controller, such as the Intel 80386 
microprocessor. Although not necessary to the operation of the present 
invention, console 44 may also include a keyboard 70 and a disk drive 72 
through which vehicle specifications, instructions or the like may be 
communicated to CPU 68. In addition, the system may communicate with 
external systems through an interface 74. 
Speech processor module 58 preferably includes a voice command and speech 
processing card, such as the "Voice Master" Model PCKS-PO-310 card 
available from Covox inc. of Eugene, Or., which may be plugged directly 
into system bus 52. The speech processing card is provided with software 
to control the operation of the card and guide the operator through the 
initial steps required to create a database of digital signals and 
corresponding digital instructions required to operate the components of 
the automotive service system. In the voice recognition mode, the speech 
processing card converts the analog signals received from microphone 10 
through transceivers 16 and 16a into digital signals, which are then 
processed by a digital processor, such as the Motorola DSP 56002. The 
digital processor refines the digital signals and compares them to the 
digital signals in the database of digital instructions. When a match 
between the digital signals is found, CPU 68 transmits the corresponding 
digital instruction to the appropriate component of the automotive service 
system. In the voice generation mode, the speech processing card can 
generate audio signals by playing back pre-recorded voice messeges stored 
in memory through, for example, a compact disk player device (not shown). 
In an alternate embodiment, the speech processing card can be adapted to 
convert the digital data received from CPU 68 on system bus 52 into 
synthesized voice audio signals, which are then transmitted via 
transceivers 16a and 16 to speaker 12. In yet another embodiment, speech 
processor module 58 may comprise a separate sound output means, such as 
the "Speech Thing" Model STPC-PO-300, also available from Covox inc., for 
converting digital data received from CPU 68 into synthesized voice audio 
signals. In this manner, voice commands from the technician can be used to 
operate the automotive service system and information and data generated 
by the system can be presented to the technician through speaker 12. 
Accordingly, in operation of one embodiment of the present invention, the 
voice audio presented to the technician can effectively guide the 
technician in making adjustments to a vehicle component without requiring 
the technician to divert his attention to the console for presentation of 
visual information. For example, in operation of a vehicle wheel aligner, 
alignment values calculated from the measurements obtained from the 
sensors are compared to stored vehicle specifications, in a manner known 
to those skilled in the art. According to the present invention, the wheel 
aligner communicates the differences between the calculated and stored 
values to the technician via an appropriate voice audio message, such as a 
message indicating the magnitude and direction by which an alignment value 
is out of specification. By providing such voice audio messages, the wheel 
aligner effectively guides the technician in making any necessary 
adjustments to the vehicle in order to bring the alignment value within 
specification. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wheel 
aligner also guides the technician in making the actual adjustment, for 
example by providing a voice audio message identifying the vehicle 
component requiring adjustment and instructing the technician in how to 
effect the adjustment. In addition, the wheel aligner may also generate 
appropriate instructions to guide the technician through the alignment 
measurement procedure. 
In another embodiment of the invention, a telephone module 76 is connected 
to speech processor module 58. Telephone module 76 is a conventional PBX 
telephone system and allows the technician to make or receive telephone 
calls and pages through headset 14. In this embodiment, speech processor 
module 58 comprises means, such as hard-wired circuitry or software, to 
switch between telephone module 76 and system bus 52 in response to a 
voice command from the technician, for example when the technician wishes 
to make a call or page, or a signal from telephone module 76, for example 
when an incoming call is being received by telephone module 76. When an 
incoming call is being received, the switching means preferably enables 
the technician to either accept or refuse the call, depending on which 
voice command the technician uses. 
The control system of the present invention may also include a security 
system for permitting selective access to the system by only authorized 
technicians. The security system may be, for example, a program resident 
in speech processor module 58 which will allow only those persons who 
provide a predetermined verbal password to operate the system. Individual 
passwords may be required for different technicians and the passwords may 
be categorized to allow certain technicians to operate only certain items 
of automotive service equipment. This can prevent a technician from using 
a certain item of equipment before he has had the requisite training 
necessary to adequately operate the equipment. 
The following is an example of the operation of a automotive service system 
using the control system of the present invention, showing the sequence of 
commands relating to a vehicle wheel alignment. 
Technician: (Starts by turning on the console). 
System: "HELLO, GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR IDENTIFICATION." 
Technician: (Responds with name and address). 
System: "YOU ARE IDENTIFIED. IF AT ANY TIME YOU WISH TO HAVE ME REPEAT AN 
INSTRUCTION SAY, `REPEAT LAST INSTRUCTION`. YOUR FIRST OPTIONS ARE: `BEGIN 
ALIGNMENT`, `SET UP`, `LIBRARY`, `FILES`, AND `OTHER`. CHOOSE ONE." 
Technician: "BEGIN ALIGNMENT." 
System: "STATE IF THIS IS A NEW ALIGNMENT OR A CONTINUATION." 
Technician: "NEW ALIGNMENT." 
System: "YOUR OPTIONS ARE: `4 WHEEL`, `FRONT WHEEL`, `QUICK READINGS`, OR 
`DRIVER COMPLAINTS`. CHOOSE ONE." 
Technician: "4 WHEEL." 
System: "INSTALL VEHICLE ON LIFT AND MEASUREMENT HEADS ON WHEELS. LIFT 
COMMAND OPTIONS ARE: `RAISE`, `STOP`, AND `LOWER`. STATE THE WORD `LIFT` 
BEFORE `RAISE` OR `LOWER`. JACK COMMANDS ARE: `UP`, `DOWN`, AND `STOP`. 
STATE THE WORDS `FRONT JACK` OR `REAR JACK` BEFORE `UP` OR `DOWN`. SAY 
`RESUME ALIGNMENT` WHEN READY TO CONTINUE ALIGNMENT. YOU MAY PROCEED NOW." 
Technician: "LIFT, RAISE. STOP. (Installs heads). RESUME ALIGNMENT." 
System: "STATE VEHICLE MAKE." 
Technician: "FORD." 
System: "STATE VEHICLE YEAR." 
Technician: "93." 
System: "STATE VEHICLE MODEL." 
Technician: "T-BIRD." 
System: "I HAVE NO MATCH. TRY AGAIN; STATE VEHICLE MODEL." 
Technician: "THUNDERBIRD." 
System: "RAISE VEHICLE ON JACKS TO PERFORM RUNOUT. START AT ANY HEAD WITH 
WHEEL CLAMP LOCKING KNOB IN THE 9 O' CLOCK POSITION AND STATE WHICH HEAD, 
FOR EXAMPLE `RIGHT FRONT HEAD`." 
Technician: "FRONT JACK, UP. STOP. REAR JACK, UP. STOP. (Moves clamp so 
knob is at 9 O'clock). RIGHT FRONT HEAD." 
System: "9 O' CLOCK ACCEPTED. GO TO 3 O'CLOCK POSITION." 
Technician: (Moves clamp so knob is at 3 O'clock). 
System: "3 O'CLOCK ACCEPTED. GO TO 12 O'CLOCK POSITION." 
Technician: (Moves clamp so knob is at 12 O'clock). 
System: "RUNOUT TAKEN FOR RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. PROCEED TO NEXT WHEEL." 
Technician: (Repeats procedure on remaining heads). 
System: "RUNOUT PROCEDURE COMPLETE. LOWER WHEELS SO THEY ARE CENTERED ON 
THE TURN PLATES AND SLIP PLATES, BUT FIRST BE SURE THE LOCKING PINS ARE 
REMOVED FROM ALL PLATES. JOUNCE THE VEHICLE ON ITS SUSPENSION WHEN DOWN ON 
PLATES. THEN STATE, `RESUME ALIGNMENT`. YOU MAY PROCEED NOW." 
Technician: "REAR JACK, DOWN. STOP. FRONT JACK, DOWN. STOP. (Jounces 
vehicle to settle suspension). RESUME ALIGNMENT." 
System: "INSTALL PEDAL DEPRESSOR AND SAY `INSTALLED`." 
Technician: (Installs depressor). "INSTALLED." 
System: "LEVEL AND LOCK ALL HEADS AND SAY, `LEVELED AND LOCKED`." 
Technician: (Levels and locks all 4 heads). "LEVELED AND LOCKED." 
System: "LEFT REAR HEAD IS NOT LEVEL. LEVEL AND LOCK IT AND SAY, `LEVELED 
AND LOCKED`." 
Technician: (Levels and locks left rear head). "LEVELED AND LOCKED." 
System: "CENTER FRONT WHEELS BY TURNING WHEELS SLOWLY TO THE RIGHT UNTIL I 
SAY, `STOP`." 
Technician: (Turns wheels right slowly). 
System: "STOP. TURN FRONT WHEELS SLOWLY LEFT FOR 10 DEGREES UNTIL I SAY, 
`STOP`." 
Technician: (Turns front wheels left slowly). 
System: "Stop. TURN FURTHER LEFT SLOWLY." 
Technician: (Turns further left slowly). 
System: "STOP. TURN FRONT WHEELS SLOWLY RIGHT FOR 10 DEGREES UNTIL I SAY, 
`STOP`." 
Technician: (Turns front wheels right slowly). 
System: "STOP. TURN FURTHER RIGHT SLOWLY" 
Technician: (Turns further right slowly). 
System: "STOP. CENTER FRONT WHEELS BY TURNING LEFT SLOWLY." 
Technician: (Turns front wheels left slowly). 
System: "STOP. TO CONTINUE, RAISE THE LIFT SO YOU CAN WORK STANDING UNDER 
THE VEHICLE. SAY `RESUME ALIGNMENT` WHEN READY." 
Technician: "LEFT, RAISE. STOP. RESUME ALIGNMENT." 
System: "CONTINUE ALIGNMENT BY ADJUSTING LEFT REAR WHEEL FOR CAMBER BY 
LOOSENING THE UPPER CONTROL INNER PIVOT RETAINING BOLT, THEN ROTATE THE 
ECCENTRIC BOLT SLOWLY COUNTER-CLOCKWISE UNTIL I SAY, `STOP`." 
Technician: (Loosens pivot retaining bolt and rotates the eccentric CCW). 
System: "STOP. NOW RE-TIGHTEN THE INNER PIVOT RETAINING BOLT AND SAY, `BOLT 
TIGHT`." 
Technician: (Re-tightens bolt). "BOLT TIGHT." 
System: "CAMBER SETTING IS NOW MINUS 0.63 DEGREES ON LEFT REAR WHEEL AND 
WITHIN SPECIFICATION, REQUIRING NO FURTHER ADJUSTMENT. CAMBER SETTING FOR 
RIGHT REAR WHEEL IS MINUS 0.24 DEGREES AND WITHIN SPECIFICATION, REQUIRING 
NO ADJUSTMENT FOR CAMBER. REAR WHEELS NEED ADJUSTMENT IN TOE, SO ON THE 
RIGHT REAR WHEEL LOOSEN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM INNER PIVOT RETAINING BOLT 
AND ROTATE CAM BOLT CLOCKWISE UNTIL I SAY `STOP`." 
Technician: (Makes adjustment). 
System: "STOP. RE-TIGHTEN PIVOT BOLT AND SAY, `BOLT TIGHT`." 
Technician: (Re-tightens pivot bolt). "BOLT TIGHT." 
System: "ON THE LEFT REAR WHEEL, LOOSEN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM INNER PIVOT 
RETAINING BOLT AND ROTATE CAM BOLT COUNTER-CLOCKWISE UNTIL I SAY `STOP`." 
Technician: (Makes adjustment) 
System: "STOP. RE-TIGHTEN PIVOT BOLT AND SAY, `BOLT TIGHT`." 
Technician: (Re-tightens pivot bolt). "BOLT TIGHT." 
System: "TOE ON REAR WHEELS IS NOW POSITIVE 1/8 INCH AND WITHIN 
SPECIFICATION AND REQUIRES NO FURTHER ADJUSTMENT. LOWER THE LIFT AND START 
VEHICLE ENGINE AND WITH ENGINE RUNNING STEER THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE 
LEVEL POSITION. INSTALL THE STEERING WHEEL CLAMP TO HOLD THE STEERING 
WHEEL IN THE LEVEL POSITION. STOP THE ENGINE AND RAISE THE LIFT SO YOU CAN 
WORK STANDING UNDER THE VEHICLE. SAY, `RESUME ALIGNMENT` WHEN READY. YOU 
MAY PROCEED NOW." 
Technician: "LIFT, LOWER. STOP." (Starts engine, levels steering wheel, and 
stops engine). "LIFT, RAISE. STOP. RESUME ALIGNMENT." 
System: "THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL IS OUT OF SPECIFICATION IN CASTER AND SHOULD 
BE ADJUSTED. LOOSEN THE INSIDE STRUT ROD BUSHING RETAINER NUT 2 AND 1/2 
TURNS AND TIGHTEN TIM OUTER STRUT ROD BUSHING RETAINER NUT UNTIL IT IS 
TIGHT. THEN SAY, `NUT TIGHT`." 
Technician: (Makes adjustment). "NUT TIGHT." 
System: "THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL IS NOW POSITIVE 5.98 DEGREES IN CASTER AND IS 
WITHIN SPECIFICATION AND REQUIRES NO FURTHER ADJUSTMENT IN CASTER. THE 
LEFT FRONT WHEEL IS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT IN CAMBER AND SHOULD BE ADJUSTED. 
LOOSEN LOWER CONTROL ARM PIVOT RETAINING BOLT AND ROTATE CAM BOLT INWARD 
SLOWLY UNTIL I SAY, `STOP`." 
Technician: (Makes adjustment). 
System: "STOP. NOW RE-TIGHTEN PIVOT RETAINING BOLT AND SAY, `BOLT TIGHT`." 
Technician: (Tightens pivot retaining bolt). "BOLT TIGHT." 
System: "THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL IS NOW MINUS 1.05 DEGREES IN CAMBER AND 
WITHIN SPECIFICATION AND REQUIRES NO FURTHER ADJUSTMENT. THE RIGHT FRONT 
WHEEL IS WITHIN SPECIFICATION ON CASTER AND CAMBER AND REQUIRES NO 
ADJUSTMENT OF THESE. THE TOE OF THE FRONT WHEELS IS OUT OF SPECIFICATION 
AND SHOULD BE ADJUSTED. LOOSEN THE TIE ROD RETAINING JAM NUT ON THE RIGHT 
FRONT WHEEL TIE ROD AND ROTATE THE TIE ROD SLOWLY TO SHORTEN IT UNTIL I 
SAY, `STOP`." 
Technician: (Loosens nut and starts the tie rod rotation in the direction 
that would lengthen the adjustment). 
System: "STOP. WRONG DIRECTION. ROTATE IN THE OTHER DIRECTION." 
Technician: Rotates tie rod in the opposite direction). 
System: "STOP. NOW RE-TIGHTEN THE JAM NUT AND SAY, `NUT TIGHT`." 
Technician: (Tightens the nut). "NUT TIGHT." 
System: "LOOSEN THE TIE ROD RETAINING JAM NUT ON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL TIE 
ROD AND ROTATE THE TIE ROD SLOWLY TO SHORTEN IT UNTIL I SAY, `STOP`." 
Technician: (Loosens nut and rotates the tie rod). 
System: "STOP. RE-TIGHTEN THE JAM NUT AND SAY, `NUT TIGHT`." 
Technician: (Tightens nut). "NUT TIGHT." 
System: "TOE IS NOW ZERO AND WITHIN SPECIFICATION AND REQUIRES NO FURTHER 
ADJUSTMENT. YOU MAY LOWER LIFT AND REMOVE HEADS FROM THE WHEELS. ALIGNMENT 
IS COMPLETE." 
Technician: "LIFT, LOWER." (Removes and stows heads). 
It should be recognized that, while the present invention has been 
described in relation to the preferred embodiments thereof, those skilled 
in the art may develop a wide variation of structural details without 
departing from the principles of the invention. Therefore, the appended 
claims are to be construed to cover all equivalents falling within the 
true scope and spirit of the invention.