Patent · US Active

Tear line 3D measurement apparatus and method

US9599457B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
2References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 9, 2014
Grant dateMar 21, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 8, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N13/221
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A non-destructive method of measuring tear lines formed in a surface of a resilient automotive trim panel configured for overlaying an inflatable safety device includes the steps of periodically selecting a trim panel for testing from a flow of in-process trim panels, mounting the selected trim panel to a mounting jig configured to support a region of the selected trim panel adjacent a tear line and to temporarily splay said selected trim panel to expose opposed edges forming at least a portion of the tear line, scanning a 3D image of the opposed edges, storing said 3D image as data in an associated processor, and removing the selected trim panel from the mounting jig. The mounting jig includes a base forming upwardly facing longitudinally elongated converging guide surfaces intersecting at a common apex, and a cover member forming downwardly facing longitudinally elongated converging support surfaces intersecting at a common apex.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.