Method, system and program product for querying information about bolts of a vehicle

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method, system, and program product for querying information about bolts in an automobile. The method includes: in response to a user selecting a powertrain and chassis type of the automobile, displaying a first display interface, the first display interface including a first digital model view of the selected powertrain and chassis, the powertrain and chassis including one or more subsystems; in response to a user selecting one of the one or more subsystems on the first digital model view, displaying a second display interface, the second display interface including a second digital model view of the selected subsystem, the second display interface also including one or more marks at positions corresponding to one or more visible bolts in the selected subsystem on the second digital model view; and in response to a user selecting one of the one or more marks, displaying information about the bolt corresponding to the position of the selected mark.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of computer software, and in particular to a method, system, and program product for querying information about bolts of an automobile. Background Art

[0002] At present, with people's high-efficiency requirements for automobile function verification and problem analysis, various information links and software for querying automobile parts are widely used.

[0003] Bolts are the most commonly used parts in automobiles. Statistics show that each vehicle has nearly 3,000 bolts, each with a unique model and specifications. Each bolt must be installed accurately to ensure overall vehicle safety. Therefore, during production inspections, technicians must know the exact specifications of each bolt (such as torque information) to accurately install them. However, bolts in actual vehicles lack part numbers and specific specifications, creating complex tracking challenges for quality management, production repairs, and problem analysis and resolution specialists.

[0004] Conventional search tools only provide post-production part information. For parts used in small-batch verification and trial assembly, relevant information is unavailable. Information may include only pre-production part names, pre-production location information, actual vehicle 3D models, or component assembly locations. Traditional part information lookup processes are cumbersome, reducing efficiency during functional verification, repair, and problem analysis.

[0005] Therefore, there exists a need for a method and system that can quickly and efficiently find information about automotive bolts. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present disclosure provides a novel method and system for finding information about automobile bolts based on visualization of real vehicle component positions.

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a method for querying information about bolts of an automobile is provided, comprising: in response to a user's selection of a powertrain and chassis type of the automobile, displaying a first display interface, the first display interface including a first digital-model view of a selected type of powertrain and chassis, the powertrain and chassis including one or more subsystems; in response to a user's selection of one of the one or more subsystems on the first digital-model view, displaying a second display interface, the second display interface including a second digital-model view of the selected subsystem, the second display interface also including one or more marks on the second digital-model view at positions corresponding to one or more visible bolts in the selected subsystem; and in response to a user's selection of one of the one or more marks, displaying information about the bolt corresponding to the position of the selected mark.

[0008] Preferably, the selected subsystem includes multiple detachable components, and the second display interface includes respective digital model views of the multiple components, and the digital model view of each component includes one or more marks at positions corresponding to one or more visible bolts in the component.

[0009] Preferably, the first display interface can be switched between normal mode and enlarged mode, in which the first display interface displays a digital-analog view of the powertrain and chassis as a whole, and in enlarged mode, the first display interface displays a partially enlarged digital-analog view of the powertrain and chassis.

[0010] Preferably, the first display interface further includes an additional view, wherein the additional view is configured to display an enlarged digital model view of the component at the cursor position in real time as the cursor moves on the first digital model view.

[0011] Preferably, the information of the bolt includes torque, part number, performance description and position description.

[0012] Preferably, the one or more subsystems include an engine system, a gearbox system, an engine electronic system, a transmission system, a fuel tank system, an intake system, an exhaust system, a high-pressure system, a braking system, a steering system, a dynamic stability system, and front and rear axle systems.

[0013] Preferably, the information of the bolts is stored in a local database.

[0014] Preferably, the first digital-analog view and the second digital-analog view can be adjusted according to the resolution of the display.

[0015] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable medium is provided, on which computer-executable instructions are stored. When the computer-executable instructions are executed by one or more computing devices, the one or more computing devices are enabled to perform the aforementioned method.

[0016] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a computer system is provided, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, enable the at least one processor to execute the aforementioned method.

[0017] According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, a computer program product is provided, comprising program instructions, which, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to perform the aforementioned method.

[0018] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure.

[0020] The present disclosure can be more clearly understood from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0021] Figure 1 A flowchart of a method for searching information of automobile bolts according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0022] Figure 2 A diagram illustrating a user interface for selecting a powertrain and chassis type of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0023] Figure 3 A diagram of a user interface showing a digital model view of a powertrain and chassis of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0024] Figure 4 A diagram of a user interface showing a digital-model view of a powertrain and chassis of a car in a normal mode according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0025] Figure 5 A diagram illustrating a user interface showing a digital-model view of a powertrain and chassis of a vehicle in an enlarged mode according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0026] Figure 6 A diagram of a user interface showing a digital model view of a subsystem of a powertrain and chassis of an automobile according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0027] Figure 7 A diagram of a user interface showing a digital model view of a subsystem and information of a selected bolt according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0028] Figure 8 A diagram of a user interface showing a digital model view of a subsystem of a powertrain and chassis of an automobile according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0029] Figure 9 A comparison diagram of the digital model view displayed by the computer system and the actual vehicle is shown.

[0030] Figure 10 An exemplary configuration of a computing device in which embodiments according to the present invention may be implemented is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Details and functions that are not essential to the present invention are omitted so as not to obscure the understanding of the present invention.

[0032] Please note that like reference numbers and letters refer to like items in the figures, so once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be discussed in subsequent figures.

[0033] In the present disclosure, the terms "first," "second," etc. are used merely to distinguish between elements or steps, and are not intended to indicate temporal order, priority, or importance.

[0034] This invention proposes a method and system for quickly querying torque information for automotive components (e.g., bolts) based on visualization of actual vehicle component positions. This method and system can be implemented as a software tool that can be used in scenarios without an internet connection, such as testing grounds or off-road locations. By visualizing the digital model based on actual vehicle assembly, users, both experienced and inexperienced, can quickly and easily find the required part information, including torque, part number, and parameters.

[0035] Specifically, the present invention can display the digital model view of the powertrain and chassis of the whole vehicle by vehicle type, power type and / or chassis type, and the user can intuitively compare it with the real vehicle through the digital model view. The user selects the subsystem where the component to be found is located, and the system can display the digital model view of the subsystem selected by the user, and the bolt positions visible to the user on the digital model view are highlighted. The user can select the bolt position to be found, and the system can then display the information of the bolt corresponding to the selected bolt position. For complex parts, there is an enlarged view to see the contents of the view more clearly. For hidden parts, further searches can be conducted through the subsystem diagram of the part position or the associated parts, and through the digital model view of the real vehicle system of the subsystem to accurately find the component information to be found.

[0036] Parts information can be aggregated in a database and used without an internet connection, making it convenient for users to use it anytime and anywhere, regardless of geographical location.

[0037] As an example, the present invention may be implemented as a dedicated software program or APP on a terminal device, or may be integrated into another software system as a control or module.

[0038] The following combination Figure 1 Flowchart of the method and Figure 2-9 Various specific embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to user interface diagrams.

[0039] Figure 1 A flowchart showing a method for searching information of automobile bolts according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0040] In step S101, in response to a user's selection of a powertrain and chassis type for a car, a first display interface is displayed, wherein the first display interface includes a first digital-model view of the selected type of powertrain and chassis, wherein the powertrain and chassis include one or more subsystems.

[0041] Figure 2 FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a user interface 200 for selecting a powertrain and chassis type of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 As shown, when the software tool of the present invention is opened, the system will display multiple options classified by vehicle type, power type, and chassis type. Four types Type 1 to Type 4 are shown here as examples. For example, the power type may include 3-cylinder, 4-cylinder, 6-cylinder engines, front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, and four-wheel drive. Vehicle types may include sedans, SUVs, and even specific car series and models. Those skilled in the art should understand that the powertrain and chassis types are not limited to Figure 2 Rather than the four shown, there may be more or fewer types.

[0042] The user selects the type corresponding to the actual vehicle from the multiple powertrain and chassis types displayed. In response to the user's selection, the system may display the following Figure 3 A digital model of the car's powertrain and chassis is shown.

[0043] like Figure 3 As shown, the digital model view of the powertrain and chassis can include one or more subsystems. Typically, subsystems include the engine system, transmission system, engine electronic system, drive system, fuel tank system, intake system, exhaust system, high-pressure system, braking system, steering system, dynamic stability system, and front and rear axle systems. Figure 3 For simplicity, only the engine electronic system, steering system, dynamic stability system, braking system, wheels and tires are shown as examples. Those skilled in the art will understand the structure and position of various subsystems in the digital model of the powertrain and chassis.

[0044] The digital-analogue view of the powertrain and chassis can be switched between normal and enlarged modes. Figure 4 A diagram of a user interface showing a digital-model view of a powertrain and chassis of a car in a normal mode according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 5 A diagram illustrating a user interface showing a digital-model view of a powertrain and chassis of a vehicle in an enlarged mode according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0045] like Figure 4 As shown, in normal mode, a digital model view 401 of the powertrain and chassis as a whole is displayed. The display interface also includes an additional view 402, which is configured to display an enlarged digital model view of the component at the cursor position in real time as the cursor moves on the digital model view 401.

[0046] By clicking a specific button in normal mode, such as a zoom button, the user can switch to the zoom display mode, such as Figure 5 In the zoom mode, a partially enlarged digital model view 501 of the powertrain and chassis is displayed. The zoom mode display interface may also include an additional view 502, which is also configured to display a further enlarged digital model view of the component at the cursor position in real time as the cursor moves on the digital model view 501.

[0047] After displaying the digital model view of the powertrain and chassis, the user can select any subsystem displayed on the digital model view, such as the engine electronics system.

[0048] Return to Figure 1 In step S102, in response to a user selecting one of the one or more subsystems on the digital model view of the powertrain and chassis, a second display interface is displayed, wherein the second display interface includes a second digital model view of the selected subsystem, and the second display interface also includes one or more marks at positions on the second digital model view corresponding to one or more visible bolts in the selected subsystem.

[0049] Figure 6 A user interface diagram 600 is shown showing a digital model view of a subsystem of a powertrain and chassis of an automobile according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 This is a digital model view of a substructure of the engine electronic system. Figure 6 As shown, in addition to the digital model view of the subsystem, the user-visible bolts on the subsystem are also highlighted on the digital model view. The highlighting method can be highlighted in a specific color, flashing, or other methods that allow users to identify. Figure 6 The multiple black circles 601 represent the user-visible bolts displayed in a highlighted manner. These highlighted bolts are user-selectable.

[0050] A bolt information area 602 is also displayed below the digital model view. When the user does not select a specific bolt, the information area 602 is blank. When the user selects a specific bolt, the information area 602 can display the information of the bolt selected by the user. Figure 7 Descriptive.

[0051] Return Reference Figure 1In step S103 , in response to a user selecting one of the one or more marks, information of the bolt corresponding to the position of the selected mark is displayed.

[0052] Figure 7 FIG. 1 shows a user interface diagram showing a digital model view of a subsystem and information of a selected bolt according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 As shown, when the user selects a specific bolt from the plurality of bolts displayed in highlight, information of the selected bolt is displayed in the bolt information area 702 . Figure 7 The exemplary information of the bolt shown includes torque (Torque), part number (Part Nr.), parameter performance description (Description) and position description (Position). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that more or less information may be displayed.

[0053] When the subsystem structure is relatively simple and the user can see the internal structure at a glance, the digital model view of the subsystem can be directly displayed when the user selects the subsystem. When the subsystem structure is complex, including one or more components obscured by other components, the digital model view of each component after decomposition can be displayed when the user selects the subsystem, such as Figure 8 shown. Figure 8 A user interface diagram showing a digital model view of a subsystem of a powertrain and chassis of a vehicle according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 8 When the user selects Figure 1 When the black shell of the engine electronic system is used, since most of the components of the engine electronic system are blocked by the shell, when displaying the digital model view of the subsystem, the subsystem is split into three separate parts and their respective digital model views are displayed. Figure 6 and 7 Similar to the description, one or more visible bolts 801 in each component are also highlighted in the digital model view of the component. Figure 8 The black circle portion 801 on the three separate parts in the figure represents a visible bolt. Similarly, these highlighted marks are selectable. The user can click on them. When the user selects a mark, the information of the selected bolt can be displayed in the bolt information area 802 issued.

[0054] Figure 9 A comparison diagram of the digital model view displayed by the computer system and the actual vehicle is shown. Figure 9 The left side of the figure is the digital model view displayed by the computer system, and the right side is the actual vehicle view. By comparing the digital model view and the actual vehicle, users can easily and quickly query the corresponding bolt information, especially those bolts that are intuitively visible on both the digital model view and the actual vehicle, such as Figure 9The intake air flow sensor is shown. Since the intake air flow sensor is directly visible in the digital model view, by comparing the position of the digital model view and the actual vehicle, the corresponding bolts in the digital model view can be directly identified and clicked to obtain the bolt information.

[0055] If the bolt you're looking for is obscured by other components, there are various ways to locate its location and information on the digital-analog diagram. For example, experienced technicians can quickly find it by looking at the module where the bolt is located. For example, if a technician knows the bolt is located on the engine electronics system, which is located on the engine, they can find the engine on the digital-analog view, select the engine electronics system, find the oil level sensor on the digital-analog view of the engine electronics system, select the bolt, and obtain the bolt information.

[0056] Even inexperienced users can quickly locate the corresponding bolts and information using the method and system of the present invention. For example, they can search for bolts based on their actual vehicle locations on digital models of the powertrain and chassis. Alternatively, they can search across multiple subsystems based on bolt locations. Compared to traditional methods of blindly searching through bolt information tables or searching for part numbers followed by torque information, the present method is much faster and more efficient.

[0057] The digital and analog views can also be adjusted according to the resolution of the display.

[0058] To maintain the accuracy of the data in the database, bolt torque information can be updated or added as needed. Accordingly, the digital model view, vehicle model, etc. can also be updated or added.

[0059] As previously described, the present invention's method and system for querying automotive component information (e.g., bolts) based on visualization of actual vehicle component locations allows for quick and easy access to required component information, including torque, part number, and parameters. The present invention's method and system can be implemented as a software tool that can be used without an internet connection and is adaptable to various scenarios.

[0060] Furthermore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is not limited to automobile bolts, but can be used for other parts of an automobile.

[0061] Figure 101 shows an exemplary configuration of a computing device that can implement embodiments of the present invention. Computer system 1000 is an example of a hardware device to which the above-described aspects of the present invention can be applied. Computer system 1000 can be any machine configured to perform processing and / or computing. Computer system 1000 can be, but is not limited to, a workstation, a system, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a personal data assistant (PDA), a smartphone, an in-vehicle computer, or a combination thereof.

[0062] like Figure 10 As shown, computer system 1000 may include one or more components that may be connected or communicated with bus 1002 via one or more interfaces. Bus 1002 may include, but is not limited to, Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus. Computer system 1000 may include, for example, one or more processors 1004, one or more input devices 1006, and one or more output devices 10010. One or more processors 1004 may be any type of processor and may include, but is not limited to, one or more general-purpose processors or special-purpose processors (such as dedicated processing chips). Input device 1006 may be any type of input device capable of inputting information into a computing device and may include, but is not limited to, a mouse, keyboard, touch screen, microphone, and / or remote control. Output device 1008 may be any type of device capable of presenting information and may include, but is not limited to, a display, speakers, video / audio output terminals, vibrators, and / or printers.

[0063] The computer system 1000 may also include or be connected to a non-transitory storage device 1014, which may be any non-transitory storage device that can store data and may include, but is not limited to, a disk drive, an optical storage device, a solid-state memory, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape, or any other magnetic medium, a compact disk, or any other optical medium, a cache memory, and / or any other memory chip or module, and / or any other medium from which a computer can read data, instructions, and / or code. The computer system 1000 may also include a random access memory (RAM) 1010 and a read-only memory (ROM) 1012. The ROM 1012 may store programs, utilities, or processes to be executed in a non-volatile manner. The RAM 1010 may provide volatile data storage and store instructions related to the operation of the computer system 1000. The computer system 1000 may also include a network / bus interface 1016 coupled to the data link 10110. The network / bus interface 1016 may be any type of device or system capable of enabling communication with an external device and / or network, and may include but is not limited to a modem, a network card, an infrared communication device, a wireless communication device, and / or a chipset (such as Bluetooth TM equipment, 1302.11 equipment, WiFi equipment, WiMax equipment, cellular communication facilities, etc.).

[0064] The various aspects, embodiments, implementations or features of the aforementioned embodiments may be used alone or in any combination.The various aspects of the aforementioned embodiments may be implemented by software, hardware or a combination of hardware and software.

[0065] For example, the aforementioned embodiments may be embodied as computer-readable code on a computer-readable medium. A computer-readable medium is any data storage device that can store data that can thereafter be read by a computer system. Examples of computer-readable media include read-only memory, random access memory, CD-ROMs, DVDs, magnetic tapes, hard drives, solid-state drives, and optical data storage devices. The computer-readable medium may also be distributed among network-coupled computer systems so that the computer-readable code is stored and executed in a distributed manner.

[0066] Although some specific embodiments of the present invention have been shown in detail by examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the above examples are intended to be illustrative only and do not limit the scope of the present invention. It should be appreciated that some steps in the aforementioned method are not necessarily performed in the order shown in the diagram, but they can be performed simultaneously, in different orders, or in an overlapping manner. In addition, those skilled in the art can add some steps or omit some steps as needed. Some components in the aforementioned system are not necessarily arranged as shown in the diagram, and those skilled in the art can add some components or omit some components as needed. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the above embodiments can be modified without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for querying information about a bolt of a vehicle, comprising: In response to a user selecting a powertrain and chassis type for an automobile, displaying a first display interface including a first digital-model view of the selected type of powertrain and chassis, the powertrain and chassis including one or more subsystems; In response to a user selecting one of the one or more subsystems on the first digital model view, displaying a second display interface, wherein displaying the second display interface includes displaying a second digital model view of the selected subsystem and highlighting one or more marks at positions on the second digital model view corresponding to the one or more visible bolts in the selected subsystem; as well as In response to the user selecting one of the one or more marks on the second digital model view, information of the bolt corresponding to the position of the selected mark is displayed while continuing to display the second digital model view.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the selected subsystem includes multiple detachable parts, and the second display interface includes respective digital model views of the multiple parts, and the digital model view of each part includes one or more marks at positions corresponding to one or more visible bolts in the part.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first display interface is switchable between a normal mode and an enlarged mode, In normal mode, the first display interface displays a digital-analog view of the powertrain and chassis as a whole, and In the zoom mode, the first display interface displays a partially zoomed-in digital-analog view of the powertrain and chassis. 4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first display interface further comprises an additional view configured to display an enlarged digital model view of the component at a cursor position in real time as the cursor moves on the first digital model view.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the information of the bolt includes torque, part number, performance description, and position description.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more subsystems include an engine system, a transmission system, an engine electronic system, a drive system, a fuel tank system, an intake system, an exhaust system, a high-pressure system, a braking system, a steering system, a dynamic stability system, and a front and rear axle system. The method of claim 1 , wherein information of the bolt is stored in a local database. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first digital-analog view and the second digital-analog view are adjustable according to a resolution of a display.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to perform the method according to any one of claims 1-8.

10. A computer system, comprising: at least one processor; and At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, causing the at least one processor to perform the method according to any one of claims 1-8.

11. A computer program product comprising program instructions, which, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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