Methods and devices for determining the permittivity of pigmented coating layers and the transmission loss of a coated component

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a computer-implemented methods for determining a permittivity of a pigmented coating layer being produced from a pigmented coating material and a respective computer program element, a computer-implemented method for determining at least one least one transmission and / or reflection property of a component and a respective computer program element, and a use of the computer-implemented methods within a process for repairing a substrate comprising a damaged coating containing at least one pigmented coating layer and / or within a process for recoating a coated substrate or a substrate having been coated with at least one coating layer, and / or within a process for coating an automotive part with at least one coating layer during a repair process.

Description

[0001] METHODS AND DEVICES FOR DETERMINING THE PERMITTIVITY OF PIGMENTED COATING LAYERS AND THE TRANSMISSION LOSS OF A COATED COMPONENT

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a computer-implemented method for determining a permittivity of a pigmented coating layer and a respective apparatus and computer program element, a computer- implemented method for determining at least one least one transmission and / or reflection property of a component and a respective apparatus and computer program element, and a use of the computer- implemented methods within processes for repairing a substrate comprising a damaged coating containing at least one pigmented coating layer, for recoating a coated substrate and / or for coating automotive parts.

[0004] TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

[0005] For improving automotive safety, sensors that measure distances and warn the driver if the automobile approaches an object have become a new standard. Such sensors may be provided at various parts of the vehicle, for example, behind the radiator grill, the bumper, and the like. The development of cars driving autonomously will further increase the need of having various sensors, such as radar sensitive sensors.

[0006] It is often desirable to conceal such sensors invisibly behind a trim part, for example a bumper of the vehicle, to reduce the negative impact of such sensors on the overall visual appearance of the vehicle. However, concealment of such sensors results in reduction of the range of the sensor and in a reduced performance of angle-resolving sensors due to reflection of the emitted sensor signal(s) on the trim part and / or due to absorption of the emitted sensor signal(s) by the coating layer(s) present on the trim part. The coated substrates used upon assembly of the vehicle to conceal sensors hence need to be tuned to reduce the reflection and absorption to achieve an increase in transmission, e.g. to lower transmission losses. Tuning may be achieved by varying the type of material in the substrate, the type of coating layers, the components in the coating layers, and the thickness of the coating layers all influencing the transmission.

[0007] Repair of damaged areas, recoating of vehicles and coating of vehicle parts during vehicle repair is normally performed with coating materials differing from the coating materials used during manufacturing of the vehicle and tuned to ensure sufficient sensor functions. For instance, such coating materials used during repair or recoating may contain different pigments or pigment concentrations than the ones used during manufacturing. Thus, it must be ensured that the repaired or recoated substrate or the coated vehicle part allows a sufficient performance of such sensors, e.g. the transmission of the repaired or recoated substrate or the coated vehicle part still has a sufficiently high transmission. Hence, there is a need to determine the permittivity of a pigmented coating layer as well as the transmission loss of a sensor signal reliably and efficiently through a component comprising a desired substrate and at least one desired pigmented coating layer during repair processes and recoating of coated substrates.

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In an aspect the disclosure relates to a computer-implemented method for determining a permittivity of a pigmented coating layer, wherein the pigmented coating layer is producible by applying a pigmented coating material to at least part of a surface of a component and wherein the pigmented coating material is preparable at least in part from one or more effect and / or solid color pigment formulation(s), the method comprising the steps of:

[0010] • providing data associated with the pigmented coating material,

[0011] • determining formulation data associated with the pigmented coating material based on the provided data associated with the pigmented coating material,

[0012] • gathering - based on the determined formulation data - pigment formulation permittivity data associated with the one or more effect and / or solid color pigment formulation(s), wherein the pigment formulation permittivity data is gathered from a storage environment containing pigment formulation permittivity data associated with a plurality of effect and solid color pigment formulations and respective concentrations,

[0013] • determining the permittivity of the pigmented coating layer based on the gathered pigment formulation permittivity data,

[0014] • optionally providing the determined permittivity of the pigmented coating layer.

[0015] In a further aspect the disclosure relates to a computer-implemented method for determining a permittivity of a pigmented coating layer, wherein the pigmented coating layer is producible by applying a pigmented coating material to at least part of a surface of a substrate and wherein the pigmented coating material is preparable at least in part from one or more effect and / or solid color pigment formulation(s), the method comprising the steps of:

[0016] • providing data associated with the pigmented coating material,

[0017] • providing the permittivity of the pigmented coating layer based on the provided data associated with the pigmented coating material, wherein the permittivity of the pigmented coating layer is provided from a storage environment containing a plurality of permittivities of pigmented coating layers and wherein the permittivity of each pigmented coating layer has been determined from pigment permittivity data associated with the one or more effect and / or solid color pigment formulation(s),

[0018] • optionally providing the determined permittivity of the pigmented coating layer.

[0019] In a further aspect the disclosure relates to an apparatus for determining a permittivity of a pigmented coating layer, wherein the pigmented coating layer is producible by applying a pigmented coating material to at least part of a surface of a substrate and wherein the pigmented coating material is preparable at least in part from one or more effect and / or solid color pigment formulation(s), the apparatus comprising one or more computing node, and one or more computer-readable media having thereon computerexecutable instructions which, when executed by the one or more computing node, configure the apparatus to perform the computer-implemented method for determining a permittivity of a pigmented coating layer as disclosed herein.

[0020] In a further aspect the disclosure relates to a computer-implemented method for determining at least one transmission and / or reflection property of a component, wherein the component comprises at least one desired substrate, at least one desired pigmented coating layer preparable from a pigmented coating material and optionally at least one further desired coating layer being different from the desired pigmented coating layer, the method comprising the steps of:

[0021] • providing data associated with the desired substrate,

[0022] • providing data associated with the desired at least one pigmented coating layer, wherein said data includes the permittivity of the at least one desired pigmented coating layer as determined according to the computer-implemented method for determining a permittivity of a pigmented coating layer as disclosed herein and layer thickness data of the at least one pigmented coating layer,

[0023] • optionally providing data associated with the at least one further desired coating layer,

[0024] • determining the at least one transmission and / or reflection property of the coated substrate based on the provided data associated with the desired substrate, data associated with the at least one desired pigmented coating layer and optionally the data associated with the at least one further desired coating layer.

[0025] In a further aspect the disclosure relates to a computer-implemented method for determining at least one transmission and / or reflection property of a component, wherein the component comprises at least one desired substrate, at least one desired pigmented coating layer preparable from a pigmented coating material and optionally at least one further desired coating layer being different from the desired pigmented coating layer, the method comprising the steps of:

[0026] • providing data associated with the desired substrate,

[0027] • determining the permittivity of each pigmented coating layer according to the computer-implemented method for determining a permittivity of a pigmented coating layer as disclosed herein,

[0028] • providing layer thickness data of the at least one pigmented coating layer,

[0029] • optionally providing data associated with the at least one further desired coating layer,

[0030] • determining the at least one transmission and / or reflection property of the coated substrate based on the provided data associated with the desired substrate, the determined permittivity of the at least one desired pigmented coating layer, the provided layer thickness data, and optionally the data associated with the at least one further desired coating layer.

[0031] In a further aspect the disclosure relates to an apparatus for determining at least one transmission and / or reflection property of a component, wherein the component comprises at least one desired substrate, at least one desired pigmented coating layer preparable from a pigmented coating material and optionally at least one further desired coating layer being different from the desired pigmented coating layer, the apparatus comprising one or more computing node(s), and one or more computer-readable media having thereon computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the one or more computing node(s), configure the apparatus to perform the computer-implemented method for determining at least one transmission and / or reflection property of a component as disclosed herein.

[0032] In a further aspect the disclosure relates to a use of the methods disclosed herein within a process for repairing a substrate comprising a damaged coating containing at least one pigmented coating layer and / or within a process for recoating a coated substrate or a substrate having been coated with at least one coating layer, and / or within a process for coating an automotive part with at least one coating layer

[0033] In a further aspect the disclosure relates to a computer element, such as a computer readable storage medium, a computer program or a computer program product, comprising instructions, which when executed by a computing node or a computing system, direct the computing node or computing system to carry out the steps of the methods as disclosed herein.

[0034] In a further aspect the disclosure relates to a computer element, such as a computer readable storage medium, a computer program or a computer program product, comprising instructions, which when executed by the apparatuses or systems as disclosed herein, direct these apparatuses or systems to carry out steps these apparatuses or systems are configured to execute.

[0035] In a further aspect the disclosure relates to a server device for determining a permittivity of a pigmented coating layer, wherein the pigmented coating layer is producible by applying a pigmented coating material to at least part of a surface of a substrate and wherein the pigmented coating material is preparable at least in part from one or more effect and / or solid color pigment formulation(s), wherein the server device is configured to receive a request including data associated with a pigmented coating material from a client device, and wherein the server device is configured to perform the computer-implemented method for determining the permittivity of a pigmented coating layer as disclosed herein in response to the request received from the client device.

[0036] In a further aspect, the disclosure relates to a server device for or determining at least one transmission and / or reflection property of a component, wherein the component comprises at least one desired substrate, at least one desired pigmented coating layer preparable from a pigmented coating material and optionally at least one further desired coating layer being different from the desired pigmented coating layer, wherein the server device is configured to receive a request including data associated with the desired substrate, data associated with the at least one desired pigmented coating layer or data associated with the pigmented coating material and layer thickness data of the pigmented coating layer, and optionally data associated with the at least one further desired coating layer from a client device, and wherein the server device is configured to perform the computer-implemented method for or determining at least one transmission and / or reflection property of a component as disclosed herein in response to the request received from the client device.

[0037] Any disclosure, embodiments and examples described herein relate to the methods, the uses, the server devices and computer elements lined out above and below. Advantageously, the benefits provided by any of the embodiments and examples equally apply to all other embodiments and examples.

[0038] Embodiments

[0039] The methods, apparatuses, uses, server devices and computer elements disclosed herein provide a reliable way for determining the permittivity of a pigmented coating layer prior to actually producing said coating layer from a pigmented coating material on the substrate. The permittivity of such theoretical pigmented coating layer may be determined using permittivities of pigment formulation(s) (also denoted as pigment pastes hereinafter) which may be used to produce the pigmented coating material. By using permittivities of such pigment pastes, the permittivity of any pigmented coating layer prepared from such pigment pastes in varying amounts based on a mixing formula defining the amounts of pigment pastes and further components can be reliably and efficiently determined. The mixing formula may be determined from a color matching process in which a sample coating material is determined based on a given reference coating, such as a coating to be repaired, such that the sample coating prepared from such sample coating material matches the appearance of the reference coating. The determined permittivity of the pigmented coating layer may be used to determine the transmission loss of a sensor signal, such as a radar signal, through a component comprising a desired substrate and at least one desired pigmented coating layer. The determined transmission loss may be compared to predefined threshold value(s) to ensure that the repair process of the coated substrate will not result in an insufficient performance of sensors mounted behind the repaired or recoated component. This also allows to screen pigmented coating materials during repair and recoating processes not only in terms of appearance but also with respect to the transmission loss resulting from the repair or recoating process and to select pigmented coating material(s) fulfilling specifications with respect to appearance as well as transmission loss. Hence, appearance as well as transmission loss of the component resulting from the repair or recoating process can be determined prior to actually performing said repair or recoating process, hence avoiding preparation of sample components and increasing the efficiency of the repair or recoating process. Moreover, reduced preparation of sample components allows to reduce material consumption and allows to perform the repair or recoat process in a more sustainable manner by avoiding the generation of waste (e.g. prepared sample coatings). Using a storage environment containing permittivities for a plurality of pigment formulations and associated concentrations allows to calculate the permittivity of the pigmented coating layer quickly and efficiently. Using a storage environment containing permittivities of a plurality of pigmented coating layers allows to calculate the transmission loss of a coated substrate comprising such a pigmented coating layer quickly and efficiently. Hence, pigmented coating materials identified as suitable pigmented coating materials within a repair or recoating process may be quickly screened with respect to the resulting transmission loss of the repaired or recoated vehicle to ensure a sufficient performance of sensor(s) mounted behind a repaired component after the refinish process or behind a recoated component after the recoating process.

[0040] It is an object of the present invention to determine the permittivity of a pigmented coating layer as well as the transmission loss of a sensor signal reliably and efficiently through a component comprising a desired substrate and at least one desired pigmented coating layer during repair processes and recoating of coated substrates.

[0041] These and other objects, which become apparent upon reading the following description, are solved by the subject matters of the independent claims. The dependent claims refer to preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0042] In the following, embodiments of the present disclosure will be outlined by ways of examples. It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to said embodiments and / or examples.

[0043] The permittivity may refer to a relative permittivity value. The relative permittivity value may be determined from the absolute permittivity value E and the vacuum permittivity value co and may be a dimensionless quantity.

[0044] A pigmented coating layer may be a cured coating layer comprising at least one pigment, such as a color pigment and / or an effect pigment. The pigmented coating layer may be prepared from a pigmented coating material. The pigmented coating layer may be a basecoat layer. A basecoat layer may be a cured color-imparting intermediate coating layer commonly used in automotive painting and general industrial painting. The basecoat layer may be prepared from a pigmented coating material containing color pigments and / or effect pigments. The basecoat layer may be formed by applying the basecoat material to a metal or plastic substrate optionally pre-treated with a filler layer, a primer-surfacer layer, or a primer layer, drying the formed basecoat film, and curing the dried film. The filler layer (primer-surfacer layer) may refer to an intermediate layer used to fill out the irregularities of the substrate, to support corrosion resistance and adhesion as well as to provide protection from mechanical exposure such as stone chipping. The primer layer may represent the first layer of a multilayer coating which is applied onto the substrate and is used to provide improved adhesion for the multilayer coating. Moreover, the primer layer may provide improved corrosion protection, for example on metallic substrates. The basecoat layer may be overcoated with a clearcoat layer, which protects the basecoat layer against weathering as well as mechanical and chemical attack. If the basecoat layer is overcoated with a clearcoat layer, the basecoat and clearcoat layer may be jointly cured after application and optional drying of the clearcoat material.

[0045] Pigmented coating material may refer to a coating material or coating formulation comprising at least one pigment. The pigment may be an effect pigment. The pigment may be a color pigment. The pigmented coating material may be a liquid under application conditions. The pigmented coating material may be solid under application conditions. The pigmented coating material may be an aqueous coating material or a solvent-based coating material. The pigmented coating material may be prepared by mixing one or more effect pigment pastes and / or solid color pigment pastes with one or more further components. The further components may include a pigment-free component (base varnish) and / or a component comprising one or more organic and / or inorganic thickeners for rheology control. The pigment pastes and the further components may be part of a mixing system. The pigmented coating material may be prepared based on a mixing formula defining the component(s), such as pigment paste(s), and further component(s) and associated amounts required to produce the respective pigmented coating material and . The mixing ratio may be defined by a mixing formula stating components and respective amounts. Suitable mixing formulas may be identified using a color matching process in which the color and optionally texture of a reference coating (e.g. the coating to be repaired) is used to determine one or more sample coating materials having a matching color and optionally appearance. Each determined sample coating material is associated with a respective mixing formula. The pigmented coating material may be a thermally and / or chemically curable coating material. The pigmented coating material may comprise at least one binder and at least one solvent. The pigmented coating material may further comprise at least one additive.

[0046] A component may be a component of a vehicle. The component may comprise a substrate and a coating. The coating may comprise one or more coating layers. The coating may be present on the surface of at least part of the component. The vehicle may be a motor vehicle, such as a car, a van, a minivan, a bus, a SUV (sports utility vehicle), a truck, a semitruck, a tractor, a motorcycle, a trailer, an ATV (all-terrain vehicle), a pickup truck, a heavy duty mover, such as bulldozer, mobile crane and earth mover, an airplanes, boats, ships or other device propelled through space with a motor or engine. The term vehicle includes vehicles propelled by a motor burning fuel for power, and a vehicle propelled by an engine using electricity.

[0047] Effect pigment formulations may be pigment formulations comprising or consisting of an effect pigment. The effect pigment formulations may comprise or consist of exactly one effect pigment. The effect pigment formulations may comprise or consist of at least two different effect pigments. The effect pigment formulations may be present within a container. The effect pigment formulations may be used to prepare the pigmented coating material, for example by mixing a defined amount of one or more effect pigment formulation(s) with further components, such as a mixing varnish comprising a binder. Mixing may be performed based on a given mixing formula. Effect pigments may be pigments producing an optical effect, such as a color or lightness effect, based primarily on light reflection, such as angle dependent light reflection. Examples of effect pigments include luster pigments, such as metal effect pigments, pearlescent pigments and interference pigments, flaky graphene, flaky iron oxide and micronized titanium dioxide.

[0048] Solid color pigment formulations may be pigment formulations comprising or consisting of a color pigment. The solid color pigment formulations may comprise or consist of exactly one color pigment. The solid color pigment formulations may comprise or consist of at least two different color pigments. The solid color pigment formulations may be present within a container. The solid color pigment formulations may be used to prepare the pigmented coating material, for example by mixing a defined amount of one or more solid color pigment formulation(s) with further components, such as a mixing varnish comprising a binder. Mixing may be performed based on a given mixing formula. Color pigments may be pigments producing an optical effect based on selective light absorption in conjunction with light scattering. Examples of color pigments include inorganic and organic color pigments. Inorganic color pigments include natural and synthetically produced pigments based on inorganic compounds and includes white pigments, inorganic colored pigments and black pigments. Organic color pigments are practically insoluble in the application medium and may include azo pigments and polycyclic pigments, i.e. organic non-azo pigments characterized by at least one aromatic and / or heteroaromatic ring system.

[0049] The effect pigment formulation and / or the solid color pigment formulation may be an effect pigment paste or a solid color pigment paste, respectively. A pigment paste may refer to a pigment or a mixture of pigments in carrier materials (media) in which the pigments are present in a higher concentration than is appropriate for later use. Carrier materials may include binders or binder mixtures on a solvent or water basis, to which wetting agents and, in some cases, other additives are added. The carrier material should be compatible with the medium of the pigmented coating material producible from said pigment pastes. The use of pigment pastes enables dust-free processing of the pigments. The pigments are well dispersed, so that the dispersion and flocculation stability are improved. Hence, pigment pastes do not have to be dispersed in individual steps but may be added to the mixing clear directly.

[0050] The storage environment may comprise at least one data storage medium. The data storage medium may include a database. The storage environment may be part of a cloud storage infrastructure.

[0051] Gathering may include receiving and / or retrieving data. Data may be received in response to a request for said data.

[0052] Desired substrate may refer to a theoretical substrate. The desired substrate may refer to a virtual representation of the theoretical substrate. The theoretical substrate may correspond to a physical substrate. For instance, the theoretical substrate may correspond to a physical substrate comprising a damaged coating to be repaired. In another instance, the theoretical substrate may correspond to a physical substrate being recoated. The theoretical substrate may refer to a substrate being used to determine the at least one least one transmission and / or reflection property of a component comprising said substrate. The determined transmission and / or reflection property of the component may correspond to a theoretical property which may mirror the property of a corresponding physical component.

[0053] Desired pigmented coating layer may refer to a theoretical pigmented coating layer. The desired pigmented coating layer may refer to a virtual representation of the pigmented coating layer. The theoretical pigmented coating layer may correspond to a physical pigmented coating layer. For instance, the theoretical pigmented coating layer may correspond to a physical pigmented coating layer producible from the pigmented coating material, if said pigmented coating material is applied onto at least part of the surface of the component.

[0054] Desired further coating layer may refer to a theoretical further coating layer. The desired further coating layer may refer to a virtual representation of the further coating layer. The further coating layer may be selected from an electrocoat layer (e-coat layer), a primer layer, a primer-surfacer layer, a clearcoat layer or a combination thereof.

[0055] In an embodiment, the data associated with the pigmented coating material includes a pigmented coating material identifier. The pigmented coating material identifier may include any identifier uniquely associated with the pigmented coating material. The identifier may include a unique ID, a color name, a color number, a color code, a bar code, or a combination thereof. The identifier may be provided by a user via a user interface running on a screen connected to the apparatus performing the method for determining the permittivity of the pigmented coating layer as disclosed herein. The identifier may be provided from a computing environment determining matching pigmented coating materials for a given reference coating, for example as described later on.

[0056] In an embodiment, the solid color pigment formulation contains a color pigment and at least one binder. The solid color pigment formulation may contain one color pigment (e.g. exactly one color pigment). The solid color pigment formulation may contain at least two different color pigments. Binder may refer to polymers, such as physically and / or thermally curable polymers. The binder may hence reflect the film forming portion of pigment formulations or pigmented coating materials prepared from said pigment formulations. Examples of such polymers may include polyurethanes, polyesters, polyethers, polyureas, polyacrylates, polysiloxanes and / or copolymers of the stated polymers. A copolymer may refer to a polymer formed from different polymers. This may include both polymers bonded covalently to one another and those in which the different polymers are bound to one another by adhesion as well as combinations of these two types of bonding. The solid color pigment formulation may be a pigment paste, as previously described containing the color pigment in a carrier material, e.g. the at least one binder. Use of solid color pigment formulations in the form of pigment pastes avoids generation of dust during preparation of the pigmented coating material and allows to disperse the color pigments in the pigmented coating material easily and homogenously upon mixing without requiring extensive dispersion processes. In another embodiment, the solid color effect pigment formulation consists of a color pigment.

[0057] In an embodiment, the effect pigment formulation contains an effect pigment and at least one binder. The effect pigment formulation may contain one effect pigment (e.g. exactly one effect pigment). The effect pigment formulation may contain at least two different effect pigments. The effect pigment formulation may be a pigment paste, as previously described containing the effect pigment in a carrier material, e.g. the at least one binder. In another embodiment, the effect pigment formulation consists of an effect pigment. In an embodiment, the formulation data associated with the pigmented coating material includes data being indicative of the effect and / or solid color pigment formulation(s) and associated amounts. Data being indicative of the effect and / or solid color pigment formulation(s) may include respective pigment formulation identifier(s). The pigment formulation identifier may include any identifier uniquely associated with the respective effect pigment formulation or the solid color pigment formulation. The identifier may include a unique ID, a pigment formulation name, a pigment formulation number, a pigment formulation code, a bar code, or a combination thereof. The formulation data may correspond to a mixing formula associated with the pigmented coating material.

[0058] In an embodiment, determining formulation data associated with the pigmented coating material includes determining mixing data associated with the respective pigmented coating material. The mixing data may include data being indicative of the effect and / or solid color pigment formulation(s) and respective amount(s) associated the preparation of the respective pigmented coating material. For instance, the mixing data may include effect and / or solid color pigment formulation identifiers and respective amounts which may be used to prepare the respective pigmented coating material. Effect and / or solid color pigment formulation identifier(s) may include any identifier uniquely associated with the respective effect pigment formulation or solid color pigment formulation as previously described. Amounts may be given in % by weight, based on the total weight of the pigmented coating material. Amounts may be given in % by weight based on the solid content of the pigmented coating material. The solid content may refer to the proportion of non-volatile compounds present within the pigmented coating material, such as pigments, binders, fillers, crosslinking agents, etc.. The solid content may be determined according to DIN EN ISO 3251 : 2018-07 at 130°C for 60 min.

[0059] In an embodiment, the pigment formulation permittivity data associated with the plurality of effect and solid color pigment formulations and respective amounts is generated by measuring a plurality of known effect and solid pigment formulation permittivities for a plurality of different effect and solid color pigment formulations and associated amounts, and optionally extrapolating the pigment formulation permittivity data for amounts not measured from the plurality of known pigment formulation permittivities measured at the plurality of different amounts. For instance, for each potential effect pigment formulation, a plurality of physical samples with a plurality of known effect pigment concentrations may be produced. Known pigment formulation permittivity data associated for each potential effect pigment formulation can then be physically measured for each sample. The known pigment formulation permittivity data may be extrapolated to obtain pigment formulation permittivity data for concentrations of the effect pigment formulation not physically measured. In another instance, for each potential solid color pigment formulation, a plurality of physical samples with a plurality of known color pigment concentrations may be produced. Known pigment formulation permittivity data associated for each potential solid color pigment formulation can then be physically measured for each sample. The known pigment formulation permittivity data may be extrapolated to obtain pigment formulation permittivity data for concentrations of the solid color pigment formulation not physically measured. Extrapolation reduces the number of physical samples that have to be prepared and measured, hence allowing to reduce the consumption of pigment formulation and waste necessary to obtain a sufficient set of data points.

[0060] In an embodiment, gathering the pigment formulation permittivity data associated with the one or more effect and / or solid color pigment formulation(s) includes gathering pigment permittivity data from the storage environment based on the determined formulation data. For instance, pigment formulation permittivity data may be gathered from the storage environment based on data being indicative of the one or more effect pigment formulation(s) and associated amount(s) contained in the determined formulation data. In another instance, pigment formulation permittivity data may be gathered from the storage environment based on data being indicative of the one or more solid color pigment formulation(s) contained in the determined formulation data.

[0061] In an embodiment, determining the permittivity of the pigmented coating layer based on the provided pigment permittivity data includes determining a weighted average permittivity based on the provided pigment permittivity data and a linear or non-linear relationship between the permittivity and amounts of the respective effect and / or solid color pigment formulation. The linear relationship may be used for solid color pigment formulations. The linear relationship may be used for effect pigment formulations. The nonlinear relationship may be used for effect pigment formulations. The relationship type (e.g. Linear or nonlinear) may be determined by preparing physical samples of said pigment formulations as previously described at varying concentrations and determining the permittivity. The weighted average permittivity may be used if the pigmented coating material is preparable from at least two different pigment formulations, for example two different solid color pigment formulations, two different effect pigment formulations or mixtures of effect pigment formulation(s) and solid color pigment formulation(s).

[0062] Determining the weighted average permittivity based on the provided pigment permittivity data and a linear relationship between the permittivity and the amounts of the respective effect and / or solid color pigment formulation may include

[0063] • optionally determining further pigment formulation permittivity data based on the determined formulation data and the provided pigment formulation permittivity data,

[0064] • determining the weighted average permittivity based on the provided pigment formulation permittivity data or the determined further pigment formulation permittivity data and the provided formulation data.

[0065] The further pigment formulation permittivity data may be determined based on the provided pigment formulation permittivity data and data associated with amount(s) of the effect and / or solid color pigment formulation(s) included in the formulation data. For instance, the pigment formulation permittivity data provided for the effect and / or solid color pigment formulation(s) may be multiplied with the respective amount associated with said effect and / or solid color pigment formulation, e.g. with the amount of said effect and / or solid color pigment formulation contained in the determined formulation data. Determining the weighted average permittivity may include dividing the sum of the provided pigment formulation permittivity data or the determined further pigment formulation permittivity data by the sum of amounts(s) of the one or more effect and / or solid pigment formulation(s).

[0066] Use of the weighted average permittivity allows to consider the concentrations of the respective pigment formulations and hence also the influence of the concentration on the permittivity. Thus, a more accurate determination of the permittivity of the pigmented coating layer is achieved.

[0067] In another embodiment, determining the permittivity of the pigmented coating layer includes determining amount(s) of the one or more effect and / or solid color pigment formulation(s) based on the provided formulation data and determining pigment formulation permittivity data for said amounts(s) using the provided pigment permittivity data.

[0068] The permittivity of the pigmented coating layer may be determined without having to actually prepare a physical entity of the pigmented coating layer from a pigmented coating material. Hence, the permittivity of a pigmented coating layer preparable from a suitable pigmented coating material, such as a pigmented coating material identified during a color matching operation, may be determined with sufficient accuracy without having to prepare a sample coating. This reduces the amount of pigmented coating material necessary during repair and recoating processes and the amount of waste (e.g. prepared sample coatings no longer necessary). Thus, the methods disclosed herein allow a more sustainable use of pigmented coating materials during repair and recoating processes while ensuring that specifications concerning the permittivity of a pigmented coating layer with respect to transmission loss of sensor signal(s) are met.

[0069] In an embodiment, the pigment permittivity data associated with the one or more effect and / or solid color pigment formulation(s) is determined from pigment formulation permittivity data associated with a plurality of effect and solid color pigment formulations and respective amounts.

[0070] In an embodiment, the permittivity of the pigmented coating layer corresponds to pigment formulation permittivity data associated with the effect or solid color pigment formulation and the respective amount. This may, for example, be the case if the pigmented coating material which may be used to prepare the pigmented coating material is preparable from a single effect pigment formulation or solid color pigment formulation.

[0071] In another embodiment, the permittivity of the pigmented coating layer has been determined by determining a weighted average permittivity based on the pigment formulation permittivity data and a linear or non-linear relationship between the permittivity and the amounts of the respective effect and / or solid color pigment formulation. The weighted average permittivity may be determined as previously described.

[0072] In an embodiment, the data associated with the pigmented coating material is provided from a color matching process. The color matching process may be performed to identify pigmented coating material(s) that result in pigmented coatings sufficiently matching the appearance of a target or reference pigmented coating, such as the coating to be repaired. The target pigmented coating may be a damaged coating present on a substrate. The damaged coating may comprise at least one damaged coating area, e.g. an area where at least a part of the coating and optionally the underlying substrate is damaged. The damaged coating may be a multilayer coating. The color matching process may be based on color data of the target pigmented coating. For instance, color data of the target pigmented coating may be determined and may be used to identify one or more pigmented coating material(s) (e.g. sample coating material(s)) resulting in pigmented coatings (e.g. sample coatings) sufficiently matching the appearance of the target coating. Suitable sample pigmented coating materials may be identified by using color matching algorithms commonly known in the state of the art. Suitable sample pigmented coating materials may be determined using color tolerances between the target pigmented coating and a sample pigmented coating prepared from the sample pigmented coating materials.

[0073] In an embodiment, the permittivity of the pigmented coating layer is determined at a frequency of 24 GHz and / or at a frequency of 76.5 GHz and / or at a frequency of 137 GHz.

[0074] In an embodiment, the permittivity of the pigmented coating layer is determined at a frequency range of 20 GHz to 160 GHz. The permittivity of the pigmented coating layer may be determined at a frequency range of 20 GHz to less than 74 GHz. The permittivity of the pigmented coating layer may be determined at a frequency range of 74 GHz to 85 GHz. The permittivity of the pigmented coating layer may be determined at a frequency range of 100 to 140 GHz. The aforementioned frequency ranges may correspond to frequency ranges of radars typically used in vehicles for detecting objects.

[0075] In an embodiment of the computer-implemented method for determining at least one least one transmission and / or reflection property of a component, data associated with the desired substrate includes data on the substrate material, data associated with the permittivity of the substrate, thickness data of the substrate, or a combination thereof.

[0076] The desired substrate may comprise a desired substrate material. The desired substrate material may be selected from polycarbonate, blends of polycarbonate and polybutylene terephthalate, elastomer- modified polypropylene, blends of polypropylene and ethylene-propylene-diene rubber, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer, blends of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer with polycarbonate, acryl ester styrene acrylonitrile copolymer, polyamide and blends thereof, polyurethanes, blends of polycarbonate and polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate and mixtures thereof. The desired substrate material may consist of the aforementioned materials or mixtures thereof.

[0077] The data associated with the desired substrate may be provided via a user interface. For instance, a user may select and / or input the data associated with the desired substrate on a user interface and the user implementing the method may receive the selected and / or inputted data. Default data associated with the desired substrate may be provided, for example if a thickness and / or a permittivity of the substrate is not received by the computer.

[0078] At least part of the data associated with the desired substrate may be provided by the user and other parts of the data may be gathered based on the provided data. For instance, the user may provide the material of the desired substrate and the computer may gather the permittivity associated with said substrate material based on the provided data.

[0079] In an embodiment of the computer-implemented method for determining at least one least one transmission and / or reflection property of a component, providing data associated with the desired at least one pigmented coating layer includes gathering at least part of said data from a data storage medium. At least part of the data, such as the permittivity, may be gathered based on data associated with the pigmented coating material entered by a user as previously described. Layer thickness data may be provided by the user as previously described. Layer thickness data may refer to data being indicative of the dry film thickness of the at least one pigmented coating layer.

[0080] In an embodiment of the computer-implemented method for determining at least one least one transmission and / or reflection property of a component, data associated with the at least one further desired coating layer includes layer thickness data of the at least one further coating layer and the permittivity of the at least one further coating layer. Layer thickness data may referto data being indicative of the dry film thickness of the further coating layer.

[0081] The data associated with the at least one further desired coating may be provided via a user interface as previously described. At least part of the data associated with the desired further coating layer may be provided by the user and other parts of the data may be gathered based on the provided data as previously described.

[0082] In an embodiment of the computer-implemented method for determining at least one least one transmission and / or reflection property of a component, the at least one transmission and / or reflection property includes a classifier and / or a transmission loss of a sensor signal through the component. The classifier may classify the component as “suitable” or “non suitable” with respect to the transmission and / or reflection property. The classifier may be determined by comparing the at least one determined transmission and / or reflection property with predefined threshold value(s). Predefined threshold value(s) may include a predefined maximal dampening of the radar transmission and / or reflection of the component.

[0083] The transmission loss of a sensor signal through the component may be referred to as dampening of the radar signal through the component. A greater transmission loss may hence indicate a reduced signal power penetrating the component. The transmission loss of the sensor signal may correspond to a transmission loss at a frequency of 24 GHz and / or at a frequency of 76.5 GHz and / or at a frequency of 137 GHz.

[0084] The transmission loss of the sensor signal may correspond to a transmission loss at a frequency range of 20 GHz to 160 GHz. The transmission loss of the sensor signal may correspond to a transmission loss at a frequency range of 20 GHz to less than 74 GHz. The transmission loss of the sensor signal may correspond to a transmission loss at a frequency range of 74 GHz to 85 GHz. The transmission loss of the sensor signal may correspond to a transmission loss at a frequency range of 100 to 140 GHz. The aforementioned frequency ranges may correspond to frequency ranges of radars typically used in vehicles for detecting objects.

[0085] In an embodiment of the computer-implemented method for determining at least one least one transmission and / or reflection property of a component, the method further includes a step of modifying the data associated with the desired substrate and / or data associated with the at least one desired pigmented coating layer if the at least one transmission and / or reflection property of the component is above a defined threshold value, wherein the modified data reduces the distance of the at least one transmission and / or reflection property to the defined threshold value. The defined threshold value may include a predefined maximal transmission loss of the sensor signal. The predefined threshold value may be stored on a data storage medium and may be gathered by the processor implementing this further step. Modifying the data associated with the desired substrate may include modifying the substrate material and / or the substrate thickness. Modifying the data associated with the at least one desired pigmented coating layer may include selecting a different pigmented coating material and / or modifying the layer thickness of the at least one pigmented coating layer.

[0086] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0087] In the following, the present disclosure is further described with reference to the enclosed figures. The same reference numbers in the drawings and this disclosure are intended to refer to the same or like elements, components, and / or parts.

[0088] FIG. 1A illustrates schematically part of a vehicle comprising a sensor behind a component of the vehicle.

[0089] FIG. 1 B illustrates schematically a perspective sectional view of an embodiment of the component of FIG. 1A.

[0090] FIG. 2 illustrates a flow chart of a computer-implemented method for determining the permittivity of a pigmented coating layer in accordance with a first example embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0091] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of determining the permittivity of the pigmented coating layer as described in the context of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart of a computer-implemented method for determining the permittivity of a pigmented coating layer in accordance with a further example embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0092] FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart of a method to provide the storage environment used in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0093] FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart of a computer-implemented method for determining at least one transmission and / or reflection property of a coated substrate in accordance with a first example embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0094] FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart of a computer-implemented method for determining at least one transmission and / or reflection property of a coated substrate in accordance with a further example embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0095] FIG. 8 illustrates a flow chart of a computer-implemented method for determining at least one transmission and / or reflection property of a coated substrate in accordance with a further example embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0096] FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic drawing of an apparatus that may be used to implement the methods described in FIG. 2 to FIG. 8 in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0097] FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic drawing of a client server setup that may be used to implement the methods described in FIG. 2 to FIG. 8 in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0098] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0099] The following embodiments are mere examples for implementing the methods, the systems or the computer elements disclosed herein and shall not be considered limiting.

[0100] FIG. 1A illustrates schematically part of a vehicle comprising a sensor behind a component of the vehicle. The vehicle may be a car 102. The vehicle may be any vehicle comprising a motor or an engine. The sensor may be a radar sensor 106. The component may be a trim part 104. The component may comprise a substrate (see for example FIG. 1 B). The component may comprise a pigmented coating layer (see for example FIG. 1 B). The component may comprise one or more further coating layers apart from the pigmented coating layer (see for example FIG. 1 B). The one or more further coating layers may be selected from electrocoating layers, primer layers, primer-surfacer layers, clearcoat layers or a combination thereof. The coating present on the component may include at least one damaged area (not shown in FIG. 1A). The coated component may influence the transmission loss of the sensor signal of sensor 106 through component 108. For example, in some cases the transmission loss may be reduced by producing thicker or thinner layers of the substrate and / or one or more of the layers of the coating. Also, changes to the pigment loading in the pigmented coating layer may have a significant influence, where some pigments have a much greater influence on the transmission loss than others. Other compounds in one or more of the coating layers may also influence the transmission loss. For example, adhesion promotors in the primer layer may influence the transmission loss, where different concentrations and different types of adhesion promotors have different levels of influence.

[0101] FIG. 1 B illustrates schematically a perspective sectional view of an embodiment of the component of FIG. 1A. The component 108 illustrated in FIG. 1 B may represent a physical embodiment of the desired component, e.g. the desired component may represent a virtual or digital representation of component 108.

[0102] Component 108 may include substrate 110 and coating 112. Coating 112 may include one or more coating layers, such as a primer coating layer 114, a pigmented coating layer 116, and a clearcoat layer 118. Any of the primer, pigmented coating layer, or clearcoat 114, 116. 118 may be applied with one, two, or more layers, each. For example, if the desired clearcoat layer 118 is applied in two layers, the combined two layers may be considered the desired clearcoat layer 118. Other optional coating layers may also be present in some embodiments, such as a sealer, surfacer, adhesion promotor, midcoat, etc. The substrate 110 may be associated with a substrate material, a substrate thickness 120, and optionally other possibilities such one or more substrate additives, or a shape. The substrate material may be selected from the aforementioned materials or material mixtures. Component 108 may be producible by applying one or more coating materials, such as primer coating material, pigmented coating material and clearcoat material successively to the substrate 110. After application, each coating material may be dried and / or cured to form the respective coating layer. At least part of the applied coating materials may be jointly cured to form the respective coating layers.

[0103] The primer layer 114 and the clearcoat layer 118 may each be associated with a permittivity and a layer thickness 124, 128. The layer thickness may correspond to the dry layer thickness of the respective coating layer.

[0104] The pigmented coating layer may include at least one pigment 130. The pigment may be selected from color pigments and / or effect pigments, such as color pigments and effect pigments previously described. The pigmented coating layer may be producible from a pigmented coating material. The pigmented coating material may comprise the at least one pigment. The pigmented coating material may further comprise at least one binder and at least one solvent. The solvent may be organic solvent(s) and / or water. The pigmented coating material may further comprise at least one crosslinking agent which may react with functional groups present in the binder(s). The pigmented coating material may be liquid under application. The pigmented coating material may be solid under application. The pigmented coating material may be prepared by mixing one or more solid color pigment formulation(s) and / or one or more effect pigment formulation(s) with a pigment free formulation and optionally a rheology modifying component and / or a crosslinking component. The pigment free pigment formulation may contain a binder and solvent(s). The rheology modifying component may include an inorganic and / or organic thickening agent. The crosslinking component may include at least one crosslinking agent. The pigmented coating material may be prepared by mixing said components in a defined mixing ratio.

[0105] FIG. 2 illustrates a flow chart of a computer-implemented method for determining the permittivity of a pigmented coating layer in accordance with a first example embodiment of the present disclosure. The method may be performed within a process for repairing a coated substrate comprising a damaged coating, such as a multilayer coating comprising one or more damaged areas. The damage may be associated with one or more coating layer(s) of the coating. The damaged coating may be repaired without exchanging the automotive part comprising the damaged coating. Repairing the damaged coating may include sanding, filling, application of one or more appropriate coating materials and curing of the applied coating materials. The method may be performed within a process for recoating a coated substrate or a substrate having been coated with at least one coating layer. Recoating may, for example, be desired if the color of the coated substrate is to be changed. The method may be performed within a process for coating an automotive part with at least one coating layer. The automotive part may be coated during a repair process, for instance if a complete part of the automotive needs to be replaced. Within a process may include any point in time form the start of the respective process till the end of the respective process. The permittivity may be determined at a frequency of 24 GHz and / or at a frequency of 76.5 GHz and / or at a frequency of 137 GHz. The permittivity may be determined at a frequency range of 20 GHz to 160 GHz, such as 20 GHz to less than 74 GHz and / or 74 GHz to 85 GHz and / or100 to 140 GHz.

[0106] The pigmented coating layer may not be tangible, e.g. the pigmented coating layer may only be a theoretical pigmented coating layer. In some embodiments, the pigmented coating layer may be physically produced such that the virtual pigmented coating layer has a corresponding physical entity. Hence, the permittivity of a pigmented coating layer preparable from a suitable pigmented coating material, such as a pigmented coating material identified during a color matching operation, may be determined with sufficient accuracy without having to prepare a sample coating. This reduces the amount of pigmented coating material necessary during repair and recoating processes and the amount of waste (e.g. prepared sample coatings no longer necessary). Thus, the method disclosed in FIG. 2 allows a more sustainable use of pigmented coating materials during repair and recoating processes while ensuring that specifications concerning the permittivity of a pigmented coating layer with respect to transmission loss of sensor signal(s) are met to ensure a sufficient functioning of the sensor(s) after repair / recoating.

[0107] The pigmented coating layer may be producible from a pigmented coating material. The pigmented coating material may in turn be producible at least in part from one or more effect and / or solid color pigment formulation(s). The effect pigment formulation(s) may comprise an effect pigment and a binder, e.g. may be an effect pigment paste. The effect pigment formulation(s) may consist of an effect pigment. The solid color pigment formulation(s) may comprise a color pigment and a binder, e.g. may be a solid color pigment paste. The solid color pigment formulation(s) may consist of a color pigment. The pigmented coating material may be producible from the one or more effect and / or solid color pigment formulation(s), a pigment-free component (e.g. a component comprising no pigments) optionally a rheology modifying component (e.g. a component comprising at least one thickening agent), and optionally a crosslinking component (e.g. a component comprising at least one crosslinking agent). The aforementioned components may be mixed in defined mixing ratio to produce different pigmented coating materials. The defined mixing ratio may be specified by a mixing formula. Hence, the aforementioned components may be seen as a modular mixing system allowing to produce a plurality of pigmented coating materials from a limited number of different components.

[0108] In block 214, data associated with the pigmented coating material may be provided. The provided data may include a pigmented coating material identifier, such as a unique ID, a color name, a color number, a color code, a bar code, or a combination thereof.

[0109] The identifier may be provided by a user via a user interface running on a screen connected to the apparatus performing the method for determining the permittivity of the pigmented coating layer as disclosed herein.

[0110] The identifier may be provided from a computing environment performing color matching operations. The computing environment may be a cloud computing environment, such as a distributed system of processing devices located across multiple computer systems. The color matching operations may be performed based on appearance data associated with the reference coating (e.g. the coating comprising damaged area(s)). Appearance data of the reference coating may be determined using a commercially available multi-angle spectrophotometer, such as the BYK-Mac(R) I or a spectrophotometer of the XRite MA(R)-T family. Appearance data may include color space data, such as CIEL*a*b* values, texture images, coarseness characteristics and / or sparkle characteristics. Based on the appearance data of the reference coating, best matching CIEL*a*b* values may be determined with the computing environment as commonly known in the state of the art. For example, best matching CIEL*a*b* values may be determined by determining best matching color solution(s) and associated matching CIEL*a*b* values, calculating the differences between the CIEL*a*b* values associated with the reference coating and each matching CIEL*a*b* values to define color difference values and determining if the color difference values are acceptable. The acceptability of the color difference values may be determined using commonly known color tolerance equations, such as the CIE94 color tolerance equation, the CIE2000 color tolerance equation, the DIN99 color tolerance equation or a color tolerance equation described in WO 2011 / 048147 A1 . The acceptability of the color difference values is determined using a data driven model parametrized on historical colorimetric values, in particular CIEL*a*b* values, and historical color difference values, as described, for example, in US 2005 / 0240543 A1. The computing environment may be configured to display determined color solution(s) and to detect a user input being indicative of selecting one of the displayed color solutions. The computing storage environment may be configured to determine the identifier associated with the selected color solution and to provide said identifier.

[0111] In decision block 208, it may be determined whether the permittivity of the pigmented coating layer is already available. The determination may be based on the data provided in block 206. For instance, the data provided in block 206 may be used to determine whether a permittivity for such pigmented coating layer has previously been determined (for example using the method described in FIG. 2). The pigmented coating material identifier may be used to determine whether a permittivity associated with said identifier is already stored in a storage environment. This avoids determination of previously determined permittivities, hence allowing to perform the method more efficiently. If the permittivity is not available, the method may proceed to block 210. Otherwise, the method may proceed to block 212 described later on.

[0112] In block 210, formulation data associated with the pigmented coating material may be determined based on the provided data associated with the pigmented coating material. The formulation data may be determined by gathering formulation data based on the identifier provided in block 206. The formulation data may be gathered from a storage environment storing formulation data 204. The storage environment may store mixing data associated with a plurality of pigmented coating materials. The mixing data may be interrelated with respective identifiers. The mixing data may include data being indicative of the effect and / or solid color pigment formulation(s) and respective amount(s) associated the preparation of the respective pigmented coating material. For instance, the mixing data may include effect and / or solid color pigment formulation identifiers and respective amounts which may be used to prepare the respective pigmented coating material. Effect and / or solid color pigment formulation identifier(s) may include any identifier uniquely associated with the respective effect pigment formulation or solid color pigment formulation. Amounts may be given in % by weight, based on the total weight of the pigmented coating material. Amounts may be given in % by weight based on the solid content of the pigmented coating material.

[0113] In block 214, pigment formulation permittivity data may be gathered based on the formulation data determined in block 210. For instance, pigment formulation permittivity data may be gathered from the storage environment based on data being indicative of the one or more effect pigment formulation(s) and associated amount(s) contained in the determined formulation data. In another instance, pigment formulation permittivity data may be gathered from the storage environment based on data being indicative of the one or more solid color pigment formulation(s) contained in the determined formulation data. The pigment formulation permittivity data may be gathered from a storage environment storing pigment formulation permittivity data for a plurality of effect and solid color pigment formulations and respective amounts. The amounts may be given in % by weight based on the solid content of the respective pigment formulation. An example method to generate the data stored in storage environment

[0114] 202 is illustrated in FIG. 5.

[0115] In block 216, the permittivity of the pigmented coating layer may be determined based on the pigment formulation permittivity data gathered in block 214. The permittivity of the pigmented coating layer may be determined as described in the context of FIG. 3 below.

[0116] In block 212, the determined permittivity may be provided, this block being generally optional. The determined permittivity may be provided via a communication interface. Providing the determined permittivity may include displaying said permittivity within a user interface. Providing the determined permittivity may include storing the determined permittivity on a data storage medium. Storing said permittivity may include interrelating said permittivity with a pigmented coating material identifier. This allows to retrieve the determined permittivity based on the pigmented coating material identifier.

[0117] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of determining the permittivity of the pigmented coating layer as described in the context of FIG. 2. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 may, for example, be performed in block 216 of FIG. 2.

[0118] In block 302, the number of pigment formulations usable to prepare the pigmented coating material may be determined based on the provided formulation data. For instance, the mixing data may indicate the number of different pigment formulations usable to prepare the pigmented coating material. If more than one pigment formulation is specified in the formulation data, the method may proceed to block 310. If only one pigment formulation is specified in the formulation data, the method may proceed to block 304.

[0119] In decision block 304, it may be determined whether the pigment formulation permittivity data was gathered for the correct amount of effect or solid color pigment formulation, e.g. for the amount of effect pigment formulation or solid color pigment formulation contained in the formulation data. If this is the case, the method may proceed to block 308. Otherwise, the method may proceed to block 306, for example, if pigment formulation permittivity data for a different amount than included in the formulation data was gathered.

[0120] In block 306, further pigment formulation permittivity data may be determined based on the determined formulation data and the provided pigment formulation permittivity data. Determining further pigment formulation permittivity data may include multiplying the provided pigment formulation permittivity data with the amount associated with the effect or solid color pigment formulation. The amount may be included in the provided formulation data. The obtained further pigment formulation permittivity data may correspond to the permittivity of the pigmented coating layer. The method may proceed to optional block In block 308, it may be determined that the data gathered in block 204 may correspond to the permittivity of the pigmented coating layer. The method may proceed to optional block 212 of FIG. 2 after the end of block 308.

[0121] In decision block 310, it may be determined whether the pigment formulation permittivity data was gathered for the correct amounts of effect and / or solid color pigment formulations, for example as described in the context of decision block 304. If the data was gathered for the correct amounts, the method may proceed to block 314. Otherwise, the method may proceed to block 312.

[0122] In block 312, further pigment formulation permittivity data may be determined based on the determined formulation data and the provided pigment formulation permittivity data. Determining further pigment formulation permittivity data may include multiplying the provided pigment formulation permittivity data with the amount associated with respective effect and / or solid color pigment formulations. The amounts may be included in the provided formulation data.

[0123] In block 314, a weighted average permittivity may be determined based on the provided pigment formulation permittivity data / further pigment formulation permittivity data and a linear or non-linear relationship between the permittivity and amounts of the respective effect and / or solid color pigment formulation. The relationship type (e.g. linear or non-linear) may be determined by preparing physical samples of said pigment formulations as previously described at varying concentrations and determining the permittivity. The weighted average permittivity may be used if the pigmented coating material is preparable from at least two different pigment formulations, for example two different solid color pigment formulations, two different effect pigment formulations or mixtures of effect pigment formulation(s) and solid color pigment formulation(s). Determining the weighted average permittivity may include dividing the sum of the provided pigment formulation permittivity data / determined further pigment formulation permittivity data by the sum of amounts of the effect and / or solid pigment formulations. Use of the weighted average permittivity allows to consider the concentrations of the respective pigment formulations and hence also the influence of the concentration on the permittivity. Thus, a more accurate determination of the permittivity of the pigmented coating layer is achieved. After the end of block 314, the method may proceed to optional block 212 of FIG. 2.

[0124] FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart of a computer-implemented method for determining the permittivity of a pigmented coating layer in accordance with a second example embodiment of the present disclosure. The method may be performed within a process for repairing a coated substrate, for recoating a coated substrate or a substrate having been coated with at least one coating layer, or for coating an automotive part with at least one coating layer as described in the context of FIG. 2. The permittivity may be determined at a frequency of 24 GHz and / or at a frequency of 76.5 GHz and / or at a frequency of 137 GHz. The permittivity may be determined at a frequency range of 20 GHz to 160 GHz, such as 20 GHz to less than 74 GHz and / or 74 GHz to 85 GHz and / or100 to 140 GHz. The pigmented coating layer may not be tangible, e.g. the pigmented coating layer may only be a theoretical pigmented coating layer as described in the context of FIG. 2. The pigmented coating layer may be producible from a pigmented coating material as described in the context of FIG. 2.

[0125] In block 404, data associated with the pigmented coating material may be provided. The data may be provided as described in the context of block 206 of FIG. 2.

[0126] In block 406, the permittivity of the pigmented coating layer may be provided based on the provided data associated with the pigmented coating material. The data may be provided from a storage environment storing permittivities of pigmented coating layers 402. The pigmented coating layers may be producible from pigmented coating materials as described in the context of FIG. 2. The permittivities stored in storage environment 402 may be determined, for example, using the method illustrated in FIG. 5. The permittivities stored in storage environment 402 may be interrelated with an identifier, such as a pigmented coating material identifier. This allows retrieval of said permittivities based on data provided in block 404.

[0127] In block 408, the permittivity of the pigmented coating layer may be provided, this block being generally optional. The permittivity may be provided as described in the context of block 212 of FIG. 2.

[0128] FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart of a method to provide the storage environment used in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0129] In block 502, a plurality of physical samples of pigmented layers may be produced. Each pigmented coating layer may contain a defined effect pigment or color pigment in a defined concentration. Each pigmented layer may be prepared from an effect pigment formulation or a solid color pigment formulation. For instance, solid color pigment formulations in the form of pigment pastes may be applied to a substrate and cured to obtain physical samples. In another instance, effect pigment formulations comprising varying amounts of an effect pigment in the form of pigment pastes may be applied to the substrate and cured to obtain physical samples. The curing may be performed at ambient temperature and / or using IR irradiation and / or using UV irradiation. Ambient temperature may correspond to a temperature of 18 to 28°C. The dry layer thickness of the coating layers formed after curing may be in the range of 1 to 100 pm. The dry layer thicknesses of the coating layers formed after curing may be in the range of 15 to 50 pm.

[0130] In block 504, the permittivity of the physical samples produced in block 502 may be measured. The permittivity may be measured using commonly known measurement devices, for example a radome measurement system from perisens GmbH. The permittivity may be measured at a frequency of 24 GHz and / or at a frequency of 76.5 GHz and / or at a frequency of 137 GHz. The permittivity may be measured at a frequency range of 20 GHz to 160 GHz. For instance, the permittivity may be measured at a frequency range of 20 GHz to less than 74 GHz. In another instance, the permittivity may be measured at a frequency range of 74 GHz to 85 GHz. In yet another instance, the permittivity may be measured at a frequency range of 100 to 140 GHz. The aforementioned frequency ranges may correspond to frequency ranges of radars typically used in vehicles for detecting objects.

[0131] In block 506, the measured permittivities may be extrapolated and / or interpolated to obtain permittivities for pigment formulations for which no physical sample was prepared, this block being generally optional. Extrapolation and / or interpolation may be performed for effect pigment formulations. Extrapolation and / or interpolation may be performed for solid color pigment formulations. Extrapolation and / or interpolation may be performed for effect and solid color pigment formulations. Suitable extrapolation and / or interpolation methods include linear and non-linear functions, such as integral functions (e.g. polynomial functions) and exponential functions. Extrapolation reduces the number of physical samples that have to be prepared and measured, hence allowing to reduce the consumption of pigment formulation and waste necessary to obtain a sufficient set of data points.

[0132] In block 508, the measured and optionally extrapolated and / or interpolated permittivities may be stored on a data storage medium, such as a storage environment. The permittivities may be interrelated with a pigment formulation identifier and an amount of the pigment formulation. The amount may refer to the solids content of the pigment formulation in the physical sample of the coating layer. The amount may refer to the amount of pigment based on the solids content of the pigment formulation in the physical sample of the coating layer.

[0133] In decision block 510, it may be determined whether the permittivity of pigmented coating layers producible from pigmented coating materials is to be determined. This determination may be based on the data that is to be provided. For instance, providing determined permittivities of pigmented coating layers may reduce the computing power necessary to determine the transmission and / or reflection property / properties. If the permittivities of the pigmented coating layers are to be determined, the method may proceed to block 514. Otherwise, the method may proceed to block 512.

[0134] In block 512, the method may provide the storage environment of block 508 for access via a communication interface. The provided storage environment may be used, for example, to determine the permittivity of a pigmented coating layer as described in the context of FIG. 2 and FIG. 7.

[0135] In block 514, the permittivity of pigmented coating layers may be determined based on measured and optionally extrapolated and / or interpolated permittivities and formulation data associated with pigmented coating materials. The permittivities may be determined as described in the context of FIG. 3. The determined permittivities may be interrelated with pigmented coating material identifiers and may be stored on a storage environment.

[0136] In block 516, the storage environment generated in block 514 may be provided for access, for example via a communication interface. The provided storage environment may be used, for example, to determine the permittivity of a pigmented coating layer as described in the context of FIG. 4 and FIG. 7. FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart of a computer-implemented method for determining at least one transmission and / or reflection property of a component in accordance with a first example embodiment of the present disclosure. The component may be a desired component, e.g. a digital or virtual representation of a physical entity of a component to be produced during a repair or recoating process. The physical entity of the component may correspond to component 104 of a vehicle 102 illustrated in FIG. 1A. The desired component may be physically produced in some embodiments, so all the features of the desired component may be mirrored in a real, tangible component. The desired component may comprise a desired substrate and at least one desired pigmented coating layer. The component may comprise at least on further desired coating layer. The desired component may be a component as illustrated in FIG. 1 B.

[0137] The at least one transmission and / or reflection property of the component may be determined utilizing provided data associated with the desired substrate 602, provided data associated with the at least one pigmented coating layer, provided data associated with the sensor signal 612, optionally provided data associated with at least one further desired coating layer (see block 604). The determined at least one transmission and / or reflection property may include a classifier and / or a transmission loss of a sensor signal through the component. The classifier may classify the component as “suitable” or “non suitable” with respect to the transmission and / or reflection property. The classifier may be determined by comparing the at least one determined transmission and / or reflection property with predefined threshold value(s). Predefined threshold value(s) may include a predefined maximal dampening of the radar transmission and / or reflection of the component. The transmission loss of a sensor signal through the component may be referred to as dampening of the radar signal through the component. A greater transmission loss may hence indicate a reduced signal power penetrating the component.

[0138] Different techniques may be utilized for determining the at least one transmission and / or reflection property. For example, the general transfer matrix method may be used in one embodiment, the ray transfer matrix analysis may be used in another embodiment, and the transmission line method may be used in yet another embodiment. Alternate techniques may also be used in alternate embodiments. This analysis is described in many references, and the calculations are understood by those skilled in the art. However, all models require a permittivity value for each layer. Therefore, the determination of permittivity of the desired pigmented coating layer(s) is an important component in the determination of the at least one transmission and / or reflection property of the component.

[0139] The data associated with the desired substrate (see block 602) may be provided via a user interface. For instance, a user may select and / or input the data associated with the desired substrate on a user interface and the processor implementing the method may receive the selected and / or inputted data. Default data associated with the desired substrate may be provided, for example if a thickness and / or a permittivity of the substrate is not received by the computer. At least part of the data associated with the desired substrate may be provided by the user and other parts of the data may be gathered based on the provided data. For instance, the user may provide the material of the desired substrate and the computer may gather the permittivity, for example from a storage environment, associated with said substrate material based on the provided data.

[0140] The data associated with the desired pigmented coating layer(s) may include the permittivity of each desired pigmented coating layer and layer thickness data for each desired pigmented coating layer. Providing data associated with the at least one desired pigmented coating layer (see block 608) may include gathering at least part of said data from a data storage medium. At least part of the data, such as the permittivity, may be gathered based on data associated with the desired pigmented coating material entered by a user, for example based on the pigmented coating material identifier. Layer thickness data may be provided by the user as previously described.

[0141] The data associated with the at least one further desired coating layer (see block 610) may be provided via a user interface as previously described in the context of block 602. At least part of the data associated with the desired further coating layer may be provided by the user and other parts of the data may be gathered based on the provided data as previously in the context of block 602. Data associated with the at least one further desired coating layer may include layer thickness data of the at least one desired further coating layer and the permittivity of the at least one desired further coating layer.

[0142] The data associated with the sensor signal (see block 612) may include a frequency range for which the at least one transmission and / or reflection property, such as the transmission loss of the sensor signal, may be determined in block 604. The data associated with the sensor signal may be provided from a storage environment storing such data. The data associated with the sensor signal may include one or more frequency ranges. For instance, the data associated with the sensor signal may include one or more of a frequency range of 74 GHz to 85 GHz and / or a frequency range of 100 to 140 GHz. Providing data associated with the sensor signal including different frequency ranges allows to determine the transmission and / or reflection properties at different frequency ranges, since the determined properties may vary with different frequency ranges.

[0143] In block 606, the determined at least one transmission and / or reflection property may be provided, this block being generally optional. The determined at least one transmission and / or reflection property may be provided via a communication interface. Providing the determined at least one transmission and / or reflection property may include displaying said property / properties within a user interface. Providing the determined at least one transmission and / or reflection property may include storing the determined at least one transmission and / or reflection property on a data storage medium. Storing said at least one transmission and / or reflection property may include interrelating said at least one transmission and / or reflection property with a component identifier. This allows to retrieve the determined at least one transmission and / or reflection property based on the component identifier. FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart of a computer-implemented method for determining at least one transmission and / or reflection property of a coated substrate in accordance with a further example embodiment of the present disclosure. The component may be a desired component as described in the context of FIG. 6.

[0144] In contrast to FIG. 6, the permittivity of each desired pigmented coating layer may be determined in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7. The permittivity of each desired pigmented coating layer may be determined, for example, as described in the context of FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 based on data associated with the pigmented coating material(s). Hence, in block 702, data associated with desired pigmented coating material(s) may be provided, for example as described in the context of FIG. 2 and FIG. 4. Based on such provided data, the permittivity of each desired pigmented coating layer may be determined in block 704 (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 4). The determined permittivity / permittivities may be utilized, along with data associated with the desired substrate (block 706), data associated with the thickness of the pigmented coating layer(s) (see block 716), data associated with the sensor signal (see block 712) and optionally data associated with the desired further coating layer(s) (see block 714), to determine at least one transmission and / or reflection property in block 708.

[0145] The at least one transmission and / or reflection property may include a classifier and / or a transmission loss of a sensor signal through the component, for example as described in the context of FIG. 6. The at least one transmission and / or reflection property may be determined as described in the context of FIG. 6. The data associated with the desired substrate, the data associated with the sensor signal and the data associated with the desired further coating layer(s) may be provided as described in the context of FIG. 6.

[0146] The layer thickness data associated with the desired pigmented coating layer(s) may be provided via a user interface (see block 716). For instance, a user may select and / or input the layer thickness data on a user interface and the processor implementing the method may receive the selected and / or inputted layer thickness data.

[0147] In block 710, the determined at least one transmission and / or reflection property may be provided, this block being generally optional. The determined at least one transmission and / or reflection property may be provided as described in the context of FIG. 6.

[0148] FIG. 8 illustrates a flow chart of a computer-implemented method for determining at least one transmission and / or reflection property of a component in accordance with a further example embodiment of the present disclosure. The component may be a desired component as described in the context of FIG. 6.

[0149] The method illustrated in FIG. 8 may contain the steps described in the context of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. The method illustrated in FIG. 8 may contain further steps described in detail below. In block 802, defined threshold value(s) may be provided. The defined threshold value(s) may include a predefined maximal transmission loss of the sensor signal. The maximum transmission loss may be the transmission loss that still permits the sensor to detect an object at a distance greater than a stopping distance of the vehicle. The maximum transmission loss may be calculated in different manners in alternate embodiments. For example, the maximum transmission loss may be the transmission loss that still permits the detection of an object within the maximum braking distance experienced during inclement weather conditions. For example, the maximum transmission loss at a frequency range of 74 to 85 GHz may be - 2 DB. The maximum transmission loss may be provided for each frequency range the transmission loss of the component is determined for in FIG. 6 or FIG. 7. The maximum transmission loss may be provided for at least a part of the frequency ranges the transmission loss of the component is determined for in FIG. 6 or FIG. 7. The predefined threshold value(s) may be stored on a data storage medium and may be gathered by the processor implementing the method.

[0150] In opening loop block 804, the determined at least one transmission and / or reflection property (see block 604 of FIG. 6 or block 708 of FIG. 7) may be compared with the provided predefined threshold value(s). The determined transmission loss of the component (see block 604 of FIG. 6 and block 708 of FIG. 7) may be compared to the maximum transmission loss to determine if the determined transmission loss is less than the provided maximum transmission loss. Hence it may be determined which number is smaller, the determined transmission loss or the provided maximum transmission loss. The determined transmission loss may be compared to a transmission loss associated with a standard component and the difference may be determined. The difference may be compared to the provided maximum transmission loss to determine if the difference is smaller than the provided maximum transmission loss.

[0151] In decision block 806, it may be determined, whether the determined at least one transmission and / or reflection property is below the provided predefined threshold value(s). This determination may be based on the result of the comparison performed in opening loop block 804. If it is determined that the determined at least one transmission and / or reflection property is below the provided predefined threshold value(s), the method may proceed to block 808. Otherwise, it may proceed to block 810.

[0152] In block 808, the determined at least one transmission and / or reflection property may be provided. Providing the at least one transmission and / or reflection property may be performed as described in the context of FIG. 6 or FIG. 7.

[0153] In block 810, the data associated with the desired substrate and / or data associated with the at least one desired pigmented coating layer and / or the data associated with the sensor signal and / or the data associated with the further desired coating layer(s) may be modified if the at least one transmission and / or reflection property of the component is above the predefined threshold value(s). Modifying the data associated with the desired substrate may include modifying the substrate material and / or the substrate thickness. Data associated with the desired substrate, such as the thickness of the substrate, may be modified by manipulating a virtual adjustment tool comprising different regulators for the thickness of the substrate. The adjustment tool may be a part of a graphical user interface which allows to modify the data associated with the desired substrate. The adjustment tool may comprise at least one modulator for the data associated with the desired substrate. For this purpose, the regulator displaying the current thickness of the substrate may be moved by a user by clicking on a regulator and moving said regulator. Modifying data associated with the at least one desired pigmented coating layer may include modifying the thickness data associated with the pigmented coating layer(s), for example using the adjustment tool previously described.

[0154] Modifying the data associated with the at least one desired pigmented coating layer may include modifying the layer thickness data associated with the respective desired pigmented coating layer. This may be performed by manipulating virtual adjustment tools as previously described. Modifying the data associated with the at least one desired pigmented coating layer may include selecting a different desired pigmented coating material, such as a pigmented coating material identified during a color matching process described in the context of FIG. 2.

[0155] Modifying the data associated with the further desired coating layer(s) may include modifying the layer thickness data and / or the presence of further desired coating layer(s). For example, the number and type of further desired coating layer(s) may be modified. Modification may be performed using a virtual adjustment tool as previously described.

[0156] Modifying the data associated with the sensor signal may include modifying the frequency range, such as reducing or increasing the frequency range. The data may be modified using a virtual adjustment tool.

[0157] Modifying any of the aforementioned data may include automatically modifying at least one of the aforementioned data until the determined transmission and / or reflection property / properties is / are below the predefined threshold value(s). Hence, modified data associated with the desired substrate and / or modified data associated with the desired pigmented coating layer(s) and / or modified data associated with the sensor signal and / or modified data associated with the further desired coating layer(s) may be automatically determined by minimizing the difference between the determined transmission and / or reflection property / properties and the predefined threshold value(s). The user may define which data may be modified and which data may not be modified. For example, the user may define that the formulation data associated with the pigmented coating material may not be modified, e.g. the pigmented coating layer should be preparable with a defined pigmented coating material. In another example, the user may define that the data associated with the sensor signal may not be modified. This allows to ensure that optimized property / properties are optimized with respect to a given radar sensor signal.

[0158] In closing loop block 812, at least one transmission and / or reflection property may be determined based on the data modified in block 810. In one example, the transmission and / or reflection property / properties may be determined using the modified data associated with the desired substrate as described in the context of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. This may include determining the permittivity of pigmented coating layer(s), for example if the pigmented coating material is modified. The permittivity may be determined as described in the context of FIG. 2 or FIG. 4. After the end of closing loop block 812, the method may return to opening loop block 804 and may be compared to the provided predefined threshold value(s). The loop may be performed until the modification performed in block 810 results in transmission and / or reflection property / properties being below provided predefined threshold value(s). The method illustrated in FIG. 8 allows to optimize the component such that predefined tolerances with respect to sensor functionality are fulfilled. This allows to ensure, that coated components prepared during repair or recoating do not negatively influence the function of sensors mounted behind such coated components. Since the method to optimize the component such that predefined tolerances are fulfilled can be performed virtually using a virtual component which resembles a physical component, preparation of sample components comprising desired coating layers may be avoided or reduced, hence allowing to reduce waste associated with said sample components and consumption of coating materials and process energy necessary to prepare such sample components. Virtual optimization of a desired component may hence allow to perform the repair or recoating process in a more sustainable way, reducing waste and energy necessary to ensure sufficient performance of sensors mounted behind repaired or recoated components.

[0159] FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic drawing of an apparatus that may be used to implement the methods described in FIG. 2 to FIG. 8 in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure. The apparatus may be part of a cloud computing system. The apparatus may be a mobile computing device. The apparatus may be a stationary computing device.

[0160] The apparatus 900 may comprise an input device, such as a keyboard 902a, a mouse 902b, electronic communication devices such as a modem, or a variety of other communication devices. The input device communicates with a computing node 904 of the apparatus. Computing node may refer to any device or system that includes at least one physical and tangible processor 906, and a physical and tangible memory 908 capable of having thereon computer-executable instructions that are executed by the processor. The methods and techniques described above may be implemented on the computing node 904. The apparatus may also include an output device 910, such as the monitor illustrated. Other exemplary embodiments of an output device 910 may include a modem, a printer, or other components known to those skilled in the art. The apparatus 900 may be connected to one or more storage environment(s) 912. The storage environment(s) may store pigment formulation permittivity data associated with a plurality of effect and solid color pigment formulations and associated amounts. The storage environment(s) may store permittivities of pigmented coating layers. The data stored in storage environment 912 may be generated as described in the context of FIG. 5.

[0161] Memory 908 may represent a computer program, where the computer program directs the computer to implement the method and techniques described above. The computer readable medium may be an SD card, a USB storage medium, a floppy disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD, a hard drive, or other devices that are readable by a computer, and that include memory for saving the computer program. In some embodiments, the computer program may be electronically downloaded to the computing node 904, but the downloaded computer program is saved on a tangible device somewhere.

[0162] In an exemplary embodiment, the computer program may direct the computing node 904 to request input from the input device. The input may be data associated with the pigmented coating layer. The input may be data associated with the desired substrate. The input may be data associated with the desired pigmented coating layer(s). The input may be data associated with the further desired coating layer(s). The input may be data associated with the sensor signal. The computer program may direct the CPU 906 to determine the permittivity of a pigmented coating layer as described in FIG. 2 or FIG. 4. The computer program may direct the CPU 906 to determine at least one transmission and / or reflection property of a component. The CPU 906 may access calculations and data for the determination from memory 908 or storage environment(s) 912. The computer program may direct the output device 910 to present one or more of (a) the determined at least one transmission and / or reflection property, (b) the provided predefined threshold value(s), (c) the modified data as described in the context of FIG. 8, or other information as mentioned above.

[0163] FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic drawing of a client server setup that may be used to implement the methods described in FIG. 2 to FIG. 8 in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0164] The system may comprise a server 1002 which may be accessed via a network 1004, such as the Internet, by one or more clients 1006.1 to 1006.n. The server may be an HTTP server and may be accessed via conventional Internet web-based technology. The server 1002 may be configured to perform the methods described in the context of FIG. 2 or FIG. 4. The server 1002 may be configured to perform the methods described in the context of FIG. 6 to FIG. 8. The clients 1006 may be computer terminals accessible by a user and may be customized devices, such as data entry kiosks, or general-purpose devices, such as a personal computer. The clients 1006 may be configured to provide input necessary to perform the methods described in the context of FIG. 2, FIG. 4, FIG. 6, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. The clients 1006 may comprise a screen and may be used to display the determined permittivity of the pigmented coating layer. The clients 1006 may comprise a screen and may be used to display the determined at least one transmission and / or reflection property of a component. A printer 1008 may be connected to a client terminal client 1006. The internet-based system may be useful, if a service is provided to customers or in a larger company setup.

[0165] The present disclosure has been described in conjunction with preferred embodiments and examples as well. However, other variations can be understood and effected by those persons skilled in the art and practicing the claimed invention, from the studies of the drawings, this disclosure and the claims. Any steps presented herein can be performed in any order. The methods disclosed herein are not limited to a specific order of these steps. It is also not required that the different steps are performed at a certain place or in a certain computing node of a distributed system, i.e. each of the steps may be performed at different computing nodes using different equipment / data processing. As used herein ..determining" also includes ..initiating or causing to determine", “generating" also includes ..initiating and / or causing to generate" and “providing” also includes “initiating or causing to determine, generate, select, send and / or receive”. “Initiating or causing to perform an action” includes any processing signal that triggers a computing node or device to perform the respective action.

[0166] In the claims as well as in the description the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single element or other unit may fulfill the functions of several entities or items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in the mutual different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used in an advantageous implementation.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A computer-implemented method for determining a permittivity of a pigmented coating layer, wherein the pigmented coating layer is producible by applying a pigmented coating material to at least part of a surface of a component and wherein the pigmented coating material is preparable at least in part from one or more effect and / or solid color pigment formulation(s), the method comprising the steps of: providing data associated with the pigmented coating material, determining formulation data associated with the pigmented coating material based on the provided data associated with the pigmented coating material, gathering - based on the determined formulation data - pigment formulation permittivity data associated with the one or more effect and / or solid color pigment formulation(s), wherein the pigment formulation permittivity data is gathered from a storage environment containing pigment formulation permittivity data associated with a plurality of effect and solid color pigment formulations and respective amounts, determining the permittivity of the pigmented coating layer based on the gathered pigment formulation permittivity data, optionally providing the determined permittivity of the pigmented coating layer.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining the formulation data associated with the pigmented coating material includes determining mixing data associated with the respective pigmented coating material.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the formulation data includes data being indicative of the effect and / or solid color pigment formulation(s) and associated amounts.

4. The computer-implemented method of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pigment formulation permittivity data associated with the plurality of effect and solid color pigment formulations and respective amounts is generated by measuring a plurality of known effect and solid pigment formulation permittivities for a plurality of different effect and solid color pigment formulations and associated amounts, and optionally extrapolating and / or interpolating the pigment formulation permittivity for amounts not measured from the plurality of known pigment formulation permittivities measured at the plurality of different amounts.

5. The computer-implemented method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein gathering the pigment formulation permittivity data associated with the one or more effect and / or solid color pigment formulation(s) includes gathering pigment permittivity data from the storage environment based on the determined formulation data.

6. The computer-implemented method of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein determining the permittivity of the pigmented coating layer based on the provided pigment permittivity data includes determining a weighted average permittivity based on the provided pigment formulation permittivity data and a linear or non-linear relationship between the permittivity and amounts of the respective effect and / or solid color pigment formulation.

7. A computer-implemented method for determining a permittivity of a pigmented coating layer, wherein the pigmented coating layer is producible by applying a pigmented coating material to at least part of a surface of a substrate and wherein the pigmented coating material is preparable at least in part from one or more effect and / or solid color pigment formulation(s), the method comprising the steps of: providing data associated with the pigmented coating material, providing the permittivity of the pigmented coating layer based on the provided data associated with the pigmented coating material, wherein the permittivity of the pigmented coating layer is provided from a storage environment containing a plurality of permittivities of pigmented coating layers and wherein the permittivity of each pigmented coating layer has been determined from pigment permittivity data associated with the one or more effect and / or solid color pigment formulation(s) , optionally providing the determined permittivity of the pigmented coating layer.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the pigment permittivity data associated with the one or more effect and / or solid color pigment formulation(s) is determined from pigment formulation permittivity data associated with a plurality of effect and solid color pigment formulations and respective amounts.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 or 8, wherein the pigment formulation permittivity data associated with a plurality of effect and solid color pigment formulations and respective concentration is generated by measuring a plurality of known pigment formulation permittivities for a plurality of different effect and solid color pigment formulations and associated concentrations, and optionally extrapolating the pigment formulation permittivity for the effect and solid color pigment formulations and associated concentrations not measured from the plurality of known pigment formulation permittivities measured at the plurality of different concentrations.

10. The computer-implemented method of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the data associated with the pigmented coating material is provided from a color matching process.

11. An apparatus for determining a permittivity of a pigmented coating layer, wherein the pigmented coating layer is producible by applying a pigmented coating material to at least part of a surface of a substrate and wherein the pigmented coating material is preparable at least in part from one or more effect and / or solid color pigment formulation(s), the apparatus comprising one ormore computing node, and one or more computer-readable media having thereon computerexecutable instructions which, when executed by the one or more computing node, configure the apparatus to perform the computer-implemented method of any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. A computer-implemented method for determining at least one transmission and / or reflection property of a component, wherein the component comprises at least one desired substrate, at least one desired pigmented coating layer preparable from a pigmented coating material and optionally at least one further desired coating layer being different from the desired pigmented coating layer, the method comprising the steps of: providing data associated with the desired substrate, providing data associated with the desired at least one pigmented coating layer, wherein said data includes the permittivity of the at least one desired pigmented coating layer as determined according to the computer-implemented method of any one of claims 1 to 10 and layer thickness data of the at least one pigmented coating layer, optionally providing data associated with the at least one further desired coating layer, determining the at least one transmission and / or reflection property of the component based on the provided data associated with the desired substrate, data associated with the at least one desired pigmented coating layer and optionally the data associated with the at least one further desired coating layer.

13. A computer-implemented method for determining at least one transmission and / or reflection property of a component, wherein the component comprises at least one desired substrate, at least one desired pigmented coating layer preparable from a pigmented coating material and optionally at least one further desired coating layer being different from the desired pigmented coating layer, the method comprising the steps of: providing data associated with the desired substrate, provide data associated with pigmented coating material(s), determining the permittivity of each pigmented coating layer according to the method of any one of claims 1 to 10 based on provided data associated with pigmented coating material(s), providing layer thickness data of the at least one pigmented coating layer, optionally providing data associated with the at least one further desired coating layer, determining the at least one transmission and / or reflection property of the component based on the provided data associated with the desired substrate, the determined permittivity of the at least one desired pigmented coating layer, the provided layer thickness data, and optionally the data associated with the at least one further desired coating layer.

14. An apparatus for determining at least one transmission and / or reflection property of a component, wherein the component comprises at least one desired substrate, at least one desired pigmented coating layer preparable from a pigmented coating material and optionally at least one furtherdesired coating layer being different from the desired pigmented coating layer, the apparatus comprising one or more computing node, and one or more computer-readable media having thereon computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the one or more computing node, configure the apparatus to perform the computer-implemented method of claim 12 or 13.

15. Use of the computer-implemented method of any one of claims 1 to 10 or 12 to 13 within a process for repairing a substrate comprising a damaged coating containing at least one pigmented coating layer and / or within a process for recoating a coated substrate or a substrate having been coated with at least one coating layer, and / or within a process for coating an automotive part with at least one coating layer during a repair process.

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