Digital Color Matching System for Vehicle Refinish Coatings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for matching the color and appearance of vehicle coatings for refinishing are time-consuming, prone to errors, and require repeated testing and manual adjustments, lacking a quick and efficient way to determine the best aftermarket matching refinish coating composition.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses vehicle identification information to retrieve preliminary matching formulas from a database, generates images representing the color and appearance characteristics, and displays them for comparison with the target coating, allowing for accurate selection of matching formulas without extensive trial and error.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If visual color matching tools such as refinish color chips are used, then color matching can be performed, but the process becomes time-consuming and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual color matching with an automated computer-controlled colorimeter/spectrophotometer system that objectively measures color values and automatically compares them against a database of refinish coating formulations, eliminating the time-consuming manual process while maintaining or improving matching accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital copy of the target coating's color values through measurement and stores it in computer memory, then compares this digital representation against stored formulations rather than requiring physical visual comparison of color chips
2Measurement precision
If a computer controlled colorimeter or spectrophotometer is used to measure color values and compare with database, then color matching accuracy is improved, but the system cannot identify matching formulas based on vehicle identification information
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to perform multiple functions: it can identify coatings through vehicle identification information (make, model, year, paint code) to retrieve pre-stored matching formulations, and it can also measure actual color values using a colorimeter/spectrophotometer when visual inspection is needed, making the system adaptable to different matching scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-stores multiple refinish coating formulations and their corresponding color values in a database associated with vehicle identification information, so that when a vehicle is identified, the matching formulations are already available without requiring measurement and comparison at the moment of matching
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple refinish matching coating compositions are developed for each OEM coating, then color and appearance matching options are increased, but the complexity of selecting the best match increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback by automatically comparing the measured color values of the target coating against the stored color values of multiple refinish formulations, ranking or identifying the best matches based on the closest color value correspondence, thereby simplifying the selection process despite having multiple options available
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention is directed to a system for digital displaying images of various colors and appearances of an article and the use thereof. The invention is particularly directed to a system for displaying images for selecting one or more matching formulas to match color and appearance of an article. The invention is even further directed to a system for displaying images for selecting one or more matching formulas to match color and appearance of a target coating of a vehicle.