Image-Based Material Matching for Custom Partial Replacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Insurance companies face challenges in efficiently replacing damaged construction materials, particularly when the original material is no longer available or has weathered, leading to costly and time-consuming complete replacements, and incorrect identification of materials results in delays and increased expenses.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize image analysis and a reference database to identify matching materials, with a custom manufacturing facility generating replacement materials when the original is not available, ensuring accurate matching and reducing the need for full replacements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If complete replacement of damaged materials is performed, then matching issues are avoided, but costs and time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial matching qualityVSAvoidreplacement time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the material identification and replacement process into distinct steps: capturing material characteristics through imaging, analyzing the captured data, comparing with database references, and selectively replacing only damaged portions. This segmentation enables precise matching without requiring complete replacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the approach from physical material comparison to digital parameter comparison by capturing material characteristics as images and data, then comparing these digital parameters against a database. This parameter transformation enables accurate matching and reduces replacement scope.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If complete replacement of damaged materials is performed, then matching issues are avoided, but costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial matching qualityVSAvoidreplacement cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial action by identifying and replacing only the damaged portions of materials rather than complete replacement. The image analysis and database comparison enable precise identification of damaged areas, allowing selective replacement that reduces costs while maintaining matching quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If manual material identification is performed, then flexibility is maintained, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial identification flexibilityVSAvoidclaims processing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service material identification by automatically capturing material characteristics through imaging and comparing them against the database without requiring manual expert intervention. This automation maintains flexibility in handling various materials while significantly improving processing speed and productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual mechanical inspection and identification processes with automated optical imaging and digital data comparison. This substitution eliminates the need for manual material examination while maintaining identification accuracy and flexibility across different material types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Device complexity

If traditional material replacement methods are used, then simplicity is maintained, but measurement precision decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereplacement process simplicityVSAvoidmaterial characteristic identification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates digital copies of material characteristics through imaging and data capture, then uses these copies for comparison and identification. This copying approach maintains procedural simplicity while dramatically improving measurement precision by enabling accurate digital analysis of material properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS11628625B2System and method for custom material, replacement

Publication Date: 2023.04.18 STATE FARM MUTAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY

AI summary

A method for generating a material for a partial replacement includes receiving an image of a sample of an original material needing to be replaced, generating a representative data set for the original material based on the image received, accessing a reference database comprised of a plurality of different materials and including reference texture data or reference characteristic data for each of the plurality of different materials, comparing the representative data set to the reference data in the reference database, identifying at least one of the plurality of different materials correlated to the representative data set, determining the identified correlated material is not available, sending a request to generate a replacement material, and generating the replacement material.