Mobile Device Color Matching for Vehicle Paint Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for selecting the best paint variant in vehicle repair require extensive physical paint chip samples and expensive computer hardware, making them impractical and inaccurate, especially when using mobile devices with varying display quality.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a mobile device with a color display for data exchange with a central computer, allowing for identification of candidate color standards, visual comparison, and selection of the best matching variant without the need for extensive physical samples, relying on wireless communication and image-based comparisons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If physical paint chip samples are provided for every color variant, then color matching accuracy is improved, but storage space requirements and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical paint chip samples with digital images displayed on a mobile device screen. Each color variant is represented by a digital image that can be viewed and compared against the vehicle's actual paint color. This eliminates the need to store and maintain extensive physical sample collections while preserving color matching functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical/physical system of handling and comparing physical paint chips with an electronic/digital system. The mobile device displays digital images of color variants, and the user compares these images directly against the vehicle's paint color in real-time, replacing the traditional physical sample comparison method.
2Measurement precision
If expensive computer hardware is used for color variant selection, then color matching precision is improved, but cost and accessibility worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes mobile devices that are already widely owned and accessible to users, rather than requiring specialized expensive computer hardware. The mobile device's existing display screen and processing capabilities are sufficient for the color matching task, significantly reducing the cost barrier for implementation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent leverages the universal mobile device, which users already possess for other purposes, to perform the specialized function of color variant selection. This eliminates the need for dedicated expensive equipment and makes the color matching system accessible to anyone with a mobile device.
3Ease of operation
If mobile devices with varying display quality are used, then accessibility and ease of operation are improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the display parameters (brightness, contrast, color saturation) of the digital images shown on the mobile device to optimize visual comparison. By controlling these display parameters, the system compensates for variations in mobile device screen quality and ensures consistent color representation across different devices.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method of selecting the most probable variant of a matching paint candidate color standard for vehicle repair using a mobile device having a color display and an input unit and which is capable of data exchange with a central computer via an at least partly wireless communication line, wherein verbal or symbolic characterizations describing visual differences between a selected candidate color standard and identified variants are displayed on the display of the mobile device.