Computer-implemented method and apparatus for matching paint

• US 20020152049A1
• Filed: 04/25/2002
• Published: 10/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio Incorporated (Nouryon BV)
• Original Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio Incorporated (Nouryon BV)
• Inventors: Lewis, Mark D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,337,162 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/127
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0264 Electrical interface; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/027 Control of working procedures of a spectrometer; Failure detection; Bandwidth calculation
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/46 Measurement of colour; Colour measuring devices, e.g. colorimeters measuring colour temperature G01J5/60
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/463 Colour matching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access

Abstract

A computer implemented method for matching paint on a vehicle, having the steps of receiving in a central computer, from a remote terminal, vehicle identifying information relating to a specific vehicle and a first set of paint color data from a portion of the body of the vehicle. The central computer includes a processor, an electronic storage means in which a database is stored. The database includes vehicle identifying information for a plurality of vehicles, paint color data associated with respective vehicle identifying information, and paint formulations associated with paint color data. A first process by software in the computer determines a first best match paint formulation which relates submitted vehicle identifying information and submitted paint data to a paint formulation. The software in the computer determines a first best match paint formulation which is transmitted to the remote terminal. The central computer receives a second set of paint color data from the remote terminal representing a surface of the specific vehicle painted with the first best paint formulation and compares by a second process the second paint color data to the first paint color data so as to establish accuracy data. The accuracy data is applied to the first process so as to be implemented in subsequent paint formulation identifications.

Claims

1. A method for determining a refinish colorcoat composition that matches the color and color effect of a vehicle'"'"'s original finish, comprising:

gathering the VIN (vehicle identification number) and paint color data from a vehicle needing refinishing;

extracting from the VIN, the model year and manufacturing site information for that vehicle;

searching a database that contains paint color data, refinish data assigned to the paint color data that indicates the matching refinish colorcoat compositions for the paint color data, and VIN numbers assigned to the refinish colorcoat compositions that indicate the model years and manufacturing sites for the refinish colorcoat compositions; and

identifying the refinish colorcoat composition in the database that matches the paint color data, model year, and manufacturing site extracted from the vehicle, thereby revealing the refinish colorcoat composition that matches the color and color effect of the vehicle'"'"'s original finish.

2. The method of claim 1 as practiced by a computer acting under a program.

3. A computer system for retrieving a refinish colorcoat composition that matches the color and color effect of the vehicle'"'"'s original finish, which comprises a computer that performs the method of claim 1.

4. A computer-controlled method for determining a refinish colorcoat composition, suited for refinishing paint finishes of vehicles, that matches the color and color effect of the vehicle'"'"'s original finish within an acceptable color tolerance, comprising:

inputting the vehicle'"'"'s VIN (vehicle identification number) into a computer configured to receive such information;

inputting paint color data for the vehicle in question into the computer also configured to receive such information;

processing the input data by extracting from the VIN number the characters in the positions that indicate, at least, the model year and site of manufacture for the vehicle being refinished, and placing these characters in a VIN id string;

accessing a computer-readable data file that contains paint color data, refinish data assigned to the paint color data that indicates matching refinish colorcoat compositions for the paint color data, and a VIN id string assigned to the refinish colorcoat compositions that indicates, at least, the model years and manufacturing sites for the refinish colorcoat compositions;

executing a search for a refinish colorcoat composition in the computer-readable data file that has assigned thereto paint color data and a VIN id string that match both the paint color data and VIN id string of the vehicle in question; and

displaying in human-readable form the refinish colorcoat composition uncovered in the search, thereby revealing the refinish colorcoat composition that matches the color and color effect of the original finish of the vehicle in question within an acceptable color tolerance.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

preparing an actual refinish colorcoat composition from the composition displayed; and

applying the prepared refinish colorcoat composition to an area of the vehicle requiring repair or refinishing.

6. A method for determining a refinish colorcoat composition that matches the color and color effect of a vehicle'"'"'s original finish, comprising:

ascertaining paint color data, model year, and site of manufacture of a vehicle needing refinishing;

searching a database of refinish colorcoat compositions wherein each refinish composition in the database has assigned thereto paint color data, a vehicle model year, and a vehicle site of manufacture; and

identifying the refinish colorcoat composition in the database that matches the paint color data, model year, and manufacturing site extracted from the vehicle, thereby revealing the refinish colorcoat composition that matches the color and color effect of the vehicle'"'"'s original finish.

7. The method of claim 6 as practiced by a computer acting under a program.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the model year and site of manufacture are ascertained from the VIN (vehicle identification number).