Formulation of complex coating mixtures with effect pigments

• US 9,482,657 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2013
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio Incorporated (Nouryon BV)
• Original Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio Incorporated (Nouryon BV)
• Inventors: Bell, Steve, Haskings, Phil
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai, Carol S
• Application Number:
  US14/073,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20150127269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,090 Days
• Field of Search: 702/22, 428/623, 427/8, 118/712, 141/83
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/463 Colour matching
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/504 Goniometric colour measurements, for example measurements of metallic or flake based paints
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/575 Photogoniometering
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/8427 Coatings
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/255 Details, e.g. use of specially adapted sources, lighting or optical systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/4738 Diffuse reflection precedence is given to G01N21/55 - G01N21/57 if specular component is taken into consideration, e.g. also for testing fluids, fibrous materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8422 Investigating thin films, e.g. matrix isolation method
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/32 Paints; inks investigating resistance to the weather, to corrosion, to light G01N17/00

Abstract

A computer implemented method. The method includes obtaining, using a processor, reflectance data from a target coating and calculating, using the processor, a reflectance from the data, wherein calculating comprises performing a calculation using a radiative transfer equation. The method also includes generating, using the processor and based on the reflectance, a coating formulation that is the same or substantially similar in appearance to the target coating.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method, comprising:

receiving through a digital communication channel, from a spectrophotometer, reflectance data from a calibration panel;

calculating, with a processing device, Fourier coefficients of a phase function associated with the reflectance data from the calibration panel, wherein the phase function is associated with a portion of a radiative transfer equation;

calculating, with the processing device, attenuation and orientation parameters and an anisotropic factor for the calibration panel, wherein the attenuation parameters comprise a scattering cross section and absorption determined from the reflectance data received from the spectrophotometer;

determining a solution to the radiative transfer equation for the calibration panel, wherein the radiative transfer equation comprises portions associated with the Fourier coefficients of the phase function, the attenuation and orientation parameters, and the anisotropic factor;

receiving through a digital communication channel, from a spectrophotometer, reflectance data from a target coating;

selecting a list of possible toners that are present within the target coating;

calculating a reflectance of the possible toners, based upon the attenuation parameters and a modified radiative transfer equation; and

generating, using the processing device and based on the calculated reflectance of the possible toners, a coating formulation that is the same or substantially similar in appearance to the target coating, wherein the coating formulation utilizes one or more of the possible toners.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising optimizing the coating formulation.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising calculating a plurality of radiative transfer parameters from reflectance data obtained from the calibration panel.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising changing the coating formulation by removing at least one toner from the coating formulation.

5. A system, comprising:

a database; and

a processor in communication with the database and programmed to;

receive through a digital communication channel, from a spectrophotometer, reflectance data from a target coating;

select a list of possible toners that are present within the target coating;

calculate a reflectance of the possible toners, based upon attenuation parameters and a modified radiative transfer equation, wherein the attenuation parameters are calculated from a calibration panel; and

generate, using the processor and based on the calculated reflectance of the possible toners, a coating formulation that is the same or substantially similar in appearance to the target coating, wherein the coating formulation utilizes one or more of the possible toners.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor comprises an analysis module, a display module, and an input/output module.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is further programmed to optimize the coating formulation.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is further programmed to calculate a plurality of radiative transfer parameters from reflectance data obtained from the calibration panel.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is further programmed to:

calculate, with the processor, Fourier coefficients of a phase function associated with the reflectance data from the calibration panel, wherein the phase function is associated with a portion of a radiative transfer equation;

calculate, with the processor, attenuation and orientation parameters and an anisotropic factor for the calibration panel, wherein the attenuation parameters comprise a scattering cross section and absorption determined from the reflectance data received from the spectrophotometer; and

determine a solution to the radiative transfer equation for the calibration panel, wherein the radiative transfer equation comprises portions associated with the Fourier coefficients of the phase function, the attenuation and orientation parameters, and the anisotropic factor.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving through a digital communication channel, from a spectrophotometer, reflectance data from a calibration panel;

means for calculating, with a processing device, Fourier coefficients of a phase function associated with the reflectance data from the calibration panel, wherein the phase function is associated with a portion of a radiative transfer equation;

means for calculating, with the processing device, attenuation and orientation parameters and an anisotropic factor for the calibration panel, wherein the attenuation parameters comprise a scattering cross section and absorption determined from the reflectance data received from the spectrophotometer;

means for determining a solution to the radiative transfer equation for the calibration panel, wherein the radiative transfer equation comprises portions associated with the Fourier coefficients of the phase function, the attenuation and orientation parameters, and the anisotropic factor;

means for receiving through a digital communication channel, from a spectrophotometer, reflectance data from a target coating;

means for selecting a list of possible toners that are present within the target coating;

means for calculating a reflectance of the possible toners, based upon the attenuation parameters and a modified radiative transfer equation; and

means for generating, based on the calculated reflectance of the possible toners, a coating formulation that is the same or substantially similar in appearance to the target coating, wherein the coating formulation utilizes one or more of the possible toners.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising means for optimizing the coating formulation.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising means for calculating a plurality of radiative transfer parameters from reflectance data obtained from the calibration panel.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium including software, which when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:

receive through a digital communication channel, from a spectrophotometer, obtain reflectance data from a calibration panel;

calculate, with a processing device, Fourier coefficients of a phase function associated with the reflectance data from the calibration panel, wherein the phase function is associated with a portion of a radiative transfer equation;

calculate, with the processing device, attenuation and orientation parameters and an anisotropic factor for the calibration panel, wherein the attenuation parameters comprise a scattering cross section and absorption determined from the reflectance data received from the spectrophotometer;

determine a solution to the radiative transfer equation for the calibration panel, wherein the radiative transfer equation comprises portions associated with the Fourier coefficients of the phase function, the attenuation and orientation parameters, and the anisotropic factor;

receive through a digital communication channel, from a spectrophotometer, reflectance data from a target coating;

select a list of possible toners that are present within the target coating;

calculate a reflectance of the possible toners, based upon the attenuation parameters and a modified radiative transfer equation; and

generate, based on the calculated reflectance of the possible toners, a coating formulation that is the same or substantially similar in appearance to the target coating, wherein the coating formulation utilizes one or more of the possible toners.

14. The medium of claim 13, further comprising software for causing the processor to optimize the coating formulation.

15. The medium of claim 13, further comprising software for calculating a plurality of radiative transfer parameters from reflectance data obtained from the a processor in communication with the database and programmed to calibration panel.