WO2022038145A1

WO2022038145A1 - System for identifying a coating on the surface of an object and method for refinishing a surface of an object with damaged coating

Info

Publication number: WO2022038145A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/072847
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christoph Krebs; Zheng Yang JIANG; Jia Lin; Benjamin Delespierre; Na DING
Original assignee: Basf Coatings Gmbh
Priority date: 2020-08-21
Filing date: 2021-08-17
Publication date: 2022-02-24
Also published as: CN116057361A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for identifying a coating on the surface of an object comprising: a color reader to obtain color parameters of the coating; a mobile device in connection to the color reader; and a database of coating formulations, wherein the mobile device is configured to receive the color parameters from the color reader, and to search for a coating formulation in the database of coating formulations that has the same or closest color parameters after it is applied and cured on the surface of an object. The present invention further relates to a method for refinishing a surface of an object with damaged coating.

Description

SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFYING A COATING ON THE SURFACE OF AN OBJECT AND METHOD FOR REFINISHING A SURFACE OF AN OBJECT WITH DAMAGED COATING

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a system for identifying a coating on the surface of an object. The invention also relates to a method for refinishing a surface of an object with damaged coating.

BACKGROUND

Selection of coatings having a desired color and appearance play an important role in many applications. For example, paint suppliers must provide thousands of coatings to cover the range of global OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) manufacturers' coatings for all current and recent model vehicles. Providing this large number of different coatings as factory package products adds complexity to paint manufactures and increases inventory costs. Consequently, paint suppliers provide a mixing machine including typically 50 to 100 components (e g., single pigment tints, binders, solvents, additives) with coating formulations for the components that match the range of coatings of vehicles. The mixing machine may reside at a repair facility (i e., body shop) or a paint distributor and allows a user to obtain the coating having the desired color and appearance by dispensing the components in amounts corresponding to the coating formulation. The coating formulas are typically maintained in a database and are distributed to customers via computer software by download or direct connection to internet databases.

Identifying the coating formula most similar to the target coating for the purpose of repairing is typically accomplished by using a spectrophotometer. Spectrophotometers measure one or more color and appearance attributes of the target coating to be repaired. This color and appearance data is then compared with the corresponding data from potential candidate formulas contained in a database by means of matching software. The candidate formula whose color and appearance attributes best match those of the target coating to be repaired is then selected as the coating formula most similar to the target coating. The results obtained from the matching software and spectrophotometers are precise. Nevertheless, spectrophotometers are expensive and big in size, and the users have to receive a lot of training before they can operate the spectrophotometers and the matching software.

Alternatively, the users may select the best matching formula by visual comparison of the vehicle with color chips, each of which represents a coating formula. These color chips are precise in color; however, they are expensive owing to the vast number of color chips necessary to account for all coatings on vehicles on the road today, and they are always not up to date. For instance, fan decks currently available include a maximum of 250 colors. These fan decks are useful for the user, but they are not so precise for premium formulas and usually out of date shortly after their release.

Various color matching techniques have been developed in the past to aid the selection of the correct matching coating composition to refinish a vehicle, but all have certain significant limitations. To date, there is no quick, easy and inexpensive way to determine which coating composition is the best match in color and appearance for a particular OEM coating. SUMMARY OF THIS INVENTION

The invention provides a system for identifying a coating on the surface of an object, and a method for refinishing a surface of an object with damaged coating.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for identifying a coating on the surface of an object comprising: a color reader to obtain color parameters of the coating; a mobile device in connection to the color reader; and a database of coating formulations, wherein the mobile device is configured to receive the color parameters from the color reader, and to search for a coating formulation in the database of coating formulations that has the same or closest color parameters after it is applied and cured on the surface of an object.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for refinishing a surface of an object with damaged coating comprising steps of: i. using a color reader to obtain color parameters of the coating on the surface of the object where it does lost coating; ii. uploading the color parameters obtained in step i to a mobile device; iii. searching for a coating formulation in a database of coating formulations included in the mobile device based on the color parameters obtained in step i; and iv. refinishing the surface of the object with damaged coating with a refinishing coating material prepared from the coating formulation obtained in step iii.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art and understood upon reading of this disclosure, and especially with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying figures; but the invention is not limited to any particular disclosed embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose that the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be made by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It should be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and by no means limit the invention.

Fig. 1 illustrates a system for identifying a coating on the surface of an object according to an embodiment of the invention and a network environment in which the system may be employed;

Fig. 2 illustrates a flow chart of a method for refinishing a surface of a vehicle with damaged coating according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 illustrates a flow chart for the searching of a coating formulation;

Fig. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a “color match” user interface of the application installed on the mobile device; and

Fig. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a “compare” user interface of the application installed on the mobile device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THIS INVENTION

The present disclosure describes a system for identifying a coating on the surface of an object, and a method for refinishing a surface of an object with damaged coating. One skilled in the art, however, will understand that the present invention may have additional embodiments, which falling within the scope of the claimed invention without departing from the spirit of the claimed invention.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for identifying a coating on the surface of an object comprising: a color reader to obtain color parameters of the coating; a mobile device in connection to the color reader; and a database of coating formulations, wherein the mobile device is configured to receive the color parameters from the color reader, and to search for a coating formulation in the database of coating formulations that has the same or closest color parameters after it is applied and cured on the surface of an object.

In more particular embodiments, said color reader is portable and preferably has a volume of no more than 500 cm³ and more preferably no more than 300 cm³ and even more preferably no more than 100 cm³.

In more particular embodiments, the color reader may include a light source emitting lights at an angle of from 15° to 90°, preferably from 30° to 60°, more preferably from 40° to 50° and most preferably 45° based on the tangent of the surface or the object where the light touches.

In a more particular embodiment, the searching for a coating formulation may comprise steps of: a. searching in the database of coating formulations for one or more potential coating formulations based on the color parameters; b. ranking the potential coating formulations according to matching levels from higher to lower with the color parameters; and c. choosing the coating formulation with the highest matching level with the color parameters.

In a more particular embodiment, the color parameters may comprise lightness, chroma and hue (i.e., Lch values). Optionally or alternatively, the color parameters may comprise spectral reflectance values, RGB (Red, Green, Blue) values, CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) values, CIE XYZ values, Hunter Lab values (L, a, b values), CIE lab values (L*, a*, b* values), NCS (Natural Color System) values or a combination thereof.

In a more particular embodiment, the color reader may be configured to obtain color parameters of the coating via scanning the surface of the object, which is activated by pressing a scan button on the mobile device.

In a further particular embodiment, the color reader may be connected to the mobile device before scanning the surface of the object and may be configured to upload the color parameters to the mobile device before searching for a coating formulation in the database of coating formulations.

In particular embodiments, the mobile device may be installed with an application (i.e. , application program), wherein the color reader may be configured to obtain color parameters of the coating via scanning the surface of the object, which is activated by clicking a scan button on the application. In a more particular embodiment, the searching for a coating formulation may be activated by clicking a match button on the application. In another embodiment, the searching for a coating formulation may be activated in response to receiving the color parameters from the color reader. In preferable embodiments, the color parameters may be converted among Lch values, RGB values, CMYK values CIE XYZ values, Hunter Lab values, CIE lab values, and NCS values in the application. The obtained color parameters may correspond to a color code.

In particular embodiments, the color reader may be in wired connection to the mobile device, preferably by USB connection. Optionally or alternatively, the color reader may be in wireless connection to the mobile device, preferably by Bluetooth connection.

In some embodiments, the mobile device may be selected from a group consisting of smart phone, smart watch, laptop computer, notebook computer, tablet computer, and PDA (personal digital assistant).

In more particular embodiments, the object may be a part of a vehicle, preferably a part of a vehicle with damaged coating on its surface.

In more particular embodiments, the database of coating formulations may comprise coating formulations having information of color parameters. The information of color parameters may include color parameter measurements after the coating material prepared according to the formulation has been applied and cured on an object (such as a part of a vehicle). The coating formulations may further comprise a color code (especially a color code of a vehicle), a color name or description, or a combination thereof. That is, there is a one-to-one match between the coating formulations and the color codes.

In a further aspect of the present invention, it is provided a method for refinishing a surface of an object with damaged coating, comprising steps of: i. using a color reader to obtain color parameters of the coating on the surface of the object where it lost coating; ii. uploading the color parameters obtained in step i to a mobile device; iii. searching for a coating formulation in a database of coating formulations included in the mobile device based on the color parameters obtained in step i; and iv. refinishing the surface of the object with damaged coating with a refinishing coating material prepared from the coating formulation obtained in step iii.

In more particular embodiments, the step iii comprises steps of: a. searching in the database of coating formulations for one or more potential coating formulations based on the color parameters; b. ranking the potential coating formulations according to matching levels from higher to lower with the color parameters; and c. choosing the coating formulation with the highest matching level with the color parameters.

More specifically, in some embodiments, the ranking of the potential coating formulations may use a five-grade scaling system to describe the quality of a color match. In particular embodiments, the step i is accomplished via scanning the surface of the object, which may be activated by pressing a scan button on the mobile device. More particularly, the surface with damaged coating includes areas with or without coating, and the scanning is applied to the areas with coating. It should be understood that even in the same vehicle, different portions of the vehicle may have different, but similar coatings. In a preferable embodiment, the area to be scanned is nearby the area where it lost coating.

In particular embodiments, the step i may include connecting the color reader to the mobile device before scanning the surface of the object with the color reader, and the step ii may be accomplished before the step iii. That is, the color reader uploads the color parameters to the mobile device before searching for a coating formulation in the database of coating formulations.

In further particular embodiments, the mobile device may be installed with an application, wherein the color reader may be configured to obtain color parameters of the coating via scanning the surface of the object, which may be activated by clicking a scan button on the application.

In a more particular embodiment, the searching for a coating formulation may be activated by clicking a match button on the application.

In more particular embodiments, the database of coating formulations may comprise coating formulations having information of color parameters.

Further description of the invention may be made with reference to the attached figures.

Fig. 1 illustrates a system for identifying a coating on the surface of an object according to an embodiment of the invention and a network environment in which the system may be employed. Of course, actual network and server environments can be arranged in a variety of configuration; however, the exemplary environment shown herein provides a framework for understanding the type of environment in which the present invention operates.

As shown in Fig. 1, the system 100 for identifying a coating on the surface of an object comprises a color reader 112, and a mobile device 114 in connection to the color reader 112. In this embodiment, the mobile device 114 can be connected to the color reader 112 by either wired connection (such as USB connection) or wireless connection (such as Bluetooth connection).

The color reader 112 may be used to scan a surface of an object to obtain color parameters of the coating on the surface of the object. More particularly, the color reader 112 includes a light source emitting lights on the surface to be detected, and senses the reflected light to obtain the color parameters of the coating on the surface of the object. In use, the lights emitted from the light source may form an angle of from 15° to 90°, preferably from 30° to 60°, more preferably from 40° to 50°, and most preferably 45° based on the tangent of the surface or the object where the light touches. In the most preferable embodiment, the color reader 112 has only one detecting angle of 45°. This is different from the spectrophotometer, which tests color with multiple detecting angles. It is also different from the spectrophotometer in a big size; in this the system 100, the color reader 112 is portable. Preferably, the color reader 112 is not bigger than a thumb, for example has a volume of no more than 500 cm³, more preferably no more than 300 cm³, and even more preferably no more than 100 cm³. Such color readers are less expensive than conventional spectrophotometers.

With the above-mentioned connections between the color reader 112 and the mobile device 114, the mobile device 114 may send a scanning command to the color reader 112. The color reader 112 may scan an area of the surface to be detected in response to the received scanning command, obtain color parameters of the coating on this area, and upload the obtained color parameters of the coating to the mobile device 114.

The mobile device 114 is installed with an application including a database of coating formulations 116. The user may sign in an account on the application and match the application with a color reader 112. The user may click a scan button on the application (i.e. , a virtual button on the touchscreen) to generate a scan command and send it to the color reader 112, as mentioned above. Alternatively, the scan button may be a physical key on the mobile device. Optionally or alternatively, either clicking a virtual button on the touchscreen or pressing a physical key on the mobile device may achieve the function of the scan button.

Fig. 3 illustrates a flow chart for the searching of a coating formulation. After the scanning of the color reader 112, the obtained color parameters of the coating may be unloaded to the mobile device 114 and present themselves on the application. Then, the application receives the color parameters of the coating(step 302 shown in Fig. 3), and in response initiates the searching of a coating formulation in the database of coating formulations 116 that has the same or closest color parameters after it is applied and cured on the surface of an object. More particularly, the application may search in the database of coating formulations 116 for one or more potential coating formulations based on the obtained color parameters (step 304); then, the potential coating formulations are ranked (step 306) according to matching levels (such as a five grade scaling) from higher to lower with the obtained color parameters; finally, the coating formulation with the highest matching level with the obtained color parameters is chosen (step 308).

In some embodiments, the database of coating formulations may comprise coating formulations having information of color parameters. Particularly, as mentioned previously, the information of color parameters may include color parameter measurements after the coating material prepared according to the formulation has been applied and cured on an object. In some embodiments, the color parameters comprise lightness, chroma and hue (i.e., Lch values). In preferable embodiments, the color parameters can be converted among Lch values, RGB values, CMYK values CIE XYZ values, Hunter Lab values, CIE lab values, and NCS values in the application. The obtained color parameter may correspond to a color image, and each of the color formulations may also correspond to a color image. These color images can be presented in the application. The user may compare the color image of the obtained color parameter with the color images of the listed color formulations. It should be understood that the user may compare the color images obtained from a plurality of scans.

Referring to Fig. 1, the network environment 100 may include the system 110, a network 120, and a server 130. The network 120 is configured to facilitate communication between the system 110, especially the mobile device 120, and the server 130. The network 110 may be a communication network, such as a wireless network, intranet, or the Internet. The server 130 includes a database which provides coating formulations up to date. The mobile device 120 may download the coating formulations up to date from the server 130 periodically. The identification of coating formulation may be performed when the mobile device 120 is offline (disconnected to the network 120). Optionally or alternatively, when the mobile device 120 is online, the application may search for a coating formulation directly in the database of the server 130. Preferably, the server 130 is a cloud server; that is, the server software is host on a cloud platform.

As mentioned above, the object may be a part of a vehicle, preferably a part of a vehicle with damaged coating on its surface. Fig. 2 illustrates a flow chart of a method 200 for refinishing a surface of a vehicle with damaged coating according to an embodiment of the invention. When a surface of a vehicle with damaged coating needs repairing, the user may connect the color reader 112 to the mobile device 114 (step 202), move the color reader 112 near the surface of the vehicle, and scan with the color reader 112 an area with coating that is adjacent to an area which already lost coating. Accordingly, color parameters of the coating on the surface where it lost coating is obtained (step 204). Then, the color parameters obtained in step 204 is uploaded to the mobile device 114 (step 206) automatically. After that, the user may click the match button on the application to search for a coating formulation (step 208) in a database of coating formulations based on the color parameters obtained in step 206. This coating formulation is the coating formulation with the highest matching level with the obtained color parameters. This coating formulation may be sent to a mixing machine to prepare a refinishing coating material for the surface with damaged coating (step 210). Finally, the user may refinish the surface of the vehicle with damaged coating with the prepared refinishing coating material (step 212), followed by necessary curing steps.

Fig. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a “color match” user interface 400 of the application installed on the mobile device. As shown in Fig. 4, the user may press a “color match” button in the block 410 at the bottom of the interface, so as to select the “color match” user interface 400. As mentioned above, in the “color match” user interface 400, there is a scan button 408, which may be pressed to activate the color reader 112 to scan a surface. Then, the color parameters, especially Cl ELab values, of the coating of the surface are obtained, and present themselves in block 402. Meanwhile, the color corresponding to the obtained color parameters may present themselves in block 402 as background. Based on the obtained color parameters, several potential coating formulations that have the same or closest color parameters may be searched out from a chosen database and present themselves according to matching levels in the order from higher to lower matching degree. In this embodiment, blocks 404 and 406 represent two potential coating formulations, of which the formulation of block 404 is the best match in the chosen database. In block 404, there are a formulation’s color shown in block 405, the formulation code “xyz 123”, five solid pentagrams, and description of the matching scale of the formulation. Similarly, in block 406, there are a formulation’s color shown in block 407, the formulation code “abc 456”, one solid pentagram and four hollow pentagrams, and description of the matching scale of the formulation. The users may click the block 404 or 406 to get more information of the respective formulation.

If the user wants to compare the color images obtained from a plurality of scans, he or she may press a “compare” button in the block 410, so as to select a “compare” user interface 500 as illustrated in Fig. 5. As shown in Fig. 5, there are a “scan standard” button 509 and a “scan sample” button 507. In use, the user may put the color reader 112 to a first surface and press the “scan standard” button 509, and the color of the first surface will present itself in block 508; then, the user may put the color reader 112 to a second surface and press the “scan sample” button 507, and the color of the second surface will present itself in block 506. On the top of the “compare” user interface 500, block 502 shows the Delta-E value that describes how big the colors difference is, and block 504 shows the Cl ELab values of both colors and the Delta-Lab that describes in which ways the colors are different. It should be noted that the above- mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. Unless expressly stated otherwise, features described with reference to one embodiment may be used in combination with features described with respect to any of the other embodiments. The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in the claim, "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality, and a single feature or other unit may fulfil the functions of several units recited in the claims. Any reference numerals or labels in the claims shall not be construed as intending to limit their scope.

Claims

9 Claims

1 . A system for identifying a coating on the surface of an object, comprising: a color reader to obtain color parameters of the coating; a mobile device in connection to the color reader; and a database of coating formulations, wherein the mobile device is configured to receive the color parameters from the color reader, and to search for a coating formulation in the database of coating formulations that has the same or closest color parameters after it is applied and cured on the surface of the object.

2. The system according to Claim 1 , wherein said color reader is portable and preferably has a volume of no more than 500 cm³ and more preferably no more than 300 cm³ and even more preferably no more than 100 cm³.

3. The system according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the color reader includes a light source emitting lights at an angle of from 15° to 90°, preferably from 30° to 60°, more preferably from 40° to 50° and most preferably 45° based on the tangent of the surface or the object where the light touches.

4. The system according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the searching for a coating formulation comprises steps of: a. searching in the database of coating formulations for one or more potential coating formulations based on the color parameters; b. ranking the potential coating formulations according to matching levels from higher to lower with the color parameters; and c. choosing the coating formulation with the highest matching level with the color parameters.

5. The system according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the color parameters comprise lightness, chroma and hue.

6. The system according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the color reader is configured to obtain color parameters of the coating via scanning the surface of the object, which is activated by pressing a scan button on the mobile device.

7. The system according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the color reader is connected to the mobile device before scanning the surface of the object and is configured to upload the color parameters to the mobile device before searching for a coating formulation in the database of coating formulations.

8. The system according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the mobile device is installed with an application, wherein the color reader is configured to obtain color parameters of the coating via scanning the surface of the object, which is activated by clicking a scan button on the application.

9. The system according to Claim 8, wherein the searching for a coating formulation is activated by clicking a match button on the application.

10. The system according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the color reader is in wired connection to the mobile device, preferably by USB connection.

11 . The system according to any one of Claims 1-10, wherein the color reader is in wireless connection to the mobile device, preferably by Bluetooth connection.

12. The system according to any one of Claims 1 to 11 , wherein the mobile device is selected from a group consisting of smart phone, smart watch, laptop computer, notebook computer, tablet computer, and PDA (personal digital assistant).

13. The system according to any one of Claims 1 to 12, wherein the object is a part of a vehicle, preferably a part of a vehicle with damaged coating on its surface.

14. The system according to any one of Claims 1 to 13, wherein the database of coating formulations comprises coating formulations having information of color parameters.

15. A method for refinishing a surface of an object with damaged coating, comprising steps of: i. using a color reader to obtain color parameters of the coating on the surface of the object where it lost coating; ii. uploading the color parameters obtained in step i to a mobile device; iii. searching for a coating formulation in a database of coating formulations included in the mobile device based on the color parameters obtained in step i; and iv. refinishing the surface of the object with damaged coating with a refinishing coating material prepared from the coating formulation obtained in step iii.

16. The method according to Claim 15, wherein said color reader is portable and preferably has a volume of no more than 500 cm³ and more preferably no more than 300 cm³ and even more preferably no more than 100 cm³.

17. The method according to Claim 15 or 16, wherein the color reader include a light source emitting lights at an angle of from 15° to 90°, preferably from 30° to 60°, more preferably from 40° to 50° and most preferably 45° based on the tangent of the surface or the object where the light touches.

18. The method according to any one of Claims 15 to 17, wherein the step iii comprises steps of: a. searching in the database of coating formulations for one or more potential coating formulations based on the color parameters; 11 b. ranking the potential coating formulations according to matching levels from higher to lower with the color parameters; and c. choosing the coating formulation with the highest matching level with the color parameters.

19. The method according to any one of Claims 15 to 18, wherein the color parameters comprise lightness, chroma and hue.

20. The method according to any one of Claims 15 to 19, wherein the step i is accomplished via scanning the surface of the object, which is activated by pressing a scan button on the mobile device.

21 . The method according to any one of Claims 15 to 20, wherein the step i includes connecting the color reader to the mobile device before scanning the surface of the object with the color reader, and the step ii is accomplished before the step iii.

22. The method according to any one of Claims 15 to 21 , wherein the mobile device is installed with an application, wherein the color reader is configured to obtain color parameters of the coating via scanning the surface of the object, which is activated by clicking a scan button on the application.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the searching for a coating formulation is activated by clicking a match button on the application.

24. The method according to any one of Claims 15 to 23, wherein the color reader is in wired connection to the mobile device, preferably by USB connection.

25. The method according to any one of Claims 15 to 23, wherein the color reader is in wireless connection to the mobile device, preferably by Bluetooth connection.

26. The method according to any one of Claims 15 to 25, wherein the mobile device is selected from a group consisting of smart phone, smart watch, laptop computer, notebook computer, tablet computer, and PDA (personal digital assistant).

27. The method according to any one of Claims 15 to 26, wherein the object is a part of a vehicle, preferably a part of a vehicle with damaged coating on its surface.

28. The method according to any one of Claims 15 to 27, wherein the database of coating formulations comprises coating formulations having information of color parameters.