Color matching method for automotive refinishing

摘要

A computer-controlled method for determining the formula of an aftermarket refinish colorcoat composition, suited for repairing or refinishing monocoat, clearcoat/colorcoat, and tricoat finishes of vehicles, that matches the color of the vehicle's original finish by (a) entering the VIN (vehicle identification number) of the vehicle needing repair or refinishing into a computer programmed to receive such information; (b) entering the manufacturer's paint code for the vehicle in question into the computer also programmed to receive such information; (c) processing the input data by extracting from the VIN the characters in the positions that indicate, at least, the model year and site of manufacture for the vehicle, and placing these characters in a VIN id string; (d) accessing a computer-readable database, either stored in the computer memory, on a diskette, or at a remote location accessible over the Internet, that contains manufacturer's paint codes, refinish data assigned to each paint code that provides all the matching alternate refinish colorcoat compositions created for that particular paint code, and a VIN id string assigned to each refinish colorcoat composition that indicates, at least, the model year and manufacturing site for which that particular refinish colorcoat composition was developed; (e) searching for a refinish colorcoat composition in the database that has a paint code and a VIN id string that match both the paint code and VIN id string of the vehicle in question; and, (f) displaying the formula of the matching refinish colorcoat composition uncovered in the search. IMAGE