METHOD AND DEVICE FOR VISUALIZING REPLACEMENT PARTS

Abstract

A method for visualizing replacement parts, e.g. for a passenger transport system, including the steps: displaying a list of possible replacement parts on a screen of a mobile device and prompting for selection of a specific replacement part; downloading 3D data of the selected replacement part from an external server via a network, the 3D data containing spatial information regarding visually discernable properties of the selected replacement part; displaying a perspective view of the selected replacement part with the visually discernable properties on the screen from an initial viewing angle; determining a change in an orientation of the mobile device in an altered orientation; and displaying a perspective view of the selected replacement part with the visually discernable properties from an altered viewing angle corresponding to the altered orientation thereby assisting a maintenance engineer to easily and intuitively inspect and reliably choose a replacement part for a defective component.

Claims

1-11. (canceled)

12. A method for visualizing replacement parts for a system, the method comprising the steps of: displaying a list of possible replacement parts on a screen of a processor-controlled mobile device and enabling selection of a specific replacement part from the displayed list by a user of the mobile device; downloading 3D data of a selected replacement part from an external server via a network in response to a selection by the user, the 3D data containing spatial information regarding visually discernable properties of the selected replacement part; displaying a perspective view of the selected replacement part with the visually discernable properties on the screen of the mobile device from an initial viewing angle; determining a change in an orientation of the mobile device when the mobile device is moved to an altered orientation; and displaying another perspective view of the selected replacement part with the visually discernable properties on the screen of the mobile device from an altered viewing angle corresponding to the altered orientation.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the system is a passenger transport system.

14. The method according to claim 12 wherein the altered orientation of the mobile device is determined on a basis of signals provided by acceleration sensors in the mobile device.

15. The method according to claim 12 including determining touches on the screen of the mobile device and changing at least one of a size and an orientation of either of the perspective views of the selected replacement part depending on the touches determined.

16. The method according to claim 12 including taking a photo of a component of the system with a camera of the mobile device and displaying the photo together with either of the perspective views of the selected replacement part on the screen of the mobile device.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the photo and the either perspective view of the selected replacement part are displayed at least partially superimposed.

18. The method according to claim 16 including transmitting the photo together with the another perspective view of the selected replacement part in the altered viewing angle to an external server.

19. The method according to claim 12 wherein the 3D data are CAD data of the selected replacement part.

20. The method according to claim 12 including downloading the 3D data from the external server via a wireless network.

21. A mobile device comprising: a processor adapted to perform the method steps according to claim 12 for the system; a camera for taking photos of components of the system; and the screen for displaying the list and the perspective views.

22. The mobile device according to claim 21 including at least one acceleration sensor for signaling to the processor the altered orientation of the mobile device.

23. A computer program product comprising computer-readable instructions which, when executed by a processor-controlled mobile device, cause the mobile device to execute, control or implement the method steps according to claim 12.

24. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having the computer program product according to claim 23 stored thereon.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] FIGS. 1A to 1D illustrate steps of a method according to the invention for visualizing replacement parts.

[0056] The drawings are merely schematic and not true to scale. Like reference signs denote like or equivalent features in the various drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0057] FIGS. 1A to 1D illustrate various steps (a) to (d) of an embodiment of a method according to the invention for visualizing replacement parts.

[0058] In a first step (a), as illustrated in FIG. 1A, a list 5 of possible replacement parts 7 is displayed on the screen 3 of a mobile device 1 controlled by a processor 4. In the list 5, written information 9 and/or pictorial information 11 can be shown for each possible replacement part 7.

[0059] A maintenance engineer who has been entrusted with the maintenance of a passenger transport system, for example, and would like to replace a defective component 13 therein, can select a specific replacement part 15 from this list 5.

[0060] The mobile device 1 can then contact an external server 19, for example via an interface 17, in which 3D data 33 on a large number of replacement parts 7 are stored. The server 19 can be operated by a manufacturer of replacement parts 7, for example. The 3D data 33 can, for example, be CAD data that the manufacturer created in the course of developing and/or manufacturing the replacement parts 7. The server 19 can be part of a data cloud 21. The mobile device 1 can then download 3D data 33 on the specifically selected replacement part 15 from the server 19, preferably by wireless data transmission.

[0061] As illustrated in step (b) shown in FIG. 1B, the mobile device 1 can then show visually discernable properties of the selected replacement part 15, as defined in the downloaded 3D data 33, on the screen 3 in a perspective view. The perspective view is initially based on an initial viewing angle.

[0062] The maintenance engineer can then, as illustrated in step (c) shown in FIG. 1C, view the replacement part 15 shown on the screen 3 of the mobile device 1 from different viewing angles. For this purpose, the maintenance engineer can move the mobile device 1, in particular swivel, rotate and/or turn it, in order to change its orientation. The orientation of the mobile device 1 in an altered orientation can be determined with the aid of acceleration sensors 25 (FIG. 1A) of the mobile device 1. The specifically selected replacement part 15 can then be shown in a perspective view in an altered viewing angle corresponding to the altered orientation.

[0063] Optionally, in an additional step (d), as illustrated in FIG. 1D, a camera 23 of the mobile device 1 can be used to take a photo 27 of the component 13 to be replaced. The photo 27 can then be displayed on the screen 3 together with the perspective view of the replacement part 15 specifically selected beforehand. The photo 27 and the perspective view of the replacement part 15 can be visualized next to one another or in an at least partially overlapping manner (not shown for reasons of clarity).

[0064] If necessary, the photo 27 together with the perspective view of the replacement part 15 can be transmitted from the mobile device 1 to an external server 29, which in turn can be part of a data cloud 31, in order to have it analyzed there to determine whether the replacement part 15 can really suitably replace the component 13.

[0065] In summary and with revised wording, an idea on which the approach presented here is based can be seen as displaying a type of virtual hologram for each replacement part in order to make a selection easier for a field technician. Source data for the hologram can come from CAD data as it was previously created for replacement parts. The hologram or the perspective view of the replacement part can be generated on the screen of the mobile device using the integrated camera, acceleration sensors and graphics software modules. An existing replacement parts catalog or an app configured for this purpose can be expanded in order to gain access to the 3D models of each replacement part. The app will then calculate the design and show it on the screen of the mobile device, for example as an overlay image over a camera image. When the 3D model is shown, the user can pivot his mobile device. Based on the acceleration sensor values, the app will rotate the 3D model in the corresponding axis. Because the background on the screen shows the current camera image, the user will get a feeling of a holographic replacement part when the mobile device is moved in one axis. Overall, a required replacement part can be better identified as a result, because the user can receive a 3D image of the replacement part and a 360° view of the part. As a result, fewer incorrect orders can be made for replacement parts, thereby saving costs and/or shortening downtimes for defective passenger transport systems.

[0066] Finally, it should be noted that terms such as “comprising,” “having,” etc. do not preclude other elements or steps, and terms such as “a” or “an” do not preclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be noted that features or steps which have been described with reference to one of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above.

[0067] In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiment. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.