IDENTIFICATION AND REPAIR SUPPORT DEVICE AND METHOD

Abstract

An identification and repair support device for identifying vehicle components and for supporting a motor vehicle repair process, including an image signal receiver unit, an image processing unit, a memory unit, in which data sets are stored which, for at least one vehicle type, include data sets for a plurality of vehicle components, each data set for a vehicle component including respective relevant pieces of repair instruction information and/or pieces of repair instruction information assigned to respective different repair progress stages of this vehicle component, and an identification and data processing unit, which assigns the image data of the image signal received by the image signal receiver unit to the respective associated data set of the memory unit, and transmits the respective relevant pieces of repair instruction information for the vehicle component included in the data set and/or the pieces of repair instruction information to a display unit.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. An identification and repair support device for identifying vehicle components and for supporting a motor vehicle repair process, and in an entry at an arbitrary point of the repair process, the method comprising: an image signal receiver unit designed to receive an image signal from at least one image signal source, the image signal including image data of at least one vehicle component repair situation; an image processing unit designed to ascertain at least one of: (i) the vehicle component to be repaired, and (ii) a repair progress stage of the vehicle component, from the image data of an image signal received by the image signal receiver unit; a memory unit storing data sets which, for at least one vehicle type, include data sets for a plurality of vehicle components, each data set for a vehicle component including respective relevant at least one of: (i) pieces of repair instruction information, and (ii) pieces of repair instruction information assigned to respective different repair progress stages of this vehicle component; and an identification and data processing unit which is designed to assign the image data of the image signal received by the image signal receiver unit to the respective associated data set of the memory unit, and to transmit at least one of: (i) the respective relevant pieces of repair instruction information for the vehicle component included in the data set, and (ii) the pieces of repair instruction information included in the data set and assigned to the respective repair progress stage of the vehicle component to a display unit.

12. The identification and repair support device as recited in claim 11, wherein the vehicle component repair situation is the installation location of a vehicle component without the vehicle component or with the vehicle component not yet or not completely attached, or not yet or not completely connected.

13. The identification and repair support device as recited in claim 11, wherein the pieces of repair instruction information include at least one of: (i) pieces of information about the respective repair step to be carried out, (ii) pieces of information about respective tools to be used, (iii) pieces of information about subsequent repair steps, and (iv) warnings in the form of pieces of text, image, video or voice information.

14. The identification and repair support device as recited in claim 11, further comprising: at least one input unit, the input using including at least one of: (i) a keyboard, (ii) a touch screen, (iii) a voice input unit, and (iv) a gesture recognition unit.

15. The identification and repair support device as recited in claim 14, wherein at least one of a type of the respective vehicle component and a repair progress stage of the respective vehicle component is inputtable or selectable by a user via the input unit, in the event that the image processing unit is not able to at least one of: (i) clearly recognize the vehicle component to be repaired, and (ii) recognize the repair progress stage of the vehicle component, from the image data of an image signal received by the image signal receiver unit, and wherein the image processing unit asks a mechanic questions to establish clarity based on answers provided by the mechanic.

16. The identification and repair support device as recited in claim 14, wherein the identification and repair support device is operable and controllable by a user via the input unit.

17. The identification and repair support device as recited in claim 11, further comprising: a display unit for displaying at least one of: (i) the image data of the image signal received by the image signal receiver unit, (ii) the respective relevant pieces of repair instruction information for the vehicle component included in the data set, and (iii) the pieces of repair instruction information included in the data set and assigned to the respective repair progress stage of the vehicle component.

18. The identification and repair support device as recited in claim 17, wherein the display unit is designed in such a way that it displays pieces of feedback information or selection menus to the user in order to distinguish cases.

19. The identification and repair support device as recited in claim 11, further comprising: one of: (i) smart glasses, (ii) a helmet having integrated glasses, (iii) a tablet PC, or (iv) a smart phone, which includes at least one of the image signal receiver unit, the display unit, and the input unit.

20. The identification and repair support device as recited in claim 11, wherein the image signal receiver unit is in the form of at least one fixedly installed camera, and the display unit being designed in the form of at least one fixedly installed or portable screen.

21. A method for identifying vehicle components and for supporting a motor vehicle repair process, comprising: receiving an image signal from at least one image signal source by an image signal receiver unit, the image signal receiver unit including a camera of one of: (i) smart glasses, (ii) a helmet having integrated glasses, (iii) a tablet PC, or (iv) a smart phone, the image signal including image data of at least one vehicle component repair situation; ascertaining at least one of: (i) the vehicle component to be repaired, and (ii) a repair progress stage of the vehicle component, from one of the image data of the image signal received by the image signal receiver unit by an image processing unit, or by a suitable dialog function with the mechanic; assigning the image data of the image signal received by the image signal receiver unit to a respective associated data set of a memory unit by an identification and data processing unit, data sets being stored in the memory unit which, for at least one vehicle type, include data sets for a plurality of vehicle components, each data set for a vehicle component including at least one of: (i) respective relevant pieces of repair instruction information, and (ii) respective relevant pieces of repair instruction information assigned to respective different repair progress stages of this vehicle component; and transmitting the at least one of respective relevant pieces of repair instruction information for the vehicle component included in the data set and the pieces of repair instruction information included in the data set and assigned to the respective repair progress stage of the vehicle component to a display unit, the display unit being a display unit of the one of: the smart glasses, the helmet having integrated glasses, the tablet PC, or the smart phone, for the display together with the image signal of the at least one image signal source.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] The present invention is described in greater detail hereafter based on the figures.

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an identification and repair support device according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a motor vehicle repair process according to one further exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0045] The identification and repair support device 2 shown in FIG. 1 includes a tablet PC 4 including, in particular, a digital camera 6 situated on the backside and a display 8 on its front side, which simultaneously serves as a touch-sensitive operating and input panel. On display 8, the image of a repair situation in a motor vehicle recorded by digital camera 6 is shown. Additionally, as is described hereafter, pieces of repair instruction information may be displayed on display 8.

[0046] Identification and repair support device 2 furthermore includes an image processing unit 10 and an identification and data processing unit having an integrated memory unit 12, which are preferably situated in a motor vehicle in a stationary manner, but may also be situated remotely, i.e., in a cloud, for example.

[0047] Image processing unit 10 is connected with the aid of suitable data links, in particular with the aid of a wireless data link, to tablet PC 4 and in particular to its digital camera 6. With the aid of a further data link, in particular with the aid of a hard-wired data link, image processing unit 10 is connected to identification and data processing unit having integrated memory unit 12.

[0048] Identification and data processing unit 12 is connected with the aid of a data link, in particular with the aid of a wireless data link, to display 8 of tablet PC 6 in such a way that the pieces of information generated by identification and data processing unit 12 may be displayed on display 8 of tablet PC 6.

[0049] Motor vehicle repair process 14 in FIG. 2 visualizes the repair process of an exemplary motor vehicle based on four status blocks. First status block 16 represents the status vehicle defect, second status block 18 represents the status repair progress stage 60%, third status block 20 represents the status repair progress stage 65%, and fourth and last status block 22 represents the status motor vehicle repaired.

[0050] A mechanic 24 is assigned to repair the motor vehicle.

[0051] In a first specific exemplary embodiment, the diesel return line returning excessive diesel fuel injected into a combustion chamber of a diesel engine is defective. In a second specific exemplary embodiment, an engine control unit is to be replaced and/or rewired.

[0052] In both instances, the mechanic carries out the first repair steps up to status 18 repair progress stage 60% without using identification and repair support device 2, based on his or her technical know-how and his or her wealth of experience.

[0053] He or she now requires help at the status repair progress stage 60%. In the first exemplary embodiment, he or she is not certain how to place the replaced diesel return line perpendicularly on the bracket/seal. In the second exemplary embodiment, he or she has inserted the new engine control unit, but is not certain about the specific plug arrangement in the wiring harness to be attached and where the plugs are situated.

[0054] In both instances, he or she picks up tablet PC 4 of his or her identification and repair support device 2 (method step 26) and records a picture of the repair situation through digital camera 6. The vehicle component is ascertained from the image data of the image signal by image processing unit 10 and its repair progress stage is determined.

[0055] In the first exemplary embodiment, it is thus recognized that the diesel return line is involved and the repair process has arrived at the repair progress stage 60%, in which the old defective diesel return line has already been removed, and a new intact diesel return line has already been inserted, but this must now be mounted perpendicularly on the bracket/the seal.

[0056] In the second exemplary embodiment, it is recognized that the vehicle component is the wiring harness for connection to the engine control unit, and this is now in the repair status repair progress stage 60%, at which the plugs are now to be correctly connected to one another.

[0057] In both instances, identification and data processing unit 12 assigns the image data to the respective associated data set in the memory unit, which includes the relevant pieces of repair instruction information for the vehicle component. These pieces of repair instruction information are now transmitted to display unit 8 of tablet PC 4 and displayed there together with the image signal/image of the repair situation.

[0058] In the first exemplary embodiment, the repair instruction information that the mechanic needs a specific special tool to mount the diesel return line perpendicularly on the bracket/seal is output to him or her on display 8 of tablet PC 4, and it is indicated to him or her what specific special tool is involved.

[0059] In the second exemplary embodiment, the mechanic is provided with specific pieces of repair instruction information about the plug arrangement in the wiring harness, and where exactly which plugs are situated.

[0060] In both instances, it is possible, if necessary, to display further pieces of information, such as warnings, and the subsequent repair steps to the mechanic.

[0061] Based on these pieces of repair instruction information, mechanic 24 is now able to carry out the next repair step so that thereafter repair status 20 repair progress stage 65% is achieved.

[0062] Thereafter, mechanic 24, in the present exemplary embodiment, may repair the motor vehicle based on his or her technical know-how and his or her wealth of experience and bring it into status 22 motor vehicle repaired, without requesting further repair support from identification and repair support device 2.