IP Library Granted Patent US 10,410,439
Granted Patent B1
US 10,410,439 · App. 15/287,838 · Granted Sep 10, 2019

Determining and assessing post-accident vehicle damage

Inventors: Jess W. Gingrich (San Antonio, TX); Carlos J. Chavez (San Antonio, TX)
Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
G07C5/0808G01C21/3407G01N29/069G01N29/4445G06Q40/08G01N2291/0289
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,410,439
App. No.
15/287,838
Granted
Sep 10, 2019
Kind
B1
Abstract

The present disclosure provides systems, machine-readable media, and methods for detecting and assessing damage to a motor vehicle. One or more embodiments include dispositioning the motor vehicle based on the detected damage using a repair/scrap threshold.

Claims (28)

1. A system for detecting damage, comprising:

a sensor to detect damage to a motor vehicle;

a network interface communicative with a data store, wherein the data store includes baseline acoustic response information associated with the motor vehicle;

a processor operatively connected to the network interface and the sensor, and communicative connected with a memory having instructions recorded thereon that, when read by the processor, cause the processor to:

cause the sensor to issue acoustic energy toward the motor vehicle and receive reflected acoustic energy therefrom;

receive acoustic response data related to the motor vehicle subsequent to damage, wherein the acoustic response data is collected by the sensor;

compare the received acoustic data to the baseline acoustic response information associated with the motor vehicle to determine an amount of damage to the motor vehicle;

determine a repair/scrap threshold for the motor vehicle; and

determine a disposition of the motor vehicle based on the amount of damage to the motor vehicle and the repair/scrap threshold.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the data store includes a repair/scrap disposition threshold particular to the motor vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to process an insurance claim using the determined disposition of the motor vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions recorded on the memory further cause the processor to perform frequency analysis on the received reflected acoustic energy.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor to:

cause a sensor to issue acoustic energy toward a motor vehicle and receive reflected acoustic energy therefrom;

receive acoustic response data related to the motor vehicle subsequent to damage, wherein the acoustic response data is collected by the sensor;

compare the received acoustic data to baseline acoustic response information associated with the motor vehicle to determine an amount of damage to the motor vehicle;

determine a repair/scrap threshold for the motor vehicle; and

determine a disposition of the motor vehicle based on the amount of damage to the motor vehicle and the repair/scrap threshold.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 5 , wherein the instructions include instructions executable by the processor to determine an amount of damage to a frame of the motor vehicle.

7. A method of dispositioning a motor vehicle, comprising:

receiving acoustic response data related to a motor vehicle subsequent to damage, wherein the acoustic response data is collected by a sensor;

comparing the received acoustic data to baseline acoustic response information associated with the motor vehicle to determine an amount of damage to the motor vehicle;

determining a repair/scrap threshold for the motor vehicle; and

determining a disposition of the motor vehicle based on the amount of damage to the motor vehicle and the repair/scrap threshold.

8. The method of claim 7 , including displaying an indication of the disposition of the motor vehicle.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the repair/scrap threshold is based on at least one of information from a data store and characteristics of the motor vehicle before damage was incurred.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the characteristics of the motor vehicle before damage was incurred includes a remaining service life of a motor vehicle component.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the repair/scrap threshold is calculated dynamically for the motor vehicle based.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 14, 2019
From: UIPCO, LLC
To: UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION (USAA)
Reel/Frame 049176/0155 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 30, 2017
From: UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION (USAA)
To: UIPCO, LLC
Reel/Frame 041796/0117 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 7, 2016
From: GINGRICH, JESS W.; CHAVEZ, CARLOS J.
To: UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION (USAA)
Reel/Frame 039964/0894 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 62239662 · Oct 9, 2015
Cited By (4)
US 50,810 US 12,190,358 US 12,229,732 US 12,670,514