Method and apparatus for automating calibration of test instruments

• US 20070010958A1
• Filed: 07/05/2005
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Schumacher, Richard, Cook, Daniel, Chou, Winston, Kinkade, David, Griffith, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,277,810 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/85
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 35/00 Testing or calibrating of apparatus covered by the other groups of this subclass

Abstract

A calibration engine, which seeks to eliminate disconnects between both manual and automated calibration procedures. It abstracts the process of procedure development such that procedure writers can produce automated procedures without being computer programmers. By organizing calibration procedure elements in a relational database format, a relational automated calibration engine (RACE) provides the mechanism whereby a single calibration procedure can be executed in either a manual, automated, or semi-automated fashion. It supports pre-engineered standard substitution, is cross platform, and seeks to preserve the investment of existing calibration procedures. In order to work in multiple deployed environments, RACE has been authored to ensure maximum flexibility with regard to required hardware and software. The engine can operate both with and without an installed operating system and relational database server. Well-defined interfaces have been designed to ensure interoperability with other laboratory software elements such as scheduling, reporting, and measurement uncertainty.

Claims

1. A system including and instrument controller for automating calibration of test instruments, said instrument controller comprising:

a computer having a processor and memory;

a relational arrangement of calibration procedure elements arranged in a database structure, said database structure stored in said memory;

a sequencer executing said calibration procedure elements using said computer;

an interface for connecting said computer to a corresponding instrument interface.

2. The system defined by claim 1 further comprising:

a master controller;

an interface for connecting said master controller to at least one said instrument controller.

3. The system defined by claim 2 wherein said interface is one of a universal serial bus, IEEE 1394 and ethernet.

4. The system defined by claim 1 wherein said relational arrangement of calibration procedure elements comprise instrument commands and instrument functions.

5. The system defined by claim 1 wherein said sequencer selectively operates in a simulation mode.

6. The system defined by claim 1 wherein said sequencer selectively operates in a test mode.

7. The system defined by claim 2 wherein said at least one instrument controller is bootable from each of a local area network and from a universal serial bus key.

8. The system defined by claim 7 wherein said master controller provides current versions of said said database structure and said sequencer to said at least one instrument controller using said local area network.

9. The system defined by claim 7 wherein said master controller provides current versions of said said database structure and said sequencer to said at least one instrument controller using said universal serial bus key.