Instrumentation system with multiple sensor modules providing calibration date information
First Claim
1. An instrumentation apparatus for sensing and measuring at least one parameter, comprising in combination:
- a. a first sensor module including a first sensor responsive to a condition for generating a first electrical signal indicative of such condition;
b. a second sensor module including a second sensor responsive to a condition for generating a second electrical signal indicative of such condition;
c. central processor means responsive to electrical signals generated by said first sensor module and by said second sensor module for computing a measurement sensed by said first sensor module and by said second sensor module, said central processor means including date means for identifying the present date;
d. display means coupled to said central processor means for numerically displaying the measurement computed by said central processor means;
e. means for selectively coupling one of said first and second sensor modules to said central processor;
f. each of said first and second sensor modules including calibration date code means for providing to said central processor means information which said central processor means can compare to the present date for detecting that the selected sensor module requires recalibration;
g. said central processor means being responsive to the calibration date code means of the selected sensor module that is coupled to said central processor means for comparing the information provided thereby to the present date, and causing said display means to display warning indicia if the selected sensor module requires recalibration.
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Abstract
An instrumentation system includes a hand-held computer-based measuring meter having a visual display and a plurality of individual sensor modules that can be selectively coupled to the measuring meter for measuring one of a variety of parameters such as temperature, pressure, or the like. Each sensor module includes a sensor responsive to a particular stimulus, as well as a data memory for storing information about the sensor. When the sensor module is interconnected with the measuring meter, the measuring meter accesses the memory of the sensor module to input data corresponding to sensor type, an accuracy code, calibration point data, and a calibration date code. The measuring meter compares the calibration date code to the current date to determine whether the sensor module requires recalibration. The measuring meter uses the accuracy code data to determine the number of significant digits displayed by the visual display. The measuring meter uses the sensor type code and calibration points to calibrate the measuring meter relative to the sensor module and to select the algorithm used to compute the current value measured by the sensor module.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. An instrumentation apparatus for sensing and measuring at least one parameter, comprising in combination:
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a. a first sensor module including a first sensor responsive to a condition for generating a first electrical signal indicative of such condition; b. a second sensor module including a second sensor responsive to a condition for generating a second electrical signal indicative of such condition; c. central processor means responsive to electrical signals generated by said first sensor module and by said second sensor module for computing a measurement sensed by said first sensor module and by said second sensor module, said central processor means including date means for identifying the present date; d. display means coupled to said central processor means for numerically displaying the measurement computed by said central processor means; e. means for selectively coupling one of said first and second sensor modules to said central processor; f. each of said first and second sensor modules including calibration date code means for providing to said central processor means information which said central processor means can compare to the present date for detecting that the selected sensor module requires recalibration; g. said central processor means being responsive to the calibration date code means of the selected sensor module that is coupled to said central processor means for comparing the information provided thereby to the present date, and causing said display means to display warning indicia if the selected sensor module requires recalibration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification