Automated gauge, assessment system and method
First Claim
1. A gauge assessment apparatus for use with a gauge having a needle that deflects in response to an input control signal, comprising:
- means for generating a predetermined gauge input signal;
means for recording a needle deflection of the gauge in response to the predetermined input signal;
means for analyzing the needle deflection to determine locations of a head portion of the gauge needle and a needle portion remote from said head portion to thereby determine the actual needle deflection; and
means for comparing the actual needle deflection with an expected needle deflection corresponding to the predetermined gauge input signal to thereby assess the accuracy of the gauge.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gauge, system and method are disclosed for determining the accuracy and performance of a gauge by determining the angular deflection of the gauge needle in response to a known input signal. A frequency generator supplies a predetermined frequency signal or a controller supplies an input signal to a gauge motor which causes deflection of the gauge needle. A video camera is used to capture a video frame corresponding to the visual data indicating the needle deflection. The needle includes a head portion and a remote portion, such as a hub or tail, which show up as high intensity values against the low intensity background in the video frame. The pixel intensity values around the perimeter of a selected portion of the frame are scanned to determine the location of maximum intensity pixels which correspond to either the head or the remote portion of the needle. Alternatively, the image is scanned in terms of color. By ascertaining the locations of the head and the remote portion, the exact deflection of the needle can be quickly and accurately determined. This deflection is then compared against the expected deflection based on the known input signal. If the deviation between the two values is not within an acceptable range, the particular gauge is rejected. The deviation may also be used to calibrate the gauge, for example, by realigning the needle or by storing one or more compensation values to be used by the gauge.
19 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A gauge assessment apparatus for use with a gauge having a needle that deflects in response to an input control signal, comprising:
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means for generating a predetermined gauge input signal; means for recording a needle deflection of the gauge in response to the predetermined input signal; means for analyzing the needle deflection to determine locations of a head portion of the gauge needle and a needle portion remote from said head portion to thereby determine the actual needle deflection; and means for comparing the actual needle deflection with an expected needle deflection corresponding to the predetermined gauge input signal to thereby assess the accuracy of the gauge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A gauge assessment apparatus for use with a gauge having a needle that deflects in response to an input signal, comprising:
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a generator to generate a predetermined gauge input signal; a recording unit to record a needle deflection of the gauge in response to the predetermined input signal; a processing unit to analyze the needle deflection to determine locations of a head portion of the gauge needle and a needle portion remote from said head portion to thereby determine the actual needle deflection; and a comparison unit to compare the actual needle deflection with an expected needle deflection corresponding to the predetermined gauge input signal to thereby assess the accuracy of the gauge. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of assessing the accuracy of a gauge having a needle that deflects in response to an input signal, comprising the steps of:
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generating a predetermined gauge input signal; applying the predetermined gauge input signal to a gauge; recording a needle deflection of the gauge in response to the predetermined input signal; analyzing the needle deflection to determine locations of a head portion of the gauge needle and a needle portion remote from said head portion; determining an actual needle deflection based on the locations of the head portion and the remote portion; and comparing the actual needle deflection with an expected needle deflection corresponding to the predetermined gauge input signal to thereby assess the accuracy of the gauge. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification