Measuring apparatus with a validation capability of its previous calibration

• US 7,209,847 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2004
• Issued: 04/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Horiba Limited
• Original Assignee: Horiba Limited
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui; Bryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sun; Xiuqin
• Application Number:
  US10/842,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20050021271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 702/85, 702/107, 702/104, 702/127, 702/73, 726/26, 713/200, 700/109, 700/709, 324/115, 600/551, 600/324, 250/339.09, 250/349, 732/041.1
• US Class Current: 702/85
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 35/007 Standards or reference devices, e.g. voltage or resistance standards, "golden references"

Abstract

An improved measuring apparatus includes a calibration-related data storage section for storing calibration-related data including, at least, user identifiers for identifying users who have calibrated the apparatus, and calibration date and time data indicative of the date and time of calibration. A display output section is operative to fetch data related to the latest calibration from the calibration-related data storage section by reference to the calibration date and time data and then display an indication of a user identified by a user identifier included in the data related to the latest calibration as a calibrator identifiably together with the measurement outcome.

Claims

1. A measuring apparatus comprising:

a detecting section having a pair of electrode portions and operative to output a potential difference which occurs when the pair of electrode portions are brought into contact with a test subject for measurement;

a main body removably attachable to the detecting section and displaying a characteristic value of the test subject determined from the potential difference on a measurement screen on the main body as a measurement outcome;

a calibration-related data storage section in the main body for storing calibration-related data including, at least, user identifiers for identifying users who have previously calibrated the apparatus, and a calibration date and time data indicative of the date and time of the previous calibration; and

a display output section in the main body operative to fetch data related to a latest calibration from the calibration-related data storage section by reference to the calibration date and time data and then display an indication of a user identified by a user identifier included in the data related to the latest calibration as a calibrator identifiably together with the measurement outcome simultaneously on a same screen as the measurement screen.

2. The measuring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a user identifier input receiving section on the main body for receiving an input of a user identifier identifying a user; and

a function range setting section in the main body for setting a range of functions which can be used by the user identified by the user identifier inputted.

3. The instrument of claim 1 further including stored operation instructions for the user that are displayed concurrently with the historical calibration data.

4. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the current operational characteristic of a probe is displayed on the display screen during calibration.

5. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the relative sensitivity of a probe is displayed on the display screen.

6. An instrument which requires calibration to maintain reliability comprising:

a detecting unit for performing a measurement on a test subject and providing a representative output signal;

a controller unit for processing the output signal to provide a measurement output including input controls and a calibration-related data storage section for storing calibration-related data including user data setting forth user information enabling the controller unit to operate when a predetermined user code is entered by the input controls and a ranking-related data storage section to store a level of operation permitted by a predetermined user, the controller unit processing the ranking-related data associated with the predetermined user code to enable the instrument to a corresponding level of operation including automatically entering and storing calibrated data associated with a specific user as historical calibration data to insure traceability of the calibration of the instrument; and

a display screen for displaying indicia of the representative output signal and the stored historical calibration data when the instrument has been enabled to permit the predetermined user to calibrate the instrument,

wherein the detecting unit measures pH and the controller unit displays asymmetry potential of the detecting unit on the display screen during measurement.

7. The instrument of claim 6 further including maintenance data that is used to calculate the operative status of the detecting unit in response to the input of the stored calibration data.

8. An instrument which requires calibration to maintain reliability, comprising:

a main body with a display screen;

operator input members for entering data on the main body including a user identifier;

a probe attached to the main body for contacting a test subject and providing a measurement signal; and

a controller unit in the main body for processing the measurement signal to provide a measurement output including a calibration-related data storage section for storing calibration-related data including user data setting forth user information enabling the controller unit to operate when a predetermined user identifier is entered by the input members and a ranking-related data storage section to store a level of operation permitted by a predetermined user, the controller unit processing the ranking-related data associated with the predetermined user identifier to enable the instrument to provide a corresponding level of operation including automatically entering and storing calibrated data associated with a specific user as historical calibration data to ensure traceability of the calibration of the instrument and displaying the historical calibration data created by the identified specific user with the current calibration measurement output on the same display screen.

9. The instrument of claim 8 wherein the probe measures pH and the controller unit displays an asymmetry potential of the probe on the display screen during calibration.

10. The instrument of claim 8 further including stored operation instructions for the user that are displayed concurrently with the historical calibration data.

11. The instrument of claim 8 wherein the current operational characteristic of the probe is displayed on the display screen during calibration.

12. The instrument of claim 8 wherein the relative sensitivity of the probe is displayed on the display screen.

13. An instrument which requires calibration to maintain reliability comprising:

a probe for contacting a test subject and providing a measurement signal; and

a controller unit for processing the measurement signal to provide a measurement output including input controls and a calibration-related data storage section for storing calibration-related data including user data setting forth user information enabling the controller unit to operate when a predetermined user code is entered by the input controls and a ranking-related data storage section to store a level of operation permitted by a predetermined user, the controller unit processing the ranking-related data associated with the predetermined user code to enable the instrument to a corresponding level of operation including automatically entering and storing calibrated data associated with a specific user as historical calibration data to insure traceability of the calibration of the instrument; and

a display screen for displaying indicia of the measurement signal and the stored historical calibration data when the instrument has been enabled to permitting the predetermined user to calibrate the instrument and

wherein the probe measures pH and the controller unit displays asymmetry potential of the probe on the display screen during measurement.