Method and apparatus for standardization of a measuring instrument

• US 7,227,623 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2002
• Issued: 06/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FOSS Analytical A/S
• Original Assignee: Foss Tecator AB
• Inventors: Buchmann, Bo, Nilsson, Sven-Anders, Ebelin, Anders, Westerhaus, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Sang H.
• Application Number:
  US10/283,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20040057038A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,679 Days
• Field of Search: 356 71- 73, 356128-135, 356 39- 41, 356317-319, 356/364, 356/705.07, 356/705.08, 356/20, 356/24, 367/111, 128/700, 128/710, 600/323, 600/300, 600/459, 600/485, 607/5, 607/60, 340/573.1, 340/670.18
• US Class Current: 356/72
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/3155 Measuring in two spectral ranges, e.g. UV and visible
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/274 Calibration, base line adjustment, drift correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/278 Constitution of standards
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/359 using near infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0221 Portable; cableless; compact; hand-held

Abstract

A method, a portable device and a measuring instrument for standardization of a satellite measuring instrument to a corresponding master measuring instrument are disclosed. The portable device includes a device for containing a reference material, and an information unit for storing information about the reference material and measurements of the reference material on the master measuring instrument. When placed in a satellite measuring instrument, information from the master instrument stored in the information unit of the portable device is transmitted automatically and wirelessly to the satellite instrument and, together with measurements by the satellite instrument of the reference masterial in the portable device, a standardization model for the satellite instrument and the sample type is obtained.

Claims

1. A portable device for standardization of a satellite measuring instrument to a corresponding master measuring instrument and being transportable therebetween, the device comprising

means for containing a reference material for measurement on the satellite measurement instrument, and

an information unit for storing information about the reference material and about measurements of the reference material on the master measuring instrument;

wherein

said means for containing a reference material for measurement on the satellite measuring instrument includes an analysis window arranged to allow access by said satellite measuring instrument to the reference material.

2. A portable device according to claim 1, wherein said information further is about said master measuring instrument.

3. A portable device according to claim 1, wherein said information unit is physically attached to said means for containing said reference material.

4. A portable device according to claim 1, wherein said information unit comprises a storage means for storing said information.

5. A portable device according to claim 1, wherein said information unit further comprises means for transmitting said information to said satellite measuring instrument.

6. A portable device according to claim 5, wherein said means for transmitting said information is arranged for wireless data transfer.

7. A portable device according to claim 5, wherein said means for transmitting said information comprises a radio frequency identifier.

8. A portable device according to claim 1, wherein said information about the reference material comprises identification of said reference material.

9. A portable device according to claim 1, wherein said information about the reference material further comprises an expiry date of said reference material.

10. A portable device according to claim 1, wherein said information about measurements of the reference material on the master instrument comprises a reference spectrum.

11. A portable device according to claim 10, wherein said reference spectrum is within the entire electromagnetic wavelength range of any wavelength.

12. A portable device according to claim 10, wherein said reference spectrum is within an electro-magnetic wavelength range of visible and infrared wavelengths.

13. A portable device according to claim 10, wherein said reference spectrum is measured by means of said master measuring instrument being a visible and near infrared reflection measuring instrument.

14. A portable device according to claim 10, wherein said reference spectrum is measured by means of said master measuring instrument being a visible and near infrared transmission measuring instrument.

15. A portable device according to claim 1, wherein said means for containing said reference material is hermetically sealable.

16. A portable device according to claim 1, wherein said means for containing said reference material allows visible and near infrared reflection measurements of said reference material being contained in said means for containing said reference material.

17. A portable device according to claim 1, wherein said means for containing said reference material allows visible and near infrared transmission measurements of said reference material being contained in said means for containing said reference material.

20. A portable device according to claim 1, wherein said means for containing a reference material for measurement on the satellite measuring instrument includes an analysis window arranged to allow direct access by said satellite measuring instrument to the reference material.

18. A method of managing information, obtained by means of a master measuring instrument, regarding a reference material for standardization of a satellite measuring instrument, comprising

storing said information in an information unit which is a part of a portable device which also comprises a means for containing said reference material for measurement on the satellite measuring instrument, wherein

said means for containing a reference material for measurement on the satellite measuring instrument includes an analysis window arranged to allow access by said satellite measuring instrument to the reference material,

transporting said portable device from said master measuring instrument to said satellite measuring instrument, and

transmitting said information from said information unit of said portable device to said satellite measuring instrument.

21. A method of managing information according to claim 18, wherein said means for containing a reference material for measurement on the satellite measuring instrument includes an analysis window arranged to allow direct access by said satellite measuring instrument to the reference material.

19. A method for standardizing a satellite measuring instrument, the method comprising

measuring, using a master measuring instrument, a reference spectrum for a reference material contained within a portable device;

storing the reference spectrum along with information regarding the reference material in an information unit of the portable device;

transporting the portable device from the master measuring instrument to the satellite measuring instrument;

transferring the reference spectrum and the information from the information unit of the portable device to the satellite measuring instrument; and

measuring, using the satellite measuring instrument, the reference spectrum for the reference material contained within a portable device.