Sensor calibration method and systems

• US 7,287,699 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2005
• Issued: 10/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Liu, James Z T
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, SEUNG H
• Application Number:
  US11/199,091
• Publication Number:
  US 20070029388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.15, 235/474, 235/476, 235/495, 702/91
• US Class Current: 235/462.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/085 combined with means for recording calibration data
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 3/02 with provision for altering or correcting the law of variation
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 25/10 of flowmeters

Abstract

A sensor calibration system includes a sensor having one or more sensing components formed on a substrate. A barcode can also be configured or printed from or on the, such that the barcode contains calibration data associated with a calibration of the sensor and the sensing component(s). One or more barcode readers can be provided which can scan the barcode and reads the calibration data associated with the calibration of the sensor and the sensing components thereof, in order to reduce the need for trimming the sensor while also providing for a reduction in associated manufacturing and production costs. A binning methodology can also be implemented for reducing overall sensor manufacturing costs.

Claims

1. A sensor calibration system, comprising:

a sensor having at least one sensing component formed on a substrate;

a barcode formed on said substrate, wherein said barcode contains calibration data associated with a calibration of said sensor and said at least one sensing component; and

at least one barcode reader, which scans said barcode and reads said calibration data associated with said calibration of said sensor and said at least one sensing component thereof, in order to reduce a need for trimming said sensor and reduce production costs thereof.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one sensing component comprises a sensor diaphragm.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said sensor diaphragm comprises a pressure sensing diaphragm.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor comprises a pressure sensor.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor comprises a flow sensor associated with a flow tube for sensing flow data associated with a flow of fluid or gas through said flow tube.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a wireless sensor reading unit that scans and reads said calibration data from said barcode in association with said at least one barcode reader.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said wireless sensor reading unit comprises an inductively coupled reader.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said wireless sensor reading unit comprises an optical reader.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said wireless sensor reading unit comprises a passive acoustic reader.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one barcode reader comprises an optical reader.

11. A sensor calibration system, comprising:

a sensor having at least one sensing component formed on a substrate, wherein said at least one sensing component comprises a sensor diaphragm;

a barcode formed on said substrate, wherein said barcode contains calibration data associated with a calibration of said sensor and said at least one sensing component;

at least one barcode reader, which scans said barcode and reads said calibration data associated with said calibration of said sensor and said at least one sensing component thereof, in order to reduce a need for trimming said sensor and reduce production costs thereof; and

a wireless sensor reading unit that scans and reads said calibration data from said barcode in association with said at least one barcode reader.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said wireless sensor reading unit comprises an inductively coupled reader.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein said wireless sensor reading unit comprises an optical reader.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein said wireless sensor reading unit comprises a passive acoustic reader.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein said at least one barcode reader comprises an optical reader.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein said wireless sensor reading unit comprises at least one of the following types of readers:

an inductively coupled reader, an optical reader, or a passive acoustic reader.