High intensity calibration device

• US 8,107,634 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2008
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Lee, Robert D., Tuss, Joel R., Underbrink, James R., Wenneman, Wayne F., Gratzer, Richard M
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, A O
• Application Number:
  US12/258,405
• Publication Number:
  US 20100104108A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,193 Days
• Field of Search: 381/58, 381/59, 381/92, 381/310, 381/17, 735/85, 735/71, 735/79, 736/63, 73/10.2, 731/120.1
• US Class Current: 381/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence

Abstract

A calibration device for calibrating a dynamic pressure sensor includes a power/control box and a portable calibration head disposed in electrical communication with the power/control box. The portable calibration head may include a calibration head housing having a housing opening and a speaker provided in the calibration head housing and communicating with the housing opening. The power/control box may be configured to induce emission of an acoustic calibration signal from the speaker of the calibration head.

Claims

1. A calibration device, comprising:

a power/control box; and

a portable calibration head disposed in electrical communication with said power/control box and comprising;

a calibration head housing having a housing opening;

a speaker provided in said calibration head housing and communicating with said housing opening; and

wherein said power/control box is configured to induce emission of an acoustic calibration signal from said speaker of said calibration head.

2. The calibration device of claim 1 further comprising a sensor adaptor carried by said calibration head housing and having an adaptor opening communicating with said housing opening.

3. The calibration device of claim 2 wherein said sensor adaptor is interchangeable on said calibration head housing.

4. The calibration device of claim 2 wherein said sensor adaptor is transparent.

5. The calibration device of claim 2 further comprising an elastomeric seal carried by said sensor adaptor.

6. The calibration device of claim 5 further comprising a leak detection circuit provided in said power/control box and adapted to detect a leak in said elastomeric seal.

7. The calibration device of claim 6 wherein said leak detection circuit is adapted to indicate said leak in said elastomeric seal by at least one of an aural indication and a visible indication.

8. The calibration device of claim 1 wherein said acoustic calibration signal is selectable by type, level and frequency.

9. The calibration device of claim 1 further comprising a grip provided on said calibration head housing of said calibration head.

10. A calibration device, comprising:

a power/control box; and

a portable calibration head disposed in electrical communication with said power/control box and comprising;

a calibration head housing having a generally cylindrical main housing, a generally tapered speaker housing extending from said main housing and a housing opening provided in said speaker housing;

a speaker provided in said speaker housing and communicating with said housing opening; and

wherein said power/control box is configured to induce emission of an acoustic calibration signal from said speaker of said calibration head.

11. The calibration device of claim 10 further comprising a sensor adaptor carried by said calibration head housing and having an adaptor opening communicating with said housing opening.

12. The calibration device of claim 11 wherein said sensor adaptor is interchangeable on said calibration head housing.

13. The calibration device of claim 11 wherein said sensor adaptor is transparent.

14. The calibration device of claim 11 further comprising an elastomeric seal carried by said sensor adaptor.

15. The calibration device of claim 14 further comprising a leak detection circuit provided in said power/control box and adapted to detect a leak in said elastomeric seal.

16. The calibration device of claim 10 wherein said acoustic calibration signal is selectable by type, frequency and volume.

17. The calibration device of claim 10 further comprising a generally disc-shaped grip provided on said calibration head housing of said calibration head.

18. A method of calibrating a dynamic pressure transducer, comprising:

providing a power/control box;

providing a portable calibration head having a calibration head housing with a housing opening and a speaker provided in said calibration head housing and communicating with said housing opening;

connecting said portable calibration head to said power/control box;

placing said portable calibration head over a pressure sensor; and

driving said speaker to generate an acoustic calibration signal in said portable calibration head and impinge said acoustic calibration signal against said dynamic pressure transducer.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising providing a sensor adaptor having an adaptor opening communicating with said housing opening on said calibration head housing, and wherein said placing said portable calibration head over a pressure sensor comprises placing said sensor adaptor over said pressure sensor.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising selecting a type of said acoustic calibration signal to be broadcasted from said speaker.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising selecting at least one of a frequency and volume of said acoustic calibration signal to be broadcasted from said speaker.

22. The method of claim 18 further comprising indicating a leak in said portable calibration head by at least one of an aural indication and a visible indication.

23. A calibration device for calibrating a dynamic pressure transducer installed on a fixture, comprising:

a power/control box comprising;

a power box housing;

a front panel interface provided on said power box housing; and

calibration head indicators and controls provided on said front panel interface and including a frequency adjustment knob and a volume adjustment knob;

a battery housing provided in said power box housing;

at least one battery provided in said battery housing and connected to said calibration head indicators and controls;

a power interface provided in said power box housing and electrically connected to said at least one battery; and

a portable calibration head disposed in electrical communication with said calibration head indicators and controls of said power/control box and comprising;

a calibration head housing having a generally cylindrical main housing, a generally tapered speaker housing extending from said main housing and a housing opening provided in said speaker housing;

a speaker provided in said speaker housing and communicating with said housing opening;

a transparent sensor adaptor carried by said speaker housing and having an adaptor opening communicating with said housing opening;

an LED provided in said speaker housing and adapted to illuminate said sensor adaptor; and

wherein said power/control box is configured to induce emission of an acoustic calibration signal from said speaker of said calibration head provide and selection of a signal type of said acoustic calibration signal responsive to actuation of said calibration head indicators and controls.

24. A method of calibrating a pressure sensor while the pressure sensor is installed on a fixture, comprising:

providing a power/control box;

providing a portable calibration head having a calibration head housing with a housing opening, a speaker provided in said calibration head housing and communicating with said housing opening and a microphone and an LED provided in said calibration head housing;

providing a transparent sensor adaptor having a sensor adaptor opening and an elastomeric seal on said calibration head housing of said calibration head with said sensor adaptor opening communicating with said housing opening;

connecting said portable calibration head to said power/control box;

positioning said sensor adaptor over a pressure sensor with said pressure sensor located in said adaptor opening and said seal engaging a surface surrounding said pressure sensor;

establishing electrical power from said power/control box to said speaker and said LED in said calibration head;

selecting a type of acoustic calibration signal to be broadcasted from said speaker using said power/control box;

selecting at least one of a frequency and a volume of an acoustic calibration signal to be broadcasted from said speaker using said power/control box;

driving said speaker using feedback from said microphone to generate an acoustic calibration signal in said adaptor opening of said adaptor and impinge said acoustic calibration signal against said pressure sensor; and

removing said sensor adaptor from said pressure sensor.