Methods and apparatus for calibrating transducer-including devices

• US 9,400,226 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2013
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Sessego, Raimondo P., Jones, Peter T., Paransun, Seyed K., Stanley, James D., McWhorter, William D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Phuong
• Application Number:
  US13/859,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20140303926A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 25/005 initial alignment, calibration or starting-up of inertial devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 25/00 Testing or calibrating of apparatus for measuring force, torque, work, mechanical power, or mechanical efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 21/00 Testing or calibrating of apparatus or devices covered by the preceding groups

Abstract

Embodiments of systems for calibrating transducer-including devices include a board support structure, one or more motors, a motor control module, and a calibration control module. The board support structure holds a calibration board in a fixed position with respect to the board support structure. The motor(s) rotate the board support structure around one or more axes of a fixed coordinate system. The motor control module sends motor control signals to the motor(s) to cause the motor(s) to move the board support structure through a series of orientations with respect to the fixed coordinate system. The calibration control module sends, through a communication structure, signals to the transducer-including devices, which are loaded into a plurality of sockets of the calibration board. The signals cause the transducer-including devices to generate transducer data while the board support structure is in or moving toward each orientation of the series of orientations.

Claims

1. A system for calibrating a plurality of transducer-including devices, the system comprising:

a board support structure configured to hold a calibration board in a fixed position with respect to the board support structure;

one or more motors configured to rotate the board support structure around one or more axes of a fixed coordinate system;

a motor control module configured to send motor control signals to the one or more motors to cause the one or more motors to move the board support structure through a series of orientations with respect to the fixed coordinate system;

the calibration board, wherein the calibration board includes a substrate, a plurality of sockets, a first connector, and a plurality of conductors, wherein each socket of the plurality of sockets includes a plurality of socket contacts configured to connect with a corresponding plurality of contacts of a transducer-including device, the plurality of conductors is configured to convey signals between the first connector and the plurality of socket contacts, and the first connector is configured to couple with a communication structure; and

a calibration control module configured to send, through the communication structure, signals to the plurality of transducer-including devices, which are loaded into the plurality of sockets of the calibration board, wherein the signals cause the transducer-including devices to generate transducer data while the board support structure is in or moving toward each orientation of the series of orientations.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the signals further cause the transducer-including devices to calculate calibration coefficients using the transducer data, wherein the calibration coefficients are selected from a gain value, a gain code, an offset value, and an offset code.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the signals further cause the transducer-including devices to store the calibration coefficients in memory of the transducer-including devices.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a processing component configured to receive the transducer data, and to calculate calibration coefficients using the transducer data, wherein the calibration coefficients are selected from a gain value, a gain code, an offset value, and an offset code.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

a circuit board coupled to the board support structure, wherein the processing component is coupled to the circuit board.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the calibration control module is further configured to receive the transducer data from the transducer-including devices, and to calculate calibration coefficients using the transducer data, wherein the calibration coefficients are selected from a gain value, a gain code, an offset value, and an offset code.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the calibration control module is coupled to the board support structure.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein:

each socket of the plurality of sockets is identifiable by a unique identifier, and

the calibration control module is further configured to store information relating to a particular transducer-including device installed in a particular socket using the unique identifier as a key.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

the communication structure, wherein the communication structure includes a second connector coupled to the board support structure, wherein the calibration board is configured to be coupled with the board support structure by connecting the first and second connectors using a reasonable force, and wherein the calibration board is configured to be removed from the board support structure by disconnecting the first and second connectors using a reasonable force.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a base configured to support the board support structure as the board support structure is moved through the series of orientations.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the board support structure is further configured to hold at least one additional calibration board in a fixed position with respect to the board support structure; and

the calibration control module is further configured to send, through the communication structure, the signals to a plurality of transducer-including devices loaded into a plurality of sockets of the at least one additional calibration board.

12. A method for calibrating a plurality of transducer-including devices, the method comprising the steps of:

sending motor control signals to one or more motors to cause the one or more motors to move a board support structure through a series of orientations with respect to a fixed coordinate system, wherein the board support structure is configured to hold a calibration board in a fixed position with respect to the board support structure, and the calibration board includes a plurality of sockets within which the plurality of transducer-including devices are installed, and wherein each socket of the plurality of sockets is identifiable by a unique identifier;

sending, through a communication structure, signals to the plurality of transducer-including devices, wherein the signals cause the transducer-including devices to generate transducer data while the board support structure is in or moving toward each orientation of the series of orientations; and

storing information relating to a particular transducer-including device installed in a particular socket using the unique identifier as a key.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein sending the motor control signals comprises:

sending the motor control signals to cause the one or more motors to move the board support structure through a series of orientations that includes at least one orientation in which a device-fixed axis of the transducer-including devices is aligned with an axis of the fixed coordinate system along which a maximum intensity of an acceleration, a force or a field is present.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein sending the motor control signals comprises:

sending the motor control signals to cause the one or more motors to move the board support structure through a series of orientations that includes at least one orientation in which at least one device-fixed axis of the transducer-including devices is angularly offset from an axis of the fixed coordinate system along which a maximum intensity of an acceleration, a force or a field is present.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the signals further cause the transducer-including devices to calculate calibration coefficients using the transducer data, wherein the calibration coefficients are selected from a gain value, a gain code, an offset value, and an offset code.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the signals further cause the transducer-including devices to store the calibration coefficients in memory of the transducer-including devices.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving the transducer data from the plurality of transducer-including devices; and

calculating calibration coefficients using the transducer data, wherein the calibration coefficients are selected from a gain value, a gain code, an offset value, and an offset code.

18. A method for calibrating a plurality of transducer-including devices, the method comprising the steps of:

sending motor control signals to one or more motors to cause the one or more motors to move a board support structure through a series of orientations with respect to a fixed coordinate system, wherein the board support structure is configured to hold a calibration board in a fixed position with respect to the board support structure, and the calibration board includes a plurality of sockets within which the plurality of transducer-including devices are installed; and

sending, through a communication structure, signals to the plurality of transducer-including devices, wherein the signals cause the transducer-including devices to generate transducer data while the board support structure is in or moving toward each orientation of the series of orientations; and

producing a magnetic field that passes through the board support structure prior to sending the signals to the plurality of transducer-including devices.

19. A method for calibrating a plurality of transducer-including devices, the method comprising the steps of:

loading the plurality of transducer-including devices into the plurality of sockets of the calibration board;

installing the calibration board in the board support structure by coupling a first connector of the calibration board with a second connector of the board support system; and

after installing the calibration board in the board support structure, sending motor control signals to one or more motors to cause the one or more motors to move a board support structure through a series of orientations with respect to a fixed coordinate system, wherein the board support structure is configured to hold a calibration board in a fixed position with respect to the board support structure, and the calibration board includes a plurality of sockets within which the plurality of transducer-including devices are installed; and

sending, through a communication structure, signals to the plurality of transducer-including devices, wherein the signals cause the transducer-including devices to generate transducer data while the board support structure is in or moving toward each orientation of the series of orientations.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising, after completion of moving the board support structure through the series of orientations:

disconnecting the calibration board from the board support structure by disconnecting the first connector from the second connector; and

performing a burn-in process using the calibration board with the plurality of transducer-including devices still loaded in the calibration board.