Calibration control device for metrology tools

• US 9,631,913 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2013
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
• Inventors: Lefebvre, Bruno, Nahum, Michael, Atherton, Kim W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kwok, Helen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fayyaz, Nashmiya
• Application Number:
  US14/014,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20150059431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,335 Days
• Field of Search: 73 179, 73 181
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/042 Calibration or calibration artifacts G01B3/30, G01B9/02072 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2210/58 Wireless transmission of information between a sensor or probe and a control or evaluation unit
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/002 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/18 Micrometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/205 provided with a counter for digital indication of the measured dimension
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/0002 Arrangements for supporting, fixing or guiding the measuring instrument or the object to be measured

Abstract

A calibration control device for being coupled to a measuring device such as a caliper, micrometer, or gauge is provided. The calibration control device includes a circuit portion and couples to a coupling feature on the measuring device. A calibration limit portion defines a parameter limit as related to a usage limit for which the measuring device is certified as calibrated. A controller operates a host-side data connection portion of the calibration control device to output measuring data in a first mode when the usage limit is not exceeded, and operates the calibration control device to perform a calibration limit function when the usage limit is exceeded. The calibration limit function may include stopping the output of the measuring data through the host-side data connection or providing an out-of-calibration warning to the host, or the like.

Claims

1. A calibration control device for being coupled to a measuring device, the calibration control device comprising:

a body portion configured to couple to a coupling feature on the measuring device;

a circuit portion comprising;

an identifier portion for electronically identifying at least one of the calibration control device and the coupled measuring device;

a device-side data connection portion for coupling to the measuring device for receiving measuring data that is output from the measuring device after the measuring device has performed processing of a measurement signal independent of the calibration control device to provide the measuring data that is received by the device-side data connection portion;

a host-side data connection portion for coupling to a host device and outputting measuring data;

a calibration limit portion that defines a parameter limit that indicates when a certification of calibration of the measuring device expires, the parameter limit being defined in terms of a parameter that is related to at least one of time or usage of the measuring device, wherein an exceeding of the parameter limit by the parameter indicates that the certification of calibration of the measuring device has expired; and

a comparison portion for comparing the current state of the parameter to the parameter limit and indicating when the parameter exceeds the parameter limit; and

a controller portion for providing control signals to operate the calibration control device, wherein;

the controller portion operates the calibration control device to output the measuring data that is received from the measuring device to the host device in a first mode through the host-side data connection portion when the parameter does not exceed the parameter limit; and

the controller portion operates the calibration control device to perform a calibration limit function when the comparison portion of the calibration control device indicates that the parameter exceeds the parameter limit, the calibration limit function being indicative that the certification of calibration of the measuring device has expired.

2. The calibration control device of claim 1, further comprising a communication switch portion connected to receive signals from the device-side data connection portion, and further configured to output measuring data to the host-side data connection portion when the communication switch portion is in a first state corresponding to the parameter not exceeding the parameter limit, and to perform at least a portion of the calibration limit function when the communication switch portion is in a second state corresponding to the parameter exceeding the parameter limit.

3. The calibration control device of claim 2, wherein the second state comprises one of a blocking state or a warning state.

4. The calibration control device of claim 1, wherein the calibration limit function comprises providing an out-of-calibration signal to the host device.

5. The calibration control device of claim 4, wherein the out-of-calibration signal is included with any measuring data that is output to the host device.

6. The calibration control device of claim 1, wherein the body portion comprises an interlocking portion that physically interlocks the calibration control device to the measuring device such that the calibration control device cannot be removed from the measuring device without a specialized interlock release tool.

7. The calibration control device of claim 1, wherein the body portion is shaped to fit within a recessed portion of the measuring device such that the calibration control device does not protrude from the surface of the measuring device.

8. The calibration control device of claim 1, further comprising a battery portion for holding a battery for powering the calibration control device.

9. The calibration control device of claim 1, wherein the host-side data connection portion comprises a power connection for receiving power from the host device for powering the calibration control device.

10. The calibration control device of claim 1, wherein the device-side data connection portion comprises a power connection for receiving power from the measuring device for powering the calibration control device.

11. The calibration control device of claim 1, wherein the parameter is time and the parameter limit comprises at least one of an elapsed time, a time, or a date at which the certification of calibration expires.

12. The calibration control device of claim 1, wherein the circuit portion comprises at least one of a clock portion or an event counter that indicates the current state of the parameter to the comparison portion.

13. The calibration control device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the circuit portion or the host-side data connection portion comprises a wireless communication portion, wherein the wireless communication portion is configured to at least one of:

receive programming signals for programming the calibration control device;

transmit a device identification as indicated by the identifier portion and an indication of whether the parameter has reached the parameter limit;

or transmit measuring data.

14. The calibration control device of claim 1, further comprising an indicator for providing an indication when the parameter reaches the parameter limit.

15. The calibration control device of claim 1, further comprising an indicator for providing an early warning indication before the parameter reaches the parameter limit.

16. The calibration control device of claim 1, further comprising a removal indicating element that comprises at least one of a physical trigger or trigger circuit that is configured to alter operations of the calibration control device if the calibration control device is removed from the measuring device.

17. The calibration control device of claim 16, wherein the removal indicating element is a trigger circuit that is configured to receive an identification signal from the measuring device and if the identification that is indicated by the identification signal does not match the identification indicated by the identifier portion then the controller portion prevents measuring data from being sent to the host device and provides a signal indicating that the measuring device identification does not match.

18. The calibration control device of claim 1, wherein the measuring device is at least one of a caliper, micrometer, or gauge and the coupling feature is at least one of a female connection socket, a mechanical interlock portion, or a mounting connection including a user-installed permanent or semi-permanent fastener on the caliper, micrometer, or gauge.

24. The calibration control device of claim 1, wherein the measuring device is a handheld caliper, and the calibration control device is configured to be coupled to a slider portion of the caliper that includes a measurement display, and the calibration control device has outer body dimensions along respective directions that are each smaller than corresponding outer body dimensions of the slider portion along a corresponding respective direction, when the calibration control device is oriented for being coupled to the slider portion.

19. A calibration control device for being coupled to a measuring device, the calibration control device comprising:

a body portion configured to couple to a coupling feature on the measuring device;

a memory for storing programmed instructions; and

a processor configured to execute the programmed instructions to perform operations including;

operating a device-side data connection portion of the calibration control device to receive measuring data that is output from the measuring device after the measuring device has performed processing of a measurement signal independent of the calibration control device to provide the measuring data that is received by the device-side data connection portion;

operating the calibration control device to define a parameter limit that indicates when a certification of calibration of the measuring device expires, the parameter limit being defined in terms of a parameter that is related to at least one of time or usage of the measuring device, wherein an exceeding of the parameter limit by the parameter indicates that the certification of calibration of the measuring device has expired;

comparing the current state of the parameter to the parameter limit and determining based on the comparison if the parameter exceeds the parameter limit;

operating a host-side data connection portion of the calibration control device to output the measuring data that is received from the measuring device to a host device in a first mode when the parameter does not exceed the parameter limit; and

operating the calibration control device to perform a calibration limit function when it is determined based on the comparison of the current state of the parameter to the parameter limit as performed by the processor of the calibration control device that the parameter exceeds the parameter limit, the calibration limit function being indicative that the certification of calibration of the measuring device has expired, the calibration limit function comprising at least one of (a) operating the host-side data connection portion to output an indicator that the certification of calibration of the measuring device has expired, (b) stopping the output of the measuring data through the host-side data connection portion to the host device, or (c) operating the host-side data connection portion to output the measuring data to the host device in a second mode that is different than the first mode such that it is indicative that the certification of calibration of the measuring device has expired.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with instructions stored thereon that are executable by a processor in a calibration control device that couples to a coupling feature on a measuring device, wherein the instructions are configured to operate the calibration control device to perform operations comprising:

operating a device-side data connection portion of the calibration control device to receive measuring data that is output from the measuring device after the measuring device has performed processing of a measurement signal independent of the calibration control device to provide the measuring data that is received by the device-side data connection portion;

operating the calibration control device to define a parameter limit that indicates when a certification of calibration of the measuring device expires, the parameter limit being defined in terms of a parameter that is related to at least one of time or usage of the measuring device, wherein an exceeding of the parameter limit by the parameter indicates that the certification of calibration of the measuring device has expired;

comparing the current state of the parameter to the parameter limit and determining based on the comparison if the parameter exceeds the parameter limit;

operating a host-side data connection portion of the calibration control device to output the measuring data that is received from the measuring device to a host device in a first mode when the parameter does not exceed the parameter limit; and

operating the calibration control device to perform a calibration limit function when it is determined based on the comparison of the current state of the parameter to the parameter limit as performed by the calibration control device that the parameter exceeds the parameter limit, the calibration limit function being indicative that the certification of calibration of the measuring device has expired, the calibration limit function comprising at least one of (a) operating the host-side data connection portion to output an indicator that the certification of calibration of the measuring device has expired, (b) stopping the output of the measuring data through the host-side data connection portion to the host device, or (c) operating the host-side data connection portion to output the measuring data to the host device in a second mode that is different than the first mode such that it is indicative that the certification of calibration of the measuring device has expired.

21. A calibration control device for being coupled to a measuring device, the calibration control device comprising:

a body portion configured to couple to a coupling feature on the measuring device;

a circuit portion comprising;

a device-side data connection portion for coupling to the measuring device for receiving measuring data from the measuring device;

a calibration limit portion that defines a parameter limit that indicates when a certification of calibration of the measuring device expires, the parameter limit being defined in terms of a parameter that is related to at least one of time or usage of the measuring device, wherein an exceeding of the parameter limit by the parameter indicates that the certification of calibration of the measuring device has expired; and

a comparison portion for comparing the current state of the parameter to the parameter limit and indicating when the parameter exceeds the parameter limit; and

a controller portion for providing control signals to operate the calibration control device, wherein;

the controller portion operates the calibration control device to allow a measuring device display on the measuring device to display the measuring data in a first mode when the parameter does not exceed the parameter limit; and

the controller portion operates the calibration control device to alter the measuring device display when the comparison portion of the calibration control device indicates that the parameter exceeds the parameter limit, the display alteration being indicative that the certification of calibration of the measuring device has expired.

22. The calibration control device of claim 21, wherein altering the measuring device display comprises at least one of (a) altering the appearance of the displayed measuring data, (b) stopping display of the measuring data, or (c) activating an indicator element that is indicative that the certification of calibration of the measuring device has expired.

23. The calibration control device of claim 21, wherein the body portion comprises an interlocking portion that physically interlocks the calibration control device to the measuring device such that the calibration control device cannot be removed from the measuring device without a specialized interlock release tool.