Calibration control device for metrology tools
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A calibration control device for being coupled to a measuring device, the calibration control device comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 24)
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19. A calibration control device for being coupled to a measuring device, the calibration control device comprising:
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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.
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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:
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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.
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21. A calibration control device for being coupled to a measuring device, the calibration control device comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification