Method and system for transferring calibration data between calibrated measurement instruments
First Claim
1. A test method for use with measurement instruments of the type which obtain measurement data from a sample and which utilize experimentally determined calibration curves to convert the measurement data into measurement readings, said test method being characterized by facilitating the calibration and use of a number of field instruments, and comprising the steps ofproviding a master measurement instrument;
- providing at least one field measurement instrument;
establishing a cross relationship between the measurement data detected by the master instrument and the measurement data detected by the field instrument;
.Iadd.obtaining a background measurement by the master instrument;
.Iaddend.establishing master calibration data for a particular material by testing samples using the master instrument;
creating adjusted calibration data, specific for a particular field instrument, by adjusting the master calibration data based upon the previously established cross relationship between the master instrument and that particular field instrument .Iadd.and the previously obtained master instrument background measurement.Iaddend.;
.Iadd.obtaining a background measurement by the field instrument;
.Iaddend.andusing the adjusted calibration data in the field instrument .Iadd.and the background measurement obtained by the field instrument .Iaddend.to convert measurement data obtained by the field instrument into measurement readings.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method and system which is useful on instruments requiring experimentally determined calibration curves by which calibration data can be transferred to a plurality of field gauges, thereby avoiding the necessity of individually calibrating each gauge each time calibration is necessary. The field gauges are initially cross related to a master gauge. At a later time when a new calibration is necessary, the master gauge is calibrated using carefully prepared samples of a test material. Using the experimentally derived calibration curves with the cross relation data provides calibration data for the field gauges.
32 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A test method for use with measurement instruments of the type which obtain measurement data from a sample and which utilize experimentally determined calibration curves to convert the measurement data into measurement readings, said test method being characterized by facilitating the calibration and use of a number of field instruments, and comprising the steps of
providing a master measurement instrument; -
providing at least one field measurement instrument; establishing a cross relationship between the measurement data detected by the master instrument and the measurement data detected by the field instrument; .Iadd.obtaining a background measurement by the master instrument;
.Iaddend.establishing master calibration data for a particular material by testing samples using the master instrument; creating adjusted calibration data, specific for a particular field instrument, by adjusting the master calibration data based upon the previously established cross relationship between the master instrument and that particular field instrument .Iadd.and the previously obtained master instrument background measurement.Iaddend.; .Iadd.obtaining a background measurement by the field instrument;
.Iaddend.andusing the adjusted calibration data in the field instrument .Iadd.and the background measurement obtained by the field instrument .Iaddend.to convert measurement data obtained by the field instrument into measurement readings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A test method for use with nuclear gauges of the type which measure the neutron moderating characteristics of a sample by detecting thermal neutron counts, and through the use of calibration constants for a particular type of material, provide a measurement of the amount of a hydrogenous substance in a sample of the material, said test method being characterized by facilitating the calibration and use of a number of field gauges, and comprising the steps of
providing a master neutron gauge; -
providing at least one field neutron gauge; establishing a cross relationship between the thermal neutron counts detected by the master gauge and those detected by the field gauge; .Iadd.obtaining a background measurement by the master gauge;
.Iaddend.establishing master calibration constants for a particular material using the master gauge; creating adjusted calibration constants, specific for a particular field gauge by adjusting the master calibration constants based upon the previously established cross relationship between the master gauge and that particular field gauge .Iadd.and the previously obtained master gauge background measurement.Iaddend.; .Iadd.obtaining a background measurement by the field gauge;
.Iaddend.andusing the adjusted calibration constants in the field gauge .Iadd.and the background measurement obtained by the field gauge .Iaddend.to obtain measurements of the amount of the hydrogenous substance in a sample of the material. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A test method for measuring the asphalt content of an asphalt-aggregate paving mix with the use of nuclear gauges of the type which measure the neutron moderating characteristics of a sample of the asphalt-aggregate mix and obtain thermal neutron counts which represent, through the use of calibration constants, a measurement of the asphalt content of a sample of the asphalt-aggregate mix, said method characterized by facilitating the calibration and use of a number of field gauges and comprising the steps of
providing a master neutron gauge; -
providing at least one field neutron gauge; .Iadd.establishing initial background measurements by the master gauge and by the at least one field gauge;
.Iaddend.establishing a cross relationship between the thermal neutron counts detected by the master gauge and those detected by the field gauge when measuring the asphalt content of a sample; .Iadd.obtaining a subsequent background measurement by the master gauge for use in comparison against the initial master gauge background measurement to adjust for changes in counts since establishment of said cross relationship;
.Iaddend.establishing master calibration constants for a particular variety of asphalt-aggregate paving mix using the master gauge; generating adjusted calibration constants for the particular variety of asphalt-aggregate paving mix which are specific for a particular field gauge by adjusting the master calibration constants based upon the previously established cross relationship between the master gauge and that particular field gauge .Iadd.and the previously established initial master gauge background measurement.Iaddend.; .Iadd.obtaining a subsequent background measurement by the field gauge;
.Iaddend.andusing the adjusted calibration constants in the field gauge .Iadd.and the initial and subsequent background measurement obtained by the field gauge .Iaddend.to obtain measurements of the asphalt content of the particular variety of asphalt-aggregate paving mix. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A test method for measuring the asphalt content of an asphalt-aggregate paving mix with the use of nuclear gauges of the type which measure the neutron moderating characteristics of a sample of the asphalt-aggregate paving mix by detecting thermal neutron counts, wherein the gauges are calibrated through the use of calibration constants for a particular variety of asphalt-aggregate paving mix and the gauges provide a measurement indicative of the asphalt content in a sample of the particular variety of paving mix, said method being characterized by facilitating the calibration and simultaneous use of a number of field gauges, and comprising the steps of
providing a .[.lab based.]. master neutron gauge; -
providing at least one field neutron gauge; establishing a cross relationship between the thermal neutron counts detected by a master gauge and those detected by the field .Iadd.gauge .Iaddend.by obtaining a background thermal neutron count by the master gauge and thermal neutron counts of a plurality of samples of different compositions by the master gauge, also obtaining a background thermal neutron count by the field gauge and thermal neutron counts of the same plurality of samples, and defining the cross relationship between the thermal neutron counts obtained by the master gauge and those obtained by the field gauge; storing the thus established cross relationship in the field gauge; establishing master calibration constants for a particular variety of the asphalt-aggregate mix by using the master gauge to obtain thermal neutron counts for samples of known asphalt content; establishing a master background measurement on the master gauge; transferring the master calibration constants and the master background measurement to the field gauge; generating adjusted calibration constants for the particular variety of asphalt-aggregate paving mix which are specific for the particular field gauge by adjusting the master calibration constants based upon the cross relationship which is stored in the field gauge, and using the adjusted calibration constants in the field gauge to obtain measurements of the asphalt content of the particular asphalt-aggregate paving mix.
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15. A test method for measuring the asphalt content of an asphalt-aggregate paving mix with the use of nuclear gauges of the type which measure the neutron moderating characteristics of a sample of the asphalt-aggregate paving mix by detecting thermal neutron counts, wherein the gauges are calibrated through the use of calibration constants for a particular variety of asphalt-aggregate paving mix and the gauges provide a measurement indicative of the asphalt content in a sample of the particular variety of paving mix, said method being characterized by facilitating the calibration and simultaneous use of a number of field gauges, and comprising the steps of
providing a .[.lab based.]. master neutron gauge; -
providing at least one field neutron gauge; establishing a cross relationship between the thermal neutron counts detected by a master gauge and those detected by the field .Iadd.gauge .Iaddend.by obtaining a background thermal neutron count using the master gauge and thermal neutron counts of a plurality of samples of different compositions by the master gauge, also obtaining a background thermal neutron count using the field gauge and thermal neutron counts of the same plurality of samples using the field gauge, and defining the cross relationship between the measurements obtained by the master gauge and those obtained by the field gauge; storing the thus established cross relationship; establishing master calibration constants for a particular variety of the asphalt-aggregate mix by using the master gauge to obtain thermal neutron counts for samples of known asphalt content; establishing a master background measurement on the master gauge; generating adjusted calibration constants for the particular variety of asphalt-aggregate paving mix which are specific for the particular field gauge by adjusting the master calibration constants based upon the cross relationship; transferring the adjusted calibration constants to the field gauge; and using the adjusted calibration constants in the field gauge to obtain measurements of the asphalt content of the particular asphalt-aggregate paving mix.
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16. A test system for measurement instruments of the type which obtain measurement data from a sample and which utilize experimentally determined calibration curves to convert the measurement data into measurement readings, said test system being characterized by facilitating the calibration and use of a number of field instruments, and comprising
a master measurement instrument; -
at least one field measurement instrument; means for storing a derived cross relationship between the measurement data detected by the master instrument and the measurement data detected by the field instrument; means for storing master calibration data derived from .[.tests.]. .Iadd.measurements .Iaddend.with the master measurement instrument on a particular material; means for applying the stored cross relationship to the stored master calibration data to create adjusted calibration data; and means in the particular field instrument for using the adjusted calibration data in the field instrument .Iadd.and a background measurement made by the field instrument .Iaddend.to convert measurement data obtained by the field instrument into measurement readings. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A test system for nuclear gauges of the type which measure the neutron moderating characteristics of a sample, and through the use of calibration constants determined for each particular material a gauge may provide a measurement of the amount of a hydrogenous constituent in a sample of the material, wherein the calibration of a plurality of field gauges is facilitated by the system comprising
a master neutron gauge; -
at least one field neutron gauge; means for storing a derived cross relationship between a field gauge and a master gauge defining the variance between the thermal neutron counts detected by the master gauge those detected by the field gauge .[.between the gauges.]. for a sample; means for storing .[.derived.]. master calibration constants .Iadd.derived from measurements with the master gauge .Iaddend.for a particular material; means for applying the stored cross relationship to the stored master calibration constants to create adjusted calibration constants; and means in the particular field gauge for .[.storing and.]. using .Iadd.the thus created .Iaddend.adjusted calibration constants .Iadd.and a background measurement made by the field gauge .Iaddend.to measure the amount of a hydrogenous constituent in a sample of the particular material. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A test system for nuclear gauges of the type which measure the neutron moderating characteristics of a sample of an asphalt-aggregate paving mix, and through the use of calibration constants determined for each particular asphalt-aggregate paving mix a gauge may provide a measurement of the asphalt content of a sample of the asphalt-aggregate paving mix, wherein the calibration of a plurality of field gauges is facilitated by the system comprising
a master neutron gauge; -
at least one field neutron gauge; means for recording derived master calibration constants for a particular asphalt-aggregate paving mix; means in the particular field gauge for storing a cross relationship between the thermal neutron counts detected by the master gauge and those detected by the field gauge; means in the particular field gauge for receiving the recorded master calibration constants and for applying the stored cross relationship to the master calibration constants to create adjusted calibration constants; and means in the particular field gauge for using the thus-derived adjusted calibration constants to measure the asphalt content in a sample of the particular asphalt-aggregate paving mix.
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25. A test system for nuclear gauges of the type which measure the neutron moderating characteristics of a sample of an asphalt-aggregate paving mix, and through the use of calibration constants determined for each particular variety of asphalt-aggregate paving mix a gauge may provide a measurement of the asphalt content of a sample of the asphalt-aggregate paving mix, wherein the calibration of a plurality of field gauges is facilitated by the system comprising
a master neutron gauge; -
at least one field neutron gauge; means for storing a derived cross relationship between the thermal neutron counts detected by the master gauge and those .Iadd.detected .Iaddend.by .[.each.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.field gauge .Iadd.based upon measurements of samples by the master gauge and the field gauge.Iaddend.; means for storing derived master calibration constants for a particular asphalt-aggregate paving mix .Iadd.based upon measurements by the master gauge of samples of the particular asphalt-aggregate paving mix.Iaddend.; means for applying the stored cross relationship to the stored master calibration constants to create adjusted calibration constants; and means in the particular field gauge for receiving, storing and using adjusted calibration constants .Iadd.and a background measurement made by the field gauge .Iaddend.to measure the asphalt content in a sample of the particular asphalt-aggregate paving mix. .Iadd.
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26. A test method for use with nuclear gauges of the type which measure the neutron moderating characteristics of a sample by detecting thermal neutron counts, and through the use of calibration constants for a particular type of material, provide a measurement of the amount of a hydrogenous substance in a sample of the material, said test method being characterized by facilitating the calibration and use of a number of field gauges, and comprising the steps of
providing a master neutron gauge; -
providing at least one field neutron gauge; establishing a cross relationship between the thermal neutron counts detected by the master gauge and those detected by a particular field gauge; storing in the particular field gauge the thus established cross relationship between the master gauge and the particular field gauge; establishing master calibration constants for a particular material using the master gauge; transferring the thus established master calibration constants for the particular material to the field gauge; applying the cross relationship stored in the field gauge to the thus transferred master calibration constants to create adjusted calibration constants in the field gauge specific for the particular field gauge; and using the adjusted calibration constants in the field gauge to obtain measurements of the amount of the hydrogenous substance in a sample of the material. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
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27. A test method for measuring the asphalt content of an asphalt-aggregate paving mix with the use of nuclear gauges of the type which measure the neutron moderating characteristics of a sample of the asphalt-aggregate paving mix and obtain thermal neutron counts which represent, through the use of calibration constants, a measurement of the asphalt content of a sample of the asphalt-aggregate paving mix, said test method being characterized by facilitating the calibration and use of a number of field gauges, and comprising the steps of
providing a master neutron gauge; -
providing at least one field neutron gauge; establishing a cross relationship between the thermal neutron counts detected by the master gauge and those detected by a particular field gauge when measuring the asphalt content of a sample; storing in the particular field gauge, the thus established cross relationship between the master gauge and the particular field gauge; establishing master calibration constants for a particular asphalt-aggregate paving mix using the master gauge; transferring the thus established master calibration constants for the particular paving mix to the field gauge; applying the cross relationship stored in the field gauge to the thus transferred master calibration constants to create adjusted calibration constants in the field gauge specific for the particular field gauge; storing the adjusted calibration constants in the field gauge; and using the adjusted calibration constants in the field gauge to obtain measurements of the asphalt content in a sample of the particular asphalt-aggregate paving mix. .Iaddend.
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Specification