Test platform and test method for testing a pulse output device

Abstract

The application provides a test platform and a test method for testing a pulse output device. The test platform comprises: a pressure device comprising a closed cavity and a pressure controller, wherein the closed cavity is used for placing the pulse output device, and the pressure controller is used for receiving a pressure control signal and generating a pressure event and a timestamp according to the pressure control signal, the pressure event comprises controlling the pressure change in the closed cavity, and the timestamp corresponds to the time when the pressure event occurs; and a control unit, which is in communication connection with the pressure controller, and is used for generating the pressure control signal, obtaining the timestamp, a working pulse of the pulse output device, and a time corresponding to the working pulse, corresponding the timestamp to the time corresponding to the working pulse, and outputting a corresponding relationship curve between the time when the pressure event occurs and the working pulse.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates primarily to the field of medical device testing technology, and in particular to a test platform and test method for testing pulse output devices. Background Technology

[0002] In the clinical validation and R&D testing of active implantable cardio-cerebral stimulation medical devices, it is often necessary to consider the impact of atmospheric pressure variations due to different altitudes on implant performance. Therefore, corresponding experimental devices need to be designed to verify the effect of atmospheric pressure changes on implant performance. Existing experimental devices include: a manually constructed small-volume temporary sealed chamber and a manual valve or simple mechanical pressure regulator to adjust the pressure of the temporary sealed chamber. During the experiment, the implant performance corresponding to different pressures is manually recorded. The above experimental devices and processes have the following technical problems: 1) The response speed is affected by the operator, and the repeatability and reproducibility of the experiment are relatively limited. 2) The correlation between pressure and implant performance cannot be accurately recorded, making it difficult to trace and verify when abnormalities occur. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application addresses the aforementioned technical problems by providing a test platform and test method for testing pulse output devices, which can improve the repeatability and reproducibility of experiments and accurately record the correlation between pressure and implant performance.

[0004] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this application provides a test platform for testing pulse output devices, comprising: a pressure device including a sealed cavity and a pressure controller, wherein the sealed cavity is used to house the pulse output device, the pressure controller is used to receive a pressure control signal and generate a pressure event and a timestamp based on the pressure control signal, the pressure event including controlling pressure changes within the sealed cavity, and the timestamp and the occurrence time of the pressure event corresponding to each other; and a control unit, the control unit being communicatively connected to the pressure controller, the control unit being used to generate the pressure control signal, obtain the timestamp, the operating pulse of the pulse output device, and the time corresponding to the operating pulse, correlate the timestamp with the time corresponding to the operating pulse, and output a curve showing the correspondence between the occurrence time of the pressure event and the operating pulse.

[0005] In one embodiment of this application, the pressure controller is further configured to generate a pressure event pulse signal based on the pressure event. The pressure controller also includes a hardware triggering device, which is configured to capture the pressure event pulse signal and mark the time of occurrence of the pressure event to generate the timestamp. In one embodiment of this application, the pressure controller includes: a trajectory generator, configured to generate a pressure control curve based on the pressure control signal, wherein the horizontal axis of the pressure control curve is a preset time and the vertical axis of the pressure control curve is a preset pressure; a feedforward model, configured to calculate the input or output of gas in the sealed cavity based on the preset pressure; a control module, configured to calculate and control the opening of the actuator based on the input or output of gas in the sealed cavity; and an actuator, configured to control the pressure change in the sealed cavity.

[0006] In one embodiment of this application, a plurality of pressure sensors are provided in the sealed cavity, the plurality of pressure sensors being used to detect pressure values ​​at multiple locations within the sealed cavity; the control module is further used to calculate the average value of the pressure values ​​at the multiple locations, and adjust the preset pressure according to the average value.

[0007] In one embodiment of this application, the control module is further configured to adjust the input or output of the gas based on the pressure leakage of the sealed cavity per unit time.

[0008] In one embodiment of this application, the pressure device further includes: a gas source for providing gas; the sealed cavity is provided with an air inlet and a first air outlet; the actuator includes: a proportional air inlet valve and a proportional air outlet valve, wherein the proportional air inlet valve is connected to the air inlet valve and the proportional air outlet valve is connected to the first air outlet valve.

[0009] In one embodiment of this application, the pressure device further includes a buffer tank, which is disposed between the proportional intake valve and the intake port.

[0010] In one embodiment of this application, the pressure device further includes: a backflow prevention and silencing structure, wherein the backflow prevention and silencing structure is disposed between the buffer tank and the air inlet, and / or the backflow prevention and silencing structure is disposed between the proportional exhaust valve and / or the first air outlet.

[0011] In one embodiment of this application, the actuator includes a bypass quick-release valve, the sealed cavity is provided with a second air outlet, and the bypass quick-release valve and the second air outlet are directly connected.

[0012] In one embodiment of this application, the test platform further includes a safety control unit, which is communicatively connected to the control unit and the pressure controller.

[0013] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this application also provides a testing method for a pulse output device, comprising: generating a pressure event and a timestamp based on a pressure control signal, wherein the pressure event includes controlling pressure changes within a sealed cavity, the timestamp corresponds to the occurrence time of the pressure event, a pulse output device is disposed inside the sealed cavity, and the pulse output device is used to output a working pulse; obtaining the timestamp, the working pulse, and the time corresponding to the working pulse; associating the timestamp with the time corresponding to the working pulse; and outputting a curve showing the correspondence between the occurrence time of the pressure event and the working pulse.

[0014] In one embodiment of this application, generating a timestamp based on a pressure control signal includes: generating a pressure event pulse signal based on the pressure event; and generating the timestamp by marking the occurrence time of the pressure event using a hardware triggering method based on the pressure event pulse signal.

[0015] In one embodiment of this application, the step of mapping the timestamp to the time includes: obtaining multiple timestamp samples and time samples corresponding to the working pulses corresponding to the multiple timestamp samples; fitting the timestamp samples and the time samples corresponding to the working pulses to establish a mapping function relationship between the timestamp samples and the time samples corresponding to the working pulses; and mapping the timestamp to the time corresponding to the working pulses according to the mapping function relationship.

[0016] In one embodiment of this application, the testing method further includes: the mapping function relationship includes:

[0017] ,

[0018] Where Tpress represents the timestamp sample, Tpi represents the time sample, Tref is the reference time, Δ is the bias, and γ is the drift.

[0019] In one embodiment of this application, generating a pressure event based on a pressure control signal includes: obtaining a preset pressure corresponding to the pressure control signal; calculating the input or output of gas in the sealed cavity based on the preset pressure; calculating the opening amount of the actuator based on the input or output of gas in the sealed cavity; and adjusting the actuator based on the opening amount to control the pressure change in the sealed cavity.

[0020] In one embodiment of this application, a plurality of pressure sensors are provided in the sealed cavity, the plurality of pressure sensors being used to detect pressure values ​​at multiple locations within the sealed cavity; after obtaining the preset pressure corresponding to the pressure control signal, the method further includes: obtaining the average value of the pressure values ​​at the multiple locations, and adjusting the preset pressure within the sealed cavity based on the average value.

[0021] In one embodiment of this application, adjusting the preset pressure within the sealed cavity according to the mean value includes adjusting the preset pressure within the sealed cavity according to a control objective function, wherein the control objective function is expressed by the following formula:

[0022] ,

[0023] Where J is the control target. Let be the mean, p be the preset pressure, w be the weight, and Δpmax be the maximum value of the difference between any two pressure values ​​at the plurality of locations.

[0024] In one embodiment of this application, the step of calculating the input or output of gas in the sealed cavity based on the preset pressure further includes: obtaining the pressure leakage of the sealed cavity per unit time, and adjusting the input or output of gas based on the pressure leakage.

[0025] Compared with existing technologies, this application has the following advantages: By setting up a pressure controller and a control unit, the pressure controller can accurately adjust the pressure in the sealed cavity in response to the pressure control signal, reducing the response delay caused by manual operation and improving the repeatability and data comparability of the experiment; by enabling the pressure controller to generate pressure events and timestamps according to the pressure control signal, the timestamps are bound to the pressure events in real time. By corresponding the timestamps with the working pulses of the pulse output device, the pressure events and working pulses are placed on the same time base, thereby obtaining the correspondence curve between the occurrence time of the pressure event and the working pulse, which enables accurate recording of the correspondence between pressure and the working pulses of the pulse output device, improving the traceability and accuracy of the experiment. Attached Figure Description

[0026] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of this application; they are incorporated into and constitute a part of this application. The drawings illustrate embodiments of this application and, together with this specification, serve to explain the principles of this application. In the drawings:

[0027] Figure 1 This is a simplified block diagram of a test platform according to an embodiment of this application;

[0028] Figure 2 This is a simplified block diagram of a pressure controller according to an embodiment of this application;

[0029] Figure 3 This is a block diagram of the pressure device of a test platform according to an embodiment of this application;

[0030] Figure 4 This is a block diagram of a test platform for a pulse output device according to another embodiment of this application;

[0031] Figure 5 This is a flowchart of a test method for a pulse output device according to an embodiment of this application;

[0032] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the clock deviation between the timestamp and TOA according to an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0033] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely some examples or embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, these drawings can be applied to other similar scenarios without creative effort. Unless obvious from the context or otherwise specified, the same reference numerals in the drawings represent the same structures or operations.

[0034] As indicated in this application and claims, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the words "a," "an," "an," and / or "the" are not specifically singular and may include plural forms. Generally speaking, the terms "comprising" and "including" only indicate the inclusion of explicitly identified steps and elements, which do not constitute an exclusive list, and the method or apparatus may also include other steps or elements.

[0035] Unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement, numerical expressions, and values ​​of the components and steps described in these embodiments do not limit the scope of this application. It should also be understood that, for ease of description, the dimensions of the various parts shown in the drawings are not drawn to actual scale. Techniques, methods, and devices known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, such techniques, methods, and devices should be considered part of the specification. In all examples shown and discussed herein, any specific values ​​should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not as limitations. Therefore, other examples of exemplary embodiments may have different values. It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters in the following drawings denote similar items; therefore, once an item is defined in one drawing, it need not be further discussed in subsequent drawings.

[0036] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by directional terms such as "front, back, up, down, left, right", "horizontal, vertical, horizontal" and "top, bottom" is usually based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description. Unless otherwise stated, these directional terms do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation on the scope of protection of this application; the directional terms "inner" and "outer" refer to the inner and outer contours relative to the outline of each component itself.

[0037] For ease of description, spatial relative terms such as "above," "on top of," "on the upper surface of," "above," etc., are used herein to describe the spatial positional relationship of a device or feature as shown in the figures to other devices or features. It should be understood that spatial relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations in use or operation beyond the orientation of the device as described in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures were inverted, a device described as "above" or "on top of" other devices or structures would subsequently be positioned as "below" or "under" other devices or structures. Thus, the exemplary term "above" can include both "above" and "below." The device may also be positioned in other different ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatial relative descriptions used herein will be interpreted accordingly.

[0038] Furthermore, it should be noted that the use of terms such as "first" and "second" to define components is merely for the purpose of distinguishing the corresponding components. Unless otherwise stated, these terms have no special meaning and therefore should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this application. In addition, although the terminology used in this application is selected from commonly known and used terms, some terms mentioned in this application's specification may have been chosen by the applicant according to his or her judgment, and their detailed meanings are explained in the relevant sections of this description. Moreover, this application should be understood not only through the actual terms used, but also through the meaning implied by each term.

[0039] It should be understood that when a component is referred to as "on another component," "connected to another component," "coupled to another component," or "in contact with another component," it can be directly on, connected to, coupled to, or in contact with that other component, or there may be an intervening component. In contrast, when a component is referred to as "directly on another component," "directly connected to," "directly coupled to," or "directly in contact with" another component, there is no intervening component. Similarly, when a first component is referred to as "electrically contacting" or "electrically coupled to" a second component, there is an electrical path between the first and second components that allows current to flow. This electrical path may include capacitors, coupled inductors, and / or other components that allow current to flow, even if there is no direct contact between the conductive components.

[0040] Flowcharts are used in this application to illustrate the operations performed by the system according to embodiments of this application. It should be understood that the preceding or following operations are not necessarily performed in exact order. Instead, various steps can be processed in reverse order or simultaneously. Furthermore, other operations may be added to these processes, or one or more steps may be removed from these processes.

[0041] Existing experimental setups include: a small, manually constructed temporary sealed chamber and manual valves or simple mechanical pressure regulators to adjust the pressure within the chamber. The implant performance at different pressures is manually recorded during the experiment. The above experimental setup and process suffer from the following technical problems: 1) Response speed is limited by operator experience, resulting in poor repeatability; 2) Pressure data and implant operating pulses are acquired by two independent systems, requiring manual time alignment, lacking a unified time reference and event index, making it difficult to establish an accurate causal relationship between pressure changes and implant response. Current pressure control processes employ a segmented testing approach of "pressure reduction-stabilization-re-pressure restoration," which can only detect frequency / waveform anomalies in the implant at discrete nodes (e.g., at the end of stabilization). To reduce data volume, oscilloscopes / data loggers often use a segmented cyclic storage strategy, saving only a small number of representative segments, with the remaining information archived as screenshots, tables, and manual notes, hindering data backtracking. 3) Chamber sealing often uses soft plugs or modified connectors for perforation holes, which, while facilitating cable entry, are prone to micro-leakage during long-term operation, affecting pressure stability within the chamber. In addition, disturbances, leaks, pump pulsation, valve hysteresis, and seal aging can also make it difficult to maintain a stable pressure inside the chamber for a long time, affecting the reliability of tests lasting several hours; 4) Poor pressure consistency inside the chamber, and only a single-point pressure sensor is installed inside the chamber. Single-point pressure measurement cannot reflect the pressure distribution inside the chamber, and local pressure difference leads to distorted test results; 5) Defects in the air circuit design, with only an air intake device, an air exhaust device, an air intake valve, and an air exhaust valve installed, without suppressing pump / valve pulsation and compensating for air circuit hysteresis, resulting in pressure overshoot, oscillation, and excessive fluctuations during the pressure stabilization stage when the pressure changes rapidly, making it difficult to meet the requirements of rapid pressure switching (such as from 50 kPa to 400 kPa) and high-precision pressure stabilization (fluctuation < ±1 kPa).

[0042] Overall, existing experimental setups suffer from low levels of automation, lack of a unified time reference, and gas path design flaws, which hinder the reliability verification of implantable medical devices.

[0043] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides a test platform and test method for testing pulse output devices. This test platform and method are applicable to devices capable of outputting working pulses to verify the impact of pressure changes on such devices. Devices that output working pulses include medical devices and non-medical devices.

[0044] Figure 1 A simplified block diagram of a test platform according to an embodiment of this application is shown. Figure 1As shown, this application provides a test platform 100 for testing pulse output devices. The test platform 100 includes a pressure device 110, a sealed cavity 111, and a pressure controller 112. The sealed cavity 111 is used to place the pulse output device 30. The pressure controller 112 is used to receive pressure control signals and generate pressure events and timestamps according to the pressure control signals. The pressure events include controlling the pressure change in the sealed cavity. The timestamps correspond to the timestamps and the timestamps. A control unit 120 is communicatively connected to the pressure controller 112. The control unit 120 is used to generate pressure control signals, obtain timestamps, the working pulses of the pulse output device 30, and the time of arrival (TOA) of the working pulses. The timestamps are correlated with the TOA, and the curve showing the correspondence between the timestamps and the working pulses is output.

[0045] By setting up a pressure controller 112 and a control unit 120, the pressure controller 112 can accurately adjust the pressure in the sealed cavity 111 in response to the pressure control signal, reducing the response delay caused by manual operation and improving the repeatability and data comparability of the experiment. By enabling the pressure controller 112 to generate pressure events and timestamps according to the pressure control signal, the timestamps are bound to the pressure events in real time. By corresponding the timestamps with the TOA of the pulse output device, the pressure events and working pulses are placed on the same time base, thereby obtaining the correspondence curve between the occurrence time of the pressure event and the working pulse. This allows for the accurate recording of the correspondence between the pressure and the working pulse of the pulse output device 30, improving the traceability and accuracy of the experiment.

[0046] It should be noted that the pulse output device 30 of this application is a device capable of outputting working pulses, which can represent the working state of the device. For example, the pulse output device of this application can be an active implantable cardiac and cerebral stimulation medical device as described above, such as a pacemaker; a high level in the working pulse indicates that the pacemaker is working, and a low level indicates that the pacemaker is not working. The pulse output device 30 of this application can also be other devices capable of outputting working pulses.

[0047] In some embodiments, the sealed cavity 111 of this application is a small-volume sealed cavity, with an effective volume of less than or equal to 150L. Preferably, the volume of the sealed cavity 111 is 110L-140L. More preferably, the volume of the sealed cavity 111 is 125L. The effective volume refers to the total volume inside the sealed cavity 111 minus the volume occupied by the test piece, fixture, air duct, etc., which determines the pressure rise / fall rate inside the sealed cavity 111 under the same mass flow rate.

[0048] Compared to a large-volume sealed cavity 111, pressure control within a smaller-volume sealed cavity 111 can be faster and more accurate. In some embodiments, the sealed cavity 111 is provided with a metal frame and a thickened observation window to improve its durability in high-pressure scenarios. In some embodiments, the volume and material of the sealed cavity 111 can be set according to actual needs. In some embodiments, a pressure sensor is provided inside the sealed cavity 111 to monitor the internal pressure state, and a replaceable through-cavity component (e.g., cable or optical fiber) is also provided inside the sealed cavity 111 to receive the operating pulses of the pulse output device or output the internal pressure state.

[0049] Figure 2 A simplified block diagram of a pressure controller according to an embodiment of this application is shown. Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the pressure controller 112 includes: a trajectory generator 201, used to generate a pressure control curve based on a pressure control signal, wherein the horizontal axis of the pressure control curve is a preset time and the vertical axis of the pressure control curve is a preset pressure; a feedforward model 202, used to calculate the input or output of gas in the sealed cavity based on the preset pressure; a control module 203, used to calculate and control the opening of the actuator 204 based on the input or output of gas in the sealed cavity; and an actuator 204, used to control the pressure change in the sealed cavity.

[0050] By configuring a trajectory generator 201, a feedforward model 202, a control module 203, and an actuator 204, the pressure controller 112 can generate pressure events upon receiving a pressure control signal, thereby controlling the pressure changes within the sealed cavity. Specifically, the trajectory generator 201 generates a pressure control curve, allowing control of the preset pressure corresponding to a preset time. This enables control of the pressurization or depressurization time, the pressurization or depressurization rate, and the duration of a pressure hold, thus allowing for simultaneous control of the pressure throughout the entire pressure experiment. The feedforward model 202 calculates the required gas input or output for pressure regulation, suppressing overshoot (i.e., excessive gas input or output that prevents the pressure within the sealed cavity 111 from reaching the preset pressure).

[0051] In some embodiments, the trajectory generator 201 generates pressure control curves including constraints such as an upper limit for the slope (pressure increase or depressurization rate), an overshoot limit, and a stability criterion. In some embodiments, different constraints are set for different working scenarios for the pressure control curves. For example, in aviation / high-altitude scenarios, the pressure control process corresponding to the pressure control curve is equivalent depressurization, plateau (maintaining constant pressure), and repressurization, with a pressure variation range of 50–106 kPa; in hyperbaric oxygen / pressurization clinical scenarios, the pressure control process corresponding to the pressure control curve is pressurization to 200–300 kPa (abs), plateau, and depressurization; in implant encapsulation / perfusion and sealing verification scenarios, the pressure is up to 400 kPa abs. It should be noted here that the pressures corresponding to the specific values ​​mentioned above and below in this application are all absolute pressures (abs).

[0052] In some embodiments, the feedforward model 202 calculates the total amount of gas required in the sealed cavity 111 according to the following formula (1):

[0053] (1)

[0054] Where p is the preset pressure, V is the volume of the sealed cavity 111, n is the total molar flow rate of the required gas, R is the gas constant, and T is the set temperature.

[0055] In some embodiments, based on the approximate ideal gas and isothermal / adiabatic approximation, given the slope s=dp / dt of the pressure control curve, the molar flow rate ṅ corresponding to the input or output of the gas required for pressure regulation is approximately (V / RT)*s. The feedforward model 202 maps ṅ to the valve opening and / or pump speed in the actuator 204.

[0056] like Figure 2As shown, in some embodiments, the control module 203 includes an outer-loop control module 2031 and an inner-loop control module 2032. The outer-loop control module 2031 calculates and controls the opening amount of the actuator 204 based on the input or output of gas in the sealed cavity using a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) model or a model-predictive control (MPC) model. The outer-loop control module 2031 is a regulator that uses the mean error of the pressure within the sealed cavity 111 as its target. Using the MPC model also allows for explicit handling of valve and pump limiting and slope constraints. The inner-loop control module 2032 is used for valve and flow control, rapidly tracking the opening amount command from the outer-loop control module 2031 or the gas input or output command from the feedforward model 202. It also works in conjunction with the design of the actuator 204 to suppress its nonlinear characteristics and hysteresis, thereby achieving a fast and stable pressure regulation effect.

[0057] The specific control functions of the control module 203 will be described in detail below with reference to some embodiments.

[0058] Figure 3 A block diagram of the pressure device of a test platform according to an embodiment of this application is shown. Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, multiple pressure sensors (pressure sensor P1, pressure sensor P2, and pressure sensor P3) are provided inside the sealed cavity 111. These sensors detect pressure values ​​at multiple locations within the sealed cavity 111. The control module 203 also calculates the average pressure values ​​at these locations and adjusts the preset pressure based on the average. By using multiple pressure sensors and having the control module 203 (outer loop control module) adjust the preset pressure within the sealed cavity 111 based on the average, the pressure consistency within the sealed cavity 111 is improved, thereby enhancing the accuracy of the experiment. In some embodiments, parameters such as the number of pressure sensors, their distribution within the cavity, sampling frequency, range, and sampling accuracy can be set according to actual needs. In some embodiments, the sampling frequency of the pressure sensors is 10Hz–50Hz, the range is 30kPa–400kPa, and the sampling accuracy is ≤±0.25%FS (≈±1kPa).

[0059] In some embodiments, the control module 203 is further configured to adjust the gas input or output based on the pressure leakage of the sealed cavity per unit time, thereby mitigating the problem of difficulty in maintaining stable pressure for extended periods due to leakage caused by the sealing performance of the sealed cavity 111 itself. In some embodiments, by closing all valves, the pressure change of the sealed cavity per unit time is measured and used as the equivalent leakage rate λ. Subsequently, by slowly injecting perturbation compensation into the integral channel of the PID algorithm, combined with the adjustment of valve bias, precise regulation of the gas input or output is achieved.

[0060] like Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, the pressure device 110 further includes: a gas source 301 for providing gas; a sealed cavity 111 is provided with an air inlet 302 and a first air outlet 303; and an actuator 204 includes: a proportional intake valve 304 and a proportional exhaust valve 305, wherein the proportional intake valve 304 is connected to the air inlet 302, and the proportional exhaust valve 305 is connected to the first air outlet 303. By setting the gas source 301, the air inlet 302, and the proportional intake valve 304, the opening degree of the proportional intake valve 304 is adjusted, thereby adjusting the gas input and increasing the pressure inside the sealed cavity 111. By setting the first air outlet 303 and the proportional exhaust valve 305, the opening degree of the proportional exhaust valve 305 is adjusted, thereby adjusting the gas output and reducing the pressure inside the sealed cavity 111. Compared to the existing technology that involves manually and repeatedly opening and closing valves to achieve air intake or exhaust, this application uses a proportional intake valve 304 and a proportional exhaust valve 305, which can achieve rapid pressure changes within the sealed cavity 111.

[0061] In the above embodiments, the proportional intake valve 304 and the proportional exhaust valve 305 are actuators with continuously adjustable openings. By mapping the valve opening amount to the gas mass flow rate, closed-loop pressure control is achieved. In some embodiments, the response time of the proportional intake valve 304 and the proportional exhaust valve 305 is ≤50ms, and the equivalent constant pressure (Cv value) is 0.05–0.10. The gas source 301 (0.6 MPaG–1.0 MPaG, medium is compressed air or nitrogen) serves as the upstream gas supply unit for the positive pressure input gas. After two stages of pressure reduction and drying filtration, it is connected to the proportional intake valve 304, ultimately adapting to the target pressure control range of 50–400 kPa. In some embodiments, the gas source 301 can also directly supply gas with a pressure of 50–400 kPa to the proportional intake valve 304 without the need for two stages of pressure reduction. In some embodiments, the effective gas flow rate input to the gas source 301 is ≥80 L / min–200 L / min.

[0062] In some embodiments, the pressure device 110 further includes a buffer tank 306, which is disposed between the proportional intake valve 304 and the intake port 302. By providing the buffer tank 306, the gas input flow rate and gas pulsation are reduced, pressure ripples introduced by valve control are avoided, and the gas stability within the sealed cavity 111 is improved. In some embodiments, the volume of the buffer tank 306 is 2L–10L, and the rated pressure is ≥1.0MPa. The buffer tank 306 is a high-pressure vessel connected in parallel with the gas input pipeline, which can provide a large instantaneous flow rate during the rapid rise phase and reduce pulsation during the steady-state phase.

[0063] In some embodiments, the pressure device 110 further includes a check valve and a silencer structure 307, which is disposed between the buffer tank 306 and the air inlet 302, and / or between the proportional exhaust valve 305 and / or the first air outlet 303. The check valve and silencer structure 307 includes a check valve and a silencer, wherein the check valve allows airflow to pass in only one direction to prevent backflow; the silencer attenuates airflow noise and reduces pulsation. By providing the check valve and silencer structure 307 to prevent reverse gas flow and reduce the noise generated by gas flow, the gas stability within the sealed cavity 111 is further improved. In some embodiments, depending on actual engineering requirements, the pressure device 110 may only include a check valve or only a silencer structure.

[0064] In some embodiments, the actuator 204 includes a bypass quick-release valve 308, and the sealed cavity 111 is provided with a second air outlet 309, with the bypass quick-release valve 308 and the second air outlet 309 directly connected. Relative to Figure 3 The pressure relief using the proportional exhaust valve 305 requires passing through a check valve and silencer structure 307. By incorporating a bypass quick-release valve 308 with a direct and a second outlet 309, rapid pressure relief can be achieved, meeting the needs of emergency pressure relief or significant rapid pressure reduction. In some embodiments, the bypass quick-release valve 308 has a diameter ≥8-10mm to achieve rapid pressure relief, thereby avoiding secondary disturbance to the gas within the sealed cavity 111 during pressure relief. In some embodiments, the outlet of the pipeline containing the bypass quick-release valve 308 is connected to the outside atmosphere to discharge the gas from the sealed cavity 111 into the atmosphere.

[0065] like Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, the pressure device 110 further includes an oil-free vacuum pump 310 for providing pressure reduction and evacuation channels, cooperating with the proportional exhaust valve 305 to achieve controlled pressure reduction and steady-state maintenance. In some embodiments, the effective flow rate of the oil-free vacuum pump 310 and the output gas is ≥80 L / min–200 L / min. In some embodiments, other types of pumps may also be selected for pressure reduction. In some embodiments, the oil-free vacuum pump 310 is connected to the outside atmosphere to exhaust the gas in the sealed cavity 111 into the atmosphere.

[0066] like Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, the pressure device 110 further includes: a pressure equalizing fan / rectifier plate 311, which is used to make the gas inside the sealed cavity 111 circulate at low speed, optimize the gas flow state, reduce the pressure gradient caused by the local jet generated inside the sealed cavity 111 when the gas is inlet or outlet, and improve the pressure consistency inside the sealed cavity 111.

[0067] In some embodiments, the pressure device 110 further includes an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, wherein the rated pressure of the inlet pipe, the outlet pipe, the proportional inlet valve 304 and the proportional exhaust valve 305 are all ≥1.0 MPa.

[0068] In some embodiments, the pressure controller 112 is further configured to generate a pressure event pulse signal based on the pressure event. The pressure controller 112 also includes a hardware triggering device, which is configured to capture the pressure event pulse signal and mark the time of occurrence of the pressure event to generate a timestamp.

[0069] In some embodiments, the pressure event pulse signal is a TTL pulse signal, the hardware triggering device includes a TTL trigger, and the control unit 120 includes a hardware platform including GPIO such as a Raspberry Pi. The occurrence time of the pressure event includes time nodes such as pressure regulation start, stabilization, exceeding limits, and abnormality. The pressure controller 112 outputs a TTL pulse signal to generate a timestamp at the aforementioned time nodes. The control unit 120 captures the same edge of the TTL pulse signal through GPIO hardware to obtain the time corresponding to that edge, i.e., obtains the timestamp. Then, the control unit 120 acquires the working pulse and simultaneously obtains the time of arrival (TOA) of a single working pulse at the control unit 120, and correlates the TOA with the timestamp to achieve precise event synchronization. In some embodiments, the pressure controller 112 sends the TTL pulse signal back to the control unit 120 once per second. In some embodiments, the frequency at which the control unit 120 acquires the working pulse can be the same as the TTL pulse signal feedback frequency.

[0070] In some embodiments, the pressure event pulse signal may also be a pulse signal triggered by other hardware methods.

[0071] The error between the occurrence time of a pressure event and the Time of Arrival (TOA) mainly stems from the difference in clock speed between the control unit's clock and the pressure controller's clock. Under continuous operation, the two clocks accumulate drift. This application avoids this accumulated drift by mapping the TOA and the occurrence time of the pressure event back to the TOA, achieving millisecond-level event synchronization. In some embodiments, the clocks of the pressure controller 112 and the control unit 120 are established using a temperature-compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO) (≤0.5ppm accuracy) or a local area network PTP protocol (jitter ≤2 ms). In TCXO mode, the occurrence time of the pressure event and the TOA are mapped back to each other once per hour to offset accumulated drift (e.g., approximately 14.4 ms of raw drift over 8 hours), thereby controlling the error between the TOA and the timestamp to ≤5ms–10ms. Compared to traditional manual recording methods, this solution uses automatic hardware to calibrate the occurrence time and TOA of pressure events, significantly improving the recording accuracy and reliability of pressure event occurrence time and TOA, and is especially suitable for long-term pressure regulation scenarios.

[0072] Figure 4 A block diagram of a test platform for a pulse output device according to another embodiment of this application is shown. Figure 4 As shown, the control unit 120 also includes host computer software 121 and a front-end acquisition and time base integrated unit 122. In some embodiments, the host computer software 121 is used to manage experimental plans, edit pressure trajectories, output the correspondence curve between the occurrence time of pressure events and working pulses in the form of CSV or chart reports under a unified time base, analyze the curves and display real-time dashboards and alarms, and generate retrospective reports. Figure 4 As shown, the host computer software 121 and the front-end acquisition and time base integrated unit 122 can exchange data bidirectionally. For example, the host computer software 121 edits the pressure trajectory pressure and sends it to the front-end acquisition and time base integrated unit 122. The pressure device 110 sends back the pressure event pulse signal to the front-end acquisition and time base integrated unit 122. All control commands related to the pressure device 110 are issued by the front-end acquisition and time base integrated unit 122 to the pressure controller 112 for execution. The host computer software 121 does not communicate directly with the pressure controller 112 so that the pressure controller 112 and the front-end acquisition and time base integrated unit 122 can share the clock.

[0073] The integrated front-end acquisition and timing unit 122 is used to acquire timestamps, operating pulses from the pulse output device, and TOA (Time of Arrival). In some embodiments, the integrated front-end acquisition and timing unit 122 is also used to acquire data from a pressure sensor. In some embodiments, the integrated front-end acquisition and timing unit 122 includes ESD protection, employs a Schmitt comparator and adjustable threshold to perform Schmitt shaping and adjustable threshold processing on the pulse signal, and uses RC debouncing to generate reliable digital edges; it employs dual-channel consistency verification to confirm whether the operating duration and operating frequency of the pulse output device are consistent with the preset, reducing false triggering. After capturing TOA with hardware timing, the integrated front-end acquisition and timing unit 122 can also perform "warning / missed trigger" judgment based on a sliding window and adaptive threshold, covering multiple frequency points and reducing false alarms and missed alarms; the integrated front-end acquisition and timing unit 122 includes a ring buffer, used to store the original waveform and pressure sequence of the operating pulse in the event freeze window tpre to the event freeze window tpost segment when an event is triggered, generating an event index, significantly reducing storage usage.

[0074] In some embodiments, the test platform 100 further includes a safety control unit 130, which is communicatively connected to the control unit 120 and the pressure controller 112 to control the control unit 120 and the pressure controller 112 in case of abnormality. In some embodiments, the safety control unit 130 includes a power supply and watchdog module, providing isolated power supply, power failure recovery, abnormal reset and health monitoring, and supporting unattended operation for ≥8 hours; it establishes a safety interlock with the control unit 120 and the pressure controller 112, for example, in case of abnormality, the pressure in the sealed cavity 111 is rapidly reduced by cutting off the actuator 204 or opening the bypass quick-release valve 308 through the control unit 120 or directly through the pressure controller 112.

[0075] This application also provides a test method for a pulse output device. This test method precisely adjusts the pressure within a sealed cavity in response to a pressure control signal, reducing response delays caused by manual operation and improving experimental repeatability and data comparability. By generating pressure events and timestamps based on the pressure control signal, the timestamps are linked to the pressure events in real time. By mapping the timestamps to the TOA (Time of Arrival) of the pulse output device, the pressure events and operating pulses are placed on the same time base, thereby obtaining a curve showing the correspondence between the pressure event occurrence time and the operating pulse. This allows for precise recording of the correspondence between pressure and the operating pulse of the pulse output device, improving experimental traceability and accuracy.

[0076] Figure 5 A flowchart illustrating a test method for a pulse output device according to an embodiment of this application is shown. Figure 5 As shown, this application provides a test method for a pulse output device, comprising:

[0077] Step S51: Generate pressure events and timestamps based on pressure control signals. The pressure events include controlling pressure changes within the sealed cavity. The timestamps correspond to the times when the pressure events occur. A pulse output device is installed inside the sealed cavity to output working pulses.

[0078] In some embodiments, generating a pressure event based on a pressure control signal includes: obtaining a preset pressure corresponding to the pressure control signal; calculating the input or output of gas in the sealed cavity based on the preset pressure; calculating the opening amount of the actuator based on the input or output of gas in the sealed cavity; and adjusting the actuator based on the opening amount to control the pressure change in the sealed cavity.

[0079] In some embodiments, a plurality of pressure sensors are provided in the sealed cavity, and the plurality of pressure sensors are used to detect pressure values ​​at multiple locations in the sealed cavity; after obtaining the preset pressure corresponding to the pressure control signal, the method further includes: obtaining the average value of the pressure values ​​at multiple locations, and adjusting the preset pressure in the sealed cavity according to the average value.

[0080] In some embodiments, adjusting the preset pressure in the sealed cavity according to the mean includes adjusting the preset pressure in the sealed cavity according to a control objective function, wherein the control objective function is expressed by the following formula (2):

[0081] (2)

[0082] Where J is the control target. is the mean, p is the preset pressure, w is the weight, and Δpmax is the maximum difference between any two pressure values ​​at multiple locations.

[0083] Adjusting the preset pressure within the sealed cavity according to the control objective function improves the overall pressure uniformity within the sealed cavity and enhances the accuracy of the experiment.

[0084] In some embodiments, calculating the input or output of gas in the sealed cavity based on a preset pressure further includes: obtaining the pressure leakage of the sealed cavity per unit time, and adjusting the input or output of gas based on the pressure leakage.

[0085] In some embodiments, generating a timestamp based on a pressure control signal includes: generating a pressure event pulse signal based on a pressure event; and generating a timestamp by marking the occurrence time of the pressure event through a hardware trigger based on the pressure event pulse signal, i.e., the timestamp is the occurrence time of the pressure event.

[0086] Step S52: Obtain the timestamp, the working pulse, and the time corresponding to the working pulse.

[0087] In some embodiments, obtaining a timestamp includes capturing the edge of the pressure event pulse signal via GPIO hardware and obtaining the time corresponding to that edge. In some embodiments, obtaining the TOA (time corresponding to the working pulse) includes obtaining the time corresponding to the edge of the working pulse signal.

[0088] Step S53: Match the timestamp with the time corresponding to the working pulse.

[0089] In some embodiments, mapping timestamps to time points includes: acquiring multiple timestamp samples and corresponding TOA samples; fitting the timestamp samples and TOA samples to establish a mapping function relationship between the timestamp samples and TOA; and mapping timestamps to TOA according to the mapping function relationship. By mapping timestamps to TOA according to the mapping function relationship, the error caused by the cumulative clock drift between the occurrence time of the pressure event and the TOA is eliminated.

[0090] Figure 6 This diagram illustrates the clock offset between the timestamp (located on the pressure controller time axis Tpress) and the TOA (located on the control unit time axis Tpress) according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 6 As shown, in some embodiments, after obtaining multiple timestamp samples (HB1, HB2, HB3, HB4, and HB5) and their corresponding TOA samples (HB1', HB2', HB3', HB4', and HB5'), the timestamp samples and TOA samples are paired one-to-one according to the order of their occurrence (HB1 and HB1' are paired, HB2 and HB2' are paired, etc.), generating a periodic heartbeat point pair set {(Tpress,i,Tpi,i)}, where each heartbeat point pair set represents a pressure event, Tpress represents a timestamp sample, Tpi represents a TOA sample, and i represents the i-th timestamp sample or the i-th TOA sample. Then, the multiple point pair sets are fitted to obtain a mapping function relationship.

[0091] In some embodiments, the mapping function relationship includes formula (3):

[0092] (3)

[0093] Where Tpress represents the timestamp sample, Tpi represents the TOA sample, Tref is the reference time, Δ is the bias, and γ is the drift.

[0094] Where γ is the difference in timekeeping rate (in ppm) between the clocks of the control unit and the pressure controller, and its specific value is obtained by fitting the timestamp samples and TOA samples using the least squares method. Δ is the fixed time difference between the two clocks at a certain moment, which can be estimated by aligning the first heartbeat (i.e., Figure 6 The time difference between HB1 and HB1' in the dataset). Tref is the time when the first timestamp sample (HB1) is obtained.

[0095] In the above embodiment, the timestamp is mapped to the TOA according to the mapping function relationship. That is, the newly obtained timestamp is used as Tpress in formula (2) to obtain Tpi, and Tpi is the TOA corresponding to the timestamp.

[0096] Step S54: Output the curve showing the relationship between the timing of the pressure event and the working pulse.

[0097] In some embodiments, the correspondence curve includes pressure events (pressure data), the time of occurrence of the pressure events, and data of the working pulses. After obtaining the correspondence curve, data from a portion of the curve window can be captured when the event is triggered to generate an event index for subsequent experimental analysis.

[0098] Compared with existing technologies, the testing platform and testing method of this application have the following advantages: 1) Pressure-working pulse time-base linkage: Using hardware triggering and "heartbeat" pairing, pressure events and working pulses are placed on the same time axis, and the error can be controlled within 5ms–10ms. 2) Small-volume sealed cavity can achieve rapid pressure change and high stability. By setting a feedforward model, control module, and online leakage compensation, a 10kPa step pressure can be achieved within the range of 50kPa–400kPa (absolute pressure), stabilization can be achieved in 3s–5s, overshoot ≤0.5kPa, and stable operation can be maintained for ≥8h. 3) Multiple pressure sensors are set in the sealed cavity, and combined with the control module, the pressure consistency at different locations in the sealed cavity is achieved, the maximum pressure difference between each measuring point is monitored in real time, and the unevenness caused by local airflow is suppressed. 4) Safely separated gas path topology: The buffer tank is only on the inlet side; the exhaust does not pass through the buffer tank; the bypass quick exhaust valve is independently connected to the cavity. 5) Event Freeze-Type Backtracking: When events such as "warning / missed trip / exceeding limit / stability timeout" occur, the system automatically saves the original data (pressure, pulse, and opening) corresponding to the time before and after the event, and generates an auditable event log and charts with one click. 6) Pressure Event Missed Trip Identification: By performing dual-channel consistency verification on the pulse signal and using a sliding window and adaptive threshold when collecting the pulse signal, it can cover multiple frequency points and reduce false alarms and missed alarms.

[0099] It should be noted that, in order to simplify the description of the present application and thus aid in the understanding of one or more embodiments of the invention, the foregoing description of the embodiments of the present application sometimes combines multiple features into a single embodiment, drawing, or description thereof. However, this disclosure method does not imply that the subject matter of the application requires more features than those mentioned. In fact, the embodiments contain fewer features than all the features of the single embodiments disclosed above.

[0100] In some embodiments, numbers describing the quantity of components and attributes are used. It should be understood that such numbers used to describe embodiments are sometimes modified by the terms "approximately," "approximately," or "generally." Unless otherwise stated, "approximately," "approximately," or "generally" indicates that the numbers are allowed to vary by ±20%. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters used in this application are approximate values, which may be changed depending on the characteristics required by individual embodiments. In some embodiments, numerical parameters should take into account specified significant digits and employ a general method of digit reservation. Although the numerical ranges and parameters used to confirm their breadth of range in some embodiments of this application are approximate values, in specific embodiments, such values ​​are set as precisely as feasible.

Claims

1. A test platform for testing pulse output devices, characterized in that, include: A pressure device includes a sealed cavity and a pressure controller, wherein the sealed cavity is used to house the pulse output device, the pressure controller is used to receive a pressure control signal and generate a pressure event and a timestamp according to the pressure control signal, the pressure event includes controlling the pressure change in the sealed cavity, and the timestamp corresponds to the time when the pressure event occurs; The control unit is communicatively connected to the pressure controller. The control unit is used to generate the pressure control signal, obtain the timestamp, the working pulse of the pulse output device and the time corresponding to the working pulse, match the timestamp with the time corresponding to the working pulse, and output the correspondence curve between the time of occurrence of the pressure event and the working pulse.

2. The testing platform as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The pressure controller is also used to generate a pressure event pulse signal based on the pressure event. The pressure controller also includes a hardware triggering device, which is used to capture the pressure event pulse signal and mark the time when the pressure event occurs to generate the timestamp.

3. The testing platform as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The pressure controller includes: A trajectory generator is used to generate a pressure control curve based on the pressure control signal, wherein the horizontal axis of the pressure control curve is a preset time and the vertical axis of the pressure control curve is a preset pressure. A feedforward model is used to calculate the input or output of gas in the sealed cavity based on the preset pressure. The control module is used to calculate and control the opening degree of the actuator based on the input or output of gas in the sealed cavity; and An actuator is used to control pressure changes within a sealed cavity.

4. The testing platform as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The sealed cavity is equipped with multiple pressure sensors, which are used to detect the pressure values ​​at multiple locations within the sealed cavity. The control module is also used to calculate the average pressure value at the multiple locations and adjust the preset pressure according to the average value.

5. The testing platform as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The control module is also used to adjust the input or output of the gas based on the pressure leakage of the sealed cavity per unit time.

6. The testing platform as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The pressure device further includes: a gas source for providing gas; the sealed cavity is provided with an air inlet and a first air outlet; the actuator includes: a proportional air inlet valve and a proportional air outlet valve, wherein the proportional air inlet valve is connected to the air inlet valve and the proportional air outlet valve is connected to the first air outlet valve.

7. The testing platform as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The pressure device further includes a buffer tank, which is disposed between the proportional intake valve and the intake port.

8. The testing platform as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The pressure device further includes: a backflow prevention and noise reduction structure, wherein the backflow prevention and noise reduction structure is disposed between the buffer tank and the air inlet, and / or the backflow prevention and noise reduction structure is disposed between the proportional exhaust valve and / or the first air outlet.

9. The testing platform as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The actuator includes a bypass quick-release valve, and the sealed cavity is provided with a second air outlet. The bypass quick-release valve and the second air outlet are directly connected.

10. The testing platform as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The test platform also includes a safety control unit, which is communicatively connected to the control unit and the pressure controller.

11. A test method for a pulse output device, characterized in that, include: Pressure events and timestamps are generated based on pressure control signals. The pressure events include controlling pressure changes within a sealed cavity. The timestamps correspond to the times when the pressure events occur. A pulse output device is installed inside the sealed cavity to output working pulses. Obtain the timestamp, the working pulse, and the time corresponding to the working pulse; Associating the timestamp with the time corresponding to the working pulse; and Output the curve showing the correspondence between the occurrence time of the pressure event and the working pulse.

12. The test method as described in claim 11, characterized in that, The timestamp generated based on the pressure control signal includes: Generate a pressure event pulse signal based on the pressure event; and The timestamp is generated by marking the occurrence time of the pressure event based on the pressure event pulse signal through hardware triggering.

13. The test method as described in claim 11, characterized in that, The step of associating the timestamp with the time includes: Obtain multiple timestamp samples and time samples corresponding to the working pulses corresponding to the multiple timestamp samples; Fit the timestamp samples and the time samples corresponding to the working pulses to establish a mapping function relationship between the timestamp samples and the time samples corresponding to the working pulses; The timestamp is mapped to the time corresponding to the working pulse according to the mapping function relationship.

14. The test method as described in claim 13, characterized in that, Also includes: The mapping function relationship includes: ， Where Tpress represents the timestamp sample, Tpi represents the time sample, Tref is the reference time, Δ is the bias, and γ is the drift.

15. The test method as described in claim 11, characterized in that, The generation of pressure events based on pressure control signals includes: Obtain the preset pressure corresponding to the pressure control signal; The input or output of gas in the sealed cavity is calculated based on the preset pressure. The opening amount of the actuator is calculated based on the input or output of the gas in the sealed cavity; The actuator is adjusted according to the opening degree to control the pressure change within the sealed cavity.

16. The test method as described in claim 15, characterized in that, The sealed cavity is equipped with multiple pressure sensors, which are used to detect the pressure values ​​at multiple locations within the sealed cavity. After obtaining the preset pressure corresponding to the pressure control signal, the method further includes: obtaining the average value of the pressure values ​​at the multiple locations, and adjusting the preset pressure in the sealed cavity according to the average value.

17. The test method as described in claim 16, characterized in that, The step of adjusting the preset pressure within the sealed cavity according to the average value includes adjusting the preset pressure within the sealed cavity according to a control objective function, wherein the control objective function is expressed by the following formula: ， Where J is the control target. Let be the mean, p be the preset pressure, w be the weight, and Δpmax be the maximum value of the difference between any two pressure values ​​at the plurality of locations.

18. The test method as described in claim 15, characterized in that, The calculation of the input or output of gas in the sealed cavity based on the preset pressure also includes: The pressure leakage rate of the sealed cavity per unit time is obtained, and the gas input or output rate is adjusted according to the pressure leakage rate.

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