Measurement Accessory Device Coded Surface for Calibration Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vector network analyzer calibration methods rely on separate data carriers for characteristic data, leading to potential errors due to incorrect data usage and loss of data carriers, with no security check for correct calibration standard components.
Innovation Solution
A measurement accessory device with a housing featuring a coded surface, readable by a capacitive touchscreen, that encodes characteristic data such as type, serial number, and behavior information, eliminating the need for separate data carriers and ensuring compatibility during calibration and measurement setups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate data carriers are used to store characteristic data of calibration components, then the measurement apparatus can access calibration data, but the data carriers can be lost, misplaced, or contain incorrect data leading to measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the data storage function directly into the calibration component by integrating a memory element with the calibration standard. This eliminates the need for separate external data carriers, ensuring that the characteristic data remains permanently associated with the correct calibration component and cannot be lost or misplaced.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses optical or magnetic recording techniques to create a permanent copy of the characteristic data on the calibration component itself. This copied data is read by the measurement apparatus, eliminating the need for separate data carriers while maintaining data accessibility.
2Productivity
If manual calibration procedures are used with separate data carriers, then calibration can be performed, but the process is time-consuming and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical procedures (physically handling separate data carriers, manually inputting data) with automated optical or magnetic reading systems. The measurement apparatus automatically reads the characteristic data from the calibration component, eliminating manual intervention and significantly reducing calibration time.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration component provides its own identification and characteristic data through the integrated memory element. When placed in the measurement apparatus, it automatically presents its data for reading, eliminating the need for operators to manually search for, locate, and input calibration information.
3Reliability
If characteristic data is stored externally, then data can be accessed by the measurement apparatus, but there is no verification that the correct data is being used
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the calibration standard and its identifying data into a single integrated component. This ensures that the measurement apparatus reads data that is inherently linked to the physical calibration component being used, providing automatic verification of data correctness without adding significant system complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Automatically verifies the compatibility of measurement accessory devices, reducing errors and simplifying the calibration process by integrating data storage directly on the device, thus enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of vector network analyzer measurements.
Implementation Method 1
The housing of the measurement accessory device (1) comprises at least one coding surface having a structured pattern consisting of protrusions and/or recesses providing the encoded characteristic data of the measurement accessory device (1). The characteristic data encoded by the coding surface of the measurement accessory device (1) is readable by a capacitive touchscreen of the measurement apparatus (3) when pressed against the touchscreen of the measurement apparatus (3).
Data Source
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AI summary
A measurement accessory device (1) connectable to a measurement apparatus (3) or to a device under test (9) wherein the measurement accessory device (1) comprises means (2) for providing characteristic data of said measurement accessory device (1) in machine readable form used by said measurement apparatus (3) during measurement of said device under test (9).