Measuring Device Internal Signal Generator for Cost-Effective Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Testing measuring devices for physical quantities, such as high currents in e-mobility charging stations, is complex and expensive due to the need for precise and costly power sources to simulate the measured conditions.
Innovation Solution
A measuring device with a signal generator that produces a test signal based on specifications, allowing the processing unit to simulate the output of an analog-to-digital converter, eliminating the need for expensive power sources by generating internal test signals that mimic real input variables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a real power source is used to test the measuring device, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the copying principle by creating a virtual copy of the power source through software simulation. Instead of using a real power source that physically generates electrical signals, the system creates a digital replica that emulates the power source's output characteristics. This virtual power source provides the same functional behavior for testing purposes while eliminating the need for expensive physical equipment and reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical power source system with a software-based simulation system. The real power source that would normally generate electrical signals is substituted by a computational model that generates virtual signals through software execution. This substitution eliminates the need for physical power source hardware, reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining measurement precision through accurate digital emulation of power source characteristics.
2Measurement precision
If a real power source is used to test the measuring device, then the measurement precision is improved, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses software to create a virtual copy of the power source, eliminating the need to purchase and maintain expensive physical power source equipment. The virtual power source is implemented through software modules that can be executed on standard computing hardware, significantly reducing the cost of acquiring and manufacturing the testing system while preserving measurement precision through accurate digital modeling of power source behavior.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive physical power source hardware with a software-based simulation system. This substitution eliminates the need to purchase, transport, and maintain costly electrical equipment, thereby reducing the overall cost of the measuring device. The software simulation achieves the same functional objectives at a fraction of the cost, making the system more economical to manufacture and deploy.
3Device complexity
If a signal generator is used to simulate the output, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms in the virtual power source simulation to ensure accuracy. The software model continuously monitors and adjusts its output based on feedback from the measuring device under test, ensuring that the simulated power source characteristics accurately reflect real-world conditions. This feedback loop maintains measurement precision by allowing the virtual power source to adapt to the specific requirements of the being tested, while keeping the system architecture simple.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a measuring device (100) for measuring a physical variable. The measuring device (100) has a converter (102), which is designed to convert an input variable present at a measurement input (101), into a measurement signal and to provide the same as an output variable. The measuring device (100) comprises a processing unit (104), which is designed to process the output variable of the converter (102), and a signal generator (107), which is designed to generate a test signal on the basis of a specification, which test signal corresponds to an output variable of the converter (102) to an input variable of the converter (102) corresponding to the specification. The processing unit (104) can be connected via a switching element (105) either to an output (103) of the converter (102) or to an output (109) of the signal generator (107). The invention further relates to a method for testing a measuring device (100).