Nanomechanical Test System Onboard Calibration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mechanical testing instruments at the micron scale often experience errors due to improper entry of mechanical characteristics and incorrect installation of transducers or tips, leading to measurement inaccuracies and misidentification of faulty components.

Innovation Solution

A nanomechanical test system with integrated memory devices in probe tips and transducers that store unique calibration values, allowing for onboard calibration and preventing incorrect installation by matching instrument-specific characteristics with pre-stored data, thus ensuring accurate measurements and reducing user error.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If manual entry of mechanical characteristics is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to entry errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidmeasurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical testing instrument performs self-identification and self-calibration by automatically reading its own mechanical characteristics from the memory device, eliminating the need for manual data entry and reducing human error while maintaining system simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual data entry process with an automated electronic reading system that retrieves mechanical characteristics directly from a memory device coupled to the instrument, substituting human operation with an automated electronic identification system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If mechanical characteristics are entered from external sources, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to incorrect data entry

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation convenienceVSAvoiddata accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The instrument automatically reads its own mechanical characteristics from its integrated memory device, making the operation as convenient as before while ensuring the data is always accurate since it comes from the instrument's own stored information rather than external manual entry

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If transducers and tips are installed without verification, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to incorrect installation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetesting speedVSAvoidmeasurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides immediate feedback by reading and verifying the mechanical characteristics of installed transducers and tips, allowing operators to confirm correct installation before beginning measurements, thus preventing inaccurate results without significantly slowing down the overall process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Measurement precision

If manual verification of instrument installation is performed, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to time-consuming analysis

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidtesting efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces time-consuming manual verification and analysis with an automated electronic identification system that quickly reads and validates mechanical characteristics from the memory device, ensuring measurement accuracy while maintaining high productivity through rapid automated verification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9194727B2Mechanical testing instruments including onboard data

Publication Date: 2015.11.24 HYSITRON INC

AI summary

A method of calibrating a mechanical instrument assembly includes reading a memory device coupled with a mechanical testing instrument, the mechanical testing instrument having one or more mechanical characteristics with values unique to the mechanical testing instrument, and reading includes reading of one or more calibration values based on the one or more mechanical characteristic values. The method further includes calibrating the mechanical instrument assembly according to the one or more calibration values. The mechanical testing instrument is coupled with the mechanical instrument assembly.