Pulsed System Calibration Using Interpolation Tolerance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current calibration methods for pulsed systems, such as infrared sensors in vehicles, are time-consuming, requiring extensive measurement and analysis to create tables of constant values, often taking several weeks to ensure accurate compensation for environmental influences.

Innovation Solution

Adjust influencing variables until they reach a predetermined tolerance rather than exact target values, using interpolation to determine corresponding received values, significantly reducing the time required for calibration by employing cubic spline or two-dimensional interpolation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If exact target values are set for influencing variables during calibration, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecalibration accuracyVSAvoidcalibration time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by setting influencing variables only to predeterminable values within a tolerance range rather than exact target values. This partial fulfillment of the setting requirement significantly reduces calibration time while maintaining sufficient measurement precision through interpolation of received values within the tolerance band.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/physical process of precisely adjusting variables to exact target values with a computational approach using interpolation. Instead of mechanically achieving exact settings, the system computes equivalent calibration data by interpolating received values from measurements taken at predeterminable values within tolerance ranges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If extensive calibration measurements are performed to ensure accuracy, then reliability is improved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecalibration reliabilityVSAvoidcalibration throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces extensive physical measurement processes with computational interpolation. Instead of performing numerous precise measurements to ensure reliability, the system uses mathematical interpolation to generate reliable calibration data from fewer measurements taken at predeterminable values within tolerance ranges, thereby increasing productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the calibration approach from requiring exact parameter values to accepting parameters within tolerance ranges. By transforming the requirement from precise target values to predeterminable values with acceptable deviations, the system maintains calibration reliability while significantly improving throughput and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP1890167B1Method and device for calibrating a pulsed system
Publication Date: 2009.04.22 DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES INC
  • EP1890167B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The method involves sending out impulses by a transmitter and receiving the impulses by a receiver. The impulses are exposed in an operation, particularly to environmental influencing factors, which are adjusted for simulation by variable regulating units. The receiver measures the resultant receiving value for adjusting different values of the influencing factors, which is adjusted to respond a value, corresponding to a provided value within a provided tolerance. The receiving values are determined by interpolation of receiving values along the adjusted values of the influencing factor. An independent claim is also included for a device for calibrating a transmitter to send impulses and a receiver to receive impulses of a pulsed system.