Sensor Calibration Selective Disconnection Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Sensor circuits face inaccuracies due to temperature variations, requiring time-consuming and expensive calibration processes to adjust for offset and gain changes, which can lead to loss of calibration at different temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A selective disconnection mechanism in the signal processing path allows for calibration without using measured temperature during the process, enabling the estimation of optimal Offset, OTC, and GTC values by measuring output voltages at multiple temperatures and physical parameter values, thereby compensating for temperature variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the signal processing path uses measured temperature to compensate for temperature variations during calibration, then temperature-induced inaccuracies are reduced, but calibration time increases significantly due to iterative cycling between temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the temperature compensation function from the calibration process by using a selective disconnection mechanism. During calibration, the mechanism disconnects the signal processing path from the measured temperature, allowing calibration parameters to be determined without temperature-induced variations. This separates the calibration phase from temperature compensation, eliminating the need for iterative temperature cycling while maintaining calibration accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-determining calibration parameters at a reference temperature before temperature variations occur. The selective disconnection mechanism ensures that calibration parameters (Offset, OTC, GTC, G) are established when temperature compensation is inactive, providing a stable baseline. This preliminary calibration at reference temperature eliminates the need for subsequent iterative adjustments across different temperatures.
2Measurement precision
If the signal processing path uses measured temperature during calibration, then temperature compensation can be applied, but calibration expense increases due to complex iterative procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the temperature compensation function from the calibration process using a selective disconnection mechanism. This mechanism isolates the calibration measurements from temperature variations by disconnecting the signal processing path during calibration, thereby simplifying the calibration procedure to a single-temperature process while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying temperature compensation during calibration (the conventional approach), the patent inverts the approach by disabling temperature compensation during calibration measurements. This inversion allows calibration parameters to be determined purely at reference temperature conditions, simplifying the mathematical relationships and reducing calibration complexity.
3Measurement precision
If calibration parameters are set at one temperature value, then calibration is accurate at that temperature, but accuracy is lost at different temperatures due to confounding terms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the calibration process into distinct phases: a calibration phase where temperature compensation is disconnected and parameters are determined at reference temperature, and an operational phase where temperature compensation is active. This segmentation allows each phase to be optimized independently, ensuring accurate parameter determination without temperature confounding while maintaining temperature adaptability during actual operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic control through the selective disconnection mechanism, which dynamically switches the temperature compensation function on and off based on the operational phase. During calibration, the mechanism disconnects temperature compensation to establish accurate baseline parameters; during operation, it connects temperature compensation to maintain accuracy across temperature variations. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction between reference temperature accuracy and temperature range adaptability.
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
This approach reduces calibration time and expense by disconnecting the signal processing path from temperature during calibration, allowing for more accurate compensation of temperature-induced inaccuracies in sensor output signals.
Implementation Method 1
A temperature measurement circuit outputs a measured temperature
Implementation Method 2
the signal processing path is coupled to the sensor so as to receive the electrical sensor output signal and use the measured temperature to compensate for temperature variations in the sensor output signal
Data Source
AI summary
Calibration of a sensor circuit that includes a sensor, a temperature measurement circuit and a signal processing path. The sensor senses a physical parameter to be measured and generates an electrical sensor output signal representing the physical parameter. The temperature measurement circuit outputs a measured temperature. The signal processing path is coupled to the sensor so as to receive the electrical sensor output signal and use the measured temperature to compensate for temperature variations in the electrical sensor output signal. During calibration, the output voltage of the signal processing path is measured at multiple temperatures, and at multiple values of the physical parameter being measured at each temperature while the signal processing path is disconnected from using the measured temperature of the temperature measurement circuit.