Real-Time Onboard Sensor Thermal Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for reducing thermal-induced errors in sensor measurements are either post-flight or predictive, lacking real-time automation, and often require costly vendor-level control of sensor specifications, which may not meet the accuracy requirements of governmental agencies.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for real-time onboard standalone sensor thermal compensation (RTOB SSTC) that uses a temperature sensor, processor, and preloaded data to calculate and apply real-time thermal error reduction data, including polynomial functions and midpoint temperature error reduction, to compensate for thermal sensitivity and zero offset changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If post-flight or guess/prediction analysis is used for thermal error reduction, then implementation complexity is reduced, but real-time automation capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration during manufacturing to determine sensor-specific thermal error coefficients, storing this data for later real-time compensation. This preliminary action enables the sensor to automatically compensate for thermal errors during operation without requiring complex real-time calibration algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system performs self-compensation by automatically applying thermal error correction using pre-determined coefficients and real-time temperature measurements. The system serves itself by eliminating the need for external post-flight analysis or manual calibration, achieving real-time automation through autonomous error correction.
2Measurement precision
If vendor-level control of sensor specifications is implemented, then measurement accuracy is improved, but cost and lead time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes from controlling sensor hardware specifications at the vendor level to controlling thermal compensation parameters through software algorithms. By using polynomial fitting and pre-determined error coefficients, the system achieves high measurement accuracy through parameter-based correction rather than expensive precision manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces expensive precision-controlled sensors with standard-off-the-shelf sensors that are compensated through software. This approach uses cheaper, more readily available sensor components while achieving comparable or superior accuracy through thermal error correction algorithms.
3Ease of manufacture
If only three temperature values are provided for thermal coefficients, then vendor data requirements are simplified, but measurement accuracy across the full temperature range deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary polynomial fitting during the calibration phase using the three vendor-provided temperature points. This preliminary mathematical modeling creates a continuous compensation function that accurately represents thermal error across the entire operating temperature range, not just at the three discrete calibration points.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies polynomial fitting (curved mathematical functions) to model the non-linear relationship between temperature and sensor error. This curved approximation captures the complex thermal error behavior better than linear interpolation, maintaining high accuracy across the full temperature range while using only three calibration points.
4Measurement precision
If real-time thermal compensation is implemented, then measurement accuracy is improved, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs complex polynomial fitting and coefficient determination during the offline calibration phase, storing the results as pre-determined error coefficients. During real-time operation, only simple polynomial evaluation is required, which is computationally efficient and can be executed rapidly on embedded processors without requiring complex real-time algorithms.
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
The solution enables real-time thermal compensation, reducing sensor errors and improving measurement accuracy, while optimizing computational complexity and meeting the stringent accuracy requirements of governmental agencies.
Implementation Method 1
The system includes a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor configured to determine a temperature for a sensor of interest
Implementation Method 2
the calculation comprises using polynomial functions within a temperature reading range determined by the temperature sensor, wherein the polynomial functions are based on preloaded data for the sensor of interest
Data Source
AI summary
A method for reducing thermal induced error in real-time for a sensor in a region of interest. The method includes receiving at least one data point from a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor configured to determine temperature for the sensor of interest. The method includes receiving at least one data point from the sensor, the sensor having thermal sensitivity and offset shift for a given temperature range. The method includes determining at least three percentage change coefficients for thermal sensitivity. The method includes determining at least three percentage change coefficients for thermal zero offset. The method includes calculating real-time thermal error reduction.