Methods, apparatuses, systems, and computer program products for multi-point shunt calibration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11249164-B2
Application number	US-201916394273-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 25, 2019
Priority date	Apr 25, 2019
Publication date	Feb 15, 2022
Grant date	Feb 15, 2022

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure include methods, apparatuses, systems, and computer program product for enabling multi-point shunt calibration of a sensor device. Multi-point shunt calibration provides at least a first, second, and third simulated calibration output, each simulated calibration output corresponding to an actual reading value and an expected reading value. The simulated calibration outputs are associated with a predefined output sequence, where each simulated calibration output is separated from an adjacent simulated calibration output by an output step size. Some embodiments are configured for automatically outputting each simulated calibration output for a particular period of time before outputting an adjacent simulated calibration output in the predefined output sequence. The various simulated calibration outputs, actual reading values, and/or expected values may be used in determining calibrated reading values for the sensor device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-point shunt calibration apparatus comprising:
a calibration component configured to communicate with a sensor device, the calibration component configured to:
output a first simulated calibration output;
output a second simulated calibration output after a first period of time following output of the first simulated calibration output; and
output a third simulated calibration output after a second period of time following output of the second simulated calibration output,
wherein the first, second, and third simulated calibration outputs are associated with a predefined output sequence within an operating range associated with the sensor device,
wherein each of the first simulated calibration output, the second simulated calibration output, and the third simulated calibration output is configured to cause the sensor device to produce an actual reading value, and
wherein the first simulated calibration output is separated from the second simulated calibration output by a first output step size, and the second simulated calibration output is separated from the third simulated calibration output by a second output step size.

2. The multi-point shunt calibration apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the calibration component comprises:
a plurality of optocouplers;
a plurality of output adjustment switches, each output adjustment switch associated with an optocoupler of the plurality of optocouplers;
a plurality of fixed resistors, each fixed resistor associated with an output adjustment switch of the plurality of output adjustment switches;
wherein the plurality of optocouplers corresponds to a plurality of calibration input values, each calibration input value associated with activating at least one of the plurality of optocouplers.

3. The multi-point shunt calibration apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the calibration component comprises:
a calibration switch or a calibration command control;
a multi-point shunt calibration microcontroller configured to produce at least a first pulse width modulated calibration value associated with the first simulated calibration output, a second pulse width modulated calibration value associated with the second simulated calibration output, and a third pulse width modulated calibration value associated with the third;
an RC filter; and
an output driver.

4. The multi-point shunt calibration apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the calibration component comprises:
a calibration switch or a calibration command control;
a multi-point shunt calibration microcontroller configured to produce at least a first interpretable calibration value associated with the first simulated calibration output, a second interpretable calibration value associated with the second simulated calibration output, and a third interpretable calibration value associated with the third simulated calibration output;
a digital-to-analog converter; and
an output driver.

5. The multi-point shunt calibration apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the calibration component comprises a calibration switch or a calibration command control, wherein the calibration component is further configured to:
receive a calibration initialization signal in response to user engagement with the calibration switch or the calibration command control, wherein the first simulated calibration output is outputted in response to receiving the calibration initialization signal; and
receive a calibration deinitialization signal in response to a second user engagement with the calibration switch or the calibration command control, wherein the calibration component stops outputting the third simulated calibration output in response to the calibration deinitialization signal.

6. The multi-point shunt calibration apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the calibration component is further configured to:
receive an output adjustment signal,
wherein the first period of time ends in response to receiving the output adjustment signal.

7. The multi-point shunt calibration apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first period of time is associated with an automatic output time shift interval, and wherein the calibration component is further configured to:
determine the first period of time satisfies the automatic output time shift interval.

8. The multi-point shunt calibration apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the calibration component comprises a hold input, and wherein the calibration component is further configured to:
receive a hold initialization signal in response to a first user engagement with the hold input; and
continue outputting a presently outputted simulated calibration output, wherein the presently outputted simulated calibration output is one selected from the group of the first simulated calibration output, the second simulated calibration output, and the third simulated calibration output.

9. The multi-point shunt calibration apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the calibration component is further configured to:
repeat output of the first simulated calibration output, the second simulated calibration output, and the third simulated calibration output according to the predefined output sequence.

10. The multi-point shunt calibration apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the predefined output sequence is associated with at least one additional simulated calibration output, wherein the calibration component is further configured to:
output each of the at least one additional simulated calibration output for an additional period of time.

11. A multi-point shunt calibration method comprising:
outputting a first simulated calibration output;
outputting a second simulated calibration output after a first period of time following outputting of the first simulated calibration output; and
outputting a third simulated calibration output after a second period of time following outputting the second simulated calibration output,
wherein the first, second, and third simulated calibration outputs are associated with a predefined output sequence within an operating range associated with a sensor device
wherein each of the first simulated calibration output, the second simulated calibration, and the third simulated calibration output is configured to cause the sensor device to produce an actual reading value, and
wherein the first simulated calibrated output is separated from the second simulated calibration output by a first output step size, and the second simulated calibration output is separated from the third simulated calibration output by a second output step size.

12. The multi-point shunt calibration method of claim 11 , wherein the first period of time is associated with an automatic output time shift interval, the method further comprising:
determining the first period of time satisfies the automatic output time shift interval.

13. The multi-point shunt calibration method of claim 11 , wherein the first period of time and the second period of time are associated with an automatic output time shift interval, and wherein outputting the first, second, and third simulated calibration outputs uses time division multiplexing based on the automatic output time shift interval.

14. The multi-point shunt calibrations method of claim 11 , further comprising:
repeating outputting of the first simulated calibration output, the second simulated calibration output, and the third simulated calibration output according to the predefined output sequence.

15. The multi-point shunt calibration method of claim 11 , further comprising:
generating a calibrated lookup table associated with the sensor device based on at least a first actua

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Malhan Vishal
• Shenoy Raghavendra
• Richards Brian

Classifications

• G01D18/008

  with calibration coefficients stored in memory · CPC title

• G01D2218/10

  Testing of sensors or measuring arrangements · CPC title

• G01R35/02 Primary

  of auxiliary devices, e.g. of instrument transformers according to prescribed transformation ratio, phase angle, or wattage rating · CPC title

• G08C23/04 Primary

  using light waves, e.g. infrared · CPC title

• G08C25/00

  Arrangements for preventing or correcting errors; Monitoring arrangements · CPC title