KR20000073113A - System and method for calibrating digital measuring instrument remotely using internet - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A system and the method for remotely correcting a digital measuring instrument using the internet are provided to reduce the cost and the time for detecting and correcting the measuring instrument, by enabling the measuring instrument to be detected and corrected remotely via the internet, without the need for transportation of the measuring instrument to a correcting center. CONSTITUTION: A correcting server(220) includes a controller(222) for comparing correction data to each other in order to set a reference parameter, an internet interface part(226) connected to the internet(212). and a parameter database(224) for storing the history of a time stamp and corrected details by each model. The correcting server(220) has a gold signal generator(228) for outputting a reference wave for a measuring instrument(110), a correction part(230) for measuring the reference wave from the generator(228) to output the first reference wave data, and an error correction code(ECC) generator(232) for producing the ECC corresponding to the data from the part(230). A measuring instrument(110) includes an ECC part(82) for correcting the first reference wave data, and a memory(81) for storing the corrected data.

Description

System and method for calibrating digital measuring instrument remotely using internet}

The present invention relates to a calibration system for a digital instrument, and more particularly, to a remote calibration system and method for a digital instrument using the Internet.

In general, the ratio of digital signal calculation and processing, display and calculation processing functions, which are required among the cost components of the dedicated digital measurement airflow, is somewhat different depending on the instrument, but it is generally expensive, because it accounts for a large part of the manufacturing cost. There is a limit to reduce the cost of the digital instrument, and the microprocessor used in the digital instrument requires faster processing power than the 32 and 64-bit microprocessors such as Pentium and MMX that are commonly used to realize multimedia in PCs. Even the software used in the instrument has only been able to store very simple contents as firmware, but the GPIB (General Purpose Interface bus) connection function and memory function have been added to increase the price of the instrument.

In response to the above requirements, by installing hardware modules and software for digital measurement in general-purpose notebooks such as personal computers having a communication function, users can purchase and operate ultra-precision measuring instruments at low cost, and can use conventional digital multimeters or digital oscilloscopes, etc. There is no need to purchase a variety of digital instruments separately, digital measuring device having a telemetry function using the Internet network that can implement a variety of complex functions, such as repair or diagnostic support using the Internet network in detail in patent application No. 98-15388 It is described.

In the case of such a precision measuring instrument, it is necessary to calibrate the precision every year or at regular intervals, so that the instrument is entrusted to the calibrating institution every year, so that the measuring apparatus cannot be used during loss and calibration, and the cost of calibration It took quite a while.

In particular, using the reference waveform generated by the gold signal generator 12 of the calibration originator 10, as shown in the calibration procedure of the conventional measuring instrument shown in FIG. After the range meter has been calibrated, the reference standard of each country is calibrated by the reference standard 10, and the standard of the regional calibration center is generated using the reference waveform generated by the silver signal generator of the standard 14. 18 is calibrated step by step, the actual user's instrument 22 is subjected to several steps of calibration procedure. Therefore, since the signal generated by the signal generator 20 for measuring the user's instrument may be different from the signal of the gold signal generator of the reference, calibration could be made incorrectly.

The present invention provides a remote calibration system and method for easily calibrating a digital instrument remotely by connecting a digital instrument configured to be connected to a computer having a communication function to a remote calibration server having a gold signal generator through an internet network. To provide.

1 is a view for explaining a calibration procedure of a conventional digital measuring instrument.

2 is a connection diagram of a remote calibration system for a digital instrument using the Internet according to the present invention.

3 is a block diagram of the expansion card for measurement connected to the notebook computer shown in FIG.

4 is a detailed block diagram of a remote calibration system of the digital instrument shown in FIG. 1.

5A and 5B are flowcharts illustrating a calibration method of the remote calibration system illustrated in FIG. 2.

<Description of Symbols for Major Parts of Drawings>

35 ... Channel measurement unit, 51 ... Internet interface unit

78 ... remote calibration control unit, 81 ... memory

82 ... ECC unit, 90 ... reference waveform data signal processing unit

100 ... display unit, 212 ... Internet network

222 ... calibration server control unit, 224 ... parameter database

228 ... gold signal generator, 230 ... calibration instrument

232 ... ECC generator.

Remote calibration function having a remote calibration server for remote calibration of the measurement card using a digital instrument consisting of a measurement expansion card connected to a personal computer having an Internet communication function to achieve the technical problem and the Internet network In the digital measurement system having,

The measuring unit includes a calibration parameter generator for generating a temperature coefficient, a reference clock, and a reference voltage calibration parameter of the measuring instrument; A memory configured to store first reference waveform data received from the remote calibration server and to store second reference waveform data obtained by signal processing of the first reference waveform data; A reference waveform signal processor for performing D / A conversion on the first reference waveform data stored in the memory, filtering the data, and amplifying the first reference waveform data to a predetermined level; A channel measuring unit configured to amplify, attenuate, and A / D convert the first reference waveform signal output from the reference waveform signal processor to output the second reference waveform data; A display unit for displaying a fine calibration method and procedure for the channel measuring unit on a screen; And transmitting the first and second reference waveform data, the calibration parameter, and the model number to the remote calibration server, and controlling the display unit according to a comparison operation of the first and second reference waveforms. Equipped with a remote calibration control to display the procedure,

The calibration server includes a parameter database for storing calibration history for each instrument model; A gold signal generator generating a reference waveform corresponding to the measuring instrument; A calibration measurement unit having the same tolerance as that of the measurement instrument and transmitting the first reference waveform data measured by the reference waveform to the measurement instrument; And a calibration server controller configured to receive the calibration parameters from the measuring instrument, read a calibration history of the measuring instrument in the parameter database according to the model number, and control the gold signal generator.

The calibration server control unit compares the first and second reference waveform data, records the calibration history and the date and time of the calibration in the parameter database, and transmits the calculation result to the measuring instrument to be recorded in the memory as a reference parameter. It is characterized by.

In addition, the calibration server and the measuring instrument further comprises error correction means for error correction of the transmission and reception data.

In addition, a remote calibration method using a remote calibration server for remote calibration of the measurement card using a digital instrument consisting of a measurement card connected to a personal computer having an Internet communication function to achieve the other technical problem and the Internet network The first step of transmitting the calibration parameters of the instrument to the remote calibration server; A second step of generating a reference waveform from a gold signal generator of a corresponding instrument in accordance with the calibration parameter in the remote calibration server; A third step of transmitting, to the measuring instrument, first reference waveform data obtained by measuring the reference waveform by the measuring unit calibrated with the same tolerance as the measuring instrument; A fourth step of performing D / A conversion on the first reference waveform data and outputting it to an input terminal of a channel measuring unit, and then performing A / D conversion on analog signal processing to generate second reference waveform data; And a fifth process of comparing the first and second reference waveform data and displaying a method and procedure for finely adjusting the amplification ratio, the attenuation ratio, the sample hold frequency, and the trigger signal according to the comparison result on the screen. It is done.

In addition, after repeating the first to fourth processes a predetermined number of times, the remote calibration server stores time stamps and calibration details of time and date, and compares the first and second reference waveform data in a digital signal step. The method may further include transmitting the result to the measuring instrument and storing the result as a reference parameter.

In addition, the calibration parameter is characterized in that it includes the model number of the measuring instrument and the reference voltage, reference clock, temperature coefficient.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 2 is a connection diagram showing a digital measurement device configured to be connected to a computer having a communication function and a calibration server connected to the Internet.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 200 denotes a remote calibration module 204 for performing remote calibration of the digital oscilloscope 206 to a conventional digital instrument such as a digital oscilloscope 206, and the remote calibration module 204 has a communication function. As a connection diagram connected to the notebook computer 202, the remote calibration of the digital oscilloscope 206 is performed by the calibration server 220 through the Internet network 212. FIG. In another embodiment, a digital instrument consisting of a notebook computer 208 having a communication function connected to an expansion card or module 210, not shown, having a remote calibration circuit and a main measurement circuit of the digital instrument in the notebook computer 208. The remote calibration is performed by accessing the calibration server 220 through the Internet network 212.

Here, the expansion card not shown can be used by connecting to an expansion module having various measurement functions by using an A / D converter, an analog amplifier, and an attenuator having common functions generally required for measurement. It can include a measurement circuit block for measuring specific electrical parameters included in the expansion module without.

The personal computer memory card interface association (PCMCIA) can be used to expand various peripheral devices such as modems, LAN cards, pagers and digital cellular, memory expansion, hard disk drivers, CD-ROM drivers, and digital cameras. You can install a card.

Using the PCMCIA card as described above, the expansion card for measuring the main circuit block of the digital oscilloscope as shown in FIG. 3 includes a first channel measuring unit 30, an analog signal processor 40, a second channel measuring unit 50, The control unit 60 and the remote inspection unit 70 is included. The first channel measuring unit 30 receives a filter unit 310 for inputting a signal of a measurement band from a measurement terminal unit not shown, and receives infrared data transmitted by IrDA communication standard from a measurement terminal unit not shown to convert it into an analog signal. Digital switch / relay and resistor for attenuating the measurement signal inputted through the filter unit 310 at a constant rate according to the control signal of the IrDA interface unit 311 and the control unit 60 outputted to the filter unit 310 Analog signal processor 40, attenuation / amplification circuit 312 composed of a plurality of stages for attenuating or amplifying the signal output from the analog signal processor 40 to a range of signals having a predetermined amplitude, 314), a trigger signal processor 316 for triggering an input signal, an A / D converter 318 for converting an analog signal into a digital signal, and a digitally converted digital data value in sequence. A FIFO memory unit 320 is provided. In addition, the remote inspection unit 70 includes a temperature coefficient generation unit 84 for generating a temperature coefficient, a reference clock generation unit 86 for generating a reference clock, and a reference voltage generation unit 88 for generating a reference voltage. Calibration parameter generation unit 80, memory 81 for storing first and second reference waveform data and reference parameters, D / A converter 76 for converting digital signals into analog signals, and D / A conversion A reference waveform data signal processor 90 having a filter unit 74 and an amplifier 72 for filtering and amplifying the analog signal converted by the unit 76 in a predetermined band, and remote calibration for controlling remote calibration. The control unit 78 is provided.

Reading and setting the initial resistance value of the analog signal processor 40 through the data input / output port of the PCMCIA card provides a graphical user interface (GUI) by selecting a control panel located on the right side of the PC window with a mouse click. To select the input range. In PCMCIA card, the analog signal processor 40 inside the PCMCIA card is selected by adjusting the cursor with the click of a mouse on the screen of the Windows environment without the switch on the operation panel, which is essential for setting the input condition of the instrument in a general oscilloscope. It works with software that selects and connects values, and has the same effect as selecting an input range from the actual control panel.

Figure 4 is a block diagram showing a remote calibration calibration system of a digital instrument using the Internet network of the present invention.

Reference numeral 220 denotes a calibration server, reference numeral 110 denotes a measuring instrument having a remote calibration function connected to a calibration server 220 through an internet network, and the calibration server 220 compares each calibration data to set reference parameters. Calibration server control unit 222, Internet interface 212 for connecting to the Internet network 212, a parameter database 224 for storing the time stamp and the history of calibration contents such as calibration time and date for each model number, measuring instrument Gold signal generation unit 228 for generating and outputting a reference waveform for 110 has the same tolerance range as the channel measuring unit 35 of the measuring instrument 110, generated by the gold signal generation unit 228 Calibration measurement unit 230 for measuring the reference waveform and outputting the first reference waveform data, the digital calibration data value measured by the calibration measurement unit 230 is introduced to generate and add a corresponding error correction code An ECC generation unit 232 is transmitted through the Internet interface unit 226.

The instrument 110 having a remote calibration function includes the ECC unit 82 for error correcting the first reference waveform data introduced through the Internet interface unit 51 and the first reference waveform data error corrected in the ECC unit 82. The reference waveform data signal processor 90 and the reference waveform for performing D / A conversion, filtering, and outputting the first reference waveform data as an analog signal under the control of the memory 81 and the remote calibration controller 78 stored in the first area. A channel measuring unit 35 for inputting an analog signal output from the data signal processing unit 90, processing the signal, and converting the signal into a digital signal, and converting the second reference waveform data digitally converted by the channel measuring unit 35 into the memory 81. The amplification rate and attenuation rate of the analog circuit stage of the channel measuring unit 35 in the display unit 100 according to the difference between the first and second reference waveform data stored in the second area and stored in the first area and the second area. To fine-tune how to adjust the frequency The vector comprising a remote calibration control section (78) for controlling.

Here, the reference waveform data signal processor 90 includes a D / A converter 76 for converting first reference waveform data stored in the first memory area of the memory 81 into an analog signal and a filter for filtering the analog signal. 74, an amplifying unit 72 for amplifying the filtered analog first reference waveform, wherein the memory 81 is configured of, for example, a flash memory in which data is preserved even when the power is turned off.

5A and 5B are flowcharts illustrating a remote calibration method of the system shown in FIG. 4. Hereinafter, the operation of the system shown in FIG. 4 will be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 5A and 5B.

In step 502, the remote calibration control unit 78 of the remote calibration target measuring instrument transmits calibration parameters such as model number, clock, temperature coefficient, and reference voltage to the calibration server 220 through the Internet network 212.

After using the calibration parameters received through the Internet interface unit 226, the calibration server control unit 222 reads the calibration history of the calibration target measuring instrument 110 stored in the parameter database 224 (step 504). Accordingly, the gold signal generator 228 is controlled to generate a reference voltage sinusoidal wave of a reference voltage and a predetermined frequency band required for calibration of the corresponding instrument model (step 606). The calibration instrument 230 that is calibrated to the same level as the calibration target instrument and has the same tolerance range measures the reference signal waveform generated by the gold signal generator 228 and outputs first reference waveform data (step 508). ).

The ECC (error correcting code) generation unit 232 adds an error correction code to the incoming calibration data, and transmits the error correction code to the remote calibration control unit 78 of the remote calibration target instrument through the Internet interface unit 51. After performing error correction through the ECC unit 82 (step 510), the first reference waveform data is stored in the first area of the memory 80 (step 512). The remote calibration controller 78 reads the first reference waveform data from the first area of the memory 81 and transmits the first reference waveform data to the reference waveform data signal processor 90. The reference waveform data signal processor 90 calculates the Vcc voltage of the D / A converter 76 based on the initially transmitted reference voltage and performs D / A conversion by the temperature coefficient parameter, so that the calibration server 220 is calibrated. The waveform identical to the waveform output from the measuring unit 230 is output to the calibration terminal (step 610). After the output signal and the trigger signal of the calibration terminal are output to the input terminal of the channel measuring unit 35 including the first and second channel measuring units 30 and 50 of FIG. 3, the channel measuring unit ( In operation 514, the second reference waveform data processed and converted by the analog terminal of FIG. 35 is stored in the second area of the memory 81.

The remote calibration controller 78 compares the first and second reference waveform data stored in the first and second regions of the memory 81 (step 516) to obtain an amplification ratio of the analog circuit stage of the channel measuring unit 35. Fine adjustment methods and procedures such as attenuation rate, sample and hold frequency, trigger signal, and the like are controlled by the display unit 100 to guide and adjust the user through the screen (step 518). The channel measuring unit 35 is calibrated by repeating steps 502 to 518 three times or more, for example, a predetermined number of times (step 520).

After repeating steps 502 to 512 a predetermined number of times, if both data to be compared are transmitted to the calibration server control unit 222 on the calibration server side (step 522), the calibration server control unit 222 is time stamped and the like. The calibration contents history is recorded in the parameter database 224 (step 524), and the two-sided data to be compared are recomputed, and the result is transferred to the memory 81 of the calibration target instrument and stored as reference parameters (steps 526 and 528). ). Therefore, by using it as a reference parameter of the measurement target instrument, such as when the power is applied or reset, it serves as a digital correction certificate recorded the date and time the correction was made. Here, the memory 81 is composed of a memory, such as a flash memory, in which data is not lost even when the power is turned off.

Although the present invention has been described above with respect to remote calibration of a measuring instrument having an expansion card for measurement connected to a personal computer having a communication function, as shown in FIG. 1, the digital oscilloscope 206 is remotely calibrated as an example. It is possible to easily perform remote calibration by connecting to the calibration server 220 through the notebook computer 202 having the Internet communication function and accessing the built-in remote calibration module 204 with the government 70. This is well known to those skilled in the art.

According to the present invention, by remotely calibrating the measuring instrument using an internet network, the calibrating target instrument can be easily calibrated without the need for transfer to a calibration center, thereby greatly reducing the cost and time for calibration. In addition, it is possible to calibrate more precisely through a calibration servo having a gold signal generator.

Claims (7)

In the digital measurement system having a remote calibration function having a digital instrument comprising an expansion card for measurement connected to a personal computer having an Internet communication function and a remote calibration server for remote calibration of the measurement card using an internet network, The instrument A calibration parameter generator for generating calibration parameters of the temperature coefficient, the reference clock, and the reference voltage of the instrument; A memory for storing first reference waveform data received from the remote calibration calibration server, and storing second reference waveform data obtained by signal processing of the first reference waveform data; A reference waveform signal processor for performing D / A conversion on the first reference waveform data stored in the memory, filtering the data, and amplifying the first reference waveform data to a predetermined level; A channel measuring unit configured to amplify, attenuate, and A / D convert the first reference waveform signal output from the reference waveform signal processor to output the second reference waveform data; A display unit for displaying a fine calibration method and procedure for the channel measuring unit on a screen; And And transmitting the first and second reference waveform data, the calibration parameter, and the model number to the remote calibration server, and controlling the display unit according to a comparison operation of the first and second reference waveforms. It is provided with a remote calibration control unit for displaying, The calibration server A parameter database for storing calibration history for each instrument model; A gold signal generator generating a reference waveform corresponding to the measuring instrument; A calibration measurement unit having the same tolerance as that of the measurement instrument and transmitting first reference waveform data measured by the reference waveform to the measurement instrument; And And a calibration server control unit for receiving the calibration parameters from the instrument and reading the calibration history of the instrument in the parameter database according to the model number to control the gold signal generator. Remote Calibration System. The calibration server control unit compares the first and second reference waveform data, records the calibration history and the date and time of the calibration in the parameter database, and transmits the calculation result to the measuring instrument to be recorded in the memory as a reference parameter. Remote calibration system of the digital instrument using the Internet, characterized in that. The remote calibration system of claim 1, wherein the calibration server and the measuring instrument further comprise error correction means for error correction of data transmitted and received. The remote calibration system of claim 1, wherein the calibration parameter comprises a reference voltage, a reference clock, and a temperature coefficient of the instrument. In the remote calibration method using a remote calibration server for remote calibration of the measurement card using a digital instrument consisting of a measurement card connected to a personal computer having an Internet communication function and the Internet network, Transmitting a calibration parameter of the instrument to the remote calibration server; A second step of generating a reference waveform from a gold signal generator of a corresponding instrument in accordance with the calibration parameter in the remote calibration server; A third step of transmitting, to the measuring instrument, first reference waveform data obtained by measuring the reference waveform by the measuring unit calibrated with the same tolerance as the measuring instrument; A fourth step of performing D / A conversion on the first reference waveform data and outputting it to an input terminal of a channel measuring unit, and then performing A / D conversion on analog signal processing to generate second reference waveform data; And a fifth process of comparing the first and second reference waveform data and displaying a method and procedure for finely adjusting the amplification ratio, the attenuation ratio, the sample hold frequency, and the trigger signal according to the comparison result on the screen. Remote calibration method of digital instrument using internet. The method of claim 5, wherein after repeating the first to fourth processes a predetermined number of times, the remote calibration server stores a time stamp and a calibration history of the time and date, and converts the first and second reference waveform data into a digital signal. And transmitting the result of the comparison operation in the step to the measuring instrument and storing the result as a reference parameter. 6. The remote calibration method of claim 5, wherein the calibration parameter comprises a model number, a reference voltage, a reference clock, and a temperature coefficient of the instrument.