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Abstract and Manuscript Management System - Abstract Detail |
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| Main Menu | Abstracts | |
| Speaker: | Wayne Goeke |
| Title: | Extending the Calibration Interval for Self Adjusting Test Instrumentation |
| Topic Group: | Calibration Intervals, Out of Tolerance, and Accuracy |
| E-mail: | goeke_wayne@keithley.com |
| Co-Authors: | |
| Abstract: |
Self-adjusting (or “artifact calibrating”) instruments have become common place among today’s test equipment. On one hand, the ability to adjust the entire instrument using only a few traceable artifact standards simplifies the adjustment process. On the other hand, performing a full verification of these instruments still requires many traceable values to insure the instrument’s internal self adjustment process has performed properly. As a result, the cost of a fully traceable calibration which includes verification of every function and range of these instruments can be considerable despite the simplified and more economical adjustment process. The paper discusses the theory underlying and provides experimental evidence for a method of extending the calibration interval without increasing the risk of incurring an undetected out-of-tolerance condition. Inter-comparing multiple self-adjusting instruments after self-adjustment has been performed increases confidence that the self-adjustment process for each instrument has worked correctly. This increased confidence allows extending the calibration interval while maintaining the assurance that all the instruments are within tolerance. The extended calibration interval may yield a significant reduction in the cost to maintain a pool of self-adjusting instruments. |
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