Method for System Characterization of a Signal Conditioning Component and Measuring Device Therefor

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The invention describes a method and measuring device for quickly and easily characterizing the system properties of a signal conditioning component (such as filters or amplifiers used in sensor measurement systems). By integrating a switch and a signal generator (often a microcontroller with GPIO pins) into the measurement setup, the sensor signal can be temporarily disconnected and replaced with a defined voltage pulse. The resulting response (impulse response) of the signal conditioning component is measured and analyzed, often via Fast-Fourier Transformation (FFT), allowing for rapid and inline system identification and calibration without physically removing components or stopping the overall measurement process.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• In-line system characterization and calibration of analog front-ends in data acquisition systems.
• Automated self-test and diagnosis for measurement devices in distributed or autonomous sensor networks.
• Plug-and-play configuration in medical measurement systems such as EEG, EKG, and EMG devices, where different signal conditioning modules are swapped as needed.
• Quality assurance and maintenance of instrumentation by providing real-time checks of signal conditioning paths under actual operating conditions.
• Research labs requiring rapid validation of measurement chains without disassembling devices.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Enables fast and easy in-system testing and characterization of signal conditioning components, saving time compared to traditional lab-based methods.
• Does not require disconnecting sensors or stopping ongoing measurements, minimizing disruptions to operation.
• Supports self-diagnosis and auto-calibration features, increasing reliability and reducing the need for manual intervention.
• Flexible and scalable—can be implemented using standard microcontrollers and is applicable to both single-ended and differential measurement setups.
• Improves accuracy by allowing for compensation of environmental changes, aging, or component variations in real-time.
• Facilitates plug-and-play and self-configuration of measurement systems, especially valuable in distributed or medical measurement applications.

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the system characterization of a signal conditioning component with the following steps: A sensor signal is decoupled from the signal conditioning component via a switch; a signal emitter generates a voltage pulse; the voltage pulse is passed on to the signal conditioning component in place of the sensor signal via the switch; the system characterization is performed by the evaluation of the impulse response from the signal conditioning component. A measurement device therefor is disclosed.