Patent Application
20210010915
This disclosure relates generally to materials testing, and more particularly, to methods and apparatus to control staging of test specimens.
In testing systems, test stages may be used to physically position one or more test specimens for physical, electrical, and/or other types of testing.
Methods and apparatus to control staging of test specimens are disclosed, substantially as illustrated by and described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
The figures are not necessarily to scale. Wherever appropriate, similar or identical reference numerals are used to refer to similar or identical components.
Example test stages may move test specimens in one or more linear dimensions (e.g., X stages, Y stages, or Z stages for a single dimension; XY stages, XZ stages, or YZ stages for two dimensions; XYZ stages for three dimensions), in circular and/or polar movements, rotational movement, and/or any other desired movement and/or positioning. Test stages may include fixturing to affix the one or more specimens, depending on the nature of the specimen and/or the type of test(s) (e.g., compression, tension, torsion, flexure, etc.) and/or operation(s) (e.g., assays) to be performed.
In contrast with conventional test systems utilizing test stages, disclosed example test systems provide clear indications to the operator(s) of the number and locations of test points in a test sequence, as well as the paths between the test points. For example, some disclosed test systems display a graphic representing the test stage, and overlay the locations of the test points and the paths between the test points on the graphic to quickly indicate to the operator the precise test sequence. As a result, disclosed example test systems provide substantial improvements in accuracy and operator efficiency when defining test sequences.
Disclosed example systems perform automated testing of one or more specimens, and include: a stage configured to secure one or more test specimens; one or more actuators configured to position the stage and the one or more test specimens; a user interface configured to: receive input defining a test sequence of a plurality of points to be tested on the one or more test specimens; and display a graphic indicative of positions of the plurality of points on the one or more test specimens and one or more paths to be taken by the stage to traverse the plurality of points during testing of the test sequence; and control circuitry configured to control a test process of the test sequence in accordance with the plurality of points and the one or more paths.
In some examples, the control circuitry is configured to calculate the path based on the plurality of points. In some example systems, the input defining the plurality of points includes at least one of: coordinates of the plurality of points on the stage, a number of rows of the plurality of points, a number of columns of the plurality of points, a number of the plurality of points, dimensions of the one or more test specimens, a position of an initial one of the plurality of points, a position of a final one of the plurality of points, or a change in position between sequential ones of the plurality of points. In some example systems, the input is a direct selection of one or more of the plurality of points via an input device. In some such examples, the input device includes at least one of a joystick, a mouse, or a touchscreen.
In some examples, the user interface is configured to display the graphic as a grid representative of the stage, the plurality of points overlaid on the stage, and the one or more paths connecting the plurality of points. In some examples, the user interface is configured to display sequential indicia associated with the plurality of points to indicate an order in which the plurality of points are to be tested during the test process. In some examples, the user interface is configured to indicate an initial point of the plurality of points and to display the one or more paths using one or more directional indicators.
In some example systems, the user interface is configured to indicate that one or more of the plurality of points are outside bounds of the stage. In some example systems, the user interface is configured to indicate a current position of the stage via the graphic. In some examples, the user interface is configured to display a second graphic representative of an entirety of the stage. In some example systems, the stage is configured to move the test specimen at least one of linearly, rotationally, or radially. In some examples, the control circuitry is configured to control the stage actuator using at least one of: Euclidean coordinates having one or more dimensions, polar coordinates, circular coordinates, spherical coordinates, or cylindrical coordinates.
Disclosed example methods to perform automated testing of one or more specimens, include: securing one or more test specimens to a test stage; receiving, via a user interface, input defining a test sequence of a plurality of points to be tested on the one or more test specimens; displaying, via the user interface, a graphic indicative of positions of the plurality of points on the one or more test specimens and one or more paths to be taken by the stage to traverse the plurality of points during testing of the test sequence; and performing, via control circuitry and, a test process of the test sequence by controlling a stage actuator to move the test stage in accordance with the plurality of points and the one or more paths.
In some example methods, the input defining the plurality of points comprises at least one of: coordinates of the plurality of points on the stage, a number of rows of the plurality of points, a number of columns of the plurality of points, a number of the plurality of points, dimensions of the one or more test specimens, a position of an initial one of the plurality of points, a position of a final one of the plurality of points, or a change in position between sequential ones of the plurality of points. In some examples, the displaying of the graphic includes displaying the graphic as a grid representative of the stage, the plurality of points overlaid on the stage, and the one or more paths connecting the plurality of points.
In some example methods, the receiving of the input includes receiving a direct selection of one or more of the plurality of points via an input device. In some examples, the displaying of the graphic includes displaying the graphic as a grid representative of the stage, in which the plurality of points are overlaid on the stage, and displaying the one or more paths connecting the plurality of points. In some examples, the controlling of the stage actuator includes controlling the stage actuator to move the stage at least one of linearly, rotationally, or radially. Some example methods further include indicating, via the user interface, that one or more of the plurality of points are outside bounds of the stage.
The example computing device 202 may be a general-purpose computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a mobile device, a server, an all-in-one computer, and/or any other type of computing device. The computing device 202 of
An example network interface 214 includes hardware, firmware, and/or software to connect the computing device 202 to a communications network 218 such as the Internet. For example, the network interface 214 may include IEEE 802.X-compliant wireless and/or wired communications hardware for transmitting and/or receiving communications.
An example I/O interface 216 of
The computing device 202 may access a non-transitory machine-readable medium 222 via the I/O interface 216 and/or the I/O device(s) 220. Examples of the machine-readable medium 222 of
The test fixture 201 is coupled to the computing device 202. In the example of
The test fixture 201 includes a frame 228, a load cell 230, a test stage 232 (e.g., the test stage 104 of
The example control circuitry 238 controls movement of the stage 232 based on a test sequence, which includes a set of multiple test points and paths between sequential test points. The example stage 232 may be configured to move linearly (e.g., Euclidean or Cartesian coordinates in one or more dimensions), rotationally (e.g., angular movement of the stage 232), and/or radially (e.g., inward and outward movement of the stage). The control circuitry 238 may be configured to control the stage actuator 234 using one or more of Euclidean coordinates having one or more dimensions, polar coordinates, circular coordinates, spherical coordinates, cylindrical coordinates, and/or any other coordinate system, and/or the user interface 250 may enable the operator to define the points and/or paths using the same coordinate system or a different coordinate system.
While the stage 232 and the stage actuator 234 are illustrated in
The test actuator 246 applies force to the specimen(s) and/or forces displacement of the specimen(s). In the example test system 100, the test element 106 is stationary in the XY directions, and the stage actuator 234 moves the stage 232 and the specimen(s) in the XY directions with respect to the test element 106 to enable the test element 106 to perform testing in the Z direction.
Example actuators that may be used to implement the stage actuator 234 and/or the test actuator 246 may include electric motors, pneumatic actuators, hydraulic actuators, piezoelectric actuators, relays, and/or switches. While the example test fixture 201 uses a motor, such as a servo or direct-drive linear motor, other systems may use different types of actuators. For example, hydraulic actuators, pneumatic actuators, and/or any other type of actuator may be used based on the requirements of the system.
The specimen fixture 236 affix the specimen(s) to the stage 232. For example, the specimen fixture 236 may include grips 248 such as jaw grips, platens, probes, clamps, and/or other types of fixtures, depending on the mechanical property being tested and/or the specimen. The grips 248 may be manually configured, controlled via manual input, and/or automatically controlled by the control circuitry 238.
The test system 100 may further include one or more user interfaces 250, including one or more input devices 252. The input devices 252 may include buttons, switches, and/or other input devices located on an operator control panel. For example, the input devices 252 may include buttons, a touch screen, a mouse, a joystick, and/or other types of input device(s). The input device(s) 252 may control operations of the test fixture 201, such as defining location(s) of test points, defining paths between test points, controlling the stage actuator(s) 234 to jog (e.g., position) the test stage 232 to a desired position, switches (e.g., foot switches) that control the grips 248 to close or open (e.g., via another actuator), and/or any other input devices to control operation of the test fixture 201.
The example control circuitry 238 communicates with the computing device 202 to, for example, receive test parameters from the computing device 202 and/or report measurements and/or other results to the computing device 202. For example, the control circuitry 238 may include one or more communication or I/O interfaces to enable communication with the computing device 202. The control circuitry 238 may control the stage actuator(s) 234 to move the test stage 232 so as to position the test points on the specimen adjacent (e.g., below) the test element 106 for testing during a test sequence. Additionally or alternatively, the control circuitry 238 may control the test actuator 246 to move in a given direction and/or to control the speed of the test actuator 246, control the grips 248 to grasp or release a specimen, and/or receive measurements from the displacement transducer 240, the load cell 230 and/or other transducers.
The interface 300 is configured to receive inputs 304 to define a test sequence, which includes a plurality of points to be tested on the one or more test specimens that are affixed to the stage 104 of
The example coordinate inputs (e.g., inputs 306, 314, 316, 318, 320) include inputs for multiple dimensions (e.g., an X coordinate and a Y coordinate for an XY stage), but may include fewer or more inputs for different types of stages. In some examples, the coordinate inputs may be received with reference to a grid represented by the graphic 302, such as by directing a cursor to a desired point on the graphic 302 associated with a coordinate system and selecting the location. In response to the selection on the grid, the example control circuitry 328 may use the location as the input for a selected coordinate input (e.g., input 306, 314, 316, 318, or 320).
The example graphic 302 is indicative of positions of the plurality of points 322 (numbered 1-25 in the example of
In some examples, the sequential indicia may be used to indicate the order instead of the illustrated arrows of
As used herein, a “path” refers to a route existing between two or more of the points 1-25. In other words, the route from point 1 to point 2 may be considered a single path, and the route starting at point 1 and ending at point 25 may be considered a single path or multiple paths (e.g., 2 to 24 paths).
The example user interface 300 may indicate when one or more points entered via the user interface are outside of bounds of the stage. For example, if the operator enters coordinates that are outside of the stage 104 (e.g., according to the grid coordinate system representing the stage 104), the user interface 300 may display an alert, alarm, or other indication that the point is outside of the bounds of the stage 104.
In some examples, the user interface 300 may include (e.g., overlay) a stage position indicator 326 on the graphic 302 to represent a current position of the stage 104 (e.g., with respect to the test element 106).
The graphic 302 may represent the entirety of the stage 104 and/or a portion of the stage 104, such as defined dimensions of a specimen or area of interest. In some examples, when the graphic 302 represents a portion of the stage 104, the user interface 300 may enable the operator to zoom out, and display a second graphic representative of the entirety of the stage 104.
By displaying the graphic 302 to visually represent and indicate the positions of the points 322 and the paths 324, the example user interface 300 substantially improves the efficiency and accuracy with which the operator can define and implement a test sequence using a stage. In particular, the user interface 300 enables the user to quickly discern the number and arrangement of the points on the specimen, determine whether any points are outside the boundaries of the specimen and/or the stage 232, and/or determine whether improvements or corrections to a test sequence should be implemented.
At block 402, the control circuitry 238 determines whether to set up a test sequence. For example, the control circuitry 238 may receive an input from a first menu to enter a test sequence interface (e.g., the user interface 300 of
At block 406, the control circuitry 238 calculates locations of points and/or paths between defined points. For example, when a number of rows are defined and a number of columns are defined, the control circuitry 238 may automatically define the coordinate locations of points corresponding to the defined numbers of rows and columns, and compute paths between the points. The control circuitry 238 may define points in accordance with rules, such as evenly spacing the points and/or obtaining a default representation of testing of a specimen. The computation of paths may be performed by the control circuitry 238 to, for example, maximize test efficiency, reduce total test time, and/or any other computational goal, and/or based on a default path scheme.
At block 408, the control circuitry 238 displays one or more graphic(s) (e.g., the graphic 302 of
At block 410, the control circuitry 238 determines whether setting up of the test sequence is compete. For example, an operator may elect to store the test sequence for subsequent retrieval and/or use by selecting a button to save or store the test sequence as defined in the user interface 300. If setting up of the test sequence is not complete (block 410), control returns to block 404 to continue receiving inputs to define the test sequence.
When set up is complete (block 410), or if the test sequence is not to be set up (block 402), at block 412 the control circuitry 238 determines whether the test sequence is to be run. For example, an operator may select to perform a defined test sequence via the user interface 250 of
If a test sequence is to be performed (block 412), at block 414 the control circuitry 238 controls the stage actuator(s) 234 and test actuator(s) 246 to perform the test sequence. For example, the control circuitry 238 may control the stage actuator(s) 234 to move the stage 232 based on the locations represented in the graphic displayed on the user interface 300, and control the test actuator 246 at each of the locations. During the test, the example control circuitry 238 may collect load data (e.g., via the load cell 230) and/or displacement data (e.g., via the displacement transducer 240. At block 416, the control circuitry 238 stores the test data, such as the collected load data and/or displacement data. The example instructions 400 may then end. In some examples, after performing the test, control may return to block 402 to determine whether another test sequence is to be defined.
The present methods and systems may be realized in hardware, software, and/or a combination of hardware and software. The present methods and/or systems may be realized in a centralized fashion in at least one computing system, or in a distributed fashion where different elements are spread across several interconnected computing systems. Any kind of computing system or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein is suited. A typical combination of hardware and software may include a general-purpose computing system with a program or other code that, when being loaded and executed, controls the computing system such that it carries out the methods described herein. Another typical implementation may comprise an application specific integrated circuit or chip. Some implementations may comprise a non-transitory machine-readable (e.g., computer readable) medium (e.g., FLASH drive, optical disk, magnetic storage disk, or the like) having stored thereon one or more lines of code executable by a machine, thereby causing the machine to perform processes as described herein. As used herein, the term “non-transitory machine-readable medium” is defined to include all types of machine readable storage media and to exclude propagating signals.
As utilized herein the terms “circuits” and “circuitry” refer to physical electronic components (i.e. hardware) and any software and/or firmware (“code”) which may configure the hardware, be executed by the hardware, and or otherwise be associated with the hardware. As used herein, for example, a particular processor and memory may comprise a first “circuit” when executing a first one or more lines of code and may comprise a second “circuit” when executing a second one or more lines of code. As utilized herein, “and/or” means any one or more of the items in the list joined by “and/or”. As an example, “x and/or y” means any element of the three-element set {(x), (y), (x, y)}. In other words, “x and/or y” means “one or both of x and y”. As another example, “x, y, and/or z” means any element of the seven-element set {(x), (y), (z), (x, y), (x, z), (y, z), (x, y, z)}. In other words, “x, y and/or z” means “one or more of x, y and z”. As utilized herein, the term “exemplary” means serving as a non-limiting example, instance, or illustration. As utilized herein, the terms “e.g.,” and “for example” set off lists of one or more non-limiting examples, instances, or illustrations. As utilized herein, circuitry is “operable” to perform a function whenever the circuitry comprises the necessary hardware and code (if any is necessary) to perform the function, regardless of whether performance of the function is disabled or not enabled (e.g., by a user-configurable setting, factory trim, etc.).
While the present method and/or system has been described with reference to certain implementations, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present method and/or system. For example, block and/or components of disclosed examples may be combined, divided, re-arranged, and/or otherwise modified. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from its scope. Therefore, the present method and/or system are not limited to the particular implementations disclosed. Instead, the present method and/or system will include all implementations falling within the scope of the appended claims, both literally and under the doctrine of equivalents.
