Method for calibrating and/or correcting a display device having a needle, the needle being able to move in rotation about an axis of rotation

1. A method for calibrating and/or correcting a display device having a needle, the needle being able to rotate about an axis of rotation and the needle being driven by means of a stepping motor, the calibration method comprising the following steps: a first measurement of a first difference between a first value displayed by the needle and a first value to be displayed by the needle, a second measurement of a second difference between a second value displayed by the needle and a second value to be displayed by the needle, a third measurement of a third difference between a third value displayed by the needle and a third value to be displayed by the needle, a fourth measurement of a fourth difference between a fourth value displayed by the needle and a fourth value to be displayed by the needle, a computation of a correction value as a function of the first difference, the second difference, the third difference and the fourth difference, the correction value corresponding to a polynomial function of at least the third degree and calibrating and/or correcting the display device based on the correction value.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the polynomial function takes the form

correction value= A 3*θ3+ A 2*θ2+ A 1*θ+ A 0

θ being the angle displayed and A0, A1,A2, A3 and A4 being constants.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the method comprises a fifth measurement of a fifth difference between a fifth value displayed by the needle and a fifth value to be displayed by the needle,

the polynomial function taking the form

correction value= A 4*θ4+ A 3*θ3+ A 2*θ2+ A 1*θ+ A 0

θ being the angle displayed and A0, A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5 being constants.

4. The method as claimed claim 1 , wherein the computation of the correction value is carried out digitally.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the difference between a value displayed by the needle and a value to be displayed by the needle is between −1° and +1° over the whole range of effective values.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the method comprises the following steps:

during the first, second, third and fourth measurement respectively, an image of the display device, is recorded with the aid of a camera, during the first, second, third and fourth measurement respectively, an operation of digital processing of the image is carried out, during this processing operation, the first, second, third and fourth differences are evaluated.

7. The method as claimed claim 1 , wherein the method makes it possible to correct with a single procedure not only an error of alignment of the axis of the needle relative to a display surface, but also an error of nonlinearity of the motor.

8. A method for calibrating and/or correcting a display device having a needle, the needle being able to rotate about an axis of rotation and the needle being driven by means of a stepping motor, the calibration method composing the following steps; a first measurement of a first difference between a first value displayed by the needle and a first value to be displayed by the needle, a second measurement of a second difference between a second value displayed by the needle and a second value to be displayed by the needle, a third measurement of a third difference between a third value displayed by the needle and a third value to be displayed by the needle, a computation of a correction value as a function of the first difference, the second difference and the third difference, the correction value corresponding to a sinusoidal function and calibrating and/or correcting the display device based on the correction value.

9. , The method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the sinusoidal function takes the form

correction value= C 1*sin(θ− C 2)+ C 3

θ being the angle displayed and C1, C2 and C3 being constants.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the method comprises the following steps:

a fourth measurement of a fourth difference between a fourth value displayed by the needle and a fourth value to be displayed by the needle; a computation of the correction value as a function of the first difference, the second difference, the third difference and the fourth difference, the correction value corresponding to a sinusoidal function, the sinusoidal function taking the form

correction value= C 1*sin( C 4*θ− C 2)+ C 3

θ being the angle displayed and C1, C2, C3 and C4 being constants.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the computation of the correction value is carried out digitally.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the difference between a value displayed by the needle and a value to be displayed by the needle is between −1° and +1° over the whole range of effective values.

13. The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the method comprises the following steps:

during the first, second, third and fourth measurement respectively, an image of the display device is recorded with the aid of a camera, during the first, second, third and fourth measurement respectively, an operation of digital processing of the image is carried out, during, this processing operation, the first, second, third and fourth differences are evaluated.

14. The method as claimed claim 9 , wherein the method makes it possible to correct with a single procedure not only an error of alignment of the axis of the needle relative to a display surface, but also an error of nonlinearity of the motor.