Recalibration of a Torque Measurement Device with Recalibration Interval Prediction

1 . An apparatus for recalibrating an torque measurement device configured to determine a torque value of an applied torque using a calibration function derived during a calibration of the torque measurement device, the apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store computer-readable program code; and

processing circuitry configured to access the memory, and execute the computer-readable program code to cause the apparatus to at least:

perform a recalibration of the torque measurement device in which a second calibration function is derived and written to the torque measurement device;

determine a deviation in the torque value determined using the calibration function relative to the second calibration function;

predict an interval from the recalibration to a next recalibration of the torque measurement device, for a different deviation over the next interval, based on the deviation, the different deviation, and the interval from the calibration to the recalibration; and

output an indication of the interval from the recalibration to the next recalibration.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the torque measurement device is configured to produce a digital electrical signal that represents the applied torque as sequence of digital data points, and the processing circuitry is configured to execute the computer-readable program code to cause the apparatus to further at least:

read the sequence of digital data points; and

convert the sequence of digital data points to a digital value from which the deviation is determined.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the apparatus caused to determine the deviation includes the apparatus caused to:

determine the torque value from the digital value using the second calibration function;

determine a corresponding torque value from the digital value using the calibration function; and

determine the deviation as a difference between the torque value and the corresponding torque value.

4 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the apparatus caused to determine the deviation includes the apparatus caused to apply the digital value to a difference between the second calibration function and the calibration function.

5 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the different deviation is expressed as a percentage of the torque value determined from the digital value using the second calibration function.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein predicting the interval from the recalibration to the next recalibration includes:

determine a constant of proportionality that expresses a proportional relationship between the interval and the deviation in the torque value; and

calculate the interval from the recalibration to the next recalibration based on a product of the constant of proportionality and the different deviation.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the torque measurement device is an electronic torque wrench, the applied torque is a torque applied by the electronic torque wrench to a torque tester with which the electronic torque wrench is engaged, and the apparatus is embodied as the torque tester.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the torque measurement device is an electronic torque wrench, the applied torque is a torque applied by the electronic torque wrench to a torque tester with which the electronic torque wrench is engaged, and the apparatus is embodied as the electronic torque wrench.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the indication of the interval from the recalibration to the next recalibration is output to an electronic visual display on which the indication is displayed.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the interval is measured in time or use of the torque measurement device, and processing circuitry is configured to execute the computer-readable program code to cause the apparatus to further at least:

track the time or use of the torque measurement device from the recalibration; and

output an alert for the next recalibration when the time or use as tracked is within a threshold of the interval from the recalibration to the next recalibration.

11 . A method of recalibrating an torque measurement device configured to determine a torque value of an applied torque using a calibration function derived during a calibration of the torque measurement device, the method comprising:

performing a recalibration of the torque measurement device in which a second calibration function is derived and written to the torque measurement device;

determining a deviation in the torque value determined using the calibration function relative to the second calibration function;

predicting an interval from the recalibration to a next recalibration of the torque measurement device, for a different deviation over the next interval, based on the deviation, the different deviation, and the interval from the calibration to the recalibration; and

outputting an indication of the interval from the recalibration to the next recalibration.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the torque measurement device is configured to produce a digital electrical signal that represents the applied torque as sequence of digital data points, and the method further comprises:

reading the sequence of digital data points; and

converting the sequence of digital data points to a digital value from which the deviation is determined.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein determining the deviation includes:

determining the torque value from the digital value using the second calibration function;

determining a corresponding torque value from the digital value using the calibration function; and

determining the deviation as a difference between the torque value and the corresponding torque value.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein determining the deviation includes applying the digital value to a difference between the second calibration function and the calibration function.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the different deviation is expressed as a percentage of the torque value determined from the digital value using the second calibration function.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein predicting the interval from the recalibration to the next recalibration includes:

determining a constant of proportionality that expresses a proportional relationship between the interval and the deviation in the torque value; and

calculating the interval from the recalibration to the next recalibration based on a product of the constant of proportionality and the different deviation.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the torque measurement device is an electronic torque wrench, the applied torque is a torque applied by the electronic torque wrench to a torque tester with which the electronic torque wrench is engaged.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the torque measurement device is an electronic torque wrench, the applied torque is a torque applied by the electronic torque wrench to a torque tester with which the electronic torque wrench is engaged, and the method is performed by the electronic torque wrench.

19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the indication of the interval from the recalibration to the next recalibration is output to an electronic visual display on which the indication is displayed.

20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the interval is measured in time or use of the torque measurement device, and method further comprises:

tracking the time or use of the torque measurement device from the recalibration; and

outputting an alert for the next recalibration when the time or use as tracked is within a threshold of the interval from the recalibration to the next recalibration.