Patent ID: 9291538
Filing Date: 2016-03-22
CPC Classification: G01N

Claim Text:
1. A hardness tester, comprising: an indentation former configured to provide a predetermined load to an indenter and further configured to press the indenter into a surface of a sample to provide an indentation; a measurer configured to perform a measurement to detect a pressing depth of the indenter and a test force loaded on the indenter at the time of indentation to obtain a pressing curve; a definer configured to define, prior to beginning the measurement, an expected range for a value for one of a displacement, speed, and acceleration of the indenter during a process of approaching the sample for the measurement, the expected range being a function of the indenter and of the sample; a determiner configured to measure a measured value, after beginning the measurement, for the one of the displacement, speed, and acceleration of the indenter during the process of approaching the sample and, when the measured value is not within the expected range, to determine detection of a zero point to have failed; a memory; and a notifier configured to compare, when the determiner has determined that detection of the zero point has failed, the measured value to data stored in the memory in order to infer a testing environment, and to notify a user of information relating to improvement of the testing environment.