Patent ID: 7248984

Claim:
A method for estimating the response of a sensor operatively connected to measuring equipment, the sensor being of a sensor type and the measuring equipment being of a measuring equipment type, when subject to a parametric stimulus, said method including the steps of: modelling the operation and output of the sensor type, determining a compensating factor uniquely associated with the specific sensor used, modelling the operation and output of the measuring equipment type, determining a compensating factor uniquely associated with the specific measuring equipment used, and estimating the response of the specific sensor and the specific measuring equipment to the parametric stimulus by combining the model of the sensor including the sensor compensating factor and the model of the measuring equipment including the measuring equipment compensating factor, the estimating including the steps of: for a given output measured by said specific measuring equipment caused by a parameter acting on said specific sensor, obtaining the actual output of said specific measuring equipment; assuming the sensor parameter value, calculating the expected output of said specific measuring equipment given the assumed sensor parameter value; comparing the actual output of said specific measuring equipment with the expected output of said specific measuring equipment; assuming another value for said sensor parameter if the actual output and the expected output of said specific measuring equipment do not match; determining that the actual sensor parameter value is equal to the sensor parameter value which provides the closest match between the actual and expected outputs of said specific measuring equipment; and outputting said sensor parameter value which provides said closest match.