US 12,259,301 B2
System and method for dynamic signal processing for vacuum decay leak detection
Mikhail Kneller, Bronx, NY (US); and Guerney Hunt, Yonkers, NY (US)
Assigned to Packaging Technologies & Inspection, LLC, Hawthorne, NY (US)
Filed by Packaging Technologies & Inspection, LLC, Hawthorne, NY (US)
Filed on Mar. 31, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/218,404.
Prior Publication US 2022/0316978 A1, Oct. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. G01M 3/32 (2006.01)
CPC G01M 3/329 (2013.01) 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A leak detection apparatus, comprising:
a test chamber;
a vacuum source connected to the test chamber via a pneumatic line;
at least one sensor comprising a first pressure transducer in communication with the test chamber; and
a controller configured to:
start a leak test under a basic mode;
collect and analyze data generated by the at least one sensor at a predetermined frequency throughout an entire test cycle;
specify a portion of the collected data;
convert the specified portion of the collected data to logarithmic scale to accumulate a first set of data;
apply a linear regression to the first set of data and determine regression parameters;
determine whether to abort or continue the leak test based on the regression parameters when or before a predetermined evacuation period expires; and
in response to a determination to continue the leak test, select at least one of test modes based on the regression parameters to continue the leak test, wherein the test modes comprise the basic mode, a dual-sensor mode, a repeatability-improved mode, and a reproducibility-improved mode, each corresponds to a selected use of the at least one sensor to collect data.