US 12,004,267 B2
System and method for calibrating a control system operating an electric heater
Matthew Yender, Winona, MN (US); Brian Geer, St. Louis, MO (US); Eric Meech, Winona, MN (US); Stanton H. Breitlow, Winona, MN (US); and Adam Kidney, Winona, MN (US)
Assigned to Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company, St. Louis, MO (US)
Filed by Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company, St. Louis, MO (US)
Filed on Jun. 5, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/894,236.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/858,587, filed on Jun. 7, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2020/0389939 A1, Dec. 10, 2020
Int. Cl. H05B 1/02 (2006.01); H05B 3/26 (2006.01)
CPC H05B 1/023 (2013.01) [H05B 3/26 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for calibrating a control system configured to control a two-wire heater, the two-wire heater being operable to generate heat and to function as a sensor for measuring electrical characteristics of the two-wire heater, the method comprising:
providing, by the control system, power to a load electrically coupled to the control system;
generating, by the control system, an initial measured characteristic of the load, wherein the initial measured characteristic is indicative of an electrical characteristic of the load, wherein the electrical characteristic of the load includes a voltage, a current, a resistance, or a combination thereof;
generating, by a controller calibration system coupled to the load, a calibrated measured characteristic of the load that is indicative of the electrical characteristic of the load, wherein the controller calibration system is separate from the control system, and wherein the calibrated measured characteristic is generated concurrently with the initial measured characteristic;
correlating the initial measured characteristic with the calibrated measured characteristic; and
defining a calibrated measurement reference based on the correlation of the initial measured characteristic and the calibrated measured characteristic, wherein the control system employs the calibrated measurement reference to provide precise measurements for controlling the two-wire heater.