We present a digital sampling algorithm that uses two high resolution integratingvoltmeters that are synchronized by a phase-lock loop clock to accurately measure theactive and apparent power parameters for sinusoidal power measurements. The developedsystem provides high precision measurements of the root mean square, phase and the complexvoltage ratio of the ac signal with sophisticated algorithm which process the data infrequency domain. The system was designed to be used at the Korea Research Institute ofStandards and Science as reference power standard for electrical power calibrations. Thedetail uncertainty calculations have shown that the accuracy of the measurements werebetter than 4 μW/VA (for k = 1) and the level ofuncertainty was valid for the power factor range 0 ~ 1 for both lead and lag conditions.The system is fully automated and allows power measurements and calibration of highprecision wattmeters and power calibrators at the main power frequencies of 50 and 60Hz.

Blackbody models are used as referential temperature measuring gauges for radiationthermometers calibration. Their emissivity is usually determined by calculation. Thepresented paper describes an experimental device used to measure local effectiveemissivities, using an optical radiometer. The methods to measure and evaluate emissivityand temperature are described. The results are compared with the theoretical model of acylindrical-conical cavity used to calibrate radiation thermometers.

The quality of fixtures plays an important role in product quality during manufacturing,measuring or assembly. Finding methods for evaluating a fixture’s quality, which maydepend on workpiece errors, fixture errors, influences of clamping force, friction, etc.,is necessary to improve the product quality. This paper proposes the indicators that areused for estimating the quality of a fixture based on workpiece localizationrepeatability. Here, the workpiece localization will be considered in the followingdifferent cases: (1) considering only the influence of different geometric parameters(types) of the fixture, (2) taking into account the clamping force in the different typesof the fixture, (3) the influence of friction on the contacts of the workpiece-fixture. Afixture model is presented and analysed with some examples. An experimental fixture andworkpiece are then used to analyse and compare with the theoretical results.

Microscopy is used in most technology processes where two-dimensional distributions, thatare digital images of the shape and appearance of integrated circuit (IC) features, revealimportant information. Optical microscopy and diffraction gratings can be used to measurethe placement of IC features with a precision of less than 1 nm (1σ) witha new technique of separately viewing multiple levels. However, the microscope’s opticaland video camera distortion may cause significant errors in the IC feature measurementunder some circumstances. In this paper, the optical and video camera distortions of anoptical microscope used in IC feature measurement were studied by analyzing digital imagesof a precision grating. MATLAB programs were used to extract the value of intensity ofeach pixel in the grating image. By matching a position dependent, phase-varied idealsinusoidal wave to the processed grating digital image, the phase of the best-fit sinewave was observed to vary by the equivalent of many nanometers at different locationswithin the digital image of the grating. This variation was similar, but significantlydifferent, for different microscope objectives. It is believed to arise from opticaldistortion within the microscope, and possibly also from distortion within the camera.Impact of optic chromatic aberration and microscope stability on the measurement of ICfeatures was also studied. The method described here is inexpensive and easy to implementsince it does not require any sophisticated equipment or controlled environment. Thistechnique provides an attractive option for small companies, university labs andinstrument manufacturers.

At non-linear electromagnetic measurement systems, the finite element method is the mostconvenient tool for the system analysis and measurement uncertainties budget estimation.Two non-linear devices will be analyzed by finite element method: electrical steel sheettesting device-Epstein frame and combined current-voltage instrument transformer. TheEpstein frame must comply with the standard IEC 60404-2:1996+A1:2008, and the combinedinstrument transformer with the IEC 60044-3: 2002. The Epstein frame forms an unloadedtransformer and the analytical transformer theory introduces some approximations. The mainapproximation is introduced by the standard IEC 60404-2 (through the presumption ofconstant, invariant to the specimen grade effective magnetic path length). The finiteelement method results will enable an Epstein frame and combined current-voltageinstrument transformer prototype design (by using a computer program based on geneticalgorithm with minimal uncertainty budget as goal function) with reduced measurementuncertainty, which will be experimentally verified in the Metrological Laboratory forElectromagnetic Quantities at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and InformationTechnologies-Skopje.

In France, the Clinical Biochemistry Laboratories (CBL) are in charge of the monitoringof nuclear workers. These laboratories must be accredited and have ministerialcertification. The accreditation of radiobioassay analyses requires notably ProficiencyTesting (PT) between laboratories. One of the most important PT providers, in this field,is the PROCORAD association. The specifics are to provide real biological samples spikedwith various radionuclides and to send them around international CBL. The results obtainedby the all laboratories are both statistically and anonymously exploited, thanks tohomemade software entitled Procostat. PROCORAD PT’s program answers to a definite demandfrom laboratories in charge of monitoring workers, for some years more than 70participants from all over the world have signed up to participate in these comparisonexercises. Apart from an assessment of the different laboratories performance, thecomparison exercises organized by the PROCORAD’s association enable the ClinicalBiochemistry Laboratories to evaluate the techniques implemented in terms of accuracy,reproducibility and specificity.

Translating measurement uncertainty into terms of effective impact associated withmanufacture, testing and incorrect assessment gives a more “stakeholder” motivated (andultimately optimised) approach to decision-making in conformance assessment. Recentlydeveloped decision-theory tools include the “optimized uncertainty” methodology and the“operating cost characteristic”. Overall costs, E, consisting of a sum oftesting costs, D, and the costs, C, associated withcustomer risk, can be calculated with the expression:

with , whereRPV denotes the region of permissiblevalues and σ is a measure of dispersion. A complete, 3D surface ofoverall cost can indicate the optimum level of measurement effort of these two ranges, asrecently published by the author in a wide range of applications: optimized acceptancesampling; optimized testing of measurement instruments; and an analysis of optimisedcalibration intervals and “guard-banding”. This approach is illustrated in the presentwork for the example of geometrical product control in the car industry, specifically thegap in vehicle closure panels taking account of customer dissatisfaction.

According to the increasing interest in metrological systems for the dimensionalmeasurements of large-size objects in a wide range of industrial sectors, severalsolutions based on different technologies, working principles, architectures, andfunctionalities have recently been developed. Among all, the most flexible and easilytransportable solutions are those that have aroused most interest and have found greatersuccess. In order to address the needs of Large-Scale Metrology (LSM) applications, adistributed flexible system based on a network of low-cost InfraRed (IR) sensors – theMobile Spatial coordinate Measuring System II (MScMS-II) – has been developed at theIndustrial Quality and Metrology Laboratory of Politecnico di Torino. This paper presentsa preliminary uncertainty assessment of the system referring to the measured pointcoordinates in the 3D space, focusing on the sources of measurement uncertainty and therelated propagation laws. A preliminary metrological characterization of MScMS-IIarchitecture, experimentally evaluated through a system prototype, is also presented anddiscussed.

This study is an overview of the capability evaluation of measurement systems.Principally, the determination of capability of a measurement system is an importantaspect of quality and process improvement initiatives. In practice, various methods aredeveloped and used for determining measurement system capability. As a measurement tool,potential effectiveness of gauge should be considered and significant factors should beidentified for that purpose. A set of procedures referred to as Measurement SystemsCapability Studies are conducted for assessing capability of gauge, isolating sources ofvariability in the system, evaluating how much of total observed variability is due togauge, and investigating two components of measurement error: repeatability andreproducibility of gauge. Gauge Repeatability & Reproducibility (GaugeR&R) Study tries to estimate repeatability and reproducibility components ofmeasurement system variation with primary objective of assessing whether gauge is suitablefor intended application or not. Measurement System Analysis (MSA) is a collection ofstatistical methods, which includes Gauge R&R Study, for analysis of measurementsystem capability. In this study, detailed literature review of MSA, Gauge R&R andMeasurement Systems Capability Studies, and general discussion of misclassificationprobabilities that give useful, reliable information about measurement systems performancewould be provided.

The analyses of the performance of a complete photovoltaic system require precisemeasuring equipment in order to obtain reliable comparative results. This paper presents acomputer-based instrumentation system suitable for a characterization of photovoltaicconversion chains. Consisting in a data acquisition stage, a data processor, photovoltaicgenerators and power conditioners, the system evaluates the respective efficiency ofmaximum power point tracker (MPPT) and power conditioner. The efficiency of unknown MPPTfunctions is estimated with great accuracy by means of an extremum control-based MPPT usedas a reference. Efficiency evaluations of two photovoltaic battery chargers during 4 daysillustrate the estimation procedure and the system test facilities.