Inventors:
Carlo P. Croce - Leonia NJ
Sami A. Halaby - Kinnelon NJ
Arthur R. Oefinger - Stratford CT
Assignee:
Warner-Lambert Company - Morris Plains NJ
International Classification:
G01M 336
Abstract:
Method and apparatus for testing hermetic seal integrity of sealed packages and containers, are provided. The method includes placing a sealed test package having at least one semi-flexible surface, within a test chamber. The pressure within the test chamber is changed from a first value to a second value, over the time interval of a test cycle. During the time interval of the test cycle, both the pressure within the test chamber and the displacement of the semi-flexible surface of the test package are continuously measured, and produced therefrom, are a first analog data signal proportional to the pressure within the test chamber, and a second analog data signal proportional to the displacement of the semi-flexible surface of the test package. During the time interval of the test cycle, the first analog data signal is converted into a first discrete data sequence, and the second analog data signal is converted into a second discrete data sequence. From the first discrete data sequence and the second discrete data sequence, a correlation estimate is computed in accordance with principles of statistical analysis, as to provide a reliable measure of hermetic seal integrity of the test package.