System, method, and apparatus for estimating liquid delivery
First Claim
1. A pump, comprising:
- a reservoir configured to deliver a liquid;
a port coupled to the reservoir and configured to discharge the liquid;
a plunger having a piston coupled to a shaft, wherein the piston is disposed within the reservoir in sliding engagement with an inner surface of the reservoir, wherein the piston defines a liquid side of the reservoir and a non-liquid side of the reservoir whereby movement of the plunger towards the liquid side of the reservoir discharges liquid through the port; and
a reference-volume assembly coupled to the reservoir, wherein the reference-volume assembly comprises;
a reference-volume chamber in acoustic communication with the non-liquid side of the reservoir;
a speaker disposed within the reference-volume chamber; and
a reference microphone disposed within the reference-volume chamber,wherein the reference-volume assembly further comprises a conduit configured to receive the shaft, wherein the shaft is in sliding engagement with the conduit.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pump includes a reservoir, a port, and a plunger. The reservoir delivers a liquid by discharging the liquid through the port coupled to the reservoir. A piston of the plunger defines a liquid side of the reservoir and a non-liquid side of the reservoir whereby movement of the plunger towards the liquid side of the reservoir discharges liquid through the port. The pump also includes a reference-volume assembly and/or a linear position sensor. The reference-volume assembly is coupled to the reservoir at an opposite end of the reservoir relative to the port and includes a reference-volume chamber in acoustic communication with the non-liquid side of the reservoir, a speaker disposed within the reference-volume chamber, and a reference microphone disposed within the reference-volume chamber. The pump estimate the amount of liquid discharged from the reservoir.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A pump, comprising:
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a reservoir configured to deliver a liquid; a port coupled to the reservoir and configured to discharge the liquid; a plunger having a piston coupled to a shaft, wherein the piston is disposed within the reservoir in sliding engagement with an inner surface of the reservoir, wherein the piston defines a liquid side of the reservoir and a non-liquid side of the reservoir whereby movement of the plunger towards the liquid side of the reservoir discharges liquid through the port; and a reference-volume assembly coupled to the reservoir, wherein the reference-volume assembly comprises; a reference-volume chamber in acoustic communication with the non-liquid side of the reservoir; a speaker disposed within the reference-volume chamber; and a reference microphone disposed within the reference-volume chamber, wherein the reference-volume assembly further comprises a conduit configured to receive the shaft, wherein the shaft is in sliding engagement with the conduit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification