Fluid delivery systems and methods
First Claim
1. A device for dispensing fluid, the device comprising:
- a pump;
a dispensing assembly downstream of the pump, the dispensing assembly comprising a sensor for quantitatively measuring a parameter related to a volume of fluid, wherein the pump ejects fluid in a manner so as to repeatedly deliver fluid through an exit;
a control loop coupled to the sensor and the pump for controlling actuation of the pump based on the measured parameter; and
a controller for determining a cumulative volume of fluid delivered through the exit based on the measured parameter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of dispensing fluid includes three processes. A first one of these processes includes pumping fluid into a resilient variable-volume dispensing chamber. The dispensing chamber is in series with a normally present finite fluid impedance and an output. The impedance is sufficient so as to cause expansion of the dispensing chamber as it receives pumped fluid even while some fluid flows through the output. Another one of these processes includes repeatedly measuring a parameter related to volume of the dispensing chamber over time. A third one of these processes includes controlling the pumping of fluid based on repeated measurements of the parameter to produce a desired fluid flow through the output. A corresponding system for dispensing fluid implements these processes.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for dispensing fluid, the device comprising:
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a pump; a dispensing assembly downstream of the pump, the dispensing assembly comprising a sensor for quantitatively measuring a parameter related to a volume of fluid, wherein the pump ejects fluid in a manner so as to repeatedly deliver fluid through an exit; a control loop coupled to the sensor and the pump for controlling actuation of the pump based on the measured parameter; and a controller for determining a cumulative volume of fluid delivered through the exit based on the measured parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A device for dispensing fluid, the device comprising:
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a pump; a dispensing assembly downstream of and in fluid communication with the pump, the dispensing assembly comprising a sensor for quantitatively measuring a parameter related to a volume of a resilient dispensing chamber, wherein the pump ejects fluid in a manner so as to expand the resilient dispensing chamber, the resilient dispensing chamber repeatedly delivering fluid through an exit; a control loop coupled to the sensor and the pump for controlling actuation of the pump based on the measured parameter; and an acoustic energy source for acoustically exciting gas in an acoustically contiguous region to produce an acoustic response therein, the region comprising a processor, wherein the sensor further comprising a first acoustic transducer mounted at a first position in the acoustically contiguous region for producing an electrical signal based on the acoustic response, and wherein the processor is coupled to the first acoustic transducer and to a reference and implements a flow determination process for determining a quantity related to change of volume of the subregion based on the acoustic response. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A device for dispensing fluid, the device comprising:
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a pump; and a dispensing assembly downstream of and in fluid communication with the pump, the dispensing assembly comprising; a dispensing chamber; and a sensor for quantitatively measuring a parameter related to a volume of the dispensing chamber, wherein the pump ejects fluid so as to cyclically pump fluid into the dispensing chamber and delivery fluid from the dispensing chamber through an exit; and an acoustic energy source for acoustically exciting gas in an acoustically contiguous region to produce an acoustic response therein, the region comprising a subregion coupled to the dispensing chamber wherein a change in volume of the dispensing chamber causes a change in volume of the subregion; a first acoustic transducer mounted at a first position in the acoustically contiguous region for producing an electrical signal based on the acoustic response; and a processor coupled to the first acoustic transducer and to a reference and implements a flow determination process for determining a quantity related to change of volume of the subregion based on the acoustic response. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification