Metering system and method for aerosol delivery
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- a variable acoustic source acoustically coupled to a volume, the volume being divided into an air region and a fluid region, the fluid region having a fluid output;
a microphone acoustically coupled to the volume;
a first processor configured to receive a signal from the microphone, and further configured to determine a volume of the air region;
a fluid valve configured to allow an amount of fluid to exit the fluid region, the amount of fluid being associated with the determined volume of the air region; and
an atomizer coupled to the fluid output, the atomizer configured to aerosolize at least a portion of the amount of fluid to exit the fluid region..
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Abstract
An apparatus comprises a variable acoustic source and a microphone, both acoustically coupled to a volume having a fluid region and an air region. The apparatus also can include a processor to determine a volume of the air region based on signals received from the microphone and the variable acoustic source. A fluid valve is coupled to the processor, and is configured to allow an amount of fluid to exit the fluid region associated with the volume of the air region. An atomizer, coupled to the fluid region, is configured to aerosolize at least a portion of the fluid.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a variable acoustic source acoustically coupled to a volume, the volume being divided into an air region and a fluid region, the fluid region having a fluid output;
a microphone acoustically coupled to the volume;
a first processor configured to receive a signal from the microphone, and further configured to determine a volume of the air region;
a fluid valve configured to allow an amount of fluid to exit the fluid region, the amount of fluid being associated with the determined volume of the air region; and
an atomizer coupled to the fluid output, the atomizer configured to aerosolize at least a portion of the amount of fluid to exit the fluid region.. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus comprising:
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a first processor configured to calculate an aerosol volume and to output a volume signal associated with the calculated aerosol volume;
a second processor configured to receive an acoustic signal representing an acoustic property of a volume;
calculate, using the received acoustic signal, a quantity associated with a first fluid volume;
receive the volume signal from the first processor; and
output a signal for controlling a valve, the output signal being associated with the received acoustic signal and with the received volume signal. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A method comprising:
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receiving an acoustic signal representing an acoustic property of a volume;
calculating, using the received acoustic signal, a quantity associated with a first fluid volume;
receiving a volume signal; and
outputting a signal for controlling a valve, the output signal being associated with the received acoustic signal and with the received volume signal.
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12. A medium storing instructions to cause a processor to:
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receive an acoustic signal representing an acoustic property of a volume;
calculate, using the received acoustic signal, a quantity associated with a first fluid volume;
receive a volume signal a first processor; and
output a signal for controlling a valve, the output signal being associated with the received acoustic signal and with the received volume signal.
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13. An apparatus comprising:
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means for dispensing a first fluid;
means for aerosolizing the first fluid in communication with the means for dispensing the first fluid; and
means for determining aerosol volume coupled to the means for aerosolizing the first fluid. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method comprising:
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calculating a plurality of acoustic resonances associated with a variable-volume chamber;
calculating a volume of the variable-volume chamber, the calculated volume being associated with at least one of the plurality of acoustic resonances;
receiving an aerosol volume signal associated with a volume of an aerosol; and
outputting an amount of fluid, the amount of fluid being associated with the aerosol volume signal and with the calculated volume of the variable-volume chamber.
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17. A medium storing instructions to cause a processor to:
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calculate a plurality of acoustic resonances associated with a variable-volume chamber;
calculate a volume of the variable-volume chamber, the calculated volume being associated with at least one of the plurality of acoustic resonances;
receive an aerosol volume signal associated with a volume of an aerosol; and
output an amount of fluid, the amount of fluid being associated with the aerosol volume signal and with the calculated volume of the variable-volume chamber.
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18. A method comprising:
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metering a first fluid using an acoustic volume transducer;
converting the first fluid to an aerosol; and
outputting the aerosol. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A medium storing instructions to cause a processor to:
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meter a first fluid using an acoustic volume transducer;
convert the first fluid to an aerosol; and
output the aerosol. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method comprising:
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calculating a volume of the variable-volume chamber, the calculated volume being associated with an acoustic property of the variable-volume chamber;
receiving an aerosol volume signal associated with a volume of an aerosol; and
outputting an amount of fluid, the amount of fluid being associated with the aerosol volume signal and with the calculated volume of the variable-volume chamber. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A medium storing instructions to cause a processor to:
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calculate a volume of the variable-volume chamber, the calculated volume being associated with an acoustic property of the variable-volume chamber;
receive an aerosol volume signal associated with a volume of an aerosol; and
output an amount of fluid, the amount of fluid being associated with the aerosol volume signal and with the calculated volume of the variable-volume chamber. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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Specification