Volumetric Measurement Device, System and Method

• US 20140083201A1
• Filed: 03/07/2013
• Published: 03/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Lanier, Gregory R. Jr., Kerwin, John M., Murphy, Colin H., Gray, Larry B.
• Granted Patent: US 9,372,104 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/861.18
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/66 by measuring frequency, phase shift or propagation time of electromagnetic or other waves, e.g. using ultrasonic flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 17/00 Methods or apparatus for determining the capacity of containers or cavities, or the volume of solid bodies measuring linear dimensions to determine volume G01B
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 22/02 involving measurement of pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/296 Acoustic waves

Abstract

An acoustic volume sensing device is disclosed. The device includes a housing comprising a reference volume chamber and a variable volume chamber, the reference volume chamber and the variable volume chamber connected by a resonant port, a first MEMS microphone located in acoustic relation to the variable volume chamber, a second MEMS microphone located in acoustic relation to the reference volume chamber, a MEMS speaker located in acoustic relation to the reference volume chamber, and a circuit board in electric connection with the first and second MEMS microphones and the MEMS speaker.

Claims

1. An acoustic volume sensing device comprising:

a housing comprising a reference volume chamber and a variable volume chamber, the reference volume chamber and the variable volume chamber connected by a resonant port;

a first MEMS microphone located in acoustic relation to the variable volume chamber;

a second MEMS microphone located in acoustic relation to the reference volume chamber;

a MEMS speaker located in acoustic relation to the reference volume chamber; and

a circuit board in electric connection with the first and second MEMS microphones and the MEMS speaker.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising comprising a hydrophobic, substantially acoustically transparent mesh device located in the resonant port.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the first and second MEMS microphone and MEMS speaker are integrated into a single package.

4. A method for determining a volume of fluid that has exited a measurement chamber, the method comprising:

completing an acoustic volume sensing measurement of a measurement chamber where the measurement chamber is at a first predetermined pressure;

pumping fluid into the measurement chamber until the measurement chamber reaches a second predetermined pressure;

completing an acoustic volume sensing measurement of a measurement chamber where the measurement chamber is at the second predetermined pressure;

reducing the measurement chamber pressure to the first predetermined pressure; and

completing an acoustic volume sensing measurement of a measurement chamber where the measurement chamber is at the second predetermined pressure.