Fluid dispenser calibration system and method
First Claim
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1. A fluid calibration system, comprising:
- a fluid dispenser;
an actuator coupled to the fluid dispenser that controls output of a fluid from the fluid dispenser; and
an actuator control coupled to the actuator, wherein the actuator control automatically adjusts the actuator based on a difference between an actual dispensing characteristic and an ideal dispensing characteristic and according to a function correlating fluid dispensing time, dispensing speed and dispensed volume and obtained from a plurality of dispensed volumes over a plurality of dispenser speeds, wherein each dispenser speed corresponds to one of said plurality of dispensed volumes, and wherein a desired time to dispense a desired amount of the fluid is entered to said actuator control, said actuator control then controlling said actuator to achieve said desired amount of the fluid in said desired time.
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Abstract
A system and method for calibrating fluid detects an actual fluid dispensing characteristic, such as dispensing speed, and automatically adjusts the dispensing characteristic to match an ideal dispensing characteristic. The adjustment is conducted by a controller that controls fluid dispensing based on a function that correlates dispensing speed, a dispensed volume, and a dispensing time. The function allows calibration to occur automatically by converging system operation to the ideal dispensing characteristic, without requiring a user to calibrate the system through manual iterative methods.
27 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A fluid calibration system, comprising:
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a fluid dispenser;
an actuator coupled to the fluid dispenser that controls output of a fluid from the fluid dispenser; and
an actuator control coupled to the actuator, wherein the actuator control automatically adjusts the actuator based on a difference between an actual dispensing characteristic and an ideal dispensing characteristic and according to a function correlating fluid dispensing time, dispensing speed and dispensed volume and obtained from a plurality of dispensed volumes over a plurality of dispenser speeds, wherein each dispenser speed corresponds to one of said plurality of dispensed volumes, and wherein a desired time to dispense a desired amount of the fluid is entered to said actuator control, said actuator control then controlling said actuator to achieve said desired amount of the fluid in said desired time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A fluid calibration system, comprising:
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a fluid dispenser;
a motor coupled to the fluid dispenser that controls output of a fluid from the fluid dispenser;
a motor control coupled to the actuator, wherein the motor control automatically adjusts the motor based on a difference between an actual dispensing speed and an ideal dispensing speed according to a function based on a plurality of fluid dispensing times, a plurality of dispensing speeds, and a plurality of dispensed volumes, wherein the actual dispensing speed is determined by obtaining an elapsed time for obtaining a target dispensed volume, and wherein a desired time to dispense a desired amount of the fluid is entered to said actuator control, said actuator control then controlling said actuator to achieve said desired amount of the fluid in said desired time; and
a memory accessible by the motor control and used to determine how to achieve said desired amount of the fluid in desired time. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method for calibrating a fluid dispensing system, comprising the steps of:
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detecting an actual dispensing characteristic of a fluid dispenser controlled by an actuator;
determining a difference between the actual dispensing characteristic and an ideal dispensing characteristic; and
controlling the actuator based on the determined difference and according to a function based on a plurality of fluid dispensing times, a plurality of dispensing speeds, and a plurality of dispensed volumes to obtain the ideal dispensing characteristic, and entering a desired time to dispense a desired amount of the fluid to said actuator control, said actuator control then controlling said actuator to achieve said desired amount of the fluid in said desired time. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification