Integrated circuitry for controlling analysis of a fluid

• US 7,158,897 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2005
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Meas France
• Original Assignee: Symyx Technologies Incorporated (Dassault Systemes SA)
• Inventors: Matsiev, Leonid, Gammer, Vladimir, Kolosov, Oleg V., Spitkovsky, Mikhail B.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGHIEM, MICHAEL P
• Application Number:
  US11/122,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20050209796A1
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 702/50
• US Class Current: 702/50
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 11/16 by measuring damping effect upon oscillatory body
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0427 Flexural waves, plate waves, e.g. Lamb waves, tuning fork, cantilever
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/30 for lubricating properties

Abstract

Circuitry for processing signals used to determine characteristics of a fluid under-test is provided. The circuitry includes a compensation device and integrated circuitry for interfacing with a tuning fork that is capable of being in contact with the fluid under-test and the compensation device. The compensation device is configured to differentially process a signal output of the tuning fork, and the differential processing of the compensation device is actively controlled by the integrated circuitry so as to produce a processed signal. The processed signal defines the characteristics of the fluid under-test, and the compensation device includes capacitive matching circuitry. Also provided are systems that incorporate the circuitry.

Claims

1. Circuitry for processing signals used to determine characteristics of a fluid under-test, comprising:

a compensation device; and

integrated circuitry for interfacing with a tuning fork that is capable of being in contact with the fluid under-test and the compensation device, the compensation device being configured to differentially process a signal output of the tuning fork, the differential processing of the compensation device being actively controlled by the integrated circuitry so as to produce a processed signal, the processed signal defining the characteristics of the fluid under-test, and wherein the compensation device includes capacitive matching circuitry.

2. Circuitry for processing signals used to determine characteristics of a fluid under-test as recited in claim 1, wherein the integrated circuitry is an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

3. Circuitry for processing signals used to determine characteristics of a fluid under-test as recited in claim 1, wherein the capacitive matching circuitry includes one of a capacitive circuit, a varicap circuit, and a bridge circuit.

4. Circuitry for processing signals used to determine characteristics of a fluid under-test as recited in claim 1, wherein the differential processing of the signal magnifies relevant portions of the signal and minimizes non-relevant portions of the signal to produce the processed signal.

5. Circuitry for processing signals used to determine characteristics of a fluid under-test as recited in claim 4, wherein a magnitude of the processed signal identifies a viscosity of the fluid under-test.

6. Circuit for processing signals used to determine characteristics of a fluid under-test as recited in claim 4, wherein a frequency center point of the processed signal identifies a density of the fluid under-test.

7. Circuitry for processing signals used to determine characteristics of a fluid under-test as recited in claim 4, wherein an amount of the compensation applied to the compensation device by the integrated circuit identifies a dielectric constant of the fluid under-test.

8. A system for determining characteristics of a fluid under-test, comprising:

a flexural resonator, the flexural resonator capable of being at least partially submerged in the fluid under-test;

a compensation device; and

integrated circuitry for interfacing with the flexural resonator and the compensation device, the compensation device being configured to differentially process a signal output from the flexural resonator, the differential processing of the compensation device being actively controlled by the integrated circuitry so as to produce a processed signal, the processed signal defining the characteristics of the fluid under-test, and wherein the compensation device includes capacitive matching circuitry.

9. A system for determining characteristics of a fluid under-test as recited in claim 8, wherein the integrated circuitry is an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

10. A system for determining characteristics of a fluid under-test as recited in claim 8, wherein the capacitive matching circuitry includes one of a capacitive circuit, a varicap circuit, and a bridge circuit.

11. A system for determining characteristics of a fluid under-test as recited in claim 8, wherein the differential processing of the signal magnifies relevant portions of the signal and minimizes non-relevant portions of the signal to produce the processed signal.

12. A system for determining characteristics of a fluid under-test as recited in claim 8, wherein the flexural resonator is a tuning fork.

13. Circuitry for processing signals used to determine characteristics of a fluid under-test, comprising:

integrated circuitry for interfacing with a tuning fork that is capable of being in contact with the fluid under-test, the integrated circuitry including a compensation device, the compensation device being configured to differentially process a signal output of the tuning fork, the differential processing of the compensation device being actively controlled by the integrated circuitry so as to produce a processed signal, the processed signal defining the characteristics of the fluid under-test, and wherein the compensation device includes capacitive matching circuitry.

14. Circuitry for processing signals used to determine characteristics of a fluid under-test as recited in claim 13, wherein the integrated circuitry is an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

15. Circuitry for processing signals used to determine characteristics of a fluid under-test as recited in claim 13, wherein the capacitive matching circuitry includes one of a capacitive circuit, a varicap circuit, and a bridge circuit.

16. Circuitry for processing signals used to determine characteristics of a fluid under-test as recited in claim 13, wherein the differential processing of the signal magnifies relevant portions of the signal and minimizes non-relevant portions of the signal to produce the processed signal.