Startup techniques for a digital flowmeter
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A flowmeter comprising:
- a vibratable flowtube;
a sensor connected to the flowtube and operable to sense information about a motion of the flowtube by way of a sensor signal;
a driver connected to the flowtube and operable to impart energy to the flowtube by way of a drive signal; and
a digital transmitter operable to transition the flowmeter from a first drive signal generating mode into a second drive signal generating mode in response to detecting a system disturbance associated with the flowmeter.
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Litigations
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Accused Products
Abstract
Startup and operational techniques for a digital flowmeter are described. The techniques select an optimal mode of operation for the digital flowmeter, depending on a current environment of the flowmeter. For example, during a startup operation of the flowmeter, the mode of operation might include a random sequence mode, in which filtered, random frequencies are applied as a drive signal to a flowtube associated with the digital flowmeter. Once the flowtube reaches a resonant mode of vibration, the digital flowmeter may transition to a positive feedback mode, in which a sensor signal representing a motion of the flowtube is fed back to the flowtube as a drive signal, as part of a feedback loop. Once an oscillation of the flowtube is achieved and analyzed, a digital synthesis mode of operation may be implemented, in which the analyzed sensor signals are used to synthesize the drive signal. In either the positive feedback mode or the digital synthesis mode, the digital flowmeter may revert to a previous mode to regain stable and desired oscillation of the flowtube, such as might be required during a recovery operation associated with a disturbance to an operation of the digital flowmeter.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A flowmeter comprising:
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a vibratable flowtube; a sensor connected to the flowtube and operable to sense information about a motion of the flowtube by way of a sensor signal; a driver connected to the flowtube and operable to impart energy to the flowtube by way of a drive signal; and a digital transmitter operable to transition the flowmeter from a first drive signal generating mode into a second drive signal generating mode in response to detecting a system disturbance associated with the flowmeter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of operating a flowmeter, the method comprising:
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operating the flowmeter in a first drive signal generating mode to drive a vibratable flowtube by way of a drive signal; detecting a system disturbance associated with the flowmeter; transitioning the flowmeter from the first drive signal generating mode into a second drive signal generating mode in response to detecting the system disturbance associated with the flowmeter; and operating the flowmeter in the second drive signal generating mode. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A digital transmitter for use with a flowmeter comprising a vibratable flowtube, a sensor connected to the flowtube and operable to sense information about a motion of the flowtube by way of a sensor signal, and a driver connected to the flowtube and operable to impart energy to the flowtube by way of a drive signal, the digital transmitter comprising:
a processing device configured to transition the flowmeter from a first drive signal generating mode into a second drive signal generating mode in response to detecting a system disturbance associated with the flowmeter. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
Specification