Digital flowmeter
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A digital flowmeter comprising:
- a vibratable conduit;
a driver connected to the conduit and operable to impart motion to the conduit;
a sensor connected to the conduit and operable to sense the motion of the conduit; and
a control and measurement system connected between the driver and the sensor, wherein the control and measurement system is configured to;
receive a sensor signal from the sensor,generate a drive signal based on the sensor signal using digital signal processing,supply the drive signal to the driver, andgenerate a measurement of a property of material flowing through the conduit based on the signal from the sensor;
use digital processing to adjust a phase of the drive signal to compensate for a time delay associated with components connected between the sensor and the driver.
2 Assignments
Litigations
2 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A controller for a flowmeter includes an input module operable to receive a sensor signal from a sensor connected to a vibratable flowtube. The sensor signal is related to a fluid flow through the flowtube. The controller also includes a signal processing system operable to receive the sensor signal, determine sensor signal characteristics, and output drive signal characteristics for a drive signal applied to the flowtube. An output module is operable to output the drive signal to the flowtube and a control system is operable to modify the drive signal and thereby maintain oscillation of the flowtube during a transition of the flowtube from a substantially empty state to a substantially full state.
99 Citations
48 Claims
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1. A digital flowmeter comprising:
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a vibratable conduit; a driver connected to the conduit and operable to impart motion to the conduit; a sensor connected to the conduit and operable to sense the motion of the conduit; and a control and measurement system connected between the driver and the sensor, wherein the control and measurement system is configured to; receive a sensor signal from the sensor, generate a drive signal based on the sensor signal using digital signal processing, supply the drive signal to the driver, and generate a measurement of a property of material flowing through the conduit based on the signal from the sensor; use digital processing to adjust a phase of the drive signal to compensate for a time delay associated with components connected between the sensor and the driver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of generating a measurement of a property of material flowing through a conduit, the method comprising:
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sensing motion of the conduit; generating a measurement of a property of material flowing though the conduit based on the sensed motion; using digital signal processing to generate a drive signal for imparting motion in the conduit based on sensed motion of the conduit; using digital signal processing to adjust a phase of the drive signal to compensate for a time delay associated with components connected between the sensor and the driver; and imparting motion to the conduit using the drive signal. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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39. A digital flowmeter comprising:
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a vibratable conduit; a driver connected to the conduit and operable to impart motion to the conduit; a sensor connected to the conduit and operable to sense the motion of the conduit; and a control and measurement system connected between the driver and the sensor, wherein the control and measurement system comprising circuitry is configured to; receive a sensor signal from the sensor, generate a drive signal based on the sensor signal using digital signal processing, supply the drive signal to the driver, and generate a measurement of a property of material flowing though the conduit based on the signal from the sensor; selectively apply a negative gain to reduce motion of the conduit.
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40. A digital flowmeter comprising:
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a vibratable conduit; a driver connected to the conduit and operable to impart motion to the conduit; a sensor connected to the conduit and operable to sense the motion of the conduit; and a control and measurement system connected to the driver and the sensor, wherein the control and measurement system is configured to; receive a sensor signal from the sensor, generate a drive signal based on the sensor signal using digital signal processing, supply the drive signal to the driver, and generate a measurement of a property of material flowing though the conduit based on the sensor signal; initiate motion of the conduit by applying a first drive signal to the driver, and sustain motion of the conduit by applying a second drive signal to the driver, wherein the second drive signal is different from the first drive signal. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
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44. A method comprising:
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passing a material through a vibratable conduit; imparting motion to the conduit using a driver connected to the conduit; receiving a sensor signal from a sensor connected to the conduit and operable to sense the motion of the conduit; generating a drive signal based on the sensor signal using digital signal processing, supplying the drive signal to the driver; generating a measurement of a property of the material passing through the conduit based on the signal from the sensor; selectively applying a negative gain to reduce motion of the conduit.
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45. A method comprising:
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passing a material through a vibratable conduit; imparting motion to the conduit using a driver connected to the conduit; receiving a sensor signal from a sensor connected to the conduit and operable to sense the motion of the conduit; generating a drive signal based on the sensor signal using digital signal processing; supplying the drive signal to the driver; generating a measurement of a property of the material flowing through the conduit based on the sensor signal; and initiating motion of the conduit by applying a first drive signal to the driver, and sustaining motion of the conduit by applying a second drive signal to the driver, wherein the second drive signal is different from the first drive signal. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48)
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Specification