System and method for generating a drive signal

• US 7,905,373 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2007
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Dattolo, James Jason, Beavis, Russell Herbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicolas; Frederick C.
• Application Number:
  US11/851,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20080054837A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 222/1, 222/63, 222/333, 222/129.1, 222/130, 222/129.2, 222/132, 222/129.3, 222/136, 222/129.4, 222/52, 222/385, 318/696, 318/810, 700240-242, 700/254, 700/231, 700/239, 415/1
• US Class Current: 222/1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0034 for controlling the amount of each component
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0036 based on the timed opening of valves
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0888 Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/10 Pump mechanism in general F04
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/104 by the liquid to be dispensed
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/122 modulating a pumping rate
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0097 using a pump
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 13/02 of two or more fluids at the same time
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 51/00 Testing machines, pumps, or pumping installations
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0027 Varying behaviour or the very pump F04D15/0055 and F04D29/46 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

A method and computer program product for defining a PWM drive signal having a defined voltage potential. The PWM drive signal has a plurality of “on” portions and a plurality of “off” portions that define a first duty cycle for regulating, at least in part, a flow rate of a pump assembly. At least a portion of the “on” portions of the PWM drive signal are pulse width modulated to define a second duty cycle for the at least a portion of the “on” portions of the PWM drive signal. The second duty cycle regulates, at least in part, the percentage of the defined voltage potential applied to the pump assembly.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

defining a PWM drive signal having a defined voltage potential, wherein the PWM drive signal has a plurality of “

on”

portions and a plurality of “

off”

portions that define a first duty cycle for regulating, at least in part, a flow rate of a pump assembly associated with a micro-ingredient subsystem;

pulse width modulating at least a portion of the “

on”

portions of the PWM drive signal to define a second duty cycle for the at least a portion of the “

on”

portions of the PWM drive signal, wherein the second duty cycle regulates, at least in part, the percentage of the defined voltage potential applied to the pump assembly, wherein the pump assembly is regulated by the second duty cycle in order to control a flow through the pump assembly;

measuring a second flow generated by a plumbing/control subsystem using a flow measuring device; and

supplying a flow feedback signal to a feedback controller system, wherein the feedback controller system compares the flow feedback signal to a desired flow volume.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the pump assembly is a solenoid piston pump.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the pump assembly is configured for use within a beverage dispensing system.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the pump assembly is configured to releasably engage a product container.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the pump assembly is rigidly attached to a product module assembly.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the defined voltage potential is 28 VDC.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the “

on”

portions of the PWM drive signal has a duration of approximately 15 milliseconds.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the “

off”

portions of the PWM drive signal has a duration within a range of 15-185 milliseconds.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the second duty cycle is within a range of 50-100%.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the feedback controller system includes a trajectory shaping controller configured to receive the control signal from a control logic subsystem.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein:

the trajectory shaping controller filters a control curve to form a smoothed control curve configured to be processed by the flow controller.

12. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

defining a PWM drive signal having a defined voltage potential, wherein the PWM drive signal has a plurality of “

on”

portions and a plurality of “

off”

portions that define a first duty cycle for regulating, at least in part, a flow rate of a pump assembly associated with a micro-ingredient subsystem;

pulse width modulating at least a portion of the “

on”

portions of the PWM drive signal to define a second duty cycle for the at least a portion of the “

on”

portions of the PWM drive signal, wherein the second duty cycle regulates, at least in part, the percentage of the defined voltage potential applied to the pump assembly, wherein the pump assembly is regulated by the second duty cycle in order to control a flow through the pump assembly;

measuring a second flow generated by a plumbing/control subsystem using a flow measuring device; and

supplying a flow feedback signal to a feedback controller system, wherein the feedback controller system compares the flow feedback signal to a desired flow volume.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the pump assembly is a solenoid piston pump.

14. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the pump assembly is configured for use within a beverage dispensing system.

15. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein at least one of the “

on”

portions of the PWM drive signal has a duration of approximately 15 milliseconds.

16. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein at least one of the “

off”

portions of the PWM drive signal has a duration within a range of 15-185 milliseconds.

17. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the second duty cycle is within a range of 50-100%.

18. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein:

the feedback controller system includes a trajectory shaping controller configured to receive the control signal from a control logic subsystem.

19. The computer program product of claim 18 wherein:

the trajectory shaping controller filters a control curve to form a smoothed control curve configured to be processed by the flow controller.

20. A method comprising:

defining a PWM drive signal having a defined voltage potential, wherein the PWM drive signal has a plurality of “

on”

portions and a plurality of “

off”

portions that define a first duty cycle for regulating, at least in part, a flow rate of a pump assembly associated with a micro-ingredient subsystem included within a beverage dispensing system;

pulse width modulating at least a portion of the “

on”

portions of the PWM drive signal to define a second duty cycle for the at least a portion of the “

on”

portions of the PWM drive signal, wherein the second duty cycle regulates, at least in part, the percentage of the defined voltage potential applied to the pump assembly, wherein the pump assembly is regulated by the second duty cycle in order to control a flow through the pump assembly;

measuring a second flow generated by a plumbing/control subsystem using a flow measuring device; and

supplying a flow feedback signal to a feedback controller system, wherein the feedback controller system compares the flow feedback signal to a desired flow volume.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the pump assembly is a solenoid piston pump.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the pump assembly is configured to releasably engage a product container.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the pump assembly is rigidly attached to a product module assembly.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein:

at least one of the “

on”

portions of the PWM drive signal has a duration of approximately 15 milliseconds;

at least one of the “

off”

portions of the PWM drive signal has a duration within a range of 15-185 milliseconds; and

the second duty cycle is within a range of 50-100%.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein:

the feedback controller system includes a trajectory shaping controller configured to receive the control signal from a control logic subsystem.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein:

the trajectory shaping controller filters a control curve to form a smoothed control curve configured to be processed by the flow controller.