Air bubble detector
First Claim
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1. A method of detecting bubbles comprising:
- sending a first ultrasonic signal through a fluid path by an ultrasonic transmitter, the signal corresponding to a first range of ultrasonic frequencies;
reporting a detected signal by an ultrasonic receiver;
selecting an internal receiver signal reference;
determining the amount of time the detected signal exceeds the internal reference; and
calculating bubble size based on the amount of time the detected signal exceeds the internal reference;
determining a resonant frequency based upon the detected signal from the first range of ultrasonic frequencies;
storing the resonant frequency;
sending a second ultrasonic signal through the fluid path by the ultrasonic transmitter, the signal corresponding to a second range of ultrasonic frequencies surrounding the resonant frequency;
resending the first ultrasonic signal after a degradation in the detected signal is detected from sending the second ultrasonic signal; and
redetermining the resonant frequency based upon the detected signal from the resending of the first range of ultrasonic frequencies.
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Abstract
Air bubbles may be characterized by an air bubble detector by choosing an optimum set of frequencies and then comparing a return signal from a sensor receiving those frequencies against an internal reference. The number of pulses that exceed the internal reference represents a width and may be counted. The width, as counted, may be correlated to bubble characteristics including volume.
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Citations
4 Claims
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1. A method of detecting bubbles comprising:
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sending a first ultrasonic signal through a fluid path by an ultrasonic transmitter, the signal corresponding to a first range of ultrasonic frequencies; reporting a detected signal by an ultrasonic receiver; selecting an internal receiver signal reference; determining the amount of time the detected signal exceeds the internal reference; and calculating bubble size based on the amount of time the detected signal exceeds the internal reference; determining a resonant frequency based upon the detected signal from the first range of ultrasonic frequencies; storing the resonant frequency; sending a second ultrasonic signal through the fluid path by the ultrasonic transmitter, the signal corresponding to a second range of ultrasonic frequencies surrounding the resonant frequency; resending the first ultrasonic signal after a degradation in the detected signal is detected from sending the second ultrasonic signal; and redetermining the resonant frequency based upon the detected signal from the resending of the first range of ultrasonic frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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Specification