Arrangement and method to sense flow using mechanical stress microsensors
First Claim
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1. A sensor module, comprising:
- a MEMs sensor device operable to determine a fluid flow induced mechanical force on a first flow control connective element; and
a processing circuit operably coupled to receive fluid flow induced mechanical force information based on the determined fluid flow induced mechanical force, the processing circuit operable to generate a fluid flow measurement value based on the fluid flow induced mechanical force information and position information representative of a position of a flow control device coupled to the first flow control connective element;
wherein the flow control device comprises a damper member configured to control a flow of fluid;
wherein the first flow control connective element is a rotatable shaft coupled to a gear assembly and an electric motor, the electric motor configured to drive the gear assembly and the rotatable shaft, wherein the rotatable shaft is coupled to the damper member such that rotation of the rotatable shaft about a shaft axis results in movement of the damper member;
wherein the processing circuit is further configured to generate the fluid flow measurement value by selecting one of a plurality of relationships between the fluid flow induced mechanical force information and fluid flow, the selection of one of the plurality of relationships based on the position information, and wherein selecting one of the plurality of relationships comprises selecting one of a plurality of piecewise linear functions.
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Abstract
A sensor module includes a MEMs sensor device and a processing circuit. The MEMs sensor device is operable to determine a fluid flow induced mechanical force on a first flow control device connective element. The processing circuit is operably coupled to receive fluid flow induced mechanical force information based on the determined fluid flow induced mechanical force. The processing circuit is configured to generate a fluid flow measurement value based on the fluid flow induced mechanical force information and position information representative of a position of a flow control device coupled to the first flow control connective element.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A sensor module, comprising:
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a MEMs sensor device operable to determine a fluid flow induced mechanical force on a first flow control connective element; and a processing circuit operably coupled to receive fluid flow induced mechanical force information based on the determined fluid flow induced mechanical force, the processing circuit operable to generate a fluid flow measurement value based on the fluid flow induced mechanical force information and position information representative of a position of a flow control device coupled to the first flow control connective element; wherein the flow control device comprises a damper member configured to control a flow of fluid; wherein the first flow control connective element is a rotatable shaft coupled to a gear assembly and an electric motor, the electric motor configured to drive the gear assembly and the rotatable shaft, wherein the rotatable shaft is coupled to the damper member such that rotation of the rotatable shaft about a shaft axis results in movement of the damper member; wherein the processing circuit is further configured to generate the fluid flow measurement value by selecting one of a plurality of relationships between the fluid flow induced mechanical force information and fluid flow, the selection of one of the plurality of relationships based on the position information, and wherein selecting one of the plurality of relationships comprises selecting one of a plurality of piecewise linear functions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A sensor module, comprising:
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a MEMs sensor device operable to determine a liquid flow induced mechanical force on a first valve control element; a processing circuit operably coupled to receive liquid flow induced mechanical force information based on the determined liquid flow induced mechanical force, the processing circuit operable to generate a liquid flow measurement value based on the liquid flow induced mechanical force information; a first wireless communication circuit operable to communicate information representative of the liquid flow measurement to a second wireless communication circuit; and wherein the processing circuit is further configured to generate a liquid flow measurement value by selecting one of a plurality of relationships between the liquid flow induced force information and liquid flow, the selection of one of the plurality of relationships based on the position information, and wherein selecting one of the plurality of relationships comprises selecting one of a plurality of piecewise linear functions. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification