Volumetric measurement device, system and method

• US 9,372,104 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2013
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Lanier, Gregory R. Jr., Kerwin, John M., Murphy, Colin H., Gray, Larry B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): COTEY, PHILIP L
• Application Number:
  US13/788,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20140083201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 738/611.8, 738/614.2, 737/00, 737/03
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/66 by measuring frequency, phase shift or propagation time of electromagnetic or other waves, e.g. using ultrasonic flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 17/00 Methods or apparatus for determining the capacity of containers or cavities, or the volume of solid bodies measuring linear dimensions to determine volume G01B
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 22/02 involving measurement of pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/296 Acoustic waves

Abstract

An acoustic volume sensing device is disclosed. The device includes a housing comprising a reference volume chamber and a variable volume chamber, the reference volume chamber and the variable volume chamber connected by a resonant port, a first MEMS microphone located in acoustic relation to the variable volume chamber, a second MEMS microphone located in acoustic relation to the reference volume chamber, a MEMS speaker located in acoustic relation to the reference volume chamber, and a circuit board in electric connection with the first and second MEMS microphones and the MEMS speaker.

Claims

1. An acoustic volume sensing device comprising:

a housing comprising a reference volume chamber and a variable volume chamber, the reference volume chamber and the variable volume chamber connected by a resonant port;

a first MEMS microphone located in acoustic relation to the variable volume chamber;

a second MEMS microphone located in acoustic relation to the reference volume chamber;

a MEMS speaker located in acoustic relation to the reference volume chamber; and

a circuit board in electric connection with the first and second MEMS microphones and the MEMS speaker,

wherein the device configured to measure a volume of fluid using acoustic volume sensing measurements, and

wherein the measurements are taken at the same pressure.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a hydrophobic, substantially acoustically transparent mesh device located in the resonant port.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the first and second MEMS microphone and MEMS speaker are integrated into a single package.