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Oxygen concentrator apparatus and method having an ultrasonic detector

  • US 9,649,464 B2
  • Filed: 08/25/2010
  • Issued: 05/16/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2007
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An oxygen concentrator apparatus, comprising:

  • at least two canisters, wherein a first canister and a second canister are integrated into a molded housing;

    separation material disposed in at least the first canister and the second canister, wherein the separation material separates at least some nitrogen from air in the canister to produce oxygen enriched gas;

    a compression system coupled to at least one canister, wherein the compression system compresses air during operation; and

    a chamber coupled to one or more of the canisters, wherein oxygen enriched gas produced in one or more of the canisters is passed into the chamber during use;

    an ultrasonic emitter operable to provide an ultrasonic sound wave through the chamber;

    an ultrasonic receiver for detecting the ultrasonic sound wave that has traveled through the chamber, wherein the ultrasonic emitter and the ultrasonic receiver are coupled to the chamber, and wherein the ultrasonic emitter and the ultrasonic receiver are positioned on opposing sides of the chamber, in alignment with each other;

    an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit coupled to the chamber, wherein the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit are positioned on opposing walls of the chamber, andwherein oxygen enriched gas enters the chamber through the inlet conduit and exits the chamber through the outlet conduit such that the oxygen enriched gas passes through the opposing walls of the chamber perpendicular to an axial axis formed between the ultrasonic emitter and the ultrasonic receiver; and

    a processor coupled to the ultrasonic emitter and the ultrasonic receiver, wherein the processor is operable to execute program instructions, and wherein the program instructions are operable to assess a concentration of oxygen in the chamber based on the speed of ultrasonic sound waves produced by the ultrasonic emitter and received by the ultrasonic receiver;

    wherein the program instructions are further operable to;

    measure a first phase shift of the ultrasonic sound wave between the ultrasonic emitter and the ultrasonic receiver;

    measure a second phase shift of the ultrasonic sound wave between the ultrasonic emitter and the ultrasonic receiver at a later time than the first phase shift;

    use a difference between the first phase shift and the second phase shift to determine the relative concentration of the constituent of the gas.

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