System, method, and apparatus for bubble detection in a fluid line using a split-ring resonator
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- a raceway configured to receive a tube;
a shield configured to at least partially shield the raceway;
at least one split-ring resonator disposed within the shield and adjacent to the raceway wherein the at least one split-ring resonator is configured to vary at least one property in accordance with a presence of a bubble within the fluid flowing through the tube;
a first antenna disposed within the shield;
a second antenna disposed within the shield;
a microwave generating circuit coupled to the first antenna, wherein the microwave generating circuit is configured to generate microwave energy for transmission from the first antenna;
a receiver circuit coupled to the second antenna, wherein the microwave receiver circuit is configured to receive the microwave energy; and
a bubble detecting circuit operatively coupled to the microwave generating circuit and the receiver circuit to compare the microwave energy from the microwave generating circuit to the microwave energy received from the receiver circuit to detect a bubble within the tube, wherein the bubble detect circuit detects the bubble in accordance with the affect of the variation of the at least one property on the microwave energy.
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Abstract
A system, method, and apparatus for detecting at least one condition of interest relating to a tube, e.g. the presence of an air bubble. In some embodiments, the sensor includes antennas, a split-ring resonator, a frequency generator capable of generating frequencies in the microwave range, and a detection component. The detection component may estimate at least one parameter of received microwave energy in order to determine if a condition of interest exists.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a raceway configured to receive a tube; a shield configured to at least partially shield the raceway; at least one split-ring resonator disposed within the shield and adjacent to the raceway wherein the at least one split-ring resonator is configured to vary at least one property in accordance with a presence of a bubble within the fluid flowing through the tube; a first antenna disposed within the shield; a second antenna disposed within the shield; a microwave generating circuit coupled to the first antenna, wherein the microwave generating circuit is configured to generate microwave energy for transmission from the first antenna; a receiver circuit coupled to the second antenna, wherein the microwave receiver circuit is configured to receive the microwave energy; and a bubble detecting circuit operatively coupled to the microwave generating circuit and the receiver circuit to compare the microwave energy from the microwave generating circuit to the microwave energy received from the receiver circuit to detect a bubble within the tube, wherein the bubble detect circuit detects the bubble in accordance with the affect of the variation of the at least one property on the microwave energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification