Flow sensor
First Claim
1. A flow sensor comprising:
- a flow restriction disposed within a passage such that a fluid passing through the passage must pass through the flow restriction;
an upstream pressure sensor coupled to the passage at a point upstream of the flow restriction and configured to measure and provide an upstream pressure of the fluid within the passage;
a downstream pressure sensor coupled to the passage at a point downstream of the flow restriction and configured to measure and provide a downstream pressure of the fluid within the passage;
pressure sensor electronics coupled to the upstream pressure sensor and the downstream pressure sensor and configured to determine a pressure drop measurement;
a filter coupled to the passage upstream of the upstream pressure sensor;
a temperature sensor coupled to the passage upstream of the filter and configured to measure and provide a temperature of the fluid within the passage;
a package for housing the upstream pressure sensor, the downstream pressure sensor, the pressure sensor electronics, and the temperature sensor, wherein the upstream pressure sensor is connected to the passage through a first gas passage, the downstream pressure sensor is connected to the passage through a second gas passage, and the temperature sensor is connected to the passage through a feed-through connected to the passage upstream of the filter;
a non-volatile memory configured to store compensation parameters which characterize flow resistance characteristics of the flow restriction, the compensation parameters comprising a pressure drop of at least one predetermined fluid characterized for the flow restriction; and
a flow sensor processor coupled to the memory, the upstream and downstream pressure sensors and the temperature sensor and configured to accept measurements therefrom and calculate a compensated flow rate based at least in part on the measured pressures and temperature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A flow sensor comprises a flow restriction disposed within a passage such that a fluid passing through the passage must pass through the flow restriction. The flow sensor also has an upstream pressure sensor coupled to the passage at a point upstream of the flow restriction and configured to measure and provide an upstream pressure of the fluid within the passage, a downstream pressure sensor coupled to the passage at a point downstream of the flow restriction and configured to measure and provide a downstream pressure of the fluid within the passage, and a temperature sensor coupled to the passage and configured to measure and provide a temperature of the fluid within the passage. The flow sensor also includes a flow sensor processor coupled to the upstream and downstream pressure sensors and the temperature sensor and configured to accept measurements therefrom and calculate a compensated flow rate based at least in part on the measured pressures and temperature.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A flow sensor comprising:
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a flow restriction disposed within a passage such that a fluid passing through the passage must pass through the flow restriction; an upstream pressure sensor coupled to the passage at a point upstream of the flow restriction and configured to measure and provide an upstream pressure of the fluid within the passage; a downstream pressure sensor coupled to the passage at a point downstream of the flow restriction and configured to measure and provide a downstream pressure of the fluid within the passage; pressure sensor electronics coupled to the upstream pressure sensor and the downstream pressure sensor and configured to determine a pressure drop measurement; a filter coupled to the passage upstream of the upstream pressure sensor; a temperature sensor coupled to the passage upstream of the filter and configured to measure and provide a temperature of the fluid within the passage; a package for housing the upstream pressure sensor, the downstream pressure sensor, the pressure sensor electronics, and the temperature sensor, wherein the upstream pressure sensor is connected to the passage through a first gas passage, the downstream pressure sensor is connected to the passage through a second gas passage, and the temperature sensor is connected to the passage through a feed-through connected to the passage upstream of the filter; a non-volatile memory configured to store compensation parameters which characterize flow resistance characteristics of the flow restriction, the compensation parameters comprising a pressure drop of at least one predetermined fluid characterized for the flow restriction; and a flow sensor processor coupled to the memory, the upstream and downstream pressure sensors and the temperature sensor and configured to accept measurements therefrom and calculate a compensated flow rate based at least in part on the measured pressures and temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A ventilator comprising:
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a sensor configured to detect a number and placement of at least one magnet of a gas inlet adapter, the number and placement of the one or more magnets associated with a gas; an output flow channel configured to mate with a supply limb; an input flow channel configured to accept the gas from a source; and a flow sensor comprising; a flow restriction disposed within a passage coupled between the input flow channel and the output flow channel such that the gas passing through the passage must pass through the flow restriction; an upstream pressure sensor coupled to the passage at a point upstream of the flow restriction and configured to measure and provide an upstream pressure of the gas within the passage; a downstream pressure sensor coupled to the passage at a point downstream of the flow restriction and configured to measure and provide an downstream pressure of the gas within the passage; pressure sensor electronics coupled to the upstream pressure sensor and the downstream pressure sensor and configured to determine a pressure drop measurement; a filter coupled to the passage upstream of the upstream pressure sensor; a temperature sensor coupled to the passage upstream of the filter and configured to measure and provide a temperature of the gas within the passage; a non-volatile memory configured to store compensation parameters which characterize flow resistance characteristics of the flow restriction, the compensation parameters comprising a pressure drop of at least one predetermined fluid characterized for the flow restriction; a flow sensor processor coupled to the memory, the upstream and downstream pressure sensors and the temperature sensor and configured to accept measurements therefrom and calculate a compensated flow rate based at least in part on the measured pressures and temperature; and a package for housing the upstream pressure sensor, the downstream pressure sensor, and the pressure sensor electronics, the temperature sensor, and the flow sensor processor, wherein the upstream pressure sensor is connected to the passage through a first gas passage, the downstream pressure sensor is connected to the passage through a second gas passage, and the temperature sensor is connected to the passage through a feed-through connected to the passage upstream of the filter. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification