Environmental sensor and method of operating the same

• US 9,857,285 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2015
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Venturedyne Ltd (Carnes Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Venturedyne Ltd (Carnes Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Neander, Nicholas C., Chandler, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Masih, Karen
• Application Number:
  US14/972,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20170176316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/24 Suction devices G01N1/22 - G01N1/2294 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1404 Handling flow, e.g. hydrodynamic focusing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1409 Handling samples, e.g. injecting samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1459 the analysis being performed on a sample stream
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/245 Fans
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/0046 in gas, e.g. smoke
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1486 Counting the particles

Abstract

A gaseous-fluid environmental sensor having a gaseous-fluid flow system that defines a flow path coupling an intake port to an exhaust port. The gaseous-fluid flow system includes a blower and a flow sensor. The blower includes a motor and the flow sensor senses a flow-related parameter. The gaseous-fluid environmental sensor further includes a battery, an electrical sensor sensing an electrical power-related parameter, and a controller electrically coupled to the electrical sensor, the flow sensor, and the motor. The controller is configured to generate a composite drive waveform having a first component based on the sensed flow-related parameter and a second component based on the sensed electrical power-related parameter. The controller is further configured to drive the motor using the composite drive waveform. Also disclosed is a method of controlling the gaseous-fluid environmental sensor.

Claims

1. A gaseous-fluid environmental sensor, comprising:

a gaseous-fluid flow system defining a flow path coupling an intake port to an exhaust port, the gaseous-fluid flow system including a blower and a flow sensor, the blower including a motor and the flow sensor sensing a flow-related parameter, wherein the motor includes a motor having a fluid dynamic bearing;

a battery;

an electrical sensor sensing an electrical power-related parameter;

a controller electrically coupled to the electrical sensor, the flow sensor, and the motor, the controller being configured to generate a composite drive waveform having a first component based on the sensed flow-related parameter and a second component based on the sensed electrical power-related parameter, the controller being further configured to drive the motor using the composite drive waveform.

2. The gaseous-fluid environmental sensor of claim 1, wherein the electrical power-related parameter includes a sensed battery voltage.

3. The gaseous-fluid environmental sensor of claim 1, wherein the electrical power-related parameter includes a sensed motor voltage.

4. The gaseous-fluid environmental sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensed flow-related parameter includes a sensed mass of gaseous fluid flow through the gaseous-fluid environmental sensor.

5. A gaseous-fluid environmental sensor, comprising:

a gaseous-fluid flow system defining a flow path coupling an intake port to an exhaust port, the gaseous-fluid flow system including a blower and a flow sensor, the blower including a motor and the flow sensor sensing a flow-related parameter;

a battery;

an electrical sensor sensing an electrical power-related parameter;

a controller electrically coupled to the electrical sensor, the flow sensor, and the motor, the controller being configured to generate a composite drive waveform having a first component based on the sensed flow-related parameter and a second component based on the sensed electrical power-related parameter, the controller being further configured to drive the motor using the composite drive waveform;

wherein the second component includes a frequency adjusted waveform having a frequency that varies based on the sensed electrical power-related parameter.

6. A gaseous-fluid environmental sensor, comprising:

a gaseous-fluid flow system defining a flow path coupling an intake port to an exhaust port, the gaseous-fluid flow system including a blower and a flow sensor, the blower including a motor and the flow sensor sensing a flow-related parameter;

a battery;

an electrical sensor sensing an electrical power-related parameter;

a controller electrically coupled to the electrical sensor, the flow sensor, and the motor, the controller being configured to generate a composite drive waveform having a first component based on the sensed flow-related parameter and a second component based on the sensed electrical power-related parameter, the controller being further configured to drive the motor using the composite drive waveform; and

wherein the second component includes a pulse width modulated waveform having a pulse width that varies based on the sensed flow-related parameter.

7. A gaseous-fluid environmental sensor, comprising:

a gaseous-fluid flow system defining a flow path coupling an intake port to an exhaust port, the gaseous-fluid flow system including a blower and a flow sensor, the blower including a motor and the flow sensor sensing a flow-related parameter;

a battery;

an electrical sensor sensing an electrical power-related parameter;

a controller electrically coupled to the electrical sensor, the flow sensor, and the motor, the controller being configured to generate a composite drive waveform having a first component based on the sensed flow-related parameter and a second component based on the sensed electrical power-related parameter, the controller being further configured to drive the motor using the composite drive waveform;

wherein the composite drive waveform further has a third component based on a desired rotational burst.

8. The gaseous-fluid environmental sensor of claim 7, wherein the third component includes a pulse width modulated waveform having a pulse width that varies based on the second component.

9. A gaseous-fluid environmental sensor, comprising:

a gaseous-fluid flow system defining a flow path coupling an intake port to an exhaust port, the gaseous-fluid flow system including a blower and a flow sensor, the blower including a motor and the flow sensor sensing a flow-related parameter;

a battery;

an electrical sensor sensing an electrical power-related parameter;

a controller electrically coupled to the electrical sensor, the flow sensor, and the motor, the controller being configured to generate a composite drive waveform having a first component based on the sensed flow-related parameter and a second component based on the sensed electrical power-related parameter, the controller being further configured to drive the motor using the composite drive waveform;

wherein the motor is a high revolutions per minute (RPM) motor operable up to between 20,000 and 40,000 RPM, and

wherein the blower further includes a rotor/impeller assembly, wherein the motor includes a rotor of the rotor/impeller assembly, and wherein the rotor/impeller assembly has a mass between 25 and 45 grams.

10. A method of controlling a gaseous-fluid environmental sensor, the method comprising;

creating a flow of fluid from a space through the gaseous-fluid environmental sensor;

determining a flow-related parameter of the flow of fluid;

determining an electrical power-related parameter of the gaseous-fluid environmental sensor;

generating a first component of a composite drive waveform based on the determined flow-related parameter;

generating a second component of the composite drive waveform based on the determined electrical power-related parameter; and

driving a motor with the composite drive waveform;

wherein driving the motor includes driving the motor with a commutation sequence having a plurality of steps, and wherein each step includes the composite drive waveform.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the determining the electrical power-related parameter includes sensing a parameter related to a battery voltage.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the determining the electrical power-related parameter includes sensing a parameter related to a motor voltage.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the determining the flow-related parameter includes sensing a mass of gaseous fluid flow through the gaseous-fluid environmental sensor.

14. A method of controlling a gaseous-fluid environmental sensor, the method comprising;

creating a flow of fluid from a space through the gaseous-fluid environmental sensor;

determining a flow-related parameter of the flow of fluid;

determining an electrical power-related parameter of the gaseous-fluid environmental sensor;

generating a first component of a composite drive waveform based on the determined flow-related parameter;

generating a second component of the composite drive waveform based on the determined electrical power-related parameter; and

driving a motor with the composite drive waveform;

wherein the generating the first component of the composite drive waveform includes generating a frequency adjusted waveform having a frequency that varies based on the determined electrical power-related parameter.

15. A method of controlling a gaseous-fluid environmental sensor, the method comprising;

creating a flow of fluid from a space through the gaseous-fluid environmental sensor;

determining a flow-related parameter of the flow of fluid;

determining an electrical power-related parameter of the gaseous-fluid environmental sensor;

generating a first component of a composite drive waveform based on the determined flow-related parameter;

generating a second component of the composite drive waveform based on the determined electrical power-related parameter; and

driving a motor with the composite drive waveform;

wherein the generating a second component of the composite drive waveform includes generating a pulse width modulated waveform having a pulse width that varies based on the determined flow-related parameter.

16. A method of controlling a gaseous-fluid environmental sensor, the method comprising;

creating a flow of fluid from a space through the gaseous-fluid environmental sensor;

determining a flow-related parameter of the flow of fluid;

determining an electrical power-related parameter of the gaseous-fluid environmental sensor;

generating a first component of a composite drive waveform based on the determined flow-related parameter;

generating a second component of the composite drive waveform based on the determined electrical power-related parameter; and

driving a motor with the composite drive waveform;

further comprising generating a third component of the composite drive waveform based on a desired rotational burst.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the generating the third component of the composite drive waveform includes generating a pulse width modulated waveform having a pulse width that varies based on the second component.