Patents by Inventor Craig B. McAnally

Craig B. McAnally has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20170336309
    Abstract: A method (900, 1000) of determining a vibration response parameter of a vibratory element (104) is provided. The method (900, 1000) includes vibrating the vibratory element (104) at a first frequency with a first drive signal, receiving a first vibration signal from the vibratory element (104) vibrated at the first frequency, measuring a first phase difference, the first phase difference being a phase difference between the first drive signal and the first vibration signal. The method (900, 1000) also includes vibrating the vibratory element (104) at a second frequency with a second drive signal, receiving a second vibration signal from the vibratory element (104) vibrated at the second frequency, measuring a second phase difference, the second phase difference being a phase difference between the second drive signal and the second vibration signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig B MCANALLY, Andrew S. Kravitz
  • Publication number: 20170254690
    Abstract: A method for reducing an error rate is provided. The method includes obtaining a first analog signal representing a first kinematic property of a first position with a sensor, obtaining a second analog signal representing a second kinematic property of the first position, digitizing the first analog signal into a first digital signal, and digitizing the second analog signal into a second digital signal. The method also includes combining the first digital signal and the second digital signal into a combined signal such that an error rate of the combined signal is less than an error rate of one of the first digital signal and the second digital signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J Hays, Craig B McAnally
  • Publication number: 20170242707
    Abstract: A method of controlling a mode of a device is provided. The method includes determining a Vbus voltage on a Vbus pin in a USB connector on the device, comparing the Vbus voltage with a threshold, and configuring the device based on the comparison of the Vbus voltage and the threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Applicant: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J HAYS, Craig B McAnally, William M Mansfield, Brian T Smith
  • Patent number: 9534939
    Abstract: A flameproof feed-through (200) includes a feed-through element (210) comprising a substantially planar shape, a first interface region (211), and a second interface region (212), wherein one or more conductors (217) extend between the first interface region (211) and the second interface region (212). The flameproof feed-through (200) further includes one or more body portions (220) assembled to the feed-through element (210), with the one or more body portions (220) holding the feed-through element (210) in position with respect to the aperture. The first interface region (211) of the feed-through element (210) extends at least partially to a first side (201) of the flameproof feed-through (200) and wherein the second interface region (212) of the feed-through element (210) extends at least partially to a second side (202) of the flameproof feed-through (200).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: William M Mansfield, Craig B McAnally, Shaun E Shanahan, Richard L Woolf
  • Patent number: 9448124
    Abstract: A multiple temperature sensor system (120) includes a temperature sensor network (180) including temperature-sensing resistors RT1 and RT2 (186, 187) and frequency-selective filters (184, 185) coupled to the plurality of temperature-sensing resistors RT1 and RT2 (186, 187). The frequency-selective filters (184, 185) pass distinct time-varying signals into the temperature sensor network (180) and pass attenuated distinct time-varying signals out. The system (120) further includes a temperature measurement N controller (161) coupled to the temperature sensor network (180) and configured to inject the distinct time-varying signals into the temperature sensor network (180), receive the attenuated distinct time-varying signals in response to the injection, with the attenuated distinct time-varying signals being attenuated by the temperature sensing resistors (186, 187), and generate two or more substantially simultaneous temperature values from the attenuated distinct time-varying signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J Hays, Craig B. McAnally, Andrew S. Kravitz
  • Patent number: 9395236
    Abstract: A vibratory meter (5) is provided, including one or more flow conduits (103), one or more pickoff sensors (105, 105?), and a driver (104). Meter electronics (20) is configured to vibrate the one or more flow conduits (103) using a drive signal including an initial vibration frequency and to receive a pickoff sensor signal from the one or more pickoff sensors (105, 105?) in response, iteratively offset a phase difference between the drive signal and the pickoff sensor signal by a predetermined phase increment and measure a resulting vibrational frequency and amplitude, with the offsetting operatively sweeping the vibration frequency over a predetermined vibration frequency range and therefore generating a plurality of vibration amplitudes and a corresponding plurality of vibration frequencies, and determine a substantially maximum amplitude response in the plurality of vibration amplitudes and designate the corresponding vibration frequency as comprising the resonant frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig B McAnally, Andrew S Kravitz
  • Patent number: 9354097
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system, method, and computer program product for generating a drive signal for a vibrating measuring device (5). A drive chain (C1, C2, C3, CN) is selected from at least two drive chains (C1, C2, C3, CN). Each drive chain (C1, C2, C3, CN) modifies at least one pick-off signal to generate the drive signal. Each drive chain (C1, C2, C3, CN) generates a different mode of vibration in the at least one conduit (103A). The drive signal generated by the selected drive chain (C1, C2, C3, CN) is provided to a drive (104) of the vibrating measuring device (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig B. McAnally
  • Publication number: 20160109345
    Abstract: A vibratory sensor (5) includes a vibratory element (104) configured to generate a vibration signal and a meter electronics (20) coupled to the vibratory element (104) and receiving the vibration signal, with the meter electronics (20) including a gain stage (150) coupled to the vibratory element (104) and receiving the vibration signal, with the gain stage (150) amplifying the vibration signal by a predetermined gain to generate a saturated vibration signal, and a signal processor (156) coupled to the gain stage (150), with a first input (161) of the signal processor (156) receiving the saturated vibration signal and determining a vibration signal frequency from the saturated vibration signal and with a second input (162) of the signal processor (156) receiving the vibration signal and determining a vibration signal amplitude from the vibration signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Applicant: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew S KRAVITZ, Craig B McAnally
  • Publication number: 20160061708
    Abstract: A vibratory sensor (5) includes a vibratory element (104), a receiver circuit (134) that receives a vibration signal from the vibratory element (104), and a drive circuit (138) that generates a drive signal. The drive circuit (138) includes a closed-loop drive (143) and an open-loop drive (147). The meter electronics (20) vibrates the vibratory element (104) commencing at a commanded first frequency and in an open-loop manner to achieve a first target phase difference ?1 for a fluid being characterized and determines a corresponding first frequency point ?1, vibrates the vibratory element (104) commencing at a commanded second frequency and in the open-loop manner to achieve a second target phase difference ?2 and determines a corresponding second frequency point ?2, and determines a viscosity of the fluid being characterized using the first frequency point ?1 and the second frequency point ?2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Applicant: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew S. Kravitz, Craig B McAnally
  • Publication number: 20160054212
    Abstract: A method (600) of generating a drive signal for a vibratory sensor (5) is provided. The method (600) includes vibrating a vibratory element (104, 510) configured to provide a vibration signal, receiving the vibration signal from the vibratory element (104, 510) with a receiver circuit (134), generating a drive signal that vibrates the vibratory element (104, 510) with a driver circuit (138) coupled to the receiver circuit (134) and the vibratory element (104, 510), and comparing a phase of the generated drive signal with a phase of the vibration signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Applicant: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig B McAnally, Andrew S. Kravitz
  • Publication number: 20150129300
    Abstract: A flameproof feed-through (200) includes a feed-through element (210) comprising a substantially planar shape, a first interface region (211), and a second interface region (212), wherein one or more conductors (217) extend between the first interface region (211) and the second interface region (212). The flameproof feed-through (200) further includes one or more body portions (220) assembled to the feed-through element (210), with the one or more body portions (220) holding the feed-through element (210) in position with respect to the aperture. The first interface region (211) of the feed-through element (210) extends at least partially to a first side (201) of the flameproof feed-through (200) and wherein the second interface region (212) of the feed-through element (210) extends at least partially to a second side (202) of the flameproof feed-through (200).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Mansfield, Craig B. McAnally, Shaun E. Shanahan, Richard L. Woolf
  • Patent number: 8797197
    Abstract: An analog-to-digital conversion stage (300) includes three or more ADCs (303, 305, 307) that receive two or more analog signals, generate a first digitized signal from a first analog signal, generate at least a second digitized signal from at least a second analog signal to create two or more digitized signals, and generate one or more redundant digitized signals from the two or more analog signals. The one or more redundant digitized signals are generated substantially in parallel with the two or more digitized signals. A processing device (330) generates a phase drift value from a phase difference between a redundant digitized signal of the one or more redundant digitized signals and a corresponding digitized signal of the two or more digitized signals and compensates the corresponding digitized signal using the one or more phase drift values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Hays, Craig B. McAnally
  • Patent number: 8781759
    Abstract: Meter electronics (20) for processing sensor signals for a multi-phase flow material in a flowmeter (5) is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The meter electronics (20) includes an interface (201) for receiving first and second sensor signals (210 and 211) for the multi-phase flow material and a processing system (203).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark James Bell, Craig B. McAnally
  • Publication number: 20140190238
    Abstract: A vibratory meter (5) is provided, including one or more flow conduits (103), one or more pickoff sensors (105, 105?), and a driver (104). Meter electronics (20) is configured to vibrate the one or more flow conduits (103) using a drive signal including an initial vibration frequency and to receive a pickoff sensor signal from the one or more pickoff sensors (105, 105?) in response, iteratively offset a phase difference between the drive signal and the pickoff sensor signal by a predetermined phase increment and measure a resulting vibrational frequency and amplitude, with the offsetting operatively sweeping the vibration frequency over a predetermined vibration frequency range and therefore generating a plurality of vibration amplitudes and a corresponding plurality of vibration frequencies, and determine a substantially maximum amplitude response in the plurality of vibration amplitudes and designate the corresponding vibration frequency as comprising the resonant frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig B. Mcanally, Andrew S. Kravitz
  • Patent number: 8688943
    Abstract: A method for executing a processing routine that utilizes an external memory is provided. The processing routine requires more than one external memory access. The method comprises the step of distributing the external memory access after a predetermined number of external memory accesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J Hays, Craig B McAnally, William M Mansfield
  • Patent number: 8676526
    Abstract: Meter electronics (20) for processing sensor signals in a flow meter and for computing mass flow rate, density or volume flow rate includes an interface (201) for receiving a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal and a processing system (203) in communication with the interface (201) and configured to generate a ninety degree phase shift from the first sensor signal with a Hilbert transform and compute a phase difference from the ninety degree phase shift, the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal. A frequency is computed from the first sensor signal and the ninety degree phase shift. A second ninety degree phase shift can be generated from the second sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark James Bell, Richard L. Maginnis, Craig B. McAnally
  • Patent number: 8595519
    Abstract: A bus instrument (10) configured to predictively limit power consumption and adapted for use with a two-wire instrumentation bus is provided. The bus instrument (10) includes a sensor (13), a shunt regulator (14), and a controller (20). The controller (20) is configured to generate a predicted available power Ppredicted that will be available to the bus instrument (10) after a change in the loop current IL, compare the predicted available power Ppredicted to a present time power Pt0 comprising a controller power Pcontroller plus a sensor power Psensor, and reduce the sensor power Psensor if the total available power Pavailable is less than the controller power Pcontroller plus the sensor power Psensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: William M Mansfield, Craig B McAnally, Paul J Hays
  • Publication number: 20130223480
    Abstract: A multiple temperature sensor system (120) includes a temperature sensor network (180) including temperature-sensing resistors RT1 and RT2 (186, 187) and frequency-selective filters (184, 185) coupled to the plurality of temperature-sensing resistors RT1 and RT2 (186, 187). The frequency-selective filters (184, 185) pass distinct time-varying signals into the temperature sensor network (180) and pass attenuated distinct time-varying signals out. The system (120) further includes a temperature measurement N controller (161) coupled to the temperature sensor network (180) and configured to inject the distinct time-varying signals into the temperature sensor network (180), receive the attenuated distinct time-varying signals in response to the injection, with the attenuated distinct time-varying signals being attenuated by the temperature sensing resistors (186, 187), and generate two or more substantially simultaneous temperature values from the attenuated distinct time-varying signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J Hays, Craig B. McAnally, Andrew S. Kravitz
  • Publication number: 20130141262
    Abstract: An analog-to-digital conversion stage (300) includes three or more ADCs (303, 305, 307) that receive two or more analog signals, generate a first digitized signal from a first analog signal, generate at least a second digitized signal from at least a second analog signal to create two or more digitized signals, and generate one or more redundant digitized signals from the two or more analog signals. The one or more redundant digitized signals are generated substantially in parallel with the two or more digitized signals. A processing device (330) generates a phase drift value from a phase difference between a redundant digitized signal of the one or more redundant digitized signals and a corresponding digitized signal of the two or more digitized signals and compensates the corresponding digitized signal using the one or more phase drift values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Hays, Craig B. McAnally
  • Publication number: 20130125612
    Abstract: A method for validating a sensor assembly of a meter is provided. The method comprises a step of receiving one or more sensor calibration values. The method further comprises a step of comparing the received sensor calibration values to one or more known sensor calibration values. The method can then validate the sensor assembly if the one or more received sensor calibration values are within a predetermined tolerance of the one or more known sensor calibration values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventors: Paul J Hays, Craig B McAnally