Patents by Inventor Søren Tønnes Nielsen

Søren Tønnes Nielsen 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: 20240085378
    Abstract: A consumption meter, e.g. a water or heat meter, for measuring a flow rate of a fluid supplied in a flow tube. First and second ultrasonic transducers are arranged at the flow tube for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals transmitted through the fluid and operated by a flow measurement sub-circuit for generating a signal indicative of the flow rate of the fluid. A noise measurement sub-circuit operates a sensor arranged at the flow tube for detection of acoustic signals of the flow tube, and being arranged to generate a signal indicative of a noise level of the flow tube accordingly. This sensor may comprise a separate transducer, or the sensor may be constituted by one or both of the first and second ultrasonic transducers. The consumption meter may communicate data representative of the noise level via a communication module along with data consumed amount of water, heat etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: Kamstrup A/S
    Inventors: Søren Tønnes Nielsen, Peter Schmidt Laursen, Jens Lykke Sørensen, René Gajda Kristensen, Martin Christian Høj Petersen
  • Patent number: 11852609
    Abstract: A consumption meter, e.g. a water or heat meter, for measuring a flow rate of a fluid supplied in a flow tube. First and second ultrasonic transducers are arranged at the flow tube for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals transmitted through the fluid and operated by a flow measurement sub-circuit for generating a signal indicative of the flow rate of the fluid. A noise measurement sub-circuit operates a sensor arranged at the flow tube for detection of acoustic signals of the flow tube, and being arranged to generate a signal indicative of a noise level of the flow tube accordingly. This sensor may comprise a separate transducer, or the sensor may be constituted by one or both of the first and second ultrasonic transducers. The consumption meter may communicate data representative of the noise level via a communication module along with data consumed amount of water, heat etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Kamstrup A/S
    Inventors: Søren Tønnes Nielsen, Peter Schmidt Laursen, Jens Lykke Sørensen, René Gajda Kristensen, Martin Christian Høj Petersen
  • Patent number: 11614352
    Abstract: A consumption meter arranged to measure a flow rate of a fluid comprising: a tube with two transducer holes in a wall of the tube; a meter housing arranged at the tube, comprising two transducer housings and a main housing; first and second ultrasonic transducers arranged in the transducer housings for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals propagating through the fluid; a control circuit arranged in the meter housing for operating the first and second ultrasonic transducers to generate a signal according to the flow rate of the fluid. The transducer housing comprises: an internal transducer housing element arranged at an inner surface of the tube and an external transducer housing element arranged at an outer surface of the tube to extend through the transducer hole in the wall of the tube such that the transducer housing is fixated to the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Kamstrup A/S
    Inventors: Søren Tønnes Nielsen, Peter Nordlund Borring, Peter Schmidt Laursen
  • Publication number: 20230008984
    Abstract: A fluid consumption meter (50) configured to measure a flow rate of a fluid and with a noise detection module (40) for leak detection. Also having a control device with a bi-directional communication unit (60) and being configured to receive a leak detection control signal from an external device (100), to set the fluid consumption meter (50) into a leak detection mode upon reception of the leak detection control signal, and to start a noise measurement for leak detection in said leak detection mode and to transmit data from said noise detection module, an to a leak detection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2020
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: Sune Hoveroust DUPONT, Jens Lykke SØRENSEN, Søren Tønnes NIELSEN, Anders HEDEGAARD
  • Patent number: 11499853
    Abstract: A consumption meter arranged to measure a flow rate of a fluid, comprising: a tube with for passage of the fluid between an inlet and an outlet, multiple individual flow meters arranged at the tube to measure a sub-flow rate of the fluid, a first control circuit and communication interface arranged for receiving the measured sub-flow rate from each of the multiple flow meters, and being arranged to generate a signal indicative of the flow rate of the fluid according to the received sub-flow rates, each of the multiple individual flow meters comprising: a flow meter housing arranged at the tube; first and second ultrasonic transducers arranged in the flow meter housing for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals propagating through the fluid; a second control circuit arranged for operating the first and second ultrasonic transducers, and being arranged to generate the signal indicative of the sub-flow rate of the fluid accordingly; and a communication interface arranged for transmitting the signal indica
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Kamstrup A/S
    Inventors: Søren Tønnes Nielsen, Peter Schmidt Laursen, Kaspar Raahede Aarøe
  • Patent number: 11391699
    Abstract: A turbidity measurement device for measuring turbidity of a fluid flowing in a flow tube. A first transducer transmits ultrasonic signals through the fluid in the turbidity measurement section so as to provide a first ultrasonic standing wave between the first and second section ends. A receiver transducer receives the ultrasonic scattered response from particles in the fluid flowing through the turbidity measurement section. A control circuit operates the transducers and generates a signal indicative of the turbidity of the fluid in response to signals received from the receiver transducer. Preferably, the device may comprise a second transducer for generating a second ultrasonic standing wave with the same frequency, and further the two transducers may be used to generate a measure of flow rate by means of known ultrasonic techniques. This flow rate may be used in the calculation of a measure of turbidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Kamstrup A/S
    Inventors: Søren Tønnes Nielsen, Peter Schmidt Laursen, Jens Lykke Sørensen, Sune Hoveroust Dupont
  • Publication number: 20210148742
    Abstract: A consumption meter arranged to measure a flow rate of a fluid, comprising: a tube with for passage of the fluid between an inlet and an outlet, multiple individual flow meters arranged at the tube to measure a sub-flow rate of the fluid, a first control circuit and communication interface arranged for receiving the measured sub-flow rate from each of the multiple flow meters, and being arranged to generate a signal indicative of the flow rate of the fluid according to the received sub-flow rates, each of the multiple individual flow meters comprising: a flow meter housing arranged at the tube; first and second ultrasonic transducers arranged in the flow meter housing for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals propagating through the fluid; a second control circuit arranged for operating the first and second ultrasonic transducers, and being arranged to generate the signal indicative of the sub-flow rate of the fluid accordingly; and a communication interface arranged for transmitting the signal indica
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Søren Tønnes Nielsen, Peter Schmidt Laursen, Kaspar Raahede Aarøe
  • Publication number: 20210148741
    Abstract: A consumption meter arranged to measure a flow rate of a fluid, the consumption meter comprising: a tube with two transducer holes in a wall of the tube; a meter housing arranged at the tube, comprising two transducer housings and a main housing; first and second ultrasonic transducers arranged in the transducer housings and arranged for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals propagating through the fluid; a control circuit arranged in the meter housing for operating the first and second ultrasonic transducers, and being arranged to generate a signal according to the flow rate of the fluid. wherein the transducer housing comprises: an internal transducer housing element arranged at an inner surface of the tube and an external transducer housing element arranged at an outer surface of the tube. The internal transducer housing element and/or the external transducer housing element are arranged to extent through the transducer hole in the wall of the tube and to engage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Søren Tønnes Nielsen, Peter Nordlund Borring, Peter Schmidt Laursen
  • Patent number: 10921288
    Abstract: A consumption meter, e.g. a water or heat meter, for measuring a flow rate of a fluid supplied in a flow tube. First and second ultrasonic transducers are arranged at the flow tube for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals transmitted through the fluid and operated by a flow measurement sub-circuit for generating a signal indicative of the flow rate of the fluid. A noise measurement sub-circuit operates a sensor arranged at the flow tube for detection of acoustic signals of the flow tube, and being arranged to generate a signal indicative of a noise level of the flow tube accordingly. This sensor may comprise a separate transducer, or the sensor may be constituted by one or both of the first and second ultrasonic transducers. The consumption meter may communicate data representative of the noise level via a communication module along with data consumed amount of water, heat etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Kamstrup A/S
    Inventors: Søren Tønnes Nielsen, Peter Schmidt Laursen, Jens Lykke Sørensen, René Gajda Kristensen, Martin Christian Høj Petersen
  • Publication number: 20210003531
    Abstract: A consumption meter, e.g. a water or heat meter, for measuring a flow rate of a fluid supplied in a flow tube. First and second ultrasonic transducers are arranged at the flow tube for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals transmitted through the fluid and operated by a flow measurement sub-circuit for generating a signal indicative of the flow rate of the fluid. A noise measurement sub-circuit operates a sensor arranged at the flow tube for detection of acoustic signals of the flow tube, and being arranged to generate a signal indicative of a noise level of the flow tube accordingly. This sensor may comprise a separate transducer, or the sensor may be constituted by one or both of the first and second ultrasonic transducers. The consumption meter may communicate data representative of the noise level via a communication module along with data consumed amount of water, heat etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Søren Tønnes Nielsen, Peter Schmidt Laursen, Jens Lykke Sørensen, René Gajda Kristensen, Martin Christian Høj Petersen
  • Patent number: 10564017
    Abstract: Ultrasonic flowmeter for measuring the flowrate of a fluid based on transit times of opposite propagating ultrasonic wave packets, including two ultrasonic transducers arranged at a flow tube for transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic wave packets through a fluid; a control circuit configured for operating the ultrasonic transducers to transmit and receive co-propagating and counter-propagating ultrasonic wave packets, and to determine transit times between transmission and reception of the ultrasonic wave packets; wherein the control circuit is further configured to continuously determine the flowrate of the fluid based on sequential application of separate flow measurement sequences and flow estimation sequences, the flow measurement sequence including transmitting and receiving a co-propagating wave packet and a counter-propagating wave packet, determining a transit time difference between the co-propagating and the counter-propagating wave packets, determining the speed of sound in the fluid, and calcu
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Kamstrup A/S
    Inventors: Søren Tønnes Nielsen, Jens Lykke Sørensen, Paul Martin Bendixen
  • Publication number: 20190285587
    Abstract: A turbidity measurement device for measuring turbidity of a fluid flowing in a flow tube. A first transducer transmits ultrasonic signals through the fluid in the turbidity measurement section so as to provide a first ultrasonic standing wave between the first and second section ends. A receiver transducer receives the ultrasonic scattered response from particles in the fluid flowing through the turbidity measurement section. A control circuit operates the transducers and generates a signal indicative of the turbidity of the fluid in response to signals received from the receiver transducer. Preferably, the device may comprise a second transducer for generating a second ultrasonic standing wave with the same frequency, and further the two transducers may be used to generate a measure of flow rate by means of known ultrasonic techniques. This flow rate may be used in the calculation of a measure of turbidity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Søren Tønnes Nielsen, Peter Schmidt Laursen, Jens Lykke Sørensen, Sune Hoveroust Dupont
  • Patent number: 10379084
    Abstract: A turbidity measurement device for measuring turbidity of a fluid flowing in a flow tube. A first transducer transmits ultrasonic signals through the fluid in the turbidity measurement section so as to provide a first ultrasonic standing wave between the first and second section ends. A receiver transducer receives the ultrasonic scattered response from particles in the fluid flowing through the turbidity measurement section. A control circuit operates the transducers and generates a signal indicative of the turbidity of the fluid in response to signals received from the receiver transducer. Preferably, the device may comprise a second transducer for generating a second ultrasonic standing wave with the same frequency, and further the two transducers may be used to generate a measure of flow rate by means of known ultrasonic techniques. This flow rate may be used in the calculation of a measure of turbidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Kamstrup A/S
    Inventors: Søren Tønnes Nielsen, Peter Schmidt Laursen, Jens Lykke Sørensen, Sune Hoveroust Dupont
  • Publication number: 20190219429
    Abstract: Ultrasonic flowmeter for measuring the flowrate of a fluid based on transit times of opposite propagating ultrasonic wave packets, including two ultrasonic transducers arranged at a flow tube for transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic wave packets through a fluid; a control circuit configured for operating the ultrasonic transducers to transmit and receive co-propagating and counter-propagating ultrasonic wave packets, and to determine transit times between transmission and reception of the ultrasonic wave packets; wherein the control circuit is further configured to continuously determine the flowrate of the fluid based on sequential application of separate flow measurement sequences and flow estimation sequences, the flow measurement sequence including transmitting and receiving a co-propagating wave packet and a counter-propagating wave packet, determining a transit time difference between the co-propagating and the counter-propagating wave packets, determining the speed of sound in the fluid, and calcu
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Søren Tønnes Nielsen, Jens Lykke Sørensen, Paul Martin Bendixen
  • Publication number: 20190033261
    Abstract: A consumption meter, e.g. a water or heat meter, for measuring a flow rate of a fluid supplied in a flow tube. First and second ultrasonic transducers are arranged at the flow tube for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals transmitted through the fluid and operated by a flow measurement sub-circuit for generating a signal indicative of the flow rate of the fluid. A noise measurement sub-circuit operates a sensor arranged at the flow tube for detection of acoustic signals of the flow tube, and being arranged to generate a signal indicative of a noise level of the flow tube accordingly. This sensor may comprise a separate transducer, or the sensor may be constituted by one or both of the first and second ultrasonic transducers. The consumption meter may communicate data representative of the noise level via a communication module along with data consumed amount of water, heat etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2016
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Søren Tønnes Nielsen, Peter Schmidt Laursen, Jens Lykke Sørensen, René Gajda Kristensen, Martin Christian Høj Petersen
  • Publication number: 20180188210
    Abstract: A turbidity measurement device for measuring turbidity of a fluid flowing in a flow tube. A first transducer transmits ultrasonic signals through the fluid in the turbidity measurement section so as to provide a first ultrasonic standing wave between the first and second section ends. A receiver transducer receives the ultrasonic scattered response from particles in the fluid flowing through the turbidity measurement section. A control circuit operates the transducers and generates a signal indicative of the turbidity of the fluid in response to signals received from the receiver transducer. Preferably, the device may comprise a second transducer for generating a second ultrasonic standing wave with the same frequency, and further the two transducers may be used to generate a measure of flow rate by means of known ultrasonic techniques. This flow rate may be used in the calculation of a measure of turbidity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Søren Tønnes Nielsen, Peter Schmidt Laursen, Jens Lykke Sørensen, Sune Hoveroust Dupont
  • Patent number: 9970799
    Abstract: A system of a plurality of ultrasonic consumption meters 100 each arranged in a utility network 1 for measuring consumption data of a utility in terms of a supplied fluid, the utility network 1 further comprising a data collector 2 for collecting the consumption data is provided, wherein: Each of the ultrasonic consumption meters 100 are arranged to measure a flow rate of the supplied fluid and a pressure of the supplied fluid, the consumption meters 100 comprising: A flow tube 110 with a through-going opening 112 for passage of a fluid between an inlet and an outlet, the flow tube having a wall with an outer surface 114; two ultrasonic transducers 120, 122 arranged at the outer surface 114 of the flow tube 110, so that ultrasonic signals are transmitted through the wall; a control circuit 30 arranged for operating the two ultrasonic transducers 120, 122 and to generate a signal indicative of the flow rate of the fluid; and a communication module 140 connected to the control circuit 130 and arranged for commu
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: KAMSTRUP A/S
    Inventors: Søren Tønnes Nielsen, Peter Schmidt Laursen, Jens Lykke Sørennsen
  • Patent number: 9714858
    Abstract: A consumption meter is provided with a conductive feed through for external communication equipment. The meter comprises a housing (104) which forms a closed compartment when an opening of the housing is closed with a cover (106). The compartment includes a communication module (204) and the conductive feed through comprises at least one conductive path (202, 408) from the communication module (204) to an outside part of the meter (102), which outside part is subject to ambient conditions. The path is provided via the opening of the housing and a sealing means (210) in the opening of the housing is used to seal against a first surface (308) of the conductive path when the cover is attached to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: KAMSTRUP A/S
    Inventors: Peter Schmidt Laursen, Søren Tønnes Nielsen, Jens Lykke Sørensen
  • Publication number: 20170153137
    Abstract: A system of a plurality of ultrasonic consumption meters 100 each arranged in a utility network 1 for measuring consumption data of a utility in terms of a supplied fluid, the utility network 1 further comprising a data collector 2 for collecting the consumption data is provided, wherein: Each of the ultrasonic consumption meters 100 are arranged to measure a flow rate of the supplied fluid and a pressure of the supplied fluid, the consumption meters 100 comprising: A flow tube 110 with a through-going opening 112 for passage of a fluid between an inlet and an outlet, the flow tube having a wall with an outer surface 114; two ultrasonic transducers 120, 122 arranged at the outer surface 114 of the flow tube 110, so that ultrasonic signals are transmitted through the wall; a control circuit 30 arranged for operating the two ultrasonic transducers 120, 122 and to generate a signal indicative of the flow rate of the fluid; and a communication module 140 connected to the control circuit 130 and arranged for commu
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: Kamstrup A/S
    Inventors: Søren Tønnes Nielsen, Peter Schmidt Laursen, Jens Lykke Sørennsen
  • Patent number: RE47048
    Abstract: An ultrasound flow meter unit arranged to measure a fluid flow rate with one or more ultrasound transducers (606), and a circuit board (602) with an electronic circuit arranged to operate the ultrasound transducer(s) (106, 306). The ultrasound transducer (606), e.g. in the form of a piezo-electric element, is mechanically fixed to the circuit board (602) by a first electrically conducting fixing means which additionally serve(s) to provide an electrical connection between an electrical terminal of the transducer (606) and the electronic circuit. Hereby a functional flow measurement unit (600) is provided which can be tested prior to assembly with a flow meter housing etc. Preferably, a set of ultrasound transducers (106, 306) are soldered directly onto electrically conducting paths (631) on a surface of the circuit board (602) being in electrical connection with the electronic circuit, e.g. in a single SMT mounting process together with mounting of all other electronic components on the circuit board (602).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: KAMSTRUP A/S
    Inventors: Anders Skallebæk, Peter Schmidt Laursen, Søren Tønnes Nielsen