Abstract: A flow meter includes a measuring tube for conveying a fluid to be measured and a magnetic field system, which has at least one field coil, through which an exciter current (IM) flows, at least at times, for producing a magnetic field passing through the fluid at least partly perpendicularly to a stream direction. In the method, the voltage (UH) instantaneously driving the exciter current (IM) is changed at a second point in time, t2, from the second voltage level, Udrv, to a third voltage level, Ushort, especially to a third voltage level which is constant or controlled to be constant, in order to achieve a sinking of the electrical current strength of the exciter current (IM) instantaneously flowing in the at least one field coil from the maximum current value, Im, to an electrical current end value, Iczu, especially a constant end value, predetermined for the exciter current (IM). In such case, the third voltage level, Ushort, is chosen smaller than the second voltage level, Urev.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of monitoring a sensor for sensing the flow speed of a medium. The invention further concerns an apparatus for carrying out that method. In order to be able to monitor the sensor, without providing redundant sensors, the flow speed of the medium, which is specified by the sensor, is correlated with at least one operating parameter of an installation operated with the medium. For that purpose the apparatus according to the invention includes a sensor for detecting the flow speed of a medium, an installation operated with the medium and a correlation device for correlating the flow speed of the medium, which is specified by the sensor, with at least one operating parameter of the installation.

Abstract: A diaphragm is uniformly and finely deformed by compressed air supplied from an electro-pneumatic regulator, so that test fluid is supplied in conformity with the deformation of the diaphragm. In this way, a flow quantity of the test fluid supplied from a fluid supply device to a measurement passage is accurately adjusted. Therefore, an accuracy of a flow accuracy check device is improved, and a leakage measurement accuracy at the time of measuring a leakage from a fuel injection valve with a flow measurement apparatus is improved. At the time of measuring the leakage from the fuel injection valve, the diaphragm is stopped at a balanced position where a force of the air supplied from the regulator and a resilient force of the diaphragm is balanced. Therefore, a change in a volume of the measurement passage, which would be otherwise caused by movement of the diaphragm, does not occur.

Abstract: Systems and associated apparatus, methods, and computer program products, relate to a small, portable diagnostic instrument for checking the correct operation of a gas metering system that include a gas meter, an electronic corrector, and a junction there between. Some embodiments may use calibrated sensors to check the operation of a rotary or other positive displacement type gas meter or turbine meter. For example, reference sensors may be temporarily applied to monitor gas temperature and pressure, as well as the motion of a flow-responsive element (e.g., impellers, turbine, or diaphragm) in the gas meter. Measured volume signals from the gas meter system may be compared to reference volume signals determined from the reference sensors to check operation of the junction, and/or the electronic corrector. Some embodiments may detect other failure mechanisms, such as bearing-related problems in the gas meter, for example.

Abstract: Descriptions are provided for implementing flowmeter zeroing techniques. In operating a flowmeter, it may be the case that, if not properly calibrated, the flowmeter will produce erroneous measurements, e.g., will indicate a non-zero flow during a period of zero flow. By determining a magnitude of such erroneous measurements, calibration values may be determined, which may later be used to adjust a measurement that is output by the flowmeter and thereby improve an accuracy of the flowmeter. Such calibration values may be determined for a plurality of operational conditions associated with the flowmeter, such as densities of materials being measured, and/or configurations of flow elements associated with transporting material to the flowmeter. Then, the calibration values may be correlated with the relevant operational conditions, and stored for later use.

Abstract: A method of compensating sensor data and a method of evaluating an interlock of an interlock system, in which an allowable variation between sensors varying depending on a driving time for a set of equipment, an RF time, the number of wafers, etc. is minimized, thereby enhancing detection reliability of a defective wafer.

Abstract: An apparatus for improving the procedure for quantifying the volume of liquid dispensed by a liquid-dispensing mechanism of an analytical instrument. The apparatus of this invention comprises (a) at least one weigh cup; (b) at least one standard mass; (c) at least one transducer assembly to convert a value of weight to an electrical response; and (d) at least one electronic circuit for converting the electrical response to a measurement of volume. This invention provides a method for calibrating readings of the volume of liquid dispensed by a liquid-dispensing mechanism of an analytical instruments so that absolute measurements of the volume of liquid dispensed can be obtained.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for determining a measurement of mass flow of fluid for a combustion chamber comprising a fluid metering device and a means of measuring the position of the metering device being measured.

Abstract: A flow meter pickoff assembly for nulling a flow meter zero offset is provided. The flow meter pickoff assembly includes a mounting device affixed to a first flow meter portion of a flow meter and a first pickoff sensor half adjustably affixed to the mounting device and configured to interact with a second pickoff sensor half affixed to a second flow meter portion. At least one relative angle of the first pickoff sensor half in relation to the second pickoff sensor half can be adjusted by adjusting the first pickoff sensor half to the mounting device according to at least one adjustment axis. The flow meter pickoff assembly further includes an adjustment means for enabling the first pickoff sensor half to adjust with respect to the mounting device along the at least one adjustment axis in order to adjust the at least one relative angle.

Abstract: Descriptions are provided for implementing flowmeter zeroing techniques. In operating a flowmeter, it may be the case that, if not properly calibrated, the flowmeter will produce erroneous measurements, e.g., will indicate a non-zero flow during a period of zero flow. By determining a magnitude of such erroneous measurements, calibration values may be determined, which may later be used to adjust a measurement that is output by the flowmeter and thereby improve an accuracy of the flowmeter. Such calibration values may be determined for a plurality of operational conditions associated with the flowmeter, such as densities of materials being measured, and/or configurations of flow elements associated with transporting material to the flowmeter. Then, the calibration values may be correlated with the relevant operational conditions, and stored for later use.

Abstract: A method and a device are proposed for controlling and/or diagnosing a control system influencing a mass flow. In this context, a correction value is calculated, which corrects the controlling, or is evaluated for diagnostic purposes. The correction value, in this context, is derived from the line resistance of the mass flow line.

Abstract: A system and method for in-situ verification and calibration of flow control devices includes a first network physical layer connecting the flow control devices to a flow verification device. A controller of the flow verification device is programmed to communicate with each of the flow control devices through the first network physical layer, receive gas specific information and a transfer function from each of the flow control devices, and verify the flow of each flow control device. The controller of the flow verification device is further programmed to communicate with each of the flow control devices through the first network physical layer and, if necessary, calibrate the flow control devices. The verification and calibration of the flow control devices is preferably carried out based upon a single command provided through a tool controller connected to a second network physical layer connected to the flow control devices.

Abstract: A method for detecting a malfunction of a sensor measuring a measured quantity is provided, in which a signal-range check for the output signal of the sensor is performed, provided that the measured quantity is within a permissible range. If the measured quantity is outside the permissible range, no signal-range check is performed, but the output signal is used for detecting the measured quantity and for further calculations. The sensor may be, for example, a hot-film air-mass meter. If this is the case, the measured quantity is the drawn-in air mass, and the signal-range check is performed, provided that the engine operating state and thus the drawn-in air satisfies specifiable conditions. In addition to the signal-range check, onboard diagnoses with regard to specifiable plausibility criteria relating to the offset-drift and/or the sensitivity-drift of the sensor may also be performed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting and clearing a plugged sensor port in a system containing a fluid being monitored through the sensor port. The method comprises establishing a range beyond which a fluid variable is expected to vary within a predetermined time interval, measuring the fluid variable, and indicating a plugged sensor port in response to the measured fluid variable remaining within the range for the predetermined time interval. The apparatus includes a sensor mechanism that senses a fluid variable, and a controller. The controller establishes the range beyond which the fluid variable is expected to vary within a predetermined time interval, determines whether the fluid variable is within the range, and indicates a plugged sensor port in response to the fluid variable remaining within the range for the predetermined time interval. The apparatus may further include a mechanism that clears the plugged sensor port.

Abstract: A system and method for in-situ verification and calibration of flow control devices includes a first network physical layer connecting the flow control devices to a flow verification device. A controller of the flow verification device is programmed to communicate with each of the flow control devices through the first network physical layer, receive gas specific information and a transfer function from each of the flow control devices, and verify the flow of each flow control device. The controller of the flow verification device is further programmed to communicate with each of the flow control devices through the first network physical layer and, if necessary, calibrate the flow control devices. The verification and calibration of the flow control devices is preferably carried out based upon a single command provided through a tool controller connected to a second network physical layer connected to the flow control devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for compensating for the measurement deviation of an air flow rate sensor, which is disposed in a flow conduit, on the basis of soiling or aging. To compensate for the measurement error, it is proposed that the sensor be acted upon by an air surge and that the response time of the sensor be evaluated. The sensor error caused by the deposit of soil or by aging is finally corrected as a function of the response time.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for automatically setting a threshold for a point level device without having a user select whether a point level element is covered or uncovered. A first and second value is measured from a point level element. Whether the point level element is covered or uncovered is determined based on whether the second measured value has increased or decreased with respect to the first measured value. A threshold value is determined based on at least one of the first and second measured values.

Abstract: Descriptions are provided for implementing flowmeter zeroing techniques. In operating a flowmeter, it may be the case that, if not properly calibrated, the flowmeter will produce erroneous measurements, e.g., will indicate a non-zero flow during a period of zero flow. By determining a magnitude of such erroneous measurements, calibration values may be determined, which may later be used to adjust a measurement that is output by the flowmeter and thereby improve an accuracy of the flowmeter. Such calibration values may be determined for a plurality of operational conditions associated with the flowmeter, such as densities of materials being measured, and/or configurations of flow elements associated with transporting material to the flowmeter. Then, the calibration values may be correlated with the relevant operational conditions, and stored for later use.

Abstract: An apparatus for improving the procedure for quantifying the volume of liquid dispensed by a liquid-dispensing mechanism of an analytical instrument. The apparatus of this invention comprises (a) at least one weigh cup; (b) at least one standard mass; (c) at least one transducer assembly to convert a value of weight to an electrical response; and (d) at least one electronic circuit for converting the electrical response to a measurement of volume. This invention provides a method for calibrating readings of the volume of liquid dispensed by a liquid-dispensing mechanism of an analytical instruments so that absolute measurements of the volume of liquid dispensed can be obtained.

Abstract: Sensor failure in an oil and gas production system is monitored and detected by checking the consistency of the measurements of the sensor in question using a computer-based process model with the measurements of the other sensors in the system. The present invention also generates a back-up value for a failing sensor with the process model by identifying the value that is most consistent with the measurements of the other sensors in the system.

Abstract: A method for calibrating an output signal of a mass airflow (MAF) sensor in operative communication with an induction system of an internal combustion engine is provided. The method comprises the steps of determining an engine speed value, determining a maximum MAF output signal value at the engine speed value, detecting a mean MAF output signal value at the engine speed value, and correlating the MAF output signal with an airflow rate value as a function of the MAF output signal value, mean MAF output signal value and engine speed. The present invention is particularly suited to improving the MAF sensor output of internal combustion piston engines having pulsating airflow including gaseous-fueled engines.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining fluid flow through a pressure regulator is disclosed. The pressure regulator is disposed in a fluid flow passage and has a throttling element moveable in the flow passage. A stem is attached to the throttling element. The apparatus includes a first pressure sensor for measuring pressure upstream of the throttling element, a second pressure sensor for measuring pressure downstream of the throttling element, and a travel sensor for detecting the position of the throttling element. A processor is provided which includes a stored algorithm for determining flow rate based on the measured pressure and travel values and for calibrating the pressure regulator using a temporary flow meter disposed downstream of the throttling element. A system and method is also provided for calibrating a temperature transmitter associated with the pressure regulator.

Abstract: The mass of particulate matter in a particle laden gas stream is measured using a single mass detector. The particle laden gas stream and a substantially identical but particle-free gas stream alternately engage the mass detector during successive measurement time periods. A difference between a reading provided by the mass detector for a current measurement time period and a reading provided by the mass detector for a consecutive measurement time period is determined. This difference intrinsically corrects for volatilization losses occurring during the current measurement time period. A measure of the mass or concentration of particulate matter in the particulate laden gas is determined from this difference.

Abstract: A method is described for determining the uncertainty factor of a measuring process employing a measuring frequency, especially a magnetoinductive flow measuring procedure, whereby for each half-cycle of the measuring frequency at least one measured value is quantified by sampling a measuring signal. According to the method, the deviation of the measured values is determined at the measuring frequency but phase-shifted relative to the measuring frequency, and/or the deviation of the measured values is determined at a minimum of two frequencies differing from the measuring frequency and on the basis of the two deviations at the frequencies differing from the measuring frequency the deviation of the measured values at the measuring frequency is arrived at by interpolation or extrapolation. This permits easy access to the deviation at the measuring frequency, which is of significance as a diagnostic value.

Abstract: A fiber optic sensor system provides sufficient thermal information to determine the mass flow rates of produced fluids within a well bore, using an optical fiber placed within or adjacent to the well bore without interference with production or prejudicing the integrity of the well. Mass flow rates of fluid in a conduit (20) located in a heat sink differing in temperature from the fluid are determined by obtaining a distributed temperature profile (32) of fluid flowing along a length of conduit (15) by using optical data obtained from a length of optical fiber in thermal contact therewith, obtaining a profile of the heat sink temperature external to the conduit, and deriving mass flow rates of fluids in the conduit from the said profiles and from measured thermal transfer parameters.

Abstract: A method of reducing baseline instabilities in liquid chromatographic measurements is disclosed. A mobile phase comprising sample substances passes through a chromatographic column comprising a stationary phase, and subsequently through a detector. An additional solid body or liquid bath having a high heat capacity and heat conductance is coupled to the column and to an inlet capillary of the column such that the inlet capillary and the column are enclosed by said solid body or liquid bath. In that way temperature stabilization of the column and inlet capillaries is achieved and baseline variations due to temperature dependent adsorption of water at the stationary phase, in particular stationary phases with amino functional groups, are reduced.

Abstract: A method for calibrating an output signal of a mass airflow (MAF) sensor in operative communication with an induction system of an internal combustion engine is provided. The method comprises the steps of determining an engine speed value, determining a maximum MAF output signal value at the engine speed value, detecting a mean MAF output signal value at the engine speed value, and correlating the MAF output signal with an airflow rate value as a function of the MAF output signal value, mean MAF output signal value and engine speed. The present invention is particularly suited to improving the MAF sensor output of internal combustion piston engines having pulsating airflow including gaseous-fueled engines.

Abstract: A single meter blending fuel dispensing system utilizing a pair of proportional flow control valves each having a pressure transducer positioned aft of the valve flow control mechanism. A computer controller is used to program a desired fuel mixture by varying the pressure for each flow control valve. A pressure decrease in one valve produces a corresponding pressure increase in the other valve. A third pressure transducer can be situated downstream of the valves and is set such that the pressure it receives cannot exceed that of the two valve pressures. Flow meters can be substituted for the pressure sensors. A calibration method for calibrating the positive displacement meter is also disclosed. At installation the positive displacement meter is at its most accurate and is synchronized with the less accurate pressure sensors or flow meters.

Abstract: Precalibrated flow meters which include electronic modules that contain, in a storage memory thereof, a plurality of calibration factors that correspond to a plurality of different fluids. The calibration factors can be chosen during field operations using a touch pad on the face of the meters. The precalibrated flow meters monitor current and accumulative totals of fluid volumes. The precalibrated flow meters can be used in conjunction with air flow compensators which sense the flow of air through a fluid flow passage.

Abstract: A flow monitoring system (14) for and method of monitoring the flow of processing gases in a wafer processing system (10) during the manufacturing of microelectronic devices. The wafer processing system includes a wafer processing chamber (12) in fluid communication with a gas delivery system (18) via a common conduit (32). The gas delivery system includes a plurality of gas sources (22) each having a flow regulator (24) and a flow meter (26). The flow monitoring system includes a total flow meter (36) in fluid communication with the common conduit between the gas delivery system and the processing chamber. When a gas is flowed into wafer processing chamber from one of the gas sources, the comparator compares a first flow signal from the total flow meter to a second signal from the flow meter corresponding to the active gas source to determine whether or not the corresponding flow regulator is properly calibrated.

Abstract: A pressure sensor often is employed to provide an indication of a pressure differential that results from air flowing through an HVAC system. An apparatus processes the pressure differential indication to derive a measurement of the air flow rate. Greater measurement accuracy is achieved by calibrating the apparatus at both the minimum and maximum flow rates expected in the system. This is accomplished by deriving separate gain factor coefficients for the performance of the sensing at both the minimum and maximum flow rates. The use of these coefficients also eliminates the dependency of the flow rate calculation on the density of the fluid and the cross-sectional area of the fluid conduit.

Abstract: A method for controlling the gas flow within a digital mass flow controller. The method calculates a digitally enhanced flow rate signal that more accurately represents an actual flow rate through the digital mass flow controller. The digitally enhanced flow rate is calculated using a sensed flow rate signal output from a flow sensor, a scaled first derivative of the sensed flow rate signal, and a scaled, filtered second derivative of the sensed flow rate signal. A set-point signal is compared to the digitally enhanced flow rate signal to generate a digital error signal. The digital error signal is provided to a digitally realized PI (proportional integral) controller. The PI controller generates a digital control signal which is used to control a valve in the digital mass flow controller.

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine having an exhaust gas recirculation system, a mass airflow (MAF) sensor is disposed at the air inlet to an engine cylinder. For engines with an EGR recirculation path, the sensor is upstream of that path. The MAF sensor provides signals to an engine control module (ECM) indicative of the mass airflow of the intake charge to the engine. A system and method for on-line self-recalibration of the MAF sensor and the MAF values includes comparing the sensed MAF value with an ideal MAF value obtained using data from sensors downstream from the MAF sensor. If a comparison of the sensed versus the actual MAF values reveals that the MAF sensor is out of calibration, a regression analysis is applied to several data pairs of MAF sensor output magnitude and ideal MAF value to modify the relationship between MAF sensor output and sensed MAF value.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the realignment of peaks in gas chromatographic analyses after the replacement of the used capillary column with a nominally equal one, wherein a K coefficient characteristic of the column is preventively calculated by flowing carrier gas in the column under stabilized conditions of pressure and flow rate and of the column temperature, said K coefficient being stored in a memory of the gas chromatographic system. Said K coefficient is used to correlate at least two of the above mentioned parameters in subsequent analyses, obtaining an automatic realignment of peaks. The invention also concerns the analytical equipment to perform the method, and the capillary gas chromatographic column characterized as reported above.

Abstract: A method, system, and storage medium for gas flow calibration of mass flow controllers (MFCs) is presented. A second mass flow controller that has a full scale range substantially less than that of a mass flow meter (MFM) may be calibrated by the MFM using a “gas biasing” technique. A first MFC is set such that a first flow of gas through the MFM at a first flow rate results. The first flow rate is preferably approximately 50% of the full scale range of the MFM. A first reading of the MFM is then recorded. The second MFC is then set such that a second gas flow of gas through the MFM at a second flow rate results. A second reading of the MFM is then recorded. The difference between the second and first readings is then compared to the set flow rate of the second MFC to determine the calibration of the second MFC. The full scale range of the second MFC may be less than 1% of the full scale range of the MFM.

Abstract: In a heating resistor type air flow measurement apparatus, flow correction data are read out from a primary memory and stored in a secondary memory, and then an air flow signal is calibrated by the flow correction data stored in the secondary memory when starting the apparatus up. The apparatus has a diagnosis unit, for determining whether or not the flow correction data stored in the primary memory are correct, so that the determination processing of the flow correction data by the diagnosis unit is performed at any time at least including the starting-up point of the apparatus. There is no fear that engine control based on abnormal flow correction data will continue.

Abstract: An apparatus to normalize a flow rate of a fluid in a main flow channel is provided. The apparatus uses a moveable member, such as a flexible membrane disposed for reciprocating displacement, to produce a constant dither flow of the fluid that is independent of fluid composition. This dither flow generates a signal output from a normalizing flow sensor that both represents a characteristic property of the fluid and a flow rate calibration factor. A similar apparatus to determine the characteristic property or flow rate calibration factor is also provided. The devices disclosed may be used in numerous industrial, process, and medical flow system applications for normalization of flow sensors and to derive other properties of a fluid.

Abstract: A plurality of motion signals is received representing motion at a plurality of locations of a vibrating conduit containing material. The received plurality of motion signals is processed to resolve the motion into a plurality of real normal modal components. A process parameter is estimated from a real normal modal component of the plurality of real normal modal components. According to one aspect, the motion signals may be processed by applying a mode pass filter to produce an output that preferentially represents a component of the motion associated with a real normal mode of the vibrating conduit. A process parameter may be estimated from the filtered output using, for example, conventional phase difference techniques. According to another aspect, real normal modal motion is estimated from the received plurality of motion signals, and a process parameter is estimated from the estimated real normal modal motion.

Abstract: A method for zero setting of a measuring device in which particles to be measured are subjected to tangential acceleration in a whirling impeller and torque exerted on the vanes of the impeller in reaction to the Coriolis force of acceleration of the particles is being measured as an indication of mass flow rate. The flow of material is fed to a central part of the impeller and by centrifugal force is thrown outwardly of the impeller. The flow is measured by an electronic device including a microcomputer. When the flow is absent, such condition being continually sensed for, the mean value of the torque during a chosen time or a number of revolutions of the impeller is automatically determined and memorized. This memorized torque value is used as a tare value until a next time a new tare value can be memorized.