Wire Type (e.g., Hot Wire) Patents (Class 73/204.27)
  • Patent number: 7565836
    Abstract: A flow rate measuring element of a thermal type flow sensor is placed in the fluid to be measured. The element includes: a first heating resistor for measuring a flow rate; a second heating resistor for heating a support for the first heating resistor; and current control circuits and which control heating resistor supply current so that the temperature of the second heating resistor is higher than the temperature of the first heating resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Sukegawa, Noboru Tokuyasu, Kaori Kashio, Daisuke Terada
  • Patent number: 7555945
    Abstract: A mass air flow sensor for an internal combustion engine is provided. The sensor has a pair of opposed nozzles. A converging nozzle has a first conical throughbore having a first throughbore axis, the first throughbore has first and second apertures, the first aperture has a diameter greater than the second aperture. The diverging nozzle has a second conical throughbore having a second through axis. The throughbore has third and fourth apertures, with the third aperture having a diameter greater than the fourth aperture. A first hotwire sensor positioned within the first aperture. A second hotwire sensor positioned within the second aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: Ahmed M. Naguib, Antonius Aditjandra, Barry Trosin, Harold J. Schock, Thomas R. Stuecken, Edward Timm
  • Patent number: 7552633
    Abstract: A thermal type gas flowmeter comprising a sensor element which, in turn, comprises at least one first heating resistor, two or more resistors in fluid and a second heating resistor which is disposed between the first heating resistor and a housing supporting the sensor element. The first and second heating resistors are electrically independent from each other. A temperature sensing unit is provided between the first and second heating resistors. A temperature of the first or second heating resistor is controlled by a temperature sensed by the temperature sensing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Tokuyasu, Hiroaki Hoshika, Kaori Kashio, Mituharu Osaka, Toshiki Ohtsuki, Yoshihiro Sukegawa
  • Publication number: 20090133490
    Abstract: A device is provided for measuring the velocity of flow of a fluid in a respiration system and includes a first thermal sensor element (5) provided with a controllable heating element (50) and a second thermal sensor element (6). The thermal sensor elements (5, 6) are arranged at spaced locations from one another at a path of flow, so that a thermal signal generated by the first sensor element (5) with the heating element (50) is transmitted to the second sensor element (6), and the second sensor element (6) is designed to detect the thermal signal from the fluid flow. The second sensor element (6) is connected to the first sensor element (5) via feedback (12) which triggers another thermal signal. A controlling and analyzing device (13, 15) is connected to the sensor elements (5, 6) to start the generation of a first thermal signal and to read and analyze the signal frequency as an indicator of the velocity of flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: Drager Medical AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ulf ZSCHERNACK, Henning GERDER, Hartmut STARK
  • Patent number: 7528737
    Abstract: A process transmitter includes a temperature responsive indicator to indicate an operating condition of the process transmitter. The operating condition may represent a level of a sensed process variable or an operating temperature of the process transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Hedtke
  • Patent number: 7478556
    Abstract: An apparatus for a rapid measurement of temperatures in a hot gas flow, in particular in a gas turbine. The apparatus includes a sensor having two two-dimensional, electrically conductive heating elements, which are attached to the surface of a common, electrically insulating sensor body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Paolo Ruffino, Hanspeter Zinn
  • Publication number: 20090000372
    Abstract: Conventional thermal flow measurement devices lack consideration for automobiles in severe environments. A detection element of the thermal flow measurement device according to the present invention is structured by the provision of a planar substrate made of a material having good thermal conductivity, such as silicon or ceramic, with a thin-walled portion (diaphragm). On the surface of the thin-walled portion, the detection element comprises a heat element as a heater heated to a temperature being different to a predetermined extent from the temperature of the air flow to be measured, temperature-detecting resistors as temperature-detecting means on both sides of the heat element, wiring portions formed of electrical conductors that draw signal lines from the heat element and the temperature-detecting resistors and that have a melting point of 2000° C. or higher, and pads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2006
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Masahiro Matsumoto, Hiroshi Nakano, Masamichi Yamada, Keiji Hanzawa, Izumi Watanabe, Keiichi Nakada, Yasuhiro Kanamaru
  • Publication number: 20080295591
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas pendulum inertial sensor, which is used in control technology field to detect pose measurement of motional body, such as ship craft and robot, wherein the inertial sensor main includes a gas pendulum angular velocity sensing element, a gas pendulum tilt sensing element and a signal process circuit, wherein the signal process circuit mainly comprises a bridge circuit, a amplify circuit, a filter circuit, and a SCM compensation circuit with a null position and sensitivity compensation program, a linearity and output compensation program, an acceleration interference offset subprogram, and an omnibearing tilt signal compensation program, whereby the SCM compensation circuit integral into a circuit board to replace a conventional hardware signal amplify circuit, a filter circuit and a compensation circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Fuxue Zhang, Wei Zhang
  • Patent number: 7444863
    Abstract: Disclosed is a thermal mass flowmeter, which comprises a heating unit disposed on an outer peripheral surface of a capillary tube, and a pair of temperature-sensing units each provided as a separate component from said heating unit. The temperature-sensing units are disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the capillary tube at respective positions equally distant from the heating unit toward an upstream side and a downstream side of the capillary tube. Each of the temperature-sensing units has a structure in which a temperature-sensing element is covered by a protective resin molded around the temperature-sensing element. The temperature-sensing element consists of a thermistor or a resistance temperature sensor. The temperature-sensing element is disposed to be displaced to a contact surface of the molded resin with the capillary tube relative to a center of the molded resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Masumi Sakai
  • Patent number: 7418859
    Abstract: A device for measuring a volume flow, especially a tidal volume flow sensor, with a flow channel (1) and with a sensor element (6) arranged within the flow channel (1), is shown and described. The task of providing such a device, in which the sensor signal, which is generated by sensor elements arranged in the flow channel, remains as free as possible from distortions during the transmission to an evaluating unit, is accomplished by providing an internal circuit (3), which is arranged within the flow channel (1) and includes the sensor element (6). An external circuit (7) is arranged outside the flow channel (1). The external circuit (7) is designed for contactless, inductive coupling with the internal circuit (3) for supplying same with energy and for reading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Dräger Medical AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Volkmar Schulz, Henning Gerder
  • Patent number: 7415935
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system adapted for sailors in order to determine the air flow conditions around one or more sails, in conjunction with which both sides of the sails are equipped with a number of ultrasonic sensors that are distributed over the surface and communicate the flow conditions in their vicinity to a central unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Wings AB
    Inventor: Stefan Witte
  • Publication number: 20080196494
    Abstract: A flow sensor that is designed to overcome problems of conventional flow sensors and can readily obtain high sensitivity without errors due to tilting. A flow sensor includes: a flow channel having a pair of parallel portions; and temperature sensing resistors for heating a fluid to a preset temperature, the temperature sensing resistors being disposed on parts of the parallel portions of the flow channel, to detect a fluid flow rate based on a change in temperature distribution of a flow channel due to a change in flow rate of the fluid flowing through the flow channel, the flow sensor comprising: a first upstream temperature sensing resistor and a first downstream temperature sensing resistor that are disposed in a line on upstream and downstream sides of one of the parallel portions, respectively; and a second upstream temperature sensing resistor and a second downstream temperature sensing resistor that are disposed in a line on upstream and downstream sides of the other parallel portion, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventor: Isao Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20080047339
    Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a thermal mass flow meter is provided with: a pipe arrangement that allows a fluid to flow therein, a chip-type heat-generating element that is anchored on the surface on the periphery of the pipe arrangement and used for heating the fluid in the pipe arrangement, and paired chip-type temperature sensors that are anchored at positions on the upstream side and the downstream side of the heat-generating element with the same distance apart therefrom, on the surface of the pipe arrangement, and formed as members separated from the heat-generating element. With respect to the heat-generating element and the paired temperature sensors, convex portions thereof on a side opposite to the side to be anchored onto the pipe arrangement are housed in a concave of a printed-circuit board, and terminals of the heat-generating element and the paired temperature sensors are connected to the wiring layer of the printed-circuit board, and subsequently secured to the printed-circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinya Hasebe
  • Publication number: 20070251315
    Abstract: A flow rate measuring element of a thermal type flow sensor is placed in the fluid to be measured. The element includes: a first heating resistor for measuring a flow rate; a second heating resistor for heating a support for the first heating resistor; and current control circuits and which control heating resistor supply current so that the temperature of the second heating resistor is higher than the temperature of the first heating resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Sukegawa, Noboru Tokuyasu, Kaori Kashio, Daisuke Terada
  • Patent number: 7249503
    Abstract: A thermal sensor includes a die having a surface formed to accept the outer surface of tubing; a molded plastic part located on the die surface, said molded plastic part including flexible portions having a surface adapted to engage the bottom half of the circumference of standard tubing when the tubing is fully placed in the molded plastic part; conductive material selectively patterned on the surface of the flexible portions that engages the die surface; and retaining hardware adapted to secure the tubing against the molded plastic part and flexible portions when the retaining hardware is secured to the molded plastic part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Gehman, James ZT Liu, Michael G. Marchini
  • Patent number: 7121139
    Abstract: A flow rate sensor includes a main conduit, a sensor tube and a bypass tube connecting an upstream portion of the main conduit to a downstream portion of the main conduit such that flow through the main conduit is divided through the sensor tube and the bypass tube, and at least one heater element for heating the sensor tube. A first flow restrictor of porous media is positioned between the upstream portion of the main conduit and the sensor tube, and a second flow restrictor of porous media is positioned between the upstream portion of the main conduit and the bypass tube. The flow restrictors provide the flow rate sensor with a fixed bypass ratio so that the sensor can operate independently of the type of gas being measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Ali Shajii, Paul Meneghini, Daniel Alexander Smith
  • Patent number: 7028544
    Abstract: A mass flowmeter of the thermal type provided with a flow sensor with a flow tube through which a fluid can flow during operation, with a temperature sensor in an upstream position (A) and a heater (H) in a downstream position (B), and power control means and temperature measuring means for keeping the temperature difference between A and B at a predetermined constant value. Between A and B, the flowmeter is provided with means for preventing the temperature at A from rising owing to thermal conduction from B to A via the tube in the case of no flow or a weak flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Berkin B.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Henricus Besseling, Joost Conrad Lötters
  • Patent number: 7016790
    Abstract: An in-line hot-wire sensor for monitoring the mixing and the flow rate of slurry is disclosed. The hot-wire sensor may include a number of resistors organized into a Wheatstone bridge, as well as a frequency-domain transform mechanism. The resistors include a hot-wire resistor that is placed in-line with the slurry after substances have been mixed to become the slurry. The Wheatstone bridge thus yields a signal that is transformed to the frequency domain by the frequency-domain transform mechanism, such as by performing a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) of the signal. The frequency-domain transform is used to monitor the mixing of the substances into the slurry, and the flow rate of the slurry. The signal may be amplified prior to transformation to the frequency domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tung-Ching Tseng, Li-Jia Yang
  • Patent number: 7000465
    Abstract: A system for and method of compensating for attitude sensitivity of at least two thermal sensor coils mounted on a tube through which a fluid flows along a common axis of flow for use in generating a flow measurement signal representative of the flow of fluid through the tube is disclosed. One of the coils is adapted in provide thermal energy to the fluid flowing through the tube at an upstream location so as to establish and measure the upstream temperature of the fluid at the upstream location, and one of the coils is adapted to measure the downstream temperature of the fluid at a downstream location. The flow measurement signal is a function of the difference between the measured upstream and downstream temperatures. The system includes structure for, and the method includes the steps of measuring the force of gravity in the direction of the common axis; and modifying the flow measurement signal as a function of the measured force of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L'Bassi, Mark J. Quaratiello, Ronald H. Bouley
  • Patent number: 7000464
    Abstract: The flow of a fluid at low flow rates is measured in a flow sensing assembly and controlled without introducing measuring devices into the fluid flow path. The flow sensing assembly is enclosed in a housing to lessen ambient and fluid temperature change effects on the measurements obtained. As the fluid is flowing through tubing in the flow sensing assembly, the tubing is heated to impart heat to the fluid. Heat sensors are attached at spaced positions from each other along the tubing in the direction of fluid flow to sense temperatures. The amount of heat applied to the tubing is controlled to maintain an established temperature differential between the heat sensors. The amount of heat applied is measured to provide an accurate and proportional indication of the fluid flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: McMillan Company
    Inventors: Robert M. McMillan, Roland Rau
  • Patent number: 6988400
    Abstract: A flowmeter of the thermal type with a single flow sensor is connected to control and temperature measuring elements for measuring in a first measuring range by a first measuring method and in a second measuring range by a second measuring method. Detection elements detect the measuring method to be selected on the basis of a flow measurement, and control elements control the flow sensor in accordance with the selected measuring method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Berkin B.V.
    Inventor: Joost Conrad Lötters
  • Patent number: 6923054
    Abstract: A microscale out-of-plane thermal sensor. A resistive heater is suspended over a substrate by supports raised with respect to the substrate to provide a clearance underneath the resistive heater for fluid flow. A preferred fabrication process for the thermal sensor uses surface micromachining and a three-dimensional assembly to raise the supports and lift the resistive heater over the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Chang Liu, Jack Chen
  • Patent number: 6901795
    Abstract: This invention is a flow measurement device that has high spatial (less than 1.0×1.0 mm2) and temporal resolution (greater than 10 s to 100 s kHz) to measure flow properties in unsteady and direction-reversing conditions. The present invention can have an oscillating substrate, hot wire prongs, a hot wire attached to the hot wire prong, sensor leads from the prongs to a constant temperature anemometry circuit (CTA), means for the oscillating substrate to oscillate the substrate at a frequency greater than a characteristic cycle frequency of the flow to be measured, at a frequency less than a CTA bandwidth frequency, and such that a frequency and amplitude (Aw) of oscillation are sufficiently large to be detected, and means to obtain two measurements during an oscillation cycle when the hot wire is at its maximum oscillation velocity. Alternatively, the prongs can be eliminated and a hot wire or hot film can be directly applied to the oscillating substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: Ahmed Mostafa Naguib, Yongxiang Li
  • Patent number: 6874362
    Abstract: An air flow sensing apparatus with a plastic housing having at least two leadframes that are embedded in the plastic housing and adapted for the attachment of a sensing element whose major axis is oriented across the leadframes in a first direction such that, during a thermal cycle, the difference in relative movement between the leadframes in the first direction is minimized while the leadframes move substantially synchronously in other two directions; the leadframes being bent in a pattern that is substantially parallel to each other, and arranged in close proximity with each other, with the dimensions spacing apart the leadframes in the pattern being minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Christopher Myers, Lawrence A. Zurek
  • Patent number: 6843123
    Abstract: A flow rate sensor capable of increasing a range where fluid flow rate can be detected with a high accuracy. The flow rate sensor includes: a sensor pipe; a resistor group; a reference resistor group; a constant current source; a first differential circuit; and a flow rate decision unit. The flow rate sensor further includes: a dummy sensor pipe where no fluid is flown; a dummy resistor group changing their resistance value according to the temperature and attached in the longitudinal direction, a dummy reference resistor group, a for-dummy constant current source, switch means for selectively connecting the resistor group with the dummy resistor group in series, a flow rate range increasing differential circuit for detecting a potential difference, and a third flow rate decision unit for obtaining the flow rate of the fluid flowing in the fluid passage according to the potential difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi Metals Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasukazu Tokuhisa, Makoto Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6840116
    Abstract: A Kelvin sensed hot-wire anemometer includes four electrically conductive pins and a filament welded to all four pins, preferably using a single filament. A current source is coupled to the two innermost pins so as to provide current flow in the segment of filament between the two innermost pins. The two outermost pins are coupled to a high impedance voltage sense amplifier that senses the voltage drop across the energized segment of filament between the two innermost pins. The resistance of the filament is determined based on the current provided to the filament and the measured voltage. The Kelvin sensed hot-wire anemometer can be used in a number of applications, including, but not limited to medical devices that measure gas flow rates during inhalation and exhalation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: SensorMedics Corporation
    Inventor: John Higgins
  • Publication number: 20040237645
    Abstract: This invention is a flow measurement device that has high spatial (less than 1.0x1.0 mm2) and temporal resolution (greater than 10s to 100s kHz) to measure flow properties in unsteady and direction-reversing conditions. The present invention can have an oscillating substrate, hot wire prongs, a hot wire attached to the hot wire prong, sensor leads from the prongs to a constant temperature anemometry circuit (CTA), means for the oscillating substrate to oscillate the substrate at a frequency greater than a characteristic cycle frequency of the flow to be measured, at a frequency less than a CTA bandwidth frequency, and such that a frequency and amplitude (Aw) of oscillation are sufficiently large to be detected, and means to obtain two measurements during an oscillation cycle when the hot wire is at its maximum oscillation velocity. Alternatively, the prongs can be eliminated and a hot wire or hot film can be directly applied to the oscillating substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Ahmed Mostafa Naguib, Yongxiang Li
  • Publication number: 20040226360
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flowmeter of the thermal type with a single flow sensor which is connected to control and temperature measuring means for measuring in a first measuring range by a first measuring method and in a second measuring range by a second measuring method. Detection means detect the measuring method to be selected on the basis of a flow measurement, and control means control the flow sensor in accordance with the selected measuring method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Applicant: BERKIN B.V.
    Inventor: Joost Conrad Lotters
  • Publication number: 20040226359
    Abstract: A mass flowmeter of the thermal type provided with a flow sensor with a flow tube through which a fluid can flow during operation, with a temperature sensor in an upstream position (A) and a heater (H) in a downstream position (B), and power control means and temperature measuring means for keeping the temperature difference between A and B at a predetermined constant value. Between A and B, the flowmeter is provided with means for preventing the temperature at A from rising owing to thermal conduction from B to A via the tube in the case of no flow or a weak flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Applicant: BERKIN B.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Henricus Besseling, Joost Conrad Lotters
  • Patent number: 6813945
    Abstract: A flow meter which includes a resistive wire placed in the path of a fluid whereof the flow rate is to be measured. A processing unit for applying current pulses to the wire and for determining the cooling speed of the wire between the pulses. The processing unit also determines a cooling parameter and determines from the cooling parameter data concerning a possible operational drift or anomaly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Auxitrol S.A.
    Inventors: Marc Bernard, Eric Collet
  • Patent number: 6779396
    Abstract: A change in physical properties of a fluid within an open tube which is caused by heating an arbitrary portion in the open tube by heating means is detected by using a detector disposed with a predetermined spacing from the arbitrary portion, thereby measuring the flow in the open tube. The present invention provides a method for measuring flow within an open tube, in which a mechanical error and contamination of a passage do not occur, as a method for measuring flow within an open tube having a very small diameter provided for the separation analysis field and chemosynthesis field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignees: Chemco Scientific Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Tsuda, Motonori Munesue
  • Patent number: 6736005
    Abstract: The flow of a fluid at low flow rates is measured and controlled without introducing measuring devices into the fluid flow path. As the fluid is flowing through tubing, the tubing is heated to impart heat to the fluid. Heat sensors are attached at spaced positions from each other along the tubing in the direction of fluid flow to sense temperatures. The amount of heat applied to the tubing is controlled to maintain an established temperature differential between the heat sensors. The amount of heat applied is measured to provide an accurate and proportional indication of the fluid flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: McMillan Company
    Inventors: Robert M. McMillan, Roland Rau
  • Patent number: 6729187
    Abstract: A self-compensated strain gage sensor having a temperature co-efficient of resistance (TCR) of essentially zero comprised of a wide band semiconductor and a compensating metal functioning as serial resistors. Based on the resistivity of the semiconductor and the metal and the temperature range in which the sensor will operate the dimensions of the semiconductor and the metal are determined to provide a zero TCR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: The Board of Governors for Higher Education, State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
    Inventor: Otto J. Gregory
  • Patent number: 6688170
    Abstract: A sensor for measuring the flow velocity of gases. The sensor includes a printed circuit board (1) having an opening (2) formed therein. A pair of first contact elements are disposed on opposing sides of the opening on an upper side of the circuit board (1), and a pair of second contact elements are disposed on opposing sides of the opening on a lower side of the circuit board (1). A first wire (4) with end portions respectively connected to the first contact elements extends across the opening (2) on the upper side of the circuit board (1). A second wire (10) with end portions respectively connected to the second contact elements extends across the opening (2) on the lower side of the circuit board (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Inventor: Franz Durst
  • Patent number: 6681625
    Abstract: A bidirectional flow sensor (800) for automated systems includes a heater (18) which is maintained at a constant temperature above the temperature of the fluid flowing past the heater. A pair of temperature sensors (26a,26b) is located to either side of the heater (18). The temperature sensors may be two-terminal constant-current devices, electrically connected in series, so that the current is controlled by the sensor sensing the lower temperature, which is on the upstream side of the heater. In one embodiment, a processor (1010) processes the signals produced by the temperature sensors to produce a flow-direction indicating signal. The bidirectional sensor is adapted for interfacing with a digital network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Ertugrul Berkcan, Scott Baxter Hoyle
  • Patent number: 6670582
    Abstract: Construction of a micro-thermocouple sensor designed to be incorporated in a mass flow meter for the circulation of gaseous fluids, includes of the following steps: depositing an insulating layer of several microns by electron gun on the sensor tube, then depositing the components of the thermocouple, by the electron gun, through the nickel masks, at a residual pressure lower than 10−6 torr, at a thickness of several thousand Angstroms, annealing of the capillary tube for one hour, then the mounting of a heating element on the capillary tube treated in this manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Societe Qualiflow SA
    Inventors: Pascal Rudent, André Boyer, Alain Giani, Pierre Navratil
  • Patent number: 6637264
    Abstract: Mass flowmeter comprising a hollow conduit of a heat-conducting material for transporting in a determined flow direction a fluid with a mass flow rate to be measured, a first temperature-sensitive resistor element at a first position in thermal contact with this conduit for supplying heat to said fluid, a temperature sensor and measuring and control means connectable to the resistor element and the temperature sensor, wherein the temperature sensor is provided in thermal contact with the conduit at a second position upstream in relation to said first position, and the measuring and control means are adapted to maintain a constant difference in temperature at said first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Berkin B.V.
    Inventors: Joost Conrad Lötters, Hendrik Jan Boer, Wybren Jouwsma
  • Publication number: 20030188575
    Abstract: A change in physical properties of a fluid within an open tube which is caused by heating an arbitrary portion in the open tube by heating means is detected by using a detector disposed with a predetermined spacing from the arbitrary portion, thereby measuring the flow in the open tube. The present invention provides a method for measuring flow within an open tube, in which a mechanical error and contamination of a passage do not occur, as a method for measuring flow within an open tube having a very small diameter provided for the separation analysis field and chemosynthesis field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Applicants: Takao Tsuda, Chemco Scientific Co., Ltd., Motonori Munesue
    Inventors: Takao Tsuda, Motonori Munesue
  • Patent number: 6628202
    Abstract: A thermal dispersion switch/transmitter for determining flow rate and liquid level in a non-contacting apparatus. A special preparation of one or more small spots in the outside surface of the wall of the conduit, standpipe or container enables one or more thermally sensitive elements to reside very close to the fluid on the opposite side of the wall. A temperature sensor is formed of a raster pattern electrical conductor deposited on a thin, electrically insulative, thermally conductive flat chip. One temperature sensor is time-shared and is periodically self heated and functions as the reference as well as the active or heated sensor of the invention. One alternative is to employ two temperature sensors, one being a reference sensor and the other being the active sensor. An alternative embodiment employs the same construction of one or more small, very thin membrane surfaces to which multiple detectors are mounted inside a probe inserted into the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Fluid Components Intl
    Inventors: Malcolm M. McQueen, Samuel Kresch, Agustin J. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 6595049
    Abstract: A thermal mass flow sensor having superior sensitivity and response time includes a flow sensor tube defining an interior channel for fluid flow between input and output ends, a heating element in thermal communication with a portion of the flow sensor tube for heating a fluid flowing through the tube, a pair of spatially compact thermal sensors located at the upstream and downstream ends of the heating element for sensing the temperature of the fluid flowing through the tube at their respective locations and providing a signal representative of the fluid temperature at those locations, and a pair of thermal grounding members on the flow sensor tube, yet positioned at specified locations substantially beyond the heated portion of the tube, for establishing reference temperatures for the fluid flowing therethrough at those locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas O. Maginnis, Jr., Wilfred J. Baxter, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6568261
    Abstract: An improved hot wire gas flow sensor is disclosed having a housing with a passageway in series with a passageway through which the gas flow is measured. The housing includes both a hot wire and cold wire disposed within the passageway. A current circuit maintains the temperature differential between the hot wire and cold wire preferably in the range of 30° C. to 100° C. by varying the current flow through the hot wire. Current limiting circuitry is then utilized to limit the current flow through the hot wire and thus the temperature of the hot wire in order to prevent possible combustion of the gas in the passageway. Additionally, a current augmenting circuit augments the current flow through the hot wire for a limited period of time following the electrical energization of the flow sensor in order to provide rapid heat up of the hot wire in the hot wire sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi America, Ltd.
    Inventors: George Saikalis, Shigeru Oho, Takashi Kadohiro
  • Patent number: 6564629
    Abstract: A device for measuring the flow of a fluid located in a fluid channel heats the fluid channel without additional components. A metallic tube (2) with predetermined thermoelectric potential is provided as a fluid channel. An a.c. power source (7) is connected to a partial section (6) of the tube (2) in such a manner that the partial section (6) is heated as a resistor element to an increased working temperature compared with the temperature of the fluid. At least one thermocouple (12) is provided with junction points formed along the partial section (6) in such a manner that at least two wires (8, 9) with another thermoelectric potential are connected to the tube (2) in the area of the partial section (6). A measuring circuit (13, 14, 15) evaluates the thermocouple voltage of the thermocouple (12) and has a circuit (13) which eliminates the a.c. voltage component superimposed to the thermocouple voltage as a consequence of the a.c. heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Drägerwerk Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hartmut Stark
  • Publication number: 20020139183
    Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for reducing the size of a mass flow controller (“MFC”) device. The technique includes a device having a novel flat sensor that allows the overall reduction of the body size of an MFC as well as a novel technique of assembling various parts of an MFC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventor: Faramarz Frank Azima
  • Publication number: 20020139184
    Abstract: A device for measuring the flow of a fluid located in a fluid channel heats the fluid channel without additional components. A metallic tube (2) with predetermined thermoelectric potential is provided as a fluid channel. An a.c. power source (7) is connected to a partial section (6) of the tube (2) in such a manner that the partial section (6) is heated as a resistor element to an increased working temperature compared with the temperature of the fluid. At least one thermocouple (12) is provided with junction points formed along the partial section (6) in such a manner that at least two wires (8, 9) with another thermoelectric potential are connected to the tube (2) in the area of the partial section (6). A measuring circuit (13, 14, 15) evaluates the thermocouple voltage of the thermocouple (12) and has a circuit (13) which eliminates the a.c. voltage component superimposed to the thermocouple voltage as a consequence of the a.c. heating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventor: Hartmut Stark
  • Patent number: 6446504
    Abstract: A thermal mass flow sensor in which heat transfer to and from a fluid flowing through a sensor conduit is optimized by establishing a symmetrical triangular temperature distribution along a heated length of the sensor conduit. The sensor conduit is heated by a pair of distributed heat sources and a concentrated heat source located between the distributed heat sources. The heater density of the sensor conduit increases linearly from the outer ends of the distributed heat sources towards the center of the heated length of the sensor conduit, and spikes to a substantially greater value at a point corresponding to the centrally located concentrated heat source. The temperature distribution function along the flow sensor tube is a substantially symmetric triangular function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas O. Maginnis, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20020062690
    Abstract: A transit-time difference type ultrasonic flowmeter comprises a pair of ultrasonic transducers mounted on a flow tube at an upstream side and a downstream side respectively, a switching device for switching the operational mode of each of the transducers alternatively to its transmitting or receiving mode, an amplifier for amplifying the signal received by the transducer of the receiving side, and a data reduction equipment includes an analog-digital converter and a digital signal processor; the converter converts the waveform into a plurality of voltage-time data sets; and the processor picks up an object peak of the voltage-time data sets on the basis of the time, or the data on the voltage, or determines the peaks of maximum voltage included within the waveform of the voltage-time data sets as an object peak, estimates at least one zero-cross point confined by the object peak or a peak adjacent to the object peak through the calculation made on the plurality of voltage-time data sets distributing along the
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Applicant: Tokyo Keiso Kabushiki-Kaisha
    Inventors: Tamotsu Kobayashi, Kunikazu Shigeta, Toru Fujii
  • Publication number: 20020035868
    Abstract: An intake air-flow rate detecting apparatus of an internal combustion engine according to the present invention has a thermal air-flow sensor for detecting an intake air-flow rate of the internal combustion engine, and a response lag compensator for compensating for a response lag of the air-flow sensor, using a first-order lag element concerning a heat release amount in the air-flow sensor. Since the response lag process is carried out on the dimension of the heat release amount, the response lag of the air-flow sensor can be compensated for with accuracy and the response lag of the thermal air-flow sensor can be compensated for with high accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Harufumi Muto, Daisuke Kobayashi, Satoshi Furukawa
  • Patent number: 6354150
    Abstract: The sensor (7) for a mass flow meter (1) including a capillary tube (6) for circulation of fluid in parallel with the principal circuit of the fluid circulation. The sensor includes heating mechanisms (20) of the capillary tube (6) and mechanisms for measuring the temperature (22, 23), upstream and downstream from this heating mechanism (20), and separate from the heating mechanism. The mechanisms for measuring the temperature (22, 23) are two resistors manufactured by deposition in an external manner on the sensor tube (6), one of them (22) upstream from the heating mechanism (20), the other (23) downstream from the heating mechanism. The manufacturing process includes stages of deposition by an electron gun, firstly of a layer of zirconia (21) of several microns, on the tube (6) made of stainless steel, then of the sensitive components (27) and the contacts (31, 32) of the measurement resistors (22, 23), made of platinum, and defined by masks of nickel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Societe Qualiflow SA
    Inventors: Pascal Rudent, André Boyer, Alain Giani, Pierre Navratil
  • Patent number: 6318171
    Abstract: There is provided a flow rate sensor comprising: a pair of heating resistors operable to heat a sensor tube; a temperature sensor operable to control respective temperatures of the heating resistors; and a case operable to hold the heating resistors and the temperature sensor. The flow rate sensor is adapted to detect a flow rate of a fluid flowing in the sensor tube based on variations of voltages applied to the heating resistors, wherein the variations occur according to the flow rate of the fluid. The flow rate sensor further comprises a voltage applying device operable to arbitrarily set an increase in temperature of each of the heating resistors. The sensor tube has opposite ends thereof thermally connected to the case. The temperature sensor is positioned to be equidistant from the opposite ends of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: MKS Japan, Inc.
    Inventor: Isao Suzuki
  • Patent number: RE39466
    Abstract: There is provided a flow rate sensor comprising: a pair of heating resistors operable to heat a sensor tube; a temperature sensor operable to control respective temperatures of the heating resistors; and a case operable to hold the heating resistors and the temperature sensor. The flow rate sensor is adapted to detect a flow rate of a fluid flowing in the sensor tube based on variations of voltages applied to the heating resistors, wherein the variations occur according to the flow rate of the fluid. The flow rate sensor further comprises a voltage applying device operable to arbitrarily set an increase in temperature of each of the heating resistors. The sensor tube has opposite ends thereof thermally connected to the case. The temperature sensor is positioned to be equidistant from the opposite ends of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Isao Suzuki