Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a velocity of a fluid or an object are described. Systems and methods include receiving image data of the fluid or the object, the image data comprising a plurality of frames. Each frame comprises an array of pixel values. Systems and methods include creating a frame difference by subtracting an array of pixel values for a first frame of the image data from an array of pixel values for a second frame of the image data. Systems and methods include measuring a difference between a location of the object in the first frame of the image data and the second frame of the image data. Systems and methods include creating a correlation matrix based on the measured difference. Systems and methods include using the frame difference and the correlation matrix to automatically determine the velocity of the fluid or the object.

Abstract: A system and related method for precisely monitoring fluid or gas flows, comprising: a flow meter comprising a mechanical metering component; the mechanical metering component comprising a ferrous material; a three-axis magnetic field sensor for sensing fluctuations of a magnetic field arising from movements of the ferrous material, and specifically, for sensing a magnetic field vector of the magnetic field; computer processing for receiving data from the magnetic field sensor and storing magnetic field behavior data representing time behavior of the magnetic field vector in three space dimensions; calibration programming for analyzing and learning a magnetic signature of the meter; programming for storing a unique calibration pattern of the magnetic signature representing baseline behaviors thereof; and comparison programming for comparing behaviors of the magnetic field during operation with the calibrated baseline behaviors and thereby deducing flows which are occurring during operation as a function of ti

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a velocity of a fluid or an object are described. Systems and methods include receiving image data of the fluid or the object, the image data comprising a plurality of frames. Each frame comprises an array of pixel values. Systems and methods include creating a frame difference by subtracting an array of pixel values for a first frame of the image data from an array of pixel values for a second frame of the image data. Systems and methods include measuring a difference between a location of the object in the first frame of the image data and the second frame of the image data. Systems and methods include creating a correlation matrix based on the measured difference. Systems and methods include using the frame difference and the correlation matrix to automatically determine the velocity of the fluid or the object.

Abstract: A microcontroller and a method are provided for determining a flow velocity with an electronic processing unit of an ultrasonic travel time flow meter with arbitrary waveform signals. The electronic processing unit has receiver and transmitter terminals, a signal processing unit and a signal generating unit that is configured to generate an oscillating electric output signal with a time dependent amplitude, wherein the time-dependent amplitude varies according to stored signal parameters.

Abstract: These measurement devices are each provided with: irradiation unit that irradiate a fluid with light; a light-receiving unit that receives light scattered by the fluid; an acquiring unit that acquires fluid information which indicates the flow rate or the flow velocity of the fluid; and a control unit that controls the irradiation unit on the basis of the fluid information.

Abstract: A measurement system includes a plurality of thermocouples, where the plurality of thermocouples is located in a support component and includes at least three groups of thermocouples. The at least three groups of thermocouples can also include one thermocouple shared by the each group of thermocouples. A distance between two thermocouples from each of the at least three groups is selected to enable measurement of temperature/flow field features of a predetermined characteristic length.

Abstract: A utility meter includes: a meter body having a chamber through which material passes; a measuring unit contained within the chamber; and a register attached to the chamber. The register includes a register body and an electronics unit operatively connected to the measuring unit and positioned within the register body. The electronics unit coacts with the measuring unit to determine at least one of a volume of flow and a flow rate of a fluid traveling through the chamber. The register also includes a multiple resonance antenna operatively connected to the electronics unit and positioned within the register.

Abstract: An ultrasonic flowmeter includes a plurality of ultrasonic wave elements attached to an outer wall of a pipeline through which a measurement target fluid flows, and configured to transmit and receive an ultrasonic signal, wherein at least one of the ultrasonic wave elements is an ultrasonic wave transmission element and is attached to the outer wall of the pipeline so that an ultrasonic wave transmission surface thereof is in parallel to a pipe axis direction of the pipeline, and another at least one of the ultrasonic wave elements is an ultrasonic wave reception element and is attached to the outer wall of the pipeline so that an ultrasonic wave reception surface thereof is in parallel to the pipe axis direction of the pipeline.

Abstract: A fluid flow monitoring system is provided that has a processor utility which is connectable to an acoustic generator associated with acoustic ports and is operable for generating signals S0 to activate the acoustic ports for irradiating a region of interest with acoustic radiation of a certain frequency range centered at a frequency F0 and is connectable to at least one light output port associated with one or more light detectors for receiving light of at least one wavelength ? from the region of interest including light tagged by said acoustic radiation. The processor utility may be configured for analyzing the generated signals S0 and data indicative of the received light including light tagged by the corresponding acoustic radiation and determining correlation between the signals S0 and the data indicative of the received light, the correlation being informative of a measure of fluid flow in a turbid medium.

Abstract: A method and pump that accurately senses air in a fluid delivery line pulses or activates and deactivates the air sensor(s) multiple times during the pumping phase of the fluid delivery cycle and can generate alarms based upon a single indication or a cumulative indication of air in the line. The pump can include multiple air sensors spaced along the delivery line so that the method can use the multiple signals therefrom to distinguish real moving air bubbles from false positives and/or air bubbles adhered to the inner wall of the line.

Abstract: A monitoring system is presented for monitoring fluid flow in turbid medium. The fluid flow monitoring system comprises a processor utility which is connectable to an acoustic generator associated with one or more acoustic ports and is operable for generating signals S0 to activate said one or more acoustic ports for irradiating a region of interest with acoustic radiation of a certain frequency range centered at a frequency F0 and is connectable to at least one light output port associated with one or more light detectors for receiving light of at least one wavelength ? from the region of interest including light tagged by said acoustic radiation.

Abstract: A synchronization sequence (preamble) that is known to the receiver forms as an integral part of packet-based digital communication systems. The first operation in such digital communication systems is the detection of the beginning of a valid signal (packet). A system, apparatus, and method for a scheme to robustly detect the preamble are provided having a hierarchical cross-correlator in combination with a second stage delayed auto-correlator using the output of the cross-correlator as an input to the second stage correlator.

Abstract: A method and pump that accurately senses air in a fluid delivery line pulses or activates and deactivates the air sensor(s) multiple times during the pumping phase of the fluid delivery cycle and can generate alarms based upon a single indication or a cumulative indication of air in the line. The pump can include multiple air sensors spaced along the delivery line so that the method can use the multiple signals therefrom to distinguish real moving air bubbles from false positives and/or air bubbles adhered to the inner wall of the line.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for measuring dynamic parameters of particles comprises applying time correlation analysis on fluctuation of the particles with respect to a detection area of a digital picture.

Abstract: Particle detection systems without knowledge of a location and velocity of a particle passing through a volume of space, are less efficient than if knowledge of the particle location is known. An embodiment of a particle position detection system capable of determining an exact location of a particle in a fluid stream is discussed. The detection system may employ a patterned illuminating beam, such that once a particle passes through the various portions of the patterned illuminating beam, a light scattering is produced. The light scattering defines a temporal profile that contains measurement information indicative of an exact particle location. However, knowledge of the exact particle location has several advantages. These advantages include correction of systematic particle measurement errors due to variability of the particle position within the sample volume, targeting of particles based on position, capture of particles based on position, reduced system energy consumption and reduced system complexity.

Abstract: A monitoring system is presented for monitoring fluid flow in turbid medium. The fluid flow monitoring system comprises a processor utility which is connectable to an acoustic generator associated with one or more acoustic ports and is operable for generating signals S0 to activate said one or more acoustic ports for irradiating a region of interest with acoustic radiation of a certain frequency range centered at a frequency F0 and is connectable to at least one light output port associated with one or more light detectors for receiving light of at least one wavelength ? from the region of interest including light tagged by said acoustic radiation.

Abstract: A method for measuring the velocity of a multiphase fluid flowing in a pipe. The method comprises directing at least two collimated beams of light from an illuminator through the multiphase fluid by transparent portions of the pipe. The at least two collimated beams are spaced apart in a direction of flow of the multiphase fluid by a predetermined distance. The method also includes detecting scattered, deflected and attenuated light with at least two photodetectors to produce at least two signals. The at least two photodetectors are associated with the at least two collimated beams. The method also includes calculating a cross-correlation function between the at least two signals to determine a time delay between the signals and calculating the average velocity of the multiphase fluid by taking the ratio of the predetermined distance to the time delay.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a Drop Counter for counting a succession of falling liquid drops. The Drop Counter includes a light emitting diode for providing a light beam directed to a falling liquid drop. A photo diode sensor is positioned in side-by-side relation with the light emitting diode and detects reflected light from the falling liquid drop. The photo diode sensor provides an output signal when reflected light is detected and further includes a counter for receiving the output signal and counting the number of times the output signals are received.

Abstract: A method and system for physiological gating for radiation therapy is disclosed. A method and system for detecting and predictably estimating regular cycles of physiological activity or movements is disclosed. Another disclosed aspect of the invention is directed to predictive actuation of gating system components. Yet another disclosed aspect of the invention is directed to physiological gating of radiation treatment based upon the phase of the physiological activity.

Abstract: Various methods are described which increase the efficiency and accuracy of a signal processor in determining parameters of a fluid using signals output by a spatial array of sensors disposed along a pipe. In one aspect, parameters used for calculating the temporal Fourier transform of the pressure signals, specifically the amount or duration of the data that the windowing function is applied to and the temporal frequency range, are adjusted in response to the determined parameter. In another aspect, an initialization routine estimates flow velocity so the window length and temporal frequency range can be initially set prior to the full array processing. In another aspect, the quality of one or more of the parameters is determined and used to gate the output of the apparatus in the event of low confidence in the measurement and/or no flow conditions. In another aspect, a method for determining a convective ridge of the pressure signals in the k-? plane is provided.

Abstract: A system for detecting tactile information includes strain-gauge touch sensors and a controller. Based on the sum output from each of tough-sensor sensor units, an analyzer in the controller calculates touch force Fi(t) at each measurement point. An automatic gain control adjusts the voltage amplitude Ai(t) of a sine wave of frequency fi applied to the sensor units at each measurement point to bring the voltage amplitude measured at each measurement point in line with a target voltage. The adjusted voltage Ai(t) is applied to the bandpass filter with a composite sine wave y(t) which includes sine waves of each frequency corresponding to the adjusted voltage amplitude Ai(t). This makes it possible to reduce the number of lines between the controller and touch sensors that includes numerous measurement points, and enables the gain of the touch sensors constituted by strain gauges to be controlled within an appropriate range.

Abstract: A method and system for physiological gating for radiation therapy is disclosed. A method and system for detecting and predictably estimating regular cycles of physiological activity or movements is disclosed. Another disclosed aspect of the invention is directed to predictive actuation of gating system components. Yet another disclosed aspect of the invention is directed to physiological gating of radiation treatment based upon the phase of the physiological activity.

Abstract: A peristaltic pump is provided with a housing, a pump head in the housing, and a receiving path defined along a housing and pump head for receiving tubing. Two spaced-apart temperature sensors are provided. One temperature sensor is located adjacent the tubing in a heat conduction path along which heat flows between the sensor and the tubing. The other sensor is located outside of the heat conduction path for sensing ambient temperature. The pump operating speed is adjusted as a function of the sensed temperatures. This accommodates the temperature-dependent rate of recovery of the tubing from its peristaltically deformed configuration to its original configuration.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an algorithm for enhancing the transit time measurement of an ultrasonic wave through a fluid, and criteria for evaluating the suitability for various waveforms with regard to noise rejection. The transit time calculation provides a greater noise immunity and accuracy than techniques used in the prior art, and allows a measure of weighting of dispersed signals with different arrival times. The transit time calculation utilizes either the transmitted signal or the measurement of a reference system, the calculation of the squared convolution of this signal with the received signal, and the calculation of the transit time from the time-weighted squared convolution signal over a suitable interval defined by the minimums of the squared convolution signal. In the case of dispersion where the arrival times are symmetrically displaced around a mean transit time, or if asymmetric dispersion is suitably within the main lobe, the calculation properly weights the composite signal.

Abstract: A system for measuring components of the velocity of wind along two axes that are transverse to the line of sight of the system includes first and second light emitter arrays disposed along crossed first and second axes, respectively, for illuminating the distribution with light, a detector for receiving light backscattered from the distribution, and a controller to activate the arrays, receive detector signals, and calculate the projections of the velocity of the distribution onto the first and second axes. The light emitters of each array can be positioned at irregular distances and provide the system with the capability of discerning the direction of movement of the distribution along the two axes.

Abstract: An optical flow sensor determines the velocity of a moving flow of air or other gas utilizing a plurality of photodetectors spaced apart in a direction parallel to the direction of gas flow. An optical beam is transmitted to the photodetectors across the flowing gas. Scintillations that occur in the flowing gas due to eddies and particulates in the gas are detected in the photodetectors at slightly different times. The output signals of the photodetectors are conditioned, amplified and transformed to digital form. Temporal cross correlation analysis is then performed on the digitized signals in a digital signal processor utilizing a fast correlation algorithm in which the total number of calculations is proportional to 2N, as contrasted with conventional systems in which the number of correlations is proportional to N2. A time differential between signals from the different photodetectors is then calculated electronically.

Abstract: A method and corresponding apparatus for measuring the flow velocity of a fluid in an elongated body by sensing at more than one location along the elongated body, vortical disturbances convecting with the fluid, and correlating the outputs of the variously positioned sensors.

Abstract: A peristaltic pump is provided with a housing, a pump head in the housing, and a receiving path defined along a housing and pump head for receiving tubing. Two spaced-apart temperature sensors are provided. One temperature sensor is located adjacent the tubing in a heat conduction path along which heat flows between the sensor and the tubing. The other sensor is located outside of the heat conduction path for sensing ambient temperature. The pump operating speed is adjusted as a function of the sensed temperatures. This accommodates the temperature-dependent rate of recovery of the tubing from its peristaltically deformed configuration to its original configuration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining gas and liquid flow rates in a multi-phase flow are provided. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method of determining gas and liquid flow rates in a multi-phase flow is provided. The method utilizes a set of gas phase ultrasonic transducers and a set of liquid phase ultrasonic transducers positioned to direct ultrasonic signals through the multi-phase flow.

Abstract: A flow meter for a multiphase flow which comprises a cross-correlation flow meter (26) for measuring basic values to calculate component ratios of respective fluids constituting a multiphase fluid (2) comprising a gas and a plurality of liquids in a pipe (1) through which the multiphase fluid flows; and an arithmetic circuit (22) for calculating flow rates of the respective fluids, which acquires information concerning ratios of liquid phase components of the multiphase fluid (2) on the basis of both measured values obtained by the cross-correlation flow meter (26) at an instance when the pipe (1) is filled with liquid alone during the passage of the multiphase fluid (2) through the pipe (1) provided with the cross-correlation flow meter (26) and characteristic values of the respective fluids of the multiphase fluid (2), acquires information concerning ratios of the respective fluids from a time average of the measurements obtained by the cross-correlation flow meter (26) and the respective characteristic val

Abstract: An optical flow sensor determines the velocity of a moving flow of air or other gas utilizing a plurality of photodetectors spaced apart in a direction parallel to the direction of gas flow. An optical beam is transmitted across the flowing gas and falls upon the photodetectors. Scintillations that occur in the flowing gas due to eddies and particulates in the gas are detected in all of the photodetectors, but at slightly different times due to the longitudinal separation of the photodetectors in the direction of gas flow. The output signals of the photodetectors are conditioned and amplified and transformed to digital form. Temporal cross correlation analysis is then performed on the digitized signals in a digital signal processor. A time differential between signals from the different photodetectors is then calculated electronically.

Abstract: A clamp-on ultrasonic measurement system for a gas or fluid of low acoustic impedance, such as steam, two phase fluid or flare gas includes an ultrasonic signal transmitter which clamps to the steam or gas conduit, and first and second receiving transducers clamped in the shadow zone of the transmitter. The transmitter signal skips within the conduit wall with a characteristic skip distance Lp so ultrasonic signal energy is launched across the flow along plural paths over a region, and at an angle to the direction of flow. The receivers are positioned to receive the signal energy along different ones of said paths, modulated by tags or inhomogeneities in the flowing fluid. Cross correlation of the received signals then yields a peak correlation time interval or time delay from which the flow velocity is accurately determined.

Abstract: A flowmeter and flow measurement method employing the determination of convection speed of turbulent spots. A plurality of sensors is employed, preferably thin-film gauges operating in constant temperature, constant current, or constant voltage mode. Airspeed (or fluid speed) is determined from the convection speed, preferably via dividing the streamwise sensor spacing by the product of the time lag to the peak of a crosscorrelation function and a calibration constant. Turbulence may be artificially induced, such as by intermittent jets, electrical sparks, or protuberances.