Device and method for measuring the flow of a fluid in a tube moved by a peristaltic pump

A system, comprising:

• a tube;
• a pump coupled to the tube, the pump configured to cause a fluid to flow inside of the tube;
• a measuring device coupled to the tube, the measuring device including:
• receiving electrodes on the tube, the receiving electrodes configured to receive a change in electrostatic charge in a surrounding environment;
• signal processing circuitry coupled to the receiving electrodes, the signal processing circuitry configured to generate an electrostatic charge variation signal that indicates the change in electrostatic charge;
• and
• a processor coupled to the signal processing circuitry, the processor configured to determine frequency characteristics of the electrostatic charge variation signal, and determine flow information for the fluid based on the frequency characteristics;
• and
• a controller configured to control operation of the system based on the flow information.

A method, comprising:

• receiving, by receiving electrodes, a change in electrostatic charge in a surrounding environment, the receiving electrodes being on a tube in which a pump causes a fluid to flow inside of the tube;
• generating, by signal processing circuitry, an electrostatic charge variation signal that indicates the change in electrostatic charge;
• determining, by a processor, frequency characteristics of the electrostatic charge variation signal;
• and
• determining, by the processor, flow information for the fluid based on the frequency characteristics.