Back to results
US 8,839,989 B2Granted
System and method for generating a drive signal
AssigneeDEKA Products Limited Partnership
InventorsRussell Herbert Beavis, James Jason Dattolo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and computer program product for defining a PWM drive signal having a defined voltage potential. The PWM drive signal has a plurality of “on” portions and a plurality of “off” portions that define a first duty cycle for regulating, at least in part, a flow rate of a pump assembly. At least a portion of the “on” portions of the PWM drive signal are pulse width modulated to define a second duty cycle for the at least a portion of the “on” portions of the PWM drive signal. The second duty cycle regulates, at least in part, the percentage of the defined voltage potential applied to the pump assembly.
Claims17
A fluid dispensing system comprising:
- at least one microprocessor;
- a micro-ingredient subsystem comprising:
- at least one product container configured to hold a micro-ingredient;
- at least one product module assembly configured to releasably engage the at least one product container;
- and
- at least one pump assembly configured to attach to the at least one product container;
- a control logic subsystem for converting control signals provided by the at least one microprocessor into a form usable by the micro-ingredient subsystem, wherein the control logic subsystem configured to:
- define a PWM drive signal having a defined voltage potential, wherein the PWM drive signal has a plurality of “on” portions and a plurality of “off” portions that define a first duty cycle for regulating, at least in part, a first flow rate of the at least one pump assembly;
- and
- pulse width modulate at least a portion of the “on” portions of the PWM drive signal to define a second duty cycle for the at least a portion of the “on” portions of the PWM drive signal, wherein the second duty cycle regulates, at least in part, a percentage of the defined voltage potential applied to the at least one pump assembly;
- and
- a plumbing/control subsystem, wherein the control logic subsystem further configured to measure a second flow generated by the plumbing/control subsystem using a flow measuring device.
9 more elements
A fluid dispensing system comprising:
- a microprocessor;
- a micro-ingredient subsystem comprising:
- a product container configured to hold a micro-ingredient;
- a product module assembly configured to releasably engage the product container;
- and
- a pump assembly configured to attach to the product container;
- a control logic subsystem for converting control signals provided by the microprocessor into a form usable by the micro-ingredient subsystem,
- wherein the control signals define a volume of micro-ingredients to be pumped, and
- wherein the control logic subsystem configured to:
- define a PWM drive signal having a defined voltage potential, wherein the PWM drive signal has a plurality of “on” portions and a plurality of “off” portions that define a first duty cycle for regulating, at least in part, a first flow rate of the pump assembly;
- and
- pulse width modulate at least a portion of the “on” portions of the PWM drive signal to define a second duty cycle for the at least a portion of the “on” portions of the PWM drive signal, wherein the second duty cycle regulates, at least in part, a percentage of the defined voltage potential applied to the pump assembly;
- and
- a plumbing/control subsystem, wherein the control logic subsystem further configured to measure a second flow generated by the plumbing/control subsystem using a flow measuring device.
11 more elements
A fluid dispensing system comprising:
- at least one microprocessor;
- a micro-ingredient subsystem comprising:
- at least one product module assembly configured to releasably engage at least one product container;
- and
- at least one pump assembly configured to attach to the at least one product container;
- a control logic subsystem for converting control signals provided by the at least one microprocessor into a form usable by the micro-ingredient subsystem, wherein the control logic subsystem configured to:
- define a PWM drive signal having a defined voltage potential, wherein the PWM drive signal has a plurality of “on” portions and a plurality of “off” portions that define a first duty cycle for regulating, at least in part, a first flow rate of the at least one pump assembly;
- and
- pulse width modulate at least a portion of the “on” portions of the PWM drive signal to define a second duty cycle for the at least a portion of the “on” portions of the PWM drive signal, wherein the second duty cycle regulates, at least in part, a percentage of the defined voltage potential applied to the at least one pump assembly;
- and
- a plumbing/control subsystem, wherein the control logic subsystem further configured to measure a second flow generated by the plumbing/control subsystem using a flow measuring device.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.