Multi-channel flow sensing
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorsRavindra Karnad, Venkata Ramanan Ramamurthy, Anand Dabak, Venu Gopinathan
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Abstract
A multi-channel flow sensing system typically includes first and second flow-sensing transducers arranged in each channel. A data acquisition system is coupled to the first and second transducers of each of the channels. The data acquisition system is arranged to transmit and/or receive a sensing signal from at least one of the first and second transducers of each of the channels. The received sensing signals are sequentially converted and accumulated as data for billing in accordance with the measured flow within each channel. Using common components within the data acquisition system for measuring the various channels reduces costs and increases affordability in cost-sensitive areas.
Claims20
A system for multi-channel flow sensing, the system comprising:
- control circuitry for generating at least one control signal to select at least one channel of which a flow rate is to be measured, wherein the selected channel is selected from a group of channels branching from a conduit;
- a driver for generating at least one stimulus signal;
- a receiver for receiving at least one response signal;
- a switch for coupling at least one sensor of the selected channel to the driver and the receiver in response to the control signal from the control circuitry, wherein the coupled sensor is for:
- propagating the stimulus signal from the driver through a flowing medium of the selected channel, and
- generating the response signal to the receiver in response to the propagated stimulus signal;
- and
- a converter for:
- periodically sampling the response signal from the receiver at a sampling rate that is sufficient to determine consumption of the flowing medium of the selected channel, and
- providing an indication of the periodic sampling to a processor for proportional billing in accordance with the indication.
A method of multi-channel flow sensing, the method comprising:
- generating at least one control signal to select at least one channel of which a flow rate is to be measured, wherein the selected channel is selected from a group of channels branching from a conduit;
- generating at least one stimulus signal from a driver;
- receiving at least one response signal with a receiver;
- with a switch, coupling at least one sensor of the selected channel to the driver and the receiver in response to the control signal;
- with the coupled sensor, propagating the stimulus signal from the driver through a flowing medium of the selected channel, and generating the response signal to the receiver in response to the propagated stimulus signal;
- and
- with a converter, periodically sampling the response signal from the receiver at a sampling rate that is sufficient to determine consumption of the flowing medium of the selected channel, and providing an indication of the periodic sampling to a processor for proportional billing in accordance with the indication.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.