Intermittent drop detecting method and apparatus
US4469480A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 11, 1983 |
| Grant date | Sep 4, 1984 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 11, 2003 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S128/13
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention provides an accurate method and apparatus for monitoring the drop flow rate from a fluid source. The method and apparatus allows for an intermittent drop flow rate by accumulating a weighted drop period rate error factor which is adjusted for each drop period detected. A drop period window is adjusted by each drop period and is utilized to determine if the current drop period is within the window indicating a normal operation. Drop periods outside the window cause a factor to be added to the accumulated error factor and drop periods within the window cause a factor to be subtracted from the accumulated error factor. This allows good periods to offset bad periods, so that minor fluctuations in the drop periods during normal operation can be ignored.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.