Machine fluid sensor and method

US7043969B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Symyx Technologies, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Leonid Matsiev · San Jose, US
• James Bennett · Santa Clara, US
• Daniel Pinkas · Alameda, US
• Mikhail Spitkovsky · Sunnyvale, US
• Oleg Kolosov · San Jose, US
• Shenheng Guan · Palo Alto, US
• Mark Uhrich · Redwood City, US
• G. Cameron Dales · Saratoga, US
• John F. Varni · Campbell, US
• Blake Walker · Eugene, US
• Vladimir Gammer · San Francisco, US
• Dave Padowitz · Mountain View, US
• Eric Low · Kowloon, CN

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 2, 2003
• Grant date: May 16, 2006
• Expiry date: Jun 2, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2291/0427
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method for analyzing a fluid contained within a machine, comprising the steps of providing a machine including a passage for containing a fluid; placing a sensor including a mechanical resonator in the passage; operating the resonator to have a portion thereof translate through the fluid; and monitoring the response of the resonator to the fluid in the passage. A preferred sensor includes a tuning fork resonator.