Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for pressure fluctuation insensitive mass flow control

US7424346B2 · kind B2 · utility

26Cited by
55References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 15, 2005
Grant dateSep 9, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 29, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T137/87354
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A mass flow controller includes a thermal mass flow sensor in combination with a pressure sensor to provide a mass flow controller that is relatively insensitive to fluctuations in input pressure. The pressure sensor and thermal sensor respectively provide signals to an electronic controller indicating the measured inlet flow rate and the pressure within the dead volume. The electronic controller employs the measured pressure to compensate the measured inlet flow rate and to thereby produce a compensated measure of the outlet flow rate, which may be used to operate a mass flow controller control valve.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.