US 11,946,467 B2
Device and method for measuring the flow of a fluid in a tube moved by a peristaltic pump
Michele Alessio Dellutri, San Gregorio di Catania (IT); Fabio Passaniti, Syracuse (IT); and Enrico Rosario Alessi, Catania (IT)
Assigned to STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l., Agrate Brianza (IT)
Filed by STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l., Agrate Brianza (IT)
Filed on Nov. 4, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/519,294.
Claims priority of application No. 102020000026666 (IT), filed on Nov. 9, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0145873 A1, May 12, 2022
Int. Cl. F04B 43/12 (2006.01); F04B 49/06 (2006.01)
CPC F04B 43/12 (2013.01) [F04B 49/06 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device configured to measure a flow of fluid inside a tube moved by a peristaltic pump, the device comprising:
a detection electrode arrangement coupled to the tube, and configured to detect an electrostatic charge variation originated by an action of the peristaltic pump on the tube;
a signal processing circuitry coupled to the detection electrode arrangement, and configured to generate an electrical charge variation signal based on the electrostatic charge variation; and
a processor coupled to the signal processing circuitry, and configured to:
receive and process, in a frequency domain, the electrical charge variation signal to obtain flow information for the fluid based on frequency characteristics of the electrical charge variation signal;
determine amplitude values of harmonics of the electrical charge variation signal; and
determine a type of the fluid based on the amplitude values of the harmonics.