US 11,852,609 B2
Fluid consumption meter with noise sensor
Søren Tønnes Nielsen, Solbjerg (DK); Peter Schmidt Laursen, Skanderborg (DK); Jens Lykke Sørensen, Beder (DK); René Gajda Kristensen, Hørning (DK); and Martin Christian Høj Petersen, Hornslet (DK)
Assigned to Kamstrup A/S, Skanderborg (DK)
Filed by Kamstrup A/S, Skanderborg (DK)
Filed on Sep. 23, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/029,153.
Application 17/029,153 is a continuation of application No. 15/741,567, granted, now 10,921,288, previously published as PCT/EP2016/065697, filed on Jul. 4, 2016.
Claims priority of application No. 15175269 (EP), filed on Jul. 3, 2015; application No. 15175270 (EP), filed on Jul. 3, 2015; and application No. 15175271 (EP), filed on Jul. 3, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2021/0003531 A1, Jan. 7, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01N 29/032 (2006.01); G01D 4/00 (2006.01); G01M 3/24 (2006.01); G01F 1/66 (2022.01); G01M 3/28 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 29/032 (2013.01) [G01D 4/00 (2013.01); G01D 4/002 (2013.01); G01D 4/004 (2013.01); G01F 1/666 (2013.01); G01M 3/243 (2013.01); G01M 3/2815 (2013.01); G01N 2291/015 (2013.01); G01N 2291/02408 (2013.01); G01N 2291/02416 (2013.01); G01N 2291/044 (2013.01); Y02B 90/20 (2013.01); Y04S 20/30 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A consumption meter arranged to measure a flow rate of a fluid, the consumption meter comprising:
a flow tube with a through-going opening for passage of the fluid between an inlet and an outlet,
first and second ultrasonic transducers arranged externally relative to the flow tube for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals transmitted through the fluid,
a control circuit comprising a flow measurement sub-circuit arranged for operating the first and second ultrasonic transducers, and being arranged to generate a signal indicative of the flow rate of the fluid from the transmitted and received ultrasonic signals transmitted through the fluid,
wherein the control circuit further comprises a noise measurement sub-circuit, arranged for generating a signal indicative of a noise level of the flow tube or of the fluid therein by operating at least one of the first and second ultrasonic transducers to detect acoustic signals of the flow tube or of the fluid,
wherein the noise measurement sub-circuit comprises a first transimpedance amplifier connected to the first transducer for the conversion of a first current indicative of the noise level of the flow tube or of the fluid therein to a first voltage indicative of the noise level of the flow tube or the fluid therein, and a second transimpedance amplifier connected to the second transducer for the conversion of a second current indicative of the noise level of the flow tube or of the fluid therein to a second voltage indicative of the noise level of the flow tube or the fluid therein.