Thomas M Sharp

US Patent:

6466880, Oct 15, 2002

Filed:

Feb 16, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/788189

Inventors:

Timothy J. Cunningham - Boulder CO
David Lee Campbell - Boulder CO
Thomas Dean Sharp - Terrace Park OH

Assignee:

Micro Motion, Inc. - Boulder CO

International Classification:

G06F 1760

US Classification:

702 50, 702 43, 702189, 702188, 702 55

Abstract:

Mass flow of a material in a conduit is estimated by mode selective filtering a plurality of motion signals representing motion of the conduit to generate a plurality of mode selective filtered motion signals such that the mode selective filtered motion signals preferentially represent motion associated with a vibrational mode of the conduit. A plurality of phase estimates is generated from the plurality of mode selective filtered motion signals. A mass flow estimate is generated from the plurality of phase estimates. The plurality of phase estimates may be estimated using a phase reference derived from one of the plurality of mode selective filtered motion signals. In some embodiments, a frequency of a mode selective filtered motion signal of the plurality of mode selective filtered motion signals is estimated. Quadrature first and second reference signals are generated based on the estimated frequency. The plurality of phase estimates is generated from the plurality of mode selective filtered motion signals and the first and second reference signals.

US Patent:

6535826, Mar 18, 2003

Filed:

Feb 16, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/785869

Inventors:

Timothy J. Cunningham - Boulder CO
David Lee Campbell - Boulder CO
Thomas Dean Sharp - Terrace Park OH

Assignee:

Micro Motion, Inc. - Boulder CO

International Classification:

G06F 100

US Classification:

702 45, 702100, 73861352, 73861356

Abstract:

Motion signals representing motion of a conduit of a mass flowmeter are mode selective filtered to generate a plurality of mode selective filtered motion signals such that the plurality of mode selective filtered motion signals preferentially represent motion associated with a vibrational mode of the conduit. A plurality of time difference estimates is generated from the plurality of mode selective filtered motion signals. A correlation measure is generated from the plurality of time difference estimates. A status of the mass flowmeter system is determined from the generated correlation measure. In some embodiments, the correlation measure comprises an intercept parameter of a scaling function that relates the plurality of time difference estimates to a plurality of reference time differences representing motion of the conduit at a known mass flow. In other embodiments, the correlation measure comprises a correlation coefficient estimated from the plurality of time difference estimates. In still other embodiments, the correlation measure comprises an error of estimate.

US Patent:

6694279, Feb 17, 2004

Filed:

Feb 16, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/788194

Inventors:

Timothy J. Cunningham - Boulder CO
David Lee Campbell - Boulder CO
Thomas Dean Sharp - Terrace Park OH

Assignee:

Micro Motion, Inc. - Boulder CO

International Classification:

G06F 1700

US Classification:

702106, 702 45, 702 54, 702190, 73861356

Abstract:

Movement of a structure, such a conduit of a Coriolis mass flowmeter, is estimated. A plurality of motion signals representing motion of the structure are mode selective filtered to generate a plurality of mode selective filtered motion signals such that the mode selective filtered motion signals preferentially represent motion associated with a vibrational mode of the structure. A plurality of phase estimates is generated from the plurality of mode selective filtered motion signals. The plurality of phase estimates may be generated using a phase reference derived from a mode selective filtered motion signal of the plurality of mode selective filtered motion signals. According to some embodiments, a frequency of a mode selective filtered motion signal is estimated, and quadrature first and second reference signals are generated based on the estimated frequency. The plurality of phase estimates is generated from the mode selective filtered motion signals and the reference signals.