التفاصيل البيبلوغرافية
| العنوان: |
Method and apparatus for calibrating an ultrasonic sensing system used to detect moving objects |
| Document Number: |
20080092623 |
| تاريخ النشر: |
April 24, 2008 |
| Appl. No: |
11/651105 |
| Application Filed: |
January 09, 2007 |
| مستخلص: |
A calibration device is described for use in calibrating an ultrasonic pulse echo apparatus for detecting a moving object in a fluid, where the ultrasonic pulse echo apparatus includes an ultrasonic transducer and calibration circuitry. A connector has a first end for connecting with a first fluid conduit and a second end for connecting with a second fluid conduit. A cavity between the first and second ends permits the fluid containing the moving object from the first conduit to flow through the connector cavity to the second fluid conduit. A first calibration sphere is positioned relative to the connector for reflecting an ultrasonic pulse signal transmitted by the ultrasonic transducer. The reflected ultrasonic pulse signal is useable by the calibration circuitry to calibrate the ultrasonic pulse echo apparatus. |
| Inventors: |
Lynch, John Edward (Williamsburg, VA, US); Blaker, David Mark (Roanoke, VA, US); Hileman, Ronald E. (Durham, NC, US) |
| Assignees: |
Luna Innovations Incorporated (Roanoke, VA, US) |
| Claim: |
1. A calibration device for use in calibrating ultrasonic pulse echo apparatus for detecting a moving object in a fluid, where the ultrasonic pulse echo apparatus includes an ultrasonic transducer and calibration circuitry, the calibration device comprising: a connector for connecting at a first end with a first fluid conduit and at a second end with a second fluid conduit, the connector including a cavity between the first and second ends to permit the fluid containing the moving object from the first conduit to flow through the connector cavity to the second fluid conduit, and a first calibration sphere positioned relative to the connector for reflecting an ultrasonic pulse signal transmitted by the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the reflected ultrasonic pulse signal is useable by the calibration circuitry to calibrate the ultrasonic pulse echo apparatus. |
| Claim: |
2. The calibration device in claim 1, wherein the first calibration sphere is positioned on or near an outer surface of the connector in a location opposite the ultrasonic transducer used to transmit the ultrasonic pulse signal. |
| Claim: |
3. The calibration device in claim 2, wherein the connector includes a base for positioning the first calibration sphere on or near the outer surface of the connector. |
| Claim: |
4. The calibration device in claim 3, wherein the base is integral with the connector. |
| Claim: |
5. The calibration device in claim 3, wherein the base is mounted on the connector. |
| Claim: |
6. The calibration device in claim 1, wherein the first calibration sphere is positioned on or near an inner surface of the connector in a location opposite the ultrasonic transducer used to transmit the ultrasonic pulse signal. |
| Claim: |
7. The calibration device in claim 1, wherein one or both of the first and second ends of the connector are tapered. |
| Claim: |
8. The calibration device in claim 1, wherein one or both of the first and second ends of the connector are ridged. |
| Claim: |
9. The calibration device in claim 1, wherein the connector further comprises a recess formed in the outer surface of the connector opposite the first calibration sphere for receiving and orienting the ultrasonic transducer. |
| Claim: |
10. The calibration device in claim 9, further comprising a second calibration sphere positioned relative to the connector and adjacent to the first calibration sphere for reflecting an ultrasonic pulse signal transmitted by the ultrasonic transducer, wherein at least one of the ultrasonic pulse signals reflected by the first and second calibration spheres is useable by the calibration circuitry to calibrate the ultrasonic pulse echo apparatus. |
| Claim: |
11. The calibration device in claim 10, wherein when the transducer is inserted in a first orientation in the recess, one of the first and second calibration spheres is useable by the calibration circuitry to calibrate the ultrasonic pulse echo apparatus, and when the transducer is inserted in a second orientation in the recess, one of the first and second calibration spheres is useable by the calibration circuitry to calibrate the ultrasonic pulse echo apparatus. |
| Claim: |
12. A calibration system, comprising: an ultrasonic pulse echo apparatus for detecting a moving object in a fluid including: an ultrasonic transducer for transmitting an ultrasonic pulse signal in a direction that intersects a path of the moving object and receiving an echo signal from an object in a field of view of the ultrasonic pulse signal; and processing circuitry for processing the echo signal including calibration circuitry for calibrating echo signal processing; a connector positioned to intersect with the field of view of the ultrasonic pulse signal having a first end for connection with a first fluid conduit and a second end for connection with a second fluid conduit, the connector further including a cavity between the first and second ends to permit the fluid containing the moving object from the first conduit to flow through the connector cavity to the second fluid conduit; and a first calibration sphere positioned relative to the connector and in the field of view of the ultrasonic pulse signal for reflecting the ultrasonic pulse signal transmitted by the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the calibration circuitry is configured to calibrate the echo signal processing using the reflected ultrasonic pulse signal. |
| Claim: |
13. The calibration system in claim 12, wherein the ultrasonic pulse signal includes a series of broadband pulses transmitted at a frequency on order of several MHz. |
| Claim: |
14. The calibration system in claim 12, wherein the connector includes a base for positioning the first calibration sphere on or near the outer surface of the connector. |
| Claim: |
15. The calibration system in claim 12, wherein the connector further comprises a recess formed in the outer surface of the connector opposite the first calibration sphere for receiving and orienting the ultrasonic transducer. |
| Claim: |
16. The calibration system in claim 15, further comprising a second calibration sphere positioned relative to the connector and adjacent to the first calibration sphere for reflecting an ultrasonic pulse signal transmitted by the ultrasonic transducer, wherein at least one of the ultrasonic pulse signals reflected by the first and second calibration spheres is useable by the calibration circuitry to calibrate the echo signal processing. |
| Claim: |
17. The calibration device in claim 16, wherein when the transducer is inserted in a first orientation in the recess, one of the first and second calibration spheres is useable by the calibration circuitry to calibrate the echo signal processing, and when the transducer is inserted in a second orientation in the recess, one of the first and second calibration spheres is useable by the calibration circuitry to calibrate the echo signal processing. |
| Claim: |
18. The calibration system in claim 12, wherein the fluid includes blood and the ultrasonic pulse echo apparatus is configured to monitor objects in the blood. |
| Claim: |
19. The calibration system in claim 12, wherein the calibration circuitry is configured to calibrate the echo signal processing using the reflected ultrasonic pulse signal while also monitoring the fluid for moving objects. |
| Claim: |
20. The calibration system in claim 12, wherein the calibration circuitry is configured to determine a difference between a magnitude of the reflected ultrasonic pulse signal and a predetermined value and to adjust the echo signal processing to reduce the difference. |
| Claim: |
21. The calibration system in claim 20, wherein the calibration circuitry is configured to determine whether the difference is within a predetermined range before adjusting the echo signal. |
| Claim: |
22. A method for calibrating an ultrasonic pulse echo apparatus for detecting a moving object in a fluid, comprising: positioning a connector with one or more calibration objects to intersect with the field of view of the ultrasonic pulse signal; transmitting an ultrasonic pulse signal in a direction that intersects a path of the moving object; positioning a first calibration sphere relative to the connector and in the field of view of the ultrasonic pulse signal, the first calibration sphere reflecting the ultrasonic pulse signal transmitted by the ultrasonic transducer, receiving the reflected ultrasonic pulse signal; and calibrating ultrasonic pulse echo apparatus using the reflected ultrasonic pulse signal. |
| Claim: |
23. The method in claim 22, further comprising: connecting a first end of the connector with a first fluid conduit; connecting a second end of the connector with a second fluid conduit; wherein the connector includes a cavity between the first and second ends to permit the fluid containing the moving object from the first conduit to flow through the connector cavity to the second fluid conduit. |
| Claim: |
24. The method in claim 22, further comprising transmitting the ultrasonic pulse signal as a series of broadband pulses at a frequency on order of several MHz. |
| Claim: |
25. The method in claim 22, further comprising receiving and orienting the ultrasonic transducer in a recess formed in the outer surface of the connector opposite the first calibration sphere. |
| Claim: |
26. The method in claim 22, further comprising: positioning a second calibration sphere relative to the connector and adjacent to the first calibration sphere for reflecting an ultrasonic pulse signal transmitted by the ultrasonic transducer, and using at least one of the ultrasonic pulse signals reflected by the first and second calibration spheres to calibrate the ultrasonic pulse echo apparatus. |
| Claim: |
27. The method in claim 26, further comprising: inserting the transducer in a first orientation in the recess and using one of the first and second calibration spheres to calibrate the ultrasonic pulse echo apparatus, and inserting the transducer in a second orientation in the recess and using one of the first and second calibration spheres to calibrate the ultrasonic pulse echo apparatus. |
| Claim: |
28. The method in claim 22, further comprising calibrating the ultrasonic pulse echo apparatus using the reflected ultrasonic pulse signal while also monitoring the fluid for moving objects. |
| Claim: |
29. The method in claim 22, further comprising determining a difference between a magnitude of the reflected ultrasonic pulse signal and a predetermined value and to adjust the echo signal processing to reduce the difference. |
| Claim: |
30. The method in claim 22, further comprising determining whether the difference is within a predetermined range before adjusting the echo signal. |
| Current U.S. Class: |
73/182 |
| Current International Class: |
01 |
| رقم الانضمام: |
edspap.20080092623 |
| قاعدة البيانات: |
USPTO Patent Applications |