IP Library Granted Patent US 10,578,553
Granted Patent B2
US 10,578,553 · App. 16/464,836 · Granted Mar 3, 2020

Measuring apparatus

Inventors: Mitsuru Sato (Kawagoe, JP); Kiyoshi Tateishi (Kawagoe, JP); Wataru Onodera (Kawagoe, JP); Atsuya Ito (Kawagoe, JP); Tomoya Murakami (Makinohara, JP); Akari Agata (Makinohara, JP); Genki Adachi (Makinohara, JP)
Assignees: PIONEER CORPORATION; NIKKISO COMPANY LIMITED
G01N21/53A61B5/0285G01P5/26G01N2015/0065
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,578,553
App. No.
16/464,836
Granted
Mar 3, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

These measurement devices are each provided with: irradiation unit that irradiate a fluid with light; a light-receiving unit that receives light scattered by the fluid; an acquiring unit that acquires fluid information which indicates the flow rate or the flow velocity of the fluid; and a control unit that controls the irradiation unit on the basis of the fluid information.

Claims (29)

1. A measuring apparatus comprising:

a first irradiating device configured to apply light to a fluid;

a first light receiving device configured to receive light scattered by the fluid, out of the light applied by said first irradiating device, and configured to output a first output signal;

an obtaining device configured to obtain fluid information, which indicates a flow volume or a flow velocity of the fluid, on the basis of the first output signal of said first light receiving device; and

a controlling device configured to control said first irradiating device, on the basis of the fluid information.

2. The measuring apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the first output signal includes a beat signal caused by a Doppler shift of the light, and

said obtaining device is configured:

to obtain the fluid information on the basis of average frequency information and first-order moment information based on the beat signal;

to obtain the fluid information on the basis of the average frequency information if the flow volume or the flow velocity of the fluid indicated by the fluid information is greater than or equal to a second predetermined value; and

to obtain the fluid information on the basis of the first-order moment information if the flow volume or the flow velocity of the fluid indicated by the fluid information is less than the second predetermined value.

3. The measuring apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said controlling device is configured to control said first irradiating device to reduce intensity of the light applied to the fluid, or to stop irradiation of the light applied to the fluid, if the flow volume or the flow velocity of the fluid indicated by the fluid information is less than or equal to a first predetermined value.

4. The measuring apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising:

a second irradiating device configured to apply light to the fluid; and

a second light receiving device configured to receive light scattered by the fluid, out of the light applied by said second irradiating device, and configured to output a second output signal, wherein

said controlling device is configured to control said first irradiating device to reduce the intensity of the light applied to the fluid from said first irradiating device, or to stop irradiation of the light applied to the fluid, while controlling said second irradiating device to maintain intensity of the light applied to the fluid from said second irradiating device, if the flow volume or the flow velocity of the fluid indicated by the fluid information is less than or equal to the first predetermined value.

5. The measuring apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

said first irradiating device has a dimming device configured to reduce the light applied to the fluid, and

said controlling device is configured to control said first irradiating device to reduce the intensity of the light applied to the fluid by using the dimming device, if the flow velocity of the fluid indicated by the fluid information is less than or equal to the first predetermined value.

6. The measuring apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising:

a second irradiating device configured to apply light to the fluid; and

a second light receiving device configured to receive light scattered by the fluid, out of the light applied by said second irradiating device, and configured to output a second output signal, wherein

said controlling device is configured to control said first irradiating device to reduce the intensity of the light applied to the fluid from said first irradiating device, or to stop irradiation of the light applied to the fluid, while controlling said second irradiating device to maintain intensity of the light applied to the fluid from said second irradiating device, if the flow volume or the flow velocity of the fluid indicated by the fluid information is less than or equal to the first predetermined value.

7. A measuring method in a measuring apparatus including: a first irradiating device configured to apply light to a fluid; and a first light receiving device configured to receive light scattered by the fluid, out of the light applied by the first irradiating device, and configured to output a first output signal, said measuring method comprising:

an obtaining process of obtaining fluid information, which indicates a flow volume or a flow velocity of the fluid, on the basis of the first output signal of the first light receiving device; and

a controlling process of controlling the first irradiating device, on the basis of the fluid information.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium recording a computer program for making a computer, which is provided in a measuring apparatus including: a first irradiating device configured to apply light to a fluid; and a first light receiving device configured to receive light scattered by the fluid, out of the light applied by the first irradiating device, and configured to output a first output signal, function as:

an obtaining device configured to obtain fluid information, which indicates a flow volume or a flow velocity of the fluid, on the basis of the first output signal of the first light receiving device; and

a controlling device configured to control the first irradiating device, on the basis of the fluid information.

Assignments (5)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Feb 26, 2026
From: AIR WATER BD INC.
To: AIR WATER INC.
Reel/Frame 073900/0490 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Feb 26, 2026
From: AIR WATER BIODESIGN INC.
To: AIR WATER BIODESIGN INC.
Reel/Frame 074977/0107 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 26, 2026
From: AIR WATER BIODESIGN INC.
To: AIR WATER BD INC.
Reel/Frame 074976/0401 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jan 18, 2023
From: PIONEER CORPORATION
To: AIR WATER BIODESIGN INC.
Reel/Frame 062405/0411 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 16, 2019
From: SATO, MITSURU; TATEISHI, KIYOSHI; ONODERA, WATARU; ITO, ATSUYA; MURAKAMI, TOMOYA; AGATA, AKARI; ADACHI, GENKI
To: PIONEER CORPORATION; NIKKISO COMPANY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 049764/0414 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190293557A1 · Sep 26, 2019
Cited By (1)
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