Industrial flow meter having an accessible digital interface

1. An apparatus for measuring a parameter of a fluid flowing within a pipe, the apparatus comprising:

a sensing device having a sensor for sensing a characteristic of the fluid flow, wherein the sensing device generates sensor data responsive to the characteristic;

a processing device in communication with the sensing device, wherein the processing device is operable to receive and process the sensor data to generate meter data indicative of a first parameter of the fluid; and

at least one digital interface in communication with the processing device, wherein the at least one digital interface includes an accessible data port configured to receive a portable external digital storage device for transferring information between the apparatus and the portable external digital storage device;

wherein the processing device is further operable to incorporate the information from the portable external digital storage device, in a manner such that, after the incorporation, the processing device is reprogrammed to generate meter data indicative of a second parameter of the fluid, which second parameter is of a different type than the first parameter.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said portable external digital storage device is at least one of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Flash Drive, a Compact Flash card, a Smart Media card, a Secure Digital card and a Multimedia card.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the information includes at least one of parametric data, configuration data, diagnostic data, functional scripts and meter control information.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second parameters each comprise one of a Speed of Sound within the fluid, density of the fluid, volumetric flow rate of the fluid, mass fluid flow rate of the fluid, composition of the fluid, consistency of the fluid, size of particles within the fluid, and a gas volume fraction of the fluid.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an input device communicating with said processing device including a display device having a user interface for allowing a user to interface with the apparatus.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein said user interface includes an advanced function software menu.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said advanced function menu includes menu selections to allow a user to select at least one of download information from the apparatus, upload information to the apparatus, to completely change apparatus functionality, to modify apparatus functionality, store raw data for a period of time, store meter data and parameters for a period of time, identify stored data via at least one of a date code and a time code.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said information is stored on said portable external digital storage device to be associated with a predetermined apparatus.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said characteristic of the fluid flow includes at least one of acoustic waves and flow disturbances.

10. A method for measuring multiple parameters of a fluid flow within a pipe, the method comprising:

providing a sensor for sensing the fluid flow within the pipe;

providing a processing unit with at least one digital interface with an accessible data port, which processing unit is in communication with the sensor to receive and process sensor data from the sensor to generate meter data indicative of a first parameter of the fluid, which parameter is selected from the group of parameters consisting of speed of sound within the fluid, density of the fluid, volumetric flow rate of the fluid, mass flow rate of the fluid, composition of the fluid, consistency of the fluid, size of particles within the fluid, and a gas volume fraction of the fluid;

providing a portable external digital storage device, independent of the processing unit, that is operable to communicate with the processing device through the accessible data port;

associating the portable external digital storage device with the processing unit via the data port;

transferring information from the external digital storage device to the processing unit via the digital interface; and

utilizing the information to change the processing unit from generating meter data indicative of the first parameter of the fluid to a second parameter of the fluid, which second parameter is within the group of parameters and is different from the first parameter;

wherein the information utilized to change the processing unit is software that reprograms the processing unit from generating meter data indicative of the first parameter of the fluid to generating the second parameter of the fluid.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the portable external digital storage device is at least one of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Flash Drive, a Compact Flash card, a Smart Media card, a Secure Digital card and a Multimedia card.