Patent ID: 7624632
Filing Date: 2009-12-01
Classification: G01F,G01M

Abstract:
1. An integrated fluid flow, temperature and pressure sensor, said sensor comprising: a body including a path for the flow of fluid: temperature determining means located within said body, and coupled to said path, for making a determination of the upstream temperature of a fluid flowing in said path: heating means located within said body, and coupled to said path, for transferring heat from said heating means to said fluid; control means located within said body, and coupled to said heating means and to said temperature determining means, for applying power to said heating means in an amount required to raise the temperature of said heating means above said upstream temperature by a predetermined amount, and for converting the value of said power into a flow signal representing a corresponding flow; pressure sensing means located within said body, for sensing fluid pressure in said path at a location adjacent to one of said heating means and said temperature determining means, for generating an electrical signal representative of the pressure of said fluid; signal processing means located within said body, and coupled to said control means, to said temperature determining means, and to said pressure sensing means, for processing said flow signal, said temperature signal, and said pressure signal, for generating digital signals representing said flow, said temperature, and said pressure, for transmission over a digital signal transmission path; and signal connection means mounted on said body, and connected to at least said signal processing means, for providing a standard connection between said signal processing means and said signal transmission path.