Patent ID: 7321833

Claim:
A fluid valve assembly, comprising: a valve body defining an inlet, an outlet and a valving cavity disposed between and communicating with the inlet and the outlet, and a valving surface between the inlet and the outlet; a valve moveable to a position away from the valving surface for permitting flow from the inlet through the valving cavity to the outlet, and moveable to a position contacting the valving surface for preventing flow from the inlet through the valving cavity; a fluid flow rate sensor disposed between the inlet and the outlet and having a probe including a detection module adapted to change condition in response to the presence of the flow of fluid; a control module electrically connected to the probe, the control module monitoring the condition of the detection module over time, determining a rate of change of the condition over time, and generating an output that is indicative of the rate of flow of the fluid; an I/O module connected to the control module and communicating the output of the control module to another device; a detection circuit comprising a plurality of thermistors and a plurality of resistors, the detection circuit adapted to provide a voltage that varies in response to a change in temperature of the thermistors; and a heating circuit comprising at least one resistor in thermal communication with at least one thermistor.