Ultrasound Flow Meter Marker Time-of-Flight Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic flow meters face limitations in measuring absolute time-of-flight of ultrasound signals in flowing media due to complexity and ambiguity issues, particularly in large flows and temperature-dependent signal times, which require complex implementations and specialized hardware.
Innovation Solution
A method that embeds a marker in the ultrasound signal to determine the time of flight by measuring the period duration of reception signals, allowing for reduced technical outlay and eliminating the need for specialized microcontrollers, using a reception window that can be optimized to ensure accurate detection of the marker, and utilizing signals with and without markers to enhance signal alignment and reduce energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If difference-in-time-of-flight methods are used to measure flow, then the measurement process is simple, but the measurable time-of-flight differences are limited due to periodic phase angle repetition
Solution Approach 1:
A marker is embedded in advance into the ultrasound signal at a known position before transmission. This preliminary action allows the receiver to identify the exact arrival time of the signal by detecting the marker's characteristic phase change, enabling absolute time-of-flight measurement without being limited by phase angle periodicity.
2Measurement precision
If absolute time-of-flight measurement is implemented using level and envelope curve methods, then complete time allocation is achieved, but very complex implementation requiring ASICs is needed
Solution Approach 1:
A marker acts as an intermediary element embedded in the ultrasound signal. This marker with its distinctive phase change characteristic serves as a recognizable reference point that simplifies the detection process, allowing standard microcontrollers to perform absolute time-of-flight measurement without requiring complex ASIC implementations.
Solution Approach 2:
The marker introduces a deliberate phase change (analogous to a color change) in the ultrasound signal at a specific position. This phase change creates a distinctive signature that is easily detectable by the receiver, enabling precise time-of-flight determination through simple phase detection rather than complex envelope curve analysis.
3Measurement precision
If temperature sensors are added to account for temperature-dependent time of flight, then measurement accuracy improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ultrasound signal itself with the embedded marker serves as the reference for time measurement. By measuring the absolute time-of-flight using the marker's known position and detecting its phase change at the receiver, the system inherently accounts for temperature effects on sound speed without requiring separate temperature sensors or additional correction hardware.
4Measurement precision
If markers with phase changes are embedded in ultrasound signals, then reliable absolute time-of-flight determination is achieved, but signal processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The marker introduces a deliberate phase change (analogous to a color change) in the ultrasound signal at a specific position. This phase change creates a distinctive signature that is easily detectable by the receiver, enabling precise time-of-flight determination through simple phase detection rather than complex envelope curve analysis.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables efficient and reliable determination of absolute time-of-flight with reduced hardware requirements and energy consumption, eliminating the need for temperature sensors and avoiding signal ambiguity, thus improving measurement accuracy and robustness across varying flow conditions.
Implementation Method 1
an ultrasound signal provided with a marker is generated by an ultrasound emitter, the ultrasound signal is transmitted through the flowing medium to an ultrasound receiver
Implementation Method 2
the location of the marker is used in order to determine the time of flight of the ultrasound signal by measuring the period duration of at least one selected period of the reception signal
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining the time of flight, preferably the absolute time of flight, of an ultrasound signal in a flowing medium, includes using an ultrasound emitter to generate an ultrasound signal provided with a marker. The ultrasound signal is transmitted through the flowing medium to an ultrasound receiver, and the location of the marker is used in order to determine the time of flight of the ultrasound signal. The period duration of at least one selected period of the reception signal is measured to determine the location of the marker. An ultrasonic flow meter which can be operated according to the method is also provided.