The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 01, 2008
Filed:
Sep. 27, 2004
Leonid Matsiev, San Jose, CA (US);
Oleg Kolosov, San Jose, CA (US);
Mark D. Uhrich, Redwood City, CA (US);
William Rust, Mountain View, CA (US);
John M. Feland, Iii, Palo Alto, CA (US);
John F. Varni, Los Gatos, CA (US);
Blake Walker, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Leonid Matsiev, San Jose, CA (US);
Oleg Kolosov, San Jose, CA (US);
Mark D. Uhrich, Redwood City, CA (US);
William Rust, Mountain View, CA (US);
John M. Feland, III, Palo Alto, CA (US);
John F. Varni, Los Gatos, CA (US);
Blake Walker, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Visyx Technologies, Inc., Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
A system for monitoring a fluid in an environmental control system includes a mechanical resonator positioned for contacting a thermal change fluid. In some embodiments, the mechanical resonator is positioned in a passage for containing the thermal change fluid. Suitable thermal change fluids include an R-134A refrigerant, a mineral oil, an ester lubricant or a mixture thereof; a superheated refrigerant; or an elevated pressure and elevated temperature vapor, an elevated pressure liquid, a reduced pressure liquid, a reduced pressure vapor and combinations thereof. The mechanical resonator can be a flexural resonator or a torsion resonator. In some embodiments, the mechanical resonator is a tuning fork resonator. Methods of the invention include monitoring a response of the mechanical resonator to the thermal change fluid. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the mechanical resonator is translated through the thermal change fluid and the response of the resonator to the fluid is monitored.