Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 52
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of monitoring fluid flow conditions in a fluid dispensing system controlling flow of a fluid through a fluid dispenser, the fluid dispenser including a sensor producing an input signal having values representing a characteristic of fluid flow through the fluid dispenser, the method comprising the steps of: storing an alarm limit value of the characteristic of fluid flow and a warning limit value of the characteristic of fluid flow, the warning limit value having a magnitude between the alarm limit value and an acceptable value of the characteristic of fluid flow; periodically sampling during a sampling period the input signal to detect sampled values of the characteristic values of the fluid flow; comparing each sampled value to the alarm and warning limit values; and producing a warning error code in response to predetermined relationships between the sampled values and the alarm and warning limit values.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of monitoring fluid flow conditions in a fluid dispensing system controlling flow of a fluid through a fluid dispenser, the fluid dispenser including a sensor producing an input signal having values representing a characteristic of fluid flow through the fluid dispenser, the method comprising the steps of: storing an alarm limit value of the characteristic of fluid flow and a warning limit value of the characteristic of fluid flow, the warning limit value having a magnitude between the alarm limit value and an acceptable value of the characteristic of fluid flow; periodically sampling during a sampling period the input signal to detect sampled values of the characteristic values of the fluid flow; comparing each sampled value to the alarm and warning limit values; and producing a warning error code in response to predetermined relationships between the sampled values and the alarm and warning limit values.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of monitoring an operation of a fluid dispensing system controlling flow of a fluid through a fluid dispenser, the fluid dispenser including a sensor producing an input signal representing pressure of the fluid in the fluid dispenser, the method comprising the steps of: storing an alarm limit value representing a limit of a range of pressures of the fluid; storing a warning limit value of the pressure, the warning limit value having a magnitude between the alarm limit value and an acceptable value of the pressure; periodically sampling the input signal during a sampling period to detect sampled values of the pressure of the fluid in the dispenser; comparing each sampled value to the alarm and warning limit values; and producing a warning error code in response to predetermined relationships between the sampled values and the alarm and warning limit values.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of monitoring an operation of a fluid dispensing system controlling flow of a fluid through a fluid dispenser, the fluid dispenser including a sensor producing an input signal representing pressure of the fluid in the fluid dispenser, the method comprising the steps of: storing an alarm limit value representing a limit of a range of pressures of the fluid; storing a warning limit value of the pressure, the warning limit value having a magnitude between the alarm limit value and an acceptable value of the pressure; periodically sampling the input signal during a sampling period to detect sampled values of the pressure of the fluid in the dispenser; comparing each sampled value to the alarm and warning limit values; and producing a warning error code in response to predetermined relationships between the sampled values and the alarm and warning limit values.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of producing a warning error code further comprises producing a warning error code in response to a predetermined number of sampled values being less than the alarm limit value and greater than the warning limit value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of producing the warning error code further comprises the steps of: determining an average pressure value in response to the sampled pressure values detected during the sampling period; and comparing the average pressure value to the alarm and warning pressure limit values; and producing the warning error code in response to the average pressure value being between the warning limit value and the alarm limit value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the step of producing the warning error code further comprises counting a predetermined number of occurrences of the average pressure value being between the warning limit value and the alarm limit value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the step of producing the warning error code further comprises counting a predetermined number of consecutive occurrences of the average pressure value being greater than the warning limit value and less than the alarm limit value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
122 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of producing a warning error code further comprises the steps of: producing an alarm pressure quality indicator in response to a sampled pressure value exceeding the limit of a range of pressures of the fluid; counting each alarm pressure quality indicator during the sampling period; producing an acceptable pressure quality indicator in response to a sampled pressure value being between the warning limit value and the acceptable value of the pressure; counting each acceptable pressure quality indicator during the sampling period; and producing the warning error code in response to counting a predetermined number of occurrences of the alarm pressure quality indicators and a predetermined number of occurrences of the acceptable pressure quality indicators.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
182 words
The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of: storing a high alarm limit value and a low alarm limit value of the pressure and a high warning limit value and a low warning limit value of the pressure, the high warning limit value having a magnitude between the high alarm limit value and an acceptable value of the pressure and the low warning limit value having a magnitude between the low alarm limit value and the acceptable value of the pressure; determining an average pressure value in response to the sampled pressure values detected during the sampling period; comparing the average pressure value to the high and low alarm pressure limit values and the high and low warning pressure limit values; and producing a first warning error code in response to the average pressure value being greater than the high warning limit value and less than the high alarm limit value and a second warning error code in response to the average pressure value being less than the low warning limit value and greater than the high alarm limit value.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the step of producing the first and second warning error codes further comprises the steps of: counting a predetermined number of consecutive occurrences of the average pressure value being greater than the high warning limit value and less than the high alarm limit value; and counting a predetermined number of consecutive occurrences of the average pressure value being less than the low warning limit value and greater than the low alarm limit value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
164 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the step of producing a warning error code further comprises the steps of: producing a high alarm pressure quality indicator in response to a sampled pressure value exceeding the high alarm limit value; counting each high alarm pressure quality indicator during the sampling period; producing a low alarm pressure quality indicator in response to a sampled pressure value being less than the low alarm limit value; counting each low alarm pressure quality indicator during the sampling period; producing an acceptable pressure quality indicator in response to a sampled value being less than the high warning limit value and greater than the low warning limit value; counting each acceptable pressure quality indicator during the sampling period; and producing the warning error code in response to counting during the sampling period a first predetermined number of occurrences of both the high and low alarm pressure quality indicators and a second predetermined number of occurrences of the acceptable pressure quality indicators.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the step of producing the warning error code further comprises counting the first predetermined number of occurrences of both the high and low alarm pressure quality indicators and the second predetermined number of occurrences of the acceptable pressure quality indicators during a predetermined number of consecutive sample periods.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the method further comprises the step of producing an alarm error code in response to counting a third predetermined number of occurrences of the acceptable pressure quality indicators.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the method further comprises the step of producing an alarm error code in response to counting during the sampling period a number greater than the first predetermined number of occurrences of both the high and low alarm pressure quality indicators.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of storing the warning error code in association with a time and date corresponding generally to an execution of the step of producing the warning error code.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of storing a plurality of warning error codes in association with a time and date for each of the plurality of warning error codes corresponding generally to an execution of respective steps of producing the warning error codes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
104 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: storing a plurality of reference values of the characteristic of the fluid flow in the fluid dispenser; periodically comparing the values of the input signal with the plurality of reference values to produce different quality indicators in response to different predetermined relationships between the values of the input signal and the plurality of reference values, each of the different quality indicators relating to undesirable values of the characteristic of the fluid flow in the fluid dispenser; selectively displaying messages identifying each of the quality indicators; and selectively displaying additional information associated with each of the quality indicators.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the step of selectively displaying additional information further comprises selectively displaying a list of probable causes of the undesirable values of the characteristic of the fluid in the dispenser.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the step of selectively displaying additional information further comprises selectively displaying the identity of components that may be contributing to the undesirable values of the characteristic of the fluid in the dispenser.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
141 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: storing a plurality of reference values representing predetermined fluid flow conditions in the fluid dispensing system; periodically comparing over a sampling period the values of the input signal with the plurality of reference values to produce different quality indicators in response to predetermined relationships between the values of the input signal and the plurality of reference values, each of the different quality indicators representing a different fluid flow condition in the fluid dispensing system; counting during the sampling period occurrences of quality indicators representing common ones of the different fluid flow conditions; and producing after the sampling period fluid flow condition signals representing fluid flow in the fluid dispensing system as a function of an approximately Gaussian distribution of the occurrences of the different quality indicators counted during the sampling period.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: counting the occurrence of ON time periods during which fluid is being dispensed through the fluid dispenser; storing a count of the occurrences of the ON time periods counted as a number representing a number of objects coated by the fluid dispenser; and displaying the number representing the number of objects coated by the fluid dispenser.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
180 words
A method of monitoring an operation of a fluid dispensing system controlling flow of a fluid through a fluid dispenser, the fluid dispenser including a sensor producing an input signal representing pressure of the fluid in the fluid dispenser, the monitoring occurring over an ON time period during which fluid is being dispensed and an OFF time period during which fluid is not being dispensed, the method comprising the steps of: periodically sampling from a start of the ON time period, the input signal to produce sampled values of the pressure of the fluid in the fluid dispenser; periodically comparing the sampled values of the input signal with a reference value representing an acceptable pressure value during the ON time period; measuring a turn ON transition time period from the start of the ON time period; and producing a turn ON time error code in response to the turn ON transition time exceeding a value of a reference turn ON transition time period prior to a sampled value of the input signal being approximately equal to the reference pressure value.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
180 words
A method of monitoring an operation of a fluid dispensing system controlling flow of a fluid through a fluid dispenser, the fluid dispenser including a sensor producing an input signal representing pressure of the fluid in the fluid dispenser, the monitoring occurring over an ON time period during which fluid is being dispensed and an OFF time period during which fluid is not being dispensed, the method comprising the steps of: periodically sampling from a start of the ON time period, the input signal to produce sampled values of the pressure of the fluid in the fluid dispenser; periodically comparing the sampled values of the input signal with a reference value representing an acceptable pressure value during the ON time period; measuring a turn ON transition time period from the start of the ON time period; and producing a turn ON time error code in response to the turn ON transition time exceeding a value of a reference turn ON transition time period prior to a sampled value of the input signal being approximately equal to the reference pressure value.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the step of producing the turn ON time error code further comprises the step of producing a turn ON error code in response to detecting the turn ON transition time period exceeding the reference turn ON transition time prior to a predetermined number of sampled values of the input signal being approximately equal to the reference value.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the step of producing the turn ON time error code further comprises the step of comparing in response to each periodic sample of the input signal, the turn ON transition time period to the reference turn ON transition time.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
174 words
A method of monitoring an operation of a fluid dispensing system controlling flow of a fluid through a fluid dispenser, the fluid dispenser including a sensor producing an input signal representing pressure of the fluid in the fluid dispenser, the monitoring occurring over an ON time period during which fluid is being dispensed and an OFF time period during which fluid is not being dispensed, the method comprising the steps of: periodically sampling from a start of the OFF time period, the input signal to produce sampled values of the pressure of the fluid in the fluid dispenser; periodically comparing the sampled values of the input signal with a reference value representing an acceptable pressure during the OFF time period; measuring a turn OFF transition time period from the start of the OFF time period; and producing a turn OFF time error code in response to the turn OFF transition time period exceeding a value of a reference turn OFF transition time prior to a sampled value being approximately equal to the reference value.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
174 words
A method of monitoring an operation of a fluid dispensing system controlling flow of a fluid through a fluid dispenser, the fluid dispenser including a sensor producing an input signal representing pressure of the fluid in the fluid dispenser, the monitoring occurring over an ON time period during which fluid is being dispensed and an OFF time period during which fluid is not being dispensed, the method comprising the steps of: periodically sampling from a start of the OFF time period, the input signal to produce sampled values of the pressure of the fluid in the fluid dispenser; periodically comparing the sampled values of the input signal with a reference value representing an acceptable pressure during the OFF time period; measuring a turn OFF transition time period from the start of the OFF time period; and producing a turn OFF time error code in response to the turn OFF transition time period exceeding a value of a reference turn OFF transition time prior to a sampled value being approximately equal to the reference value.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the step of producing the turn OFF time error code further comprises the step of producing a turn OFF time error code in response to detecting the turn OFF transition time period exceeding the reference turn OFF transition time prior to a predetermined number of sampled values of the input signal being approximately equal to the reference value.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the step of producing the turn OFF error code further comprises the step of comparing in response to each periodic sample of the input signal, the turn OFF transition time period to the reference turn OFF transition time.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of monitoring an operation of a fluid dispensing system controlling flow of a fluid through a fluid dispenser connected to a fluid supply, the fluid dispenser including a sensor producing an input signal having values representing a characteristic of fluid flow through the fluid dispenser, the fluid dispensing system providing an ON time period during which fluid is being dispensed and an OFF time period during which fluid is not being dispensed, the method comprising the steps of: storing an alarm limit value of the characteristic of fluid flow; periodically sampling the input signal over a sampling period during the OFF time period to detect sampled characteristic values of fluid flow; periodically comparing the sampled characteristic values to the alarm limit value; and producing a static pressure alarm error code in response to predetermined relationships between sampled characteristic values and the alarm limit value.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of monitoring an operation of a fluid dispensing system controlling flow of a fluid through a fluid dispenser connected to a fluid supply, the fluid dispenser including a sensor producing an input signal having values representing a characteristic of fluid flow through the fluid dispenser, the fluid dispensing system providing an ON time period during which fluid is being dispensed and an OFF time period during which fluid is not being dispensed, the method comprising the steps of: storing an alarm limit value of the characteristic of fluid flow; periodically sampling the input signal over a sampling period during the OFF time period to detect sampled characteristic values of fluid flow; periodically comparing the sampled characteristic values to the alarm limit value; and producing a static pressure alarm error code in response to predetermined relationships between sampled characteristic values and the alarm limit value.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of monitoring an operation of a fluid dispensing system controlling flow of a fluid through a fluid dispenser connected to a fluid supply, the fluid dispenser including a sensor producing an input signal representing pressure of the fluid in the fluid dispenser, the fluid dispensing system providing an ON time period during which fluid is being dispensed and an OFF time period during which fluid is not being dispensed, the method comprising the steps of: storing an alarm limit value representing a limit of an acceptable range of pressures of the fluid during the OFF time period; periodically sampling the input signal over a sampling period during the OFF time period to detect sample values of the pressure; periodically comparing the sample values to the alarm limit value; and producing a static pressure alarm error code in response to predetermined relationships between sampled values and the alarm limit value.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of monitoring an operation of a fluid dispensing system controlling flow of a fluid through a fluid dispenser connected to a fluid supply, the fluid dispenser including a sensor producing an input signal representing pressure of the fluid in the fluid dispenser, the fluid dispensing system providing an ON time period during which fluid is being dispensed and an OFF time period during which fluid is not being dispensed, the method comprising the steps of: storing an alarm limit value representing a limit of an acceptable range of pressures of the fluid during the OFF time period; periodically sampling the input signal over a sampling period during the OFF time period to detect sample values of the pressure; periodically comparing the sample values to the alarm limit value; and producing a static pressure alarm error code in response to predetermined relationships between sampled values and the alarm limit value.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 28 wherein the step of producing a static pressure alarm error code comprises producing the static pressure alarm error code in response to a predetermined number of sampled pressure values being greater than the alarm limit value.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the step of producing the static pressure alarm error code comprises the steps of: determining an average static pressure value in response to the sampled values detected during the sampling period; and comparing the average static pressure value to the alarm limit value; and producing the static pressure alarm error code in response to the average static pressure value exceeding the limit of an acceptable range of pressures of the fluid during the OFF time period.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 28 wherein the step of producing the static pressure alarm error code further comprises the steps of: producing an alarm pressure quality indicator in response to each of the sampled pressure values exceeding the alarm limit value; counting each alarm pressure quality indicator during the sampling period; and producing the alarm static pressure error code in response to counting a predetermined number of occurrences of the alarm pressure quality indicators.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
141 words
The method of 28 claim further comprising the steps of: storing a high alarm limit value and a low alarm limit value representing respective alarm limits above and below a desired value of the pressure; periodically comparing the sampled values to the high and low alarm limit values; producing a high alarm pressure quality indicator in response to each of the sampled values exceeding the high alarm limit value; counting each high alarm pressure quality indicator produced during the sampling period; producing a low alarm pressure quality indicator in response to each of the sampled values exceeding the low alarm limit value; counting each low alarm pressure quality indicator produced during the sampling period; and producing the static pressure alarm error code in response to counting a predetermined number of occurrences of both the high and low alarm pressure quality indicators.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the step of producing the static pressure alarm error code further comprises the steps of: determining an average static pressure value in response to the sampled pressure values detected during the sampling period; comparing the average static pressure value to the high alarm limit value; and producing a high static pressure alarm error code in response to the average pressure value being greater than the high alarm limit value.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the step of producing the static pressure alarm error code further comprises the steps of: determining an average static pressure value in response to the sampled pressure values detected during the sampling period; and comparing the average static pressure value to the low alarm limit value; and producing a low static pressure alarm error code in response to the average pressure value being less than the low alarm limit value.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
292 words
A method of calibrating a control monitoring flow characteristics of a fluid, the control sensing a pressure within a fluid dispenser connected to a fluid supply, the fluid dispenser having a pressure sensor located inside the fluid dispenser between a nozzle and a calibrated orifice through which the fluid passes, the fluid sensor producing a pressure signal representing a static pressure value during an OFF time period during which fluid is not being dispensed and a firing pressure value during an ON time period during which fluid is being dispensed from the fluid sensor the method comprising the steps of: storing a first input signal representing a nozzle size and a desired flowrate; storing a second input signal representing a desired static pressure value; storing a third signal representing the calibrated orifice; calculating a theoretical firing pressure value in response to the input signals; dispensing fluid from the nozzle during a predetermined number of the ON time periods and terminating the dispensing of fluid through the nozzle during the predetermined number of OFF time periods; sampling the pressure signal during each of the predetermined number of ON time periods to detect firing pressure values during the ON time periods; averaging the firing pressure values over the predetermined number ON time periods to provide an average firing pressure value; comparing the average firing pressure value with the theoretical firing pressure value; providing an error signal in response to a difference between the average firing pressure value and the theoretical firing pressure value exceeding a predetermined magnitude; and calculating a set of pressure limit values using the average firing pressure value in response to the difference between the average firing pressure value and the theoretical firing pressure value being less than the predetermined magnitude.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
292 words
A method of calibrating a control monitoring flow characteristics of a fluid, the control sensing a pressure within a fluid dispenser connected to a fluid supply, the fluid dispenser having a pressure sensor located inside the fluid dispenser between a nozzle and a calibrated orifice through which the fluid passes, the fluid sensor producing a pressure signal representing a static pressure value during an OFF time period during which fluid is not being dispensed and a firing pressure value during an ON time period during which fluid is being dispensed from the fluid sensor the method comprising the steps of: storing a first input signal representing a nozzle size and a desired flowrate; storing a second input signal representing a desired static pressure value; storing a third signal representing the calibrated orifice; calculating a theoretical firing pressure value in response to the input signals; dispensing fluid from the nozzle during a predetermined number of the ON time periods and terminating the dispensing of fluid through the nozzle during the predetermined number of OFF time periods; sampling the pressure signal during each of the predetermined number of ON time periods to detect firing pressure values during the ON time periods; averaging the firing pressure values over the predetermined number ON time periods to provide an average firing pressure value; comparing the average firing pressure value with the theoretical firing pressure value; providing an error signal in response to a difference between the average firing pressure value and the theoretical firing pressure value exceeding a predetermined magnitude; and calculating a set of pressure limit values using the average firing pressure value in response to the difference between the average firing pressure value and the theoretical firing pressure value being less than the predetermined magnitude.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 35 wherein the predetermined magnitude is approximately ±15% of the theoretical firing pressure value.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 35 wherein the step of calculating the set of pressure limit values comprises the steps of: calculating a firing pressure high alarm limit value; and calculating a firing pressure low alarm limit value.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
88 words
The method of claim 35 wherein the step of calculating the set of pressure limit values further comprises the steps of: calculating a firing pressure high warning limit value, the firing pressure high warning limit value being greater than the average firing pressure value and less than the firing pressure high alarm limit value; and calculating a firing pressure low warning limit value, the firing pressure low warning limit value being less than the average firing pressure value and greater than the firing pressure low alarm limit value.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 35 wherein the method further comprising the steps of: sampling the pressure signal during an OFF time period to detect a sampled static pressure value; comparing the sampled static pressure value to the desired static pressure value; and producing a static pressure error signal in response to a predetermined difference between the sampled static pressure value and the desired static pressure value.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 39 wherein the predetermined pressure difference is approximately 35 psi.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
97 words
The method of claim 35 wherein the method further comprises the steps of: sampling the pressure signal during each of the predetermined number of OFF time periods to provide a plurality of sampled static pressure values for the OFF time periods; averaging the plurality of sampled static pressure values over the predetermined number OFF time periods to provide an average static pressure value; comparing the average static pressure value with the desired static pressure value to provide a differential pressure value; and providing an error signal in response to the differential pressure value exceeding a predetermined magnitude.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 41 wherein the predetermined pressure difference is approximately 35 psi.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 41 wherein the step of calculating the set of pressure limit values comprises the step of calculating in response to the average static pressure value being equal to or less than the predetermined pressure difference, a static pressure high alarm limit value and a static pressure low alarm limit value.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 35 further comprising the step of storing the set of pressure limit values in association with a time and date corresponding generally to an execution of the step of calculating the set of pressure limit values.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 35 further comprising the step of storing a plurality of sets of pressure limit values in association with a time and date for each of the plurality of sets of pressure limit values corresponding generally to an execution of respective steps of calculating each of the plurality of sets of pressure limit values.