System and method for a wind speed meter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9945884-B2
Application number	US-201514610933-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 30, 2015
Priority date	Jan 30, 2015
Publication date	Apr 17, 2018
Grant date	Apr 17, 2018

Abstract

According to an embodiment, a method of measuring wind speed includes measuring atmospheric pressure at a first pressure sensor arranged inside a case and shielded from wind, measuring air pressure at a second pressure sensor arranged at an opening in the case, and determining wind speed at the opening in the case based on measuring the atmospheric pressure and the air pressure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of measuring wind speed comprising:
measuring atmospheric pressure at a first pressure sensor arranged inside a case and shielded from wind;
measuring air pressure at a second pressure sensor arranged at an opening in the case; and
determining wind speed at the opening in the case based on measuring the atmospheric pressure and the air pressure, wherein determining the wind speed at the opening in the case comprises using an application processing circuit arranged inside the case and electrically coupled to the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor, wherein the application processing circuit is configured to determine the wind speed based on a first signal received from the first pressure sensor and a second signal received from the second pressure sensor.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the wind speed comprises:
generating the first signal based on measuring the atmospheric pressure;
generating the second signal based on measuring the air pressure;
generating a difference signal by subtracting the first signal from the second signal; and
calculating the wind speed using the difference signal.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein calculating the wind speed comprises calculating wind speed S using an equation S=√{square root over (2·(P 2 −P 1 )÷ρ)}, wherein the first signal is P 1 , the second signal is P 2 , and density of air is ρ.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring air pressure at the second pressure sensor comprises measuring a plurality of air pressures at a plurality of pressure sensors arranged at a plurality of openings in the case.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising determining wind direction based on measuring the plurality of air pressures.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein each opening of the plurality of openings is arranged facing in a direction that is separated from a direction of another opening of the plurality of openings by about 90°.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor each comprises a cubic volume of less than about 50 mm 3 .

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring air pressure at a second pressure sensor comprises measuring air pressure at a second pressure sensor arranged at the opening in the case, wherein the opening has a diameter of less than 0.3 mm.

9. An electronic device comprising:
a case comprising a port;
a first MEMS pressure sensor arranged inside the case adjacent the port;
a second MEMS pressure sensor arranged inside the case and shielded from the port; and
an application processing circuit arranged inside the case and electrically coupled to the first MEMS pressure sensor and the second MEMS pressure sensor, wherein the application processing circuit is configured to determine wind speed at the port based on signals received from the first MEMS pressure sensor and the second MEMS pressure sensor.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the first MEMS pressure sensor and the MEMS second pressure sensor each comprises a cubic volume of less than about 50 mm 3 .

11. The electronic device of claim 9 , further comprising a third MEMS pressure sensor arranged inside the case adjacent an additional port.

12. The electronic device of claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of additional MEMS pressure sensors arranged inside the case adjacent a plurality of additional ports, wherein the application processing circuit is further configured to determine wind direction based on signals received from the first MEMS pressure sensor, the second MEMS pressure sensor, and the plurality of additional MEMS pressure sensors.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein each additional port of the plurality of additional ports is arranged facing in a direction that is separated from a direction of another port of the plurality of additional ports by about 90°.

14. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the port has a diameter of less than 0.3 mm.

15. The electronic device of claim 9 , further comprising a wind shield arranged inside the case between the port and the second MEMS pressure sensor.

16. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the first MEMS pressure sensor and the second MEMS pressure sensor each comprises a capacitive pressure sensor.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the first MEMS pressure sensor and the second MEMS pressure sensor each comprises a dual backplate MEMS microphone.

18. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the first MEMS pressure sensor and the second MEMS pressure sensor each comprises a piezoresistive or a piezoelectric pressure sensor.

19. An electronic device comprising:
a case comprising a port;
a circuit board arranged inside the case;
a display arranged inside the case and attached to the circuit board;
a first sensor package attached to the circuit board and in direct fluid communication with the port, wherein the first sensor package comprises a first pressure sensor;
a second sensor package attached to the circuit board and in indirect fluid communication with the port, wherein the second sensor package comprises a second pressure sensor; and
an application processor attached to the circuit board and electrically coupled to the first sensor package and the second sensor package.

20. The electronic device of claim 19 , further comprising a wind shield between the port and the second sensor package.

21. The electronic device of claim 19 , further comprising a wireless communication circuit.

22. The electronic device of claim 19 , wherein the first sensor package further comprises an acoustic transducer.

23. A method of measuring wind speed of wind comprising:
measuring a first air pressure at a first pressure sensor arranged at a first opening in a case;
measuring a second air pressure at a second pressure sensor arranged at a second opening in the case, wherein measuring the second air pressure at the second pressure sensor comprises measuring a plurality of air pressures at a plurality of pressure sensors arranged at a plurality of openings in the case; and
determining wind speed at the first opening in the case based on measuring the first air pressure and the second air pressure.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein determining the wind speed comprises:
generating a first signal based on measuring the first air pressure;
generating a second signal based on measuring second air pressure;
generating a difference signal by subtracting the first signal from the second signal; and
calculating wind speed using the difference signal.

25. The method of claim 23 , further comprising determining wind direction based on measuring the plurality of air pressures.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein each opening of the plurality of openings is arranged facing in a direction that is separated from a direction of another opening of the plurality of openings by about 90°.

27. The method of claim 23 , wherein the first opening faces the wind and the second opening faces away from the wind.

Assignees

• Infineon Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Froemel Andreas
• Marsetz Waldemar

Classifications

• G01P13/045

  with speed indication · CPC title

• G01L9/08

  by making use of piezoelectric devices {, i.e. electric circuits therefor} · CPC title

• G01P5/14 Primary

  by measuring differences of pressure in the fluid · CPC title

• G01L9/06

  of piezo-resistive devices · CPC title

• G01L9/0054

  integral with a semiconducting diaphragm · CPC title