Compression pump system

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed that includes a compressor pump and a duty cycle controller. The duty cycle controller controls amount of time that the compressor pump is on each duty cycle. The amount of time is selected so that the compressor pump will operate at a pressure above a desired fill pressure. The operational pressure will generate a restrictive pressure having limited effect on accuracy of pressure reading. Other embodiments are disclosed herein.

1 . An apparatus comprising 
 a compressor pump;    a duty cycle controller to control amount of time that said compressor pump is on each duty cycle, wherein the amount of time is selected so that said compressor pump will operate at a pressure above a desired fill pressure that will generate a restrictive pressure having limited effect on accuracy of pressure reading.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure reading is measured at a manifold that routes air from said pump to a destination and the desired fill pressure is associated with the destination.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the destination is a chamber of a compression sleeve.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the restrictive pressure is based on at least some subset of length or tubing connecting the manifold to the chamber, size or valve in manifold, and residual pressure in chamber.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the duty cycle is a measure of time.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the duty cycle corresponds to an input AC power frequency.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the duty cycle corresponds to half of an input AC power frequency wave.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said duty cycle controller includes 
 a timing device to detect start of next duty cycle;    a processing device to determine and control amount of time that pump is operational per duty cycle; and    a power switching device to control power provided to said pump responsive to the processing device.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising memory having different parameters stored therein, and wherein said processing device uses the different parameters to determine the amount of time pump is operational per duty cycle.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the desired fill pressure is selectable.  
   
   
       11 . A compression pump system comprising 
 a compressor pump;    a manifold having at least one valve to route pressurized air;    a compression device having at least one chamber, wherein each chamber is associated with a valve;    a pressure sensor, located at the manifold, to monitor pressure of the chambers, wherein operation of the valves is responsive to measurements of said pressure sensor; and    a controller to operate said compressor pump at an operational pressure above a desired fill pressure and that will generate a restrictive pressure having limited effect on accuracy of pressure reading at said pressure sensor.    
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said controller utilizes variable resistance to select the operational pressure.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said controller generates the operational pressure by modifying portion of duty cycle said pump is operational.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said controller includes 
 a timing device to detect start of next duty cycle;    a processing device to determine and control amount of time that pump is operational per duty cycle; and    a power switching device to control power provided to said pump responsive to the processing device.    
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the timing device is an opto-isolator that determines a start of each AC half wave by detecting a zero voltage crossover.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a user interface to enable a user to set desired pressure in the chambers.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the user interface enables a user to set an initial chamber pressure and a gradient between each chamber.  
   
   
       18 . A method comprising 
 selecting desired fill pressure;    determining compressor pump output pressure;    determining appropriate amount of time that a compressor pump is on each duty cycle to generate the pump output pressure.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the pump output pressure will operate at a pressure above the desired fill pressure and will generate a restrictive pressure having limited effect on accuracy of pressure reading.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising 
 detecting beginning of a duty cycle; and    applying power to the compressor pump for the appropriate amount of time during each duty cycle.