Patents Examined by James R Hulka
  • Patent number: 11360228
    Abstract: A three-dimensional prediction method based on geology-seismology for a favorable metallogenic site of a sandstone-type uranium deposit is provided, including: determining a to-be-explored area and a target stratum in the to-be-explored area; setting a seismic line in the to-be-explored area, so as to acquire seismic data of a profile where the seismic line is located; delineating a depression region and a target region in the profile; determining a dip angle of a stratum in the target region and a dip angle of a stratum underlying the target region according to the seismic data, where the stratum underlying the target region is within the depression region; determining a distribution of fractures in the target region and the depression region according to the seismic data; and delineating a uranium deposit metallogenic site in the target region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: BEIJING RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF URANIUM GEOLOGY
    Inventors: Ziying Li, Qubo Wu, Wusheng Liu, Mingkuan Qin, Shuo Wang, Xide Li, Chiheng Liu, Weitao Li, Yuyan Zhang
  • Patent number: 11353585
    Abstract: The present disclosed subject matter relates to a method for measuring the distance of targets in the surroundings by way of a time-of-flight measurement of pulses reflected at said targets, in particular laser pulses, said method comprising: emitting a sequence of transmission pulses having varying pulse intervals, and receiving at least one receive pulse after each one of two different transmission pulses; for each receive pulse: generating a group of M candidate distances, each based on a different transmission pulse among M transmission pulses preceding the receive pulse, wherein each candidate distance is assigned to the corresponding transmission pulse on which it is based; for each candidate distance: determining a weighting value on the basis of at least the closest of the candidate distances assigned to such a transmission pulse which is adjacent to the transmission pulse to which the candidate distance being considered in this determining process is assigned; for each group: selecting the candidate
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: RIEGL Laser Measurement Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Ullrich
  • Patent number: 11353556
    Abstract: An image sensing device that includes a lens housing; a bulk lens system coupled to the lens housing and configured to receive light from the surrounding environment and focus the received light to a focal plane, the bulk lens system comprising a first lens, a second lens, and a third lens mounted in the lens housing; wherein the first lens, the second lens, or the first lens and the second lens are plastic; and wherein the third lens is glass; an array of photosensors configured to receive light from the bulk lens system and detect reflected portions of the light pulses that are reflected from the objects in the surrounding environment; and a mount that mechanically couples the lens housing with the array of photosensors, wherein the lens housing, the bulk lens system, and the mount are configured to passively focus light from the bulk lens system onto the array of photosensors over a temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Ouster, Inc.
    Inventors: Angus Pacala, Mark Frichtl, Marvin Shu, Eric Younge
  • Patent number: 11340367
    Abstract: A method for characterizing a hydraulic fracture in a subsurface formation includes inducing a pressure change in a borehole drilled through the subsurface formation. At least one of pressure and a time derivative of pressure is measured in the borehole for a selected length of time. At least one physical parameter of at least one fracture is determined using the measured pressure and/or the time derivative of pressure. A method for characterizing hydraulic fracturing rate uses microseismic event count measured through the borehole and its real-time implementation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Seismos Inc.
    Inventors: Youli Quan, Junwei Zhang, Jakub Felkl, Panagiotis Adamopoulos, Jeremy Dumoit
  • Patent number: 11340336
    Abstract: A light ranging system including a shaft having a longitudinal axis; a light ranging device configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the light ranging device including a light source configured to transmit light pulses to objects in a surrounding environment, and detector circuitry configured to detect reflected portions of the light pulses that are reflected from the objects in the surrounding environment and to compute ranging data based on the reflected portion of the light pulses; a base subsystem that does not rotate about the shaft; and an optical communications subsystem configured to provide an optical communications channel between the base subsystem and the light ranging device, the optical communications subsystem including one or more turret optical communication components connected to the detector circuitry and one or more base optical communication components connected to the base subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Ouster, Inc.
    Inventors: Angus Pacala, Mark Frichtl, Marvin Shu, Eric Younge
  • Patent number: 11340349
    Abstract: In non-limiting examples of the present disclosure, systems and methods for dynamically updating contour maps are provided. A first water level for a body of water may be determined by a computing device. A location within the body of water may be identified. A second water level relating to the identified location within the body of water may be determined, and the second water level and the first water level may be compared. Upon comparing the first and second water levels, a contour map for the body of water may be automatically updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventors: Sean Seifert, Mike Seifert
  • Patent number: 11340365
    Abstract: An interrogation system includes a light signal switch and a reflection signal switch. The light signal switch may be communicatively coupled to an optical light source. The light signal switch may route a light signal generated by the light source downhole in a wellbore through a single-mode optical fiber cable or a multi-mode optical fiber cable. The reflection signal switch may be communicatively coupled to the single-mode optical fiber cable and the multi-mode optical fiber cable. The reflection signal switch may route a reflection of the light signal from the signal-mode optical fiber cable or the multi-mode optical fiber cable to an optical detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Kwang Il Suh
  • Patent number: 11333525
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for aligning, calibrating, or inspecting an onboard vehicle sensor having an external field of view by providing a calibration component on a support structure for positioning at a short calibration distance from the vehicle and which is within the field of view of said sensor. The calibration component is configured to appear to the sensor as if it was positioned at a predetermined linear calibration distance from the vehicle which is greater than the actual short calibration distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventors: David A. Voeller, Gerald E. Friton, Timothy A. Strege, Patrick Callanan
  • Patent number: 11333765
    Abstract: Provided is a distance measuring method and device for selecting an optimum peak detection signal from among a plurality of peak detection signals, based on a level of at least one of a plurality of amplified electrical signals, and measuring a distance to an object by using the selected optimum peak detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuhiro Otsuka, Jungwoo Kim, Heesun Yoon
  • Patent number: 11320549
    Abstract: A device for identifying the location of pipe is disclosed. The device includes a motor shaft attached at one end to a motor and attached at the other end to a weight; a flexible push rod attached at one end to a tip assembly and attached at the other end to a reel; a power source for powering the motor; and a tip assembly. The tip assembly is threaded into one end of a pipe. As the motor turns the motor shaft, the motor shaft causes the weight to oscillate. As the weight oscillates it causes the tip assembly to vibrate. As the tip assembly vibrates it emits auditory sounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Inventor: Carl Israel Larkin
  • Patent number: 11320534
    Abstract: An ultrasonic detecting device may include a transmitter, a receiver, a motor, and processing circuitry. The transmitter may transmit a sequence including a first pulse wave and a second pulse wave separated by a time interval shorter than a time required for an ultrasonic wave to make a round trip underwater to a detection range. The receiver may convert reflection waves of the first and second pulse waves into echo signals. The motor may rotate the receiver. The processing circuitry may acquire, from the echo signals, a first echo signal and a second echo signal, generate first image data based on the first echo signals and second image data based on the second echo signals, and generate synthesized image data based on an angular position of the receiver when the first image data is generated, and an angular position of the receiver when the second image data is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: FURUNO ELECTRIC COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Kohei Kozuki
  • Patent number: 11313965
    Abstract: A sensor installation structure includes: a sensor that has a sensing portion that senses periphery information of a vehicle; an exterior member having an opening portion that exposes the sensing portion, the opening portion being configured so as to allow changes in an angle of the sensing portion; and a cover member that is provided at an outer edge portion of the sensing portion, the cover member covering a gap between the outer edge portion of the sensing portion and a peripheral edge portion of the opening portion such that the gap cannot be seen from an exterior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yohsuke Yasui
  • Patent number: 11300665
    Abstract: A light ranging system including a shaft; a first circuit board assembly that includes a stator assembly comprising a plurality of stator elements arranged about the shaft on a surface of the first circuit board assembly; a second circuit board assembly rotationally coupled to the shaft, wherein the second circuit board assembly includes a rotor assembly comprising a plurality of rotor elements arranged about the shaft on a surface of the second circuit board assembly such that the plurality of rotor elements are aligned with and spaced apart from the plurality of stator elements; a stator driver circuit disposed on either the second or the first circuit board assemblies and configured to provide a drive signal to the plurality of stator elements, thereby imparting an electromagnetic force on the plurality of rotor elements to drive a rotation of the second circuit board assembly about the shaft; and a light ranging device mechanically coupled to the second circuit board assembly such that the light ranging d
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Ouster, Inc.
    Inventors: Angus Pacala, Mark Frichtl, Marvin Shu, Eric Younge
  • Patent number: 11294041
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for improving detection of a return signal in a light ranging and detection system. The system comprises a transmitter and a receiver. A first sequence of pulses may be encoded with an anti-spoof signature and transmitted in a laser beam. A return signal, comprising a second sequence of pulses, may be received by the receiver and the anti-spoof signature extracted from the second sequence of pulses. If based on the extraction, the first and second sequences of pulses match, the receiver outputs return signal data. If based on the extraction, the first and second sequence of pulses do not match, the return signal is disregarded. The system may dynamically change the anti-spoofing signature for subsequent sequences of pulses. Additionally, the first sequence of pulses may be randomized relative to a prior sequence of pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: VELODYNE LIDAR USA, INC.
    Inventors: David S. Hall, Anand Gopalan
  • Patent number: 11287505
    Abstract: A tracking beacon is provided that is trackable using image sensors. The beacon includes a housing with a lower portion and an upper portion. The upper portion include a light diffusing structure with protrusions to help scatter the emitted light in different directions. A light source is positioned within the housing, and electrical contacts are positioned on an external surface of the lower portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: CAST GROUP OF COMPANIES INC.
    Inventors: Gilray Densham, Andrew Gordon
  • Patent number: 11280908
    Abstract: A system to avoid obstacles, having an infrared emitter emitting an infrared pulse, an infrared receiver aligned with the infrared emitter so as to receive a reflection of the infrared pulse, a timer coupled to the infrared emitter and infrared receiver, the timer controlling a length of time the infrared emitter emits the infrared pulse and an exposure duration of the infrared receiver, the timer simultaneously initiates the emitting of the infrared pulse and an initiation of the exposure duration of the infrared receiver, and a controller coupled to the timer, the infrared emitter and the infrared receiver to adjust the exposure duration of the infrared receiver to determine a distance of an object reflecting the emitted infrared pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: BLACK SESAME TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Jizhang Shan, Kuochin Chang
  • Patent number: 11269112
    Abstract: Calibration based on twist and orientation for towed object can include determining an amount of twist as a function of length of a portion of a towed object based on output of tilt sensors in the portion of the towed object and a model that describes the twist along the portion of the towed object. An orientation of a seismic sensor can be determined based on the determined amount of twist and a position of the seismic sensor along a length of the portion of the towed object. The seismic sensor can be calibrated based on the orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventor: Geir Andre Motzfeldt Drange
  • Patent number: 11269102
    Abstract: A method for processing seismic data includes receiving, by a seismic data processing system, signals representing seismic data recorded at a remote location. In addition, the method includes receiving, by the seismic data processing system, identification of a sensor via which the signals were acquired. Further, the method includes retrieving, by the seismic data processing system, a sensor transfer function that corresponds to the sensor and relates the motion of the sensor to the signals. The method also includes generating, by the seismic data processing system, based on the sensor transfer function and a reference transfer function, an inverse filter that when applied to the signals changes parameters of the signals to correspond to the reference transfer function. Moreover, the method includes applying, by the seismic data processing system, the inverse filter to the signals to conform the parameters of the signals to the reference transfer function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: BP EXPLORATION OPERATING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: John Gerard Bouska, Amine Ourabah, Robin Roy Wye
  • Patent number: 11267698
    Abstract: A transducer structure is disclosed. The transducer structure may include a substrate with a MEMS structure located on a first side of the substrate and a lid coupled to the first side of the substrate and covering the MEMS structure. The substrate may include an electric contact which is laterally displaced from the lid on the first side of the substrate and electrically coupled to the MEMS structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Horst Theuss, Alfons Dehe
  • Patent number: 11255967
    Abstract: A time-to-digital converter includes a self-calibrating, n-stage chain of a number n of gate delay elements connected in parallel and series between a clock signal line for supplying a clock signal and a stop signal line for supplying a stop signal; and a charge-pump and phase-detector unit for the feedback control of the gate delay elements, having a first input as a controlled-variable input, a second input as a reference-variable input, and an output as a correcting-variable output. The clock signal line is connected to the first input of the charge-pump and phase-detector unit, a push-pull line for supplying a push-pull signal is connected to the second input, and, for feedback, the gate delay elements are connected to the output of the charge-pump and phase-detector unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Reiner Schnitzer, Rene Adams