Patents by Inventor Baiyang Ren

Baiyang Ren has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230417937
    Abstract: An assembly and method for detecting cross bores and the location of underground pipe system assets includes an acoustic generator placed within an interior of the sewer system and an acoustic receiver placed within proximity of the lateral(s) of the pipe system. The acoustic generator generates an acoustic signal to transmit through the interior of a sewer pipe of the sewer system. A controller detects, in response to the acoustic receiver hearing the acoustic signal, a location of the underground pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: John Jayne, Baiyang Ren, Michael Hauser, Steven McKeefrey
  • Patent number: 11747496
    Abstract: An assembly and method for detecting cross bores involving a sewer system and a gas pipe includes an acoustic generator placed within an interior of the sewer system and an acoustic receiver placed either within an interior of the gas pipe or in proximity to an end of the gas pipe. The acoustic generator generates an acoustic signal to transmit through the interior of a sewer pipe of the sewer system. A controller detects, in response to the acoustic receiver hearing the acoustic signal, a cross bore involving the sewer pipe and the gas pipe. A microphone may be placed within the interior of the sewer system at a location remote from the acoustic generator. In this case, the controller determines, in response to the acoustic receiver not hearing the acoustic signal and the microphone hearing the acoustic signal, that a cross bore involving the sewer pipe and the gas pipe is absent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: ULC TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan S. Goldband, Baiyang Ren
  • Publication number: 20230160858
    Abstract: An electro-magnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) system and method for controlling the EMAT system are provided. The system includes an electromagnet array with one or more electromagnets. Each electromagnet includes a magnetic core and a wound coil wrapped around the magnetic core. The electromagnet array generates bias magnetic fields having different patterns when the wound coils are energized differently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventor: Baiyang Ren
  • Patent number: 11561205
    Abstract: An electro-magnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) having an electromagnet array is provided. The electromagnet array includes electromagnets. Each electromagnet includes a magnetic core and a wound coil wrapped around the magnetic core. The electromagnet array generates bias magnetic fields having different patterns when the wound coils are energized differently. For instance, the electromagnet array generates a bias magnetic field having a given pattern, for the EMAT to transmit a first type of ultrasonic wave such as shear-horizontal wave, when the wound coils are energized in a given manner; and generates a bias magnetic field having a different pattern, for the EMAT to transmit a second type of ultrasonic wave such as a Lamb wave, when the wound coils are energized in a different manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: ULC TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Baiyang Ren
  • Publication number: 20210341432
    Abstract: An electro-magnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) having an electromagnet array is provided. The electromagnet array includes electromagnets. Each electromagnet includes a magnetic core and a wound coil wrapped around the magnetic core. The electromagnet array generates bias magnetic fields having different patterns when the wound coils are energized differently. For instance, the electromagnet array generates a bias magnetic field having a given pattern, for the EMAT to transmit a first type of ultrasonic wave such as shear-horizontal wave, when the wound coils are energized in a given manner; and generates a bias magnetic field having a different pattern, for the EMAT to transmit a second type of ultrasonic wave such as a Lamb wave, when the wound coils are energized in a different manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: ULC Robotics, Inc.
    Inventor: Baiyang Ren
  • Publication number: 20190383957
    Abstract: An assembly and method for detecting cross bores involving a sewer system and a gas pipe includes an acoustic generator placed within an interior of the sewer system and an acoustic receiver placed either within an interior of the gas pipe or in proximity to an end of the gas pipe. The acoustic generator generates an acoustic signal to transmit through the interior of a sewer pipe of the sewer system. A controller detects, in response to the acoustic receiver hearing the acoustic signal, a cross bore involving the sewer pipe and the gas pipe. A microphone may be placed within the interior of the sewer system at a location remote from the acoustic generator. In this case, the controller determines, in response to the acoustic receiver not hearing the acoustic signal and the microphone hearing the acoustic signal, that a cross bore involving the sewer pipe and the gas pipe is absent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: ULC Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan S. Goldband, Baiyang Ren
  • Patent number: 10502714
    Abstract: An electro-magnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) generates both Lamb waves and shear horizontal (SH) waves or Lamb waves only. In configurations, the EMAT includes first and second coils shifted in alignment relative to one another and a magnet array overlaid over the coils. The EMAT generates a Lamb wave when the first coil is excited with an electrical current and generates a SH wave when the second coil is excited with an electrical current. In other configurations, the EMAT includes a coil and a magnet array which are movable relative to one another between a first position and a second position shifted in alignment relative to one another. The EMAT generates a Lamb wave when the coil is excited with an electrical current while in the first position and generates a SH wave when the coil is excited with an electrical current while in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: ULC Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Baiyang Ren, Junjun Xin
  • Publication number: 20190094184
    Abstract: An electro-magnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) generates both Lamb waves and shear horizontal (SH) waves or Lamb waves only. In configurations, the EMAT includes first and second coils shifted in alignment relative to one another and a magnet array overlaid over the coils. The EMAT generates a Lamb wave when the first coil is excited with an electrical current and generates a SH wave when the second coil is excited with an electrical current. In other configurations, the EMAT includes a coil and a magnet array which are movable relative to one another between a first position and a second position shifted in alignment relative to one another. The EMAT generates a Lamb wave when the coil is excited with an electrical current while in the first position and generates a SH wave when the coil is excited with an electrical current while in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: ULC Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Baiyang Ren, Junjun Xin