Patents by Inventor Bijan K. Amini

Bijan K. Amini 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).

  • Patent number: 7019518
    Abstract: This invention pertains to a method and apparatus for determining the thickness of a ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material when only one side of the material is accessible. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for engaging a constant signal with the ferromagnetic material for inducing a changed signal, generating a stepped saturation signal over a range of currents for engagement with the ferromagnetic material, detecting the changed signal as the saturation signal is varied over the range of currents, determining the relationship between the changed signal and the stepped saturation signal, and evaluating the thickness of the material based upon the relationship between the changed signal and the stepped saturation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Inventors: Bijan K. Amini, James R. Carl
  • Patent number: 6975120
    Abstract: The invention subject of this application pertains to a method and apparatus for measuring the subterranean lithology using electromagnetic energy. The invention is applicable to the measurement from within uncased boreholes, i.e., and open-holes. The present invention transmits and receives electromagnetic energy deep into a geologic formation from a borehole, while also providing high resolution for distant measurements and the ability to control the direction in which the measurements are taken. The invention does not require a receiver to be located at the ground surface or in another borehole. In simple terms, the apparatus of this invention is able to “look around” into the surrounding geologic formation from a stationary position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Inventor: Bijan K. Amini
  • Publication number: 20040239345
    Abstract: Oscillating magnetic flux energy is coupled with coated material. The oscillating magnetic energy is used to measure the electrical impedance and magnetic permeability of the material. Using known values of conductivity and permeability, is this possible to measure the extent of diffusion, including concentration, of the coating into the substrate. The method of this invention does not require destructive testing of the target material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventor: Bijan K. Amini
  • Patent number: 6744263
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for measuring electrical properties of objects by the transmission of electromagnetic waves through a non-magnetizable material. The disclosure also describes a method of measuring changes in electromagnetic signals as the amplitude and frequency of the electromagnetic waves is varied to determine the thickness of an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: EM-Tech Sensors LLC
    Inventor: Bijan K. Amini
  • Publication number: 20040032252
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring changes in pressure, temperature, speed, acceleration, vibration, or volume by detecting variations in one or more electrical circuits as the distance among a plurality of electrically conductive and magnetically permeable components changes. The invention utilizes changes in properties of electrical circuits induced by the variations in the intensity of a magnetic flux field resulting from spatial movements or displacement of the components. The components that make up the sensor may be electrically insulated from the electrical circuit that is the source of the magnetic flux field and detects the change and analyzes it as a measured change in pressure, temperature, speed, acceleration, vibration, volume, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Applicant: EM-Tech Sensors LLC
    Inventor: Bijan K. Amini
  • Patent number: 6657440
    Abstract: A method for creating a full or partial transparency in a material comprising the steps of creating a first electromagnetic wave adjacent to the material, saturating the material with the first electromagnetic wave, creating a second electromagnetic wave having a frequency higher than the first electromagnetic wave, engaging the second electromagnetic wave with the material when the material is saturated for creating a transparency in the material with respect to the electromagnetic waves. An apparatus for creating a transparency in a material comprising a large coil, a small coil, a switch, a low noise amplifier (LNA), a receiver, a frequency generator, a pulsar, at least one or more capacitors and a power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: EM-Tech Sensors LLC
    Inventor: Bijan K. Amini
  • Patent number: 6630831
    Abstract: The invention subject of this specification utilizes the technique of inductive magnetic coupling of Electromagnetic waves to EM barrier materials in combination with transmission of Electromagnetic waves through non-permeable material to facilitate the measurement of resistivity of geologic formation beyond the well casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Em-Tech Sensors LLC
    Inventor: Bijan K. Amini
  • Patent number: 6628118
    Abstract: The invention subject of this invention pertains to device and methods for transmitting electromagnetic signals into or through magnetically permeable and electrically conductive materials. The invention also teaches the method and apparatus for receiving a return signal from or through the material, thereby permitting information to be collected on matter on the opposite side of the material. The subject invention teaches various techniques for creating EM wave transparencies in materials such as carbon steel and iron. The invention further teaches methods and apparatus for varying, in a controlled manner, the size of the transparency, the creation of multiple transparencies, the sequential opening and closing of the transparencies, utilization of one or more transmitting and receiving devices, each of which may be located at its own transparent opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: EM-Tech Sensors LLC
    Inventor: Bijan K. Amini
  • Patent number: 6597186
    Abstract: A method is provided for creating a spectral EM frequency to calculate the thickness of a material with unknown permeability and conductivity using metallic transparencies. The method comprises the steps of testing empirically to approximate the conductivity, testing empirically to approximate the permeability, creating a first set of electromagnetic waves adjacent to the material to be measured of a relatively low frequency, impinging the first set of electromagnetic waves on the material for saturating the material, creating a second set of electromagnetic waves having specific constant amplitude of a higher frequency than the first set of electromagnetic waves, the second set of electromagnetic waves for engaging the material and generating a sensing signal having modified characteristics, and receiving the sensing signal through the saturated material such that the modified characteristics of the sensing signal are processed to determine the thickness of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: EM-Tech Sensors LLC
    Inventor: Bijan K. Amini
  • Patent number: 6597177
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring changes in the media within a geologic formation by transmitting magnetic flux through a section of ferromagnetic well casing and measuring the change in flux received back through the casing. The flux transmitter and receiving components may be permanently installed in a hydrocarbon production well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Em-Tech Sensors LLC
    Inventor: Bijan K. Amini
  • Publication number: 20030117142
    Abstract: The invention subject of this application pertains to a method and apparatus for measuring the subterranean lithology using electromagnetic energy. The invention is applicable to the measurement from within uncased boreholes, i.e., and open-holes. The present invention transmits and receives electromagnetic energy deep into a geologic formation from a borehole, while also providing high resolution for distant measurements and the ability to control the direction in which the measurements are taken. The invention does not require a receiver to be located at the ground surface or in another borehole. In simple terms, the apparatus of this invention is able to “look around” into the surrounding geologic formation from a stationary position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventor: Bijan K. Amini
  • Patent number: 6553838
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting anomalies, defects or electromagnetic properties of electrically conductive and magnetically permeable materials by using a magnet to partially saturate the material, thereby lowering its permeability, and sending a second, higher frequency oscillating electromagnetic wave into the material. The oscillating magnetic flux field permeating into the electrically conductive material induces eddy waves. As the apparatus passes over the material, the properties of the induced eddy currents, and the corresponding magnetic flux field induced by such eddy currents, changes as the properties of the material change. These changes can be the result of defects or anomalies in the material or in connecting welds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Em-Tech LLC
    Inventor: Bijan K. Amini
  • Publication number: 20020105333
    Abstract: The invention subject of this specification utilizes the technique of inductive magnetic coupling of Electromagnetic waves to EM barrier materials in combination with transmission of Electromagnetic waves through non-permeable material to facilitate the measurement of resistivity of geologic formation beyond the well casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventor: Bijan K. Amini
  • Publication number: 20020097057
    Abstract: A method for the measurement of electrical properties of materials through non-magnetizable materials. The method also to calculate the thickness of a material with unknown permeability and conductivity using transparencies. The method comprising the steps of creating a first set of electromagnetic waves having specific constant amplitude of a known frequency, the first set of electromagnetic waves for engaging a system, impinging the first set of electromagnetic waves on the system under investigation, nulling the system, receiving a nulled signal, creating a change in the system, and receiving a modified signal associated with the change from the nulled signal such that the modified signal contains sufficient information to determine the change in the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Applicant: EM-Tech LLC
    Inventor: Bijan K. Amini
  • Publication number: 20020093343
    Abstract: A method is provided for creating a spectral EM frequency to calculate the thickness of a material with unknown permeability and conductivity using metallic transparencies. The method comprises the steps of testing empirically to approximate the conductivity, testing empirically to approximate the permeability, creating a first set of electromagnetic waves adjacent to the material to be measured of a relatively low frequency, impinging the first set of electromagnetic waves on the material for saturating the material, creating a second set of electromagnetic waves having specific constant amplitude of a higher frequency than the first set of electromagnetic waves, the second set of electromagnetic waves for engaging the material and generating a sensing signal having modified characteristics, and receiving the sensing signal through the saturated material such that the modified characteristics of the sensing signal are processed to determine the thickness of the material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventor: Bijan K. Amini
  • Publication number: 20020093458
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for obtaining measurements of induced resistivity of objects from spaces such as within a down-hole hydrocarbon production well. The invention also relates to measuring the location or direction of objects based upon measured responses from objects engaged or impinges by one or more transmitted signals having different phase and directional orientation. The invention relates to generating at least one signal or wave and transmitting it through a plurality of different materials that may have varying properties of density, magnetic permeability and dielectric that may each emit a separate signal with altered phase and directional orientation. When used with electromagnetic signals, the resistivity of an object or media can provide useful information regarding the composition and the location of object or media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2002
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Applicant: EM-Tech LLC
    Inventor: Bijan K. Amini
  • Publication number: 20020093345
    Abstract: There are many liquid flows in which the concentration and content of the materials within the flow change or vary. One important example is the varying percentage of water found in a liquid hydrocarbon, e.g., crude oil. It is desired to detect and measure the variations in the concentration of water contained in a hydrocarbon being removed from a hydrocarbon production well. It is also important to detect changes in the salinity of the water and to production well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Applicant: EM-Tech LLC
    Inventor: Bijan K. Amini
  • Patent number: 6392421
    Abstract: A method is provided for creating a spectral EM frequency to calculate the thickness of a material with unknown permeability and conductivity using metallic transparencies. The method comprises the steps of testing empirically to approximate the conductivity, testing empirically to approximate the permeability, creating a first set of electromagnetic waves adjacent to the material to be measured of a relatively low frequency, impinging the first set of electromagnetic waves on the material for saturating the material, creating a second set of electromagnetic waves having specific constant amplitude of a higher frequency than the first set of electromagnetic waves, the second set of electromagnetic waves for engaging the material and generating a sensing signal having modified characteristics, and receiving the sensing signal through the saturated material such that the modified characteristics of the sensing signal are processed to determine the thickness of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Em-Tech LLC
    Inventor: Bijan K. Amini
  • Publication number: 20020043973
    Abstract: This invention pertains to a method and apparatus for determining the thickness of a ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material when only one side of the material is accessible. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for engaging a constant signal with the ferromagnetic material for inducing a changed signal, generating a stepped saturation signal over a range of currents for engagement with the ferromagnetic material, detecting the changed signal as the saturation signal is varied over the range of currents, determining the relationship between the changed signal and the stepped saturation signal, and evaluating the thickness of the material based upon the relationship between the changed signal and the stepped saturation signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Inventors: Bijan K. Amini, James R. Carl
  • Publication number: 20020033049
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting anomalies, defects or electromagnetic properties of electrically conductive and magnetically permeable materials by using a magnet to partially saturate the material, thereby lowering its permeability, and sending a second, higher frequency oscillating electromagnetic wave into the material. The oscillating magnetic flux field permeating into the electrically conductive material induces eddy waves. As the apparatus passes over the material, the properties of the induced eddy currents, and the corresponding magnetic flux field induced by such eddy currents, changes as the properties of the material change. These changes can be the result of defects or anomalies in the material or in connecting welds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Inventor: Bijan K. Amini