Patents by Inventor Cheryl Margaret Surman

Cheryl Margaret Surman 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: 20140090454
    Abstract: A sensor includes a resonant transducer, the resonant transducer being configured to determine the composition of an emulsion. The composition of the emulsion is determined by measuring the complex impedance spectrum values of the mixture of the emulsion and applying multivariate data analysis to the values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Cheryl Margaret Surman, William Chester Platt, William Guy Morris, Steven Go, Jon Albert Dieringer, Radislav A. Potyrailo
  • Publication number: 20140090451
    Abstract: A system includes a vessel system for a fluid, a sampling assembly and a resonant sensor system coupled to the sampling assembly. The resonant sensor system may include a subsystem that detects a set of signals from a resonant sensor system at a plurality of locations in the vessel. The resonant sensor system may also include a subsystem that converts the set of signals to values of a complex impedance spectrum for the plurality of locations and stores the values of the complex impedance spectrum and frequency values. A subsystem determines a fluid phase inversion point from the values of the complex impedance spectrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Cheryl Margaret Surman, William Chester Platt, William Guy Morris, Steven Go, Jon Albert Dieringer, Radislav A. Potyrailo
  • Publication number: 20140025313
    Abstract: Methods and sensors for selective fluid sensing are provided. Each sensor includes a resonant inductor-capacitor-resistor (LCR) sensor that is coated with a sensing material. In order to collect data, an impedance spectrum is acquired over a relatively narrow frequency range, such as the resonant frequency range of the LCR circuit. A multivariate signature may be calculated from the acquired spectrum to discern the presence of certain fluids and/or fluid mixtures. The presence of fluids is detected by measuring the changes in dielectric, dimensional, resistance, charge transfer, and other changes in the properties of the materials employed by observing the changes in the resonant electronic properties of the circuit. By using a mathematical procedure, such as principal components analysis (PCA) and others, multiple fluids and mixtures can be detected in the presence of one another, even in a high humidity environment or an environment wherein one or more fluids has a substantially higher concentration (e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Radislav Alexandrovich Potyrailo, Cheryl Margaret Surman, Andrew Arthur Paul Burns, Nandini Nagraj
  • Publication number: 20140019067
    Abstract: Methods and sensors for selective fluid sensing are provided. A sensor includes a resonant inductor-capacitor-resistor (LCR) circuit and a sensing material disposed over a sensing region. The sensing region comprises at least a portion of the LCR circuit. Temperature-dependent response coefficients of inductance L, capacitance C, and resistance R properties of the LCR circuit and the sensing material are at least approximately 5 percent different from one another. The difference in the temperature-dependent response coefficients of the properties of the LCR circuit and the sensing material enables the sensor to selectively detect analyte fluids from an analyzed fluid mixture substantially independent of temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Radislav Alexandrovich Potyrailo, Cheryl Margaret Surman
  • Publication number: 20140002111
    Abstract: A sensing system includes an inductor-capacitor-resistor (LCR) resonator sensor having a substrate, a plurality of first sensing elements mutually spaced apart and disposed on the substrate, and a sensing material film being disposed on a first sensing region of the corresponding first sensing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Radislav Alexandrovich Potyrailo, Cheryl Margaret Surman, Steven Yuehin Go, Yongjae Lee
  • Patent number: 8542024
    Abstract: Methods and sensors for selective fluid sensing are provided. A sensor includes a resonant inductor-capacitor-resistor (LCR) circuit and a sensing material disposed over a sensing region. The sensing region comprises at least a portion of the LCR circuit. Temperature-dependent response coefficients of inductance L, capacitance C, and resistance R properties of the LCR circuit and the sensing material are at least approximately 5 percent different from one another. The difference in the temperature-dependent response coefficients of the properties of the LCR circuit and the sensing material enables the sensor to selectively detect analyte fluids from an analyzed fluid mixture substantially independent of temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Radislav Alexandrovich Potyrailo, Cheryl Margaret Surman
  • Patent number: 8542023
    Abstract: Methods and sensors for selective fluid sensing are provided. Each sensor includes a resonant inductor-capacitor-resistor (LCR) sensor that is coated with a sensing material. In order to collect data, an impedance spectrum is acquired over a relatively narrow frequency range, such as the resonant frequency range of the LCR circuit. A multivariate signature may be calculated from the acquired spectrum to discern the presence of certain fluids and/or fluid mixtures. The presence of fluids is detected by measuring the changes in dielectric, dimensional, resistance, charge transfer, and other changes in the properties of the materials employed by observing the changes in the resonant electronic properties of the circuit. By using a mathematical procedure, such as principal components analysis (PCA) and others, multiple fluids and mixtures can be detected in the presence of one another, even in a high humidity environment or an environment wherein one or more fluids has a substantially higher concentration (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Radislav Alexandrovich Potyrailo, Cheryl Margaret Surman, Andrew Arthur Paul Burns, Nandini Nagraj
  • Patent number: 8532244
    Abstract: A boiling water reactor includes a reactor pressure vessel having a feedwater inlet for the introduction of recycled steam condensate and/or makeup coolant into the vessel, and a steam outlet for the discharge of produced steam for appropriate work. A fuel core is located within a lower area of the pressure vessel. The fuel core is surrounded by a core shroud spaced inward from the wall of the pressure vessel to provide an annular downcomer forming a coolant flow path between the vessel wall and the core shroud. A probe system that includes a combination of conductivity/resistivity probes and/or one or more time-domain reflectometer (TDR) probes is at least partially located within the downcomer. The probe system measures the coolant level and flow velocity within the downcomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bruce William Brisson, William Guy Morris, Danian Zheng, David James Monk, Biao Fang, Cheryl Margaret Surman, David Deloyd Anderson
  • Publication number: 20130154847
    Abstract: In one aspect the present invention provides a down-hole monitoring system, comprising one or more pieces of down-hole equipment, for example a down-hole logging tool, and at least one resonant sensor for obtaining physical and chemical parameters of a down-hole fluid in proximity to the sensor. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for detecting material properties of a down-hole fluid, the method comprising placing a resonant LCR sensor within a piece of down-hole equipment, taking sensor readings down-hole, transmitting the sensor readings to a reader device, and analyzing the sensor readings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Radislav Alexandrovich Potyrailo, Cheryl Margaret Surman, Nicholas Josep Ellson
  • Patent number: 8364419
    Abstract: A system, device and methods, for determining at least two analytes, wherein the system and device include at least one resonant sensor circuit that includes a sensing material that predictably affects the resonant complex impedance response of a sensor electrode. The sensing material has at least two material properties that change when the materials are exposed to two or more analytes. The system and device also include a processor that generates a multivariate sensor response pattern that is based at least in part on a change in the two material properties of the sensing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Radislav Alexandrovich Potyrailo, James Anthony Cella, Cheryl Margaret Surman, Kelly Scott Chichak, Steven Go
  • Publication number: 20120161787
    Abstract: Methods and sensors for selective fluid sensing are provided. A sensor includes a resonant inductor-capacitor-resistor (LCR) circuit and a sensing material disposed over a sensing region. The sensing region comprises at least a portion of the LCR circuit. Temperature-dependent response coefficients of inductance L, capacitance C, and resistance R properties of the LCR circuit and the sensing material are at least approximately 5 percent different from one another. The difference in the temperature-dependent response coefficients of the properties of the LCR circuit and the sensing material enables the sensor to selectively detect analyte fluids from an analyzed fluid mixture substantially independent of temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Radislav Alexandrovich Potyrailo, Cheryl Margaret Surman
  • Publication number: 20120166095
    Abstract: Methods and sensors for selective fluid sensing are provided. A sensor includes a resonant inductor-capacitor-resistor (LCR) circuit and a sensing material disposed over the LCR circuit. The sensing material includes a coordination compound of a ligand and a metal nanoparticle. The coordination compound has the formula: (X)n-M, where X includes an alkylamine group having the formula (R—NH2), an alkylphosphine having the formula (R3—P), an alkylphosphine oxide having the formula (R3P?O), an alkyldithiocarbamate having the formula (R2NCS2), an alkylxanthate having the formula (ROCS2), or any combination thereof, R includes an alkyl group, n is 1, 2, or 3, and M includes the metal nanoparticle of gold, silver, platinum, palladium, alloys thereof, highly conductive metal nanoparticles, or any combination thereof. The sensing material is configured to allow selective detection of at least six different analyte fluids from an analyzed fluid mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Radislav Alexandrovich Potyrailo, Cheryl Margaret Surman, Binil Kandapallil
  • Publication number: 20120116683
    Abstract: Methods and sensors for selective fluid sensing are provided. Each sensor includes a resonant inductor-capacitor-resistor (LCR) sensor that is coated with a sensing material. In order to collect data, an impedance spectrum is acquired over a relatively narrow frequency range, such as the resonant frequency range of the LCR circuit. A multivariate signature may be calculated from the acquired spectrum to discern the presence of certain fluids and/or fluid mixtures. The presence of fluids is detected by measuring the changes in dielectric, dimensional, resistance, charge transfer, and other changes in the properties of the materials employed by observing the changes in the resonant electronic properties of the circuit. By using a mathematical procedure, such as principal components analysis (PCA) and others, multiple fluids and mixtures can be detected in the presence of one another, even in a high humidity environment or an environment wherein one or more fluids has a substantially higher concentration (e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Radislav Alexandrovich Potyrailo, Cheryl Margaret Surman, Andrew Arthur Paul Burns, Nandini Nagraj
  • Patent number: 8159347
    Abstract: A sensor is provided. The sensor comprises at least one sensing device comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, and a gap defined as a distance between one or more facing inner surfaces of the first and second electrodes, wherein the gap distance at least in part determines a threshold of one or more sensed parameters, and an antenna in operative association with the sensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Radislav Alexandrovich Potyrailo, William Guy Morris, Cheryl Margaret Surman, Katharine Dovidenko, Tracy Lynn Paxon
  • Publication number: 20120004851
    Abstract: A field-portable impedance reader is provided. The impedance reader comprises a reader antenna, an impedance compensator, a calibrator, and a synchronous sampler. The impedance reader further comprises a digital processor that receives and processes signals from the synchronous sampler. Further, a wireless system comprising the impedance reader of the invention is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Radislav Alexandrovich Potyrailo, Jeffrey Michael Ashe, William Guy Morris, Cheryl Margaret Surman
  • Publication number: 20110320142
    Abstract: A temperature independent pressure sensor for selectively determining pressure is provided. The sensor comprises a resonance sensor circuit, a pressure sensitive component disposed on the sensor circuit, and an electromagnetic field modulator. A temperature independent pressure sensor system comprises a resonance sensor circuit, a pressure sensitive component disposed on the sensor circuit, an electromagnetic field modulator, and a processor that generates a multivariate analysis of sensor response pattern that is based on a change in an environmental pressure of the sensor system. A method of detecting a pressure response pattern in a temperature independent manner is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Cheryl Margaret Surman, Radislav Alexandrovich Potyrailo, William Guy Morris
  • Patent number: 7948385
    Abstract: The present invention related to devices and methods for using ferrite alignment keys in wireless remote sensor assemblies. In one aspect, the invention provides wireless resonant sensor assemblies comprising a pick-up coil, a ferrite alignment key positioned in and extending from the pick-up coil, and wireless resonant sensor having a receiving element wherein the pick-up coil and the wireless resonant sensor align upon insertion of the ferrite alignment key into the receiving element. The ferrite alignment key may also be part of a resonant sensor such that insertion of a pick-up coil into a receiving element of the alignment key results in a configuration where the alignment key is positioned in and extended from the pick-up coil. Methods of measuring one or more parameters of a monitoring system are also provided. The insertion of the ferrite alignment key aligns the pick-up coil and wireless resonant sensor thereby increasing sensing of the wireless resonant sensor by the pick-up coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Radislav Alexandrovich Potyrailo, William Guy Morris, Charles Lucian Dumoulin, Cheryl Margaret Surman
  • Publication number: 20100268479
    Abstract: A system for selectively determining at least two analytes, comprising at least one resonant sensor circuit comprising a sensing material that predictably affects the resonant complex impedance response of a sensor electrode, wherein the sensing material having at least two material properties that change upon exposure to two or more analytes; and a processor that generates a multivariate sensor response pattern that is based at least in part on a change in the two material properties of the sensing material and a sensing device and methods adapted to detect an analyte using the same sensor system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Radislav Alexandrovich Potyrailo, James Anthony Cella, Cheryl Margaret Surman, Kelly Scott Chichak, Steven Go
  • Publication number: 20100147481
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a casted article is presented. The method includes steps of forming a casted article by a liquid metal cooled directional solidification process, removing a metallic material from a surface of the casted article and inspecting the surface of the casted article. The surface of the casted article is inspected for the presence of the metallic material by exposing the surface to a visualization reagent. A system for manufacturing the casted article is also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Lawrence Bernard Kool, Shyh-Chin Huang, Michael Francis Xavier Gigliotti,, JR., Cheryl Margaret Surman, Andrew Michael Leach, Andrew J. Elliott
  • Publication number: 20100141273
    Abstract: The present invention related to devices and methods for using ferrite alignment keys in wireless remote sensor assemblies. In one aspect, the invention provides wireless resonant sensor assemblies comprising a pick-up coil, a ferrite alignment key positioned in and extending from the pick-up coil, and wireless resonant sensor having a receiving element wherein the pick-up coil and the wireless resonant sensor align upon insertion of the ferrite alignment key into the receiving element. The ferrite alignment key may also be part of a resonant sensor such that insertion of a pick-up coil into a receiving element of the alignment key results in a configuration where the alignment key is positioned in and extended from the pick-up coil. Methods of measuring one or more parameters of a monitoring system are also provided. The insertion of the ferrite alignment key aligns the pick-up coil and wireless resonant sensor thereby increasing sensing of the wireless resonant sensor by the pick-up coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Radislav Alexandrovich Potyrailo, William Guy Morris, Charles Lucian Dumoulin, Cheryl Margaret Surman