Patents by Inventor Christian O'Keefe
Christian O'Keefe 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).
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Patent number: 9404893Abstract: The present invention provides new techniques for non-invasive and real-time measurement of the velocity profile of slurry flow in horizontal pipes, as well as the measurement and trending of pipe wear on slurry lines. In the first case, this information can be used to determine the approach and onset of solid deposition on the bottom of the pipe. Having this information in real time can enable operation at lower velocities or higher solids concentration or both while avoiding solids deposition or plugging and their associated operational costs. In the second case, the present invention uses a permanently or semi-permanently installed ring of conformable ultrasonic transducers clamped onto the outside of the pipe. These transducers are used to measure the thickness of the pipe under their respective locations.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2009Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: CiDRA Corporate Services Inc.Inventors: Christian O'Keefe, Robert J. Maron, Mark R. Fernald, Timothy J. Bailey, Alex Van der Spek, Michael A. Davis, John V. Viega
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Patent number: 7673526Abstract: A method for sensing flow within a pipe having an internal passage disposed between a first wall portion and a second wall portion is provided, comprising the steps of: 1) providing a flow meter having at least one ultrasonic sensor unit that includes an ultrasonic transmitter attached to the first wall portion and an ultrasonic receiver attached to the second wall portion and aligned to receive ultrasonic signals transmitted from the transmitter; 2) selectively operating the ultrasonic transmitter to transmit a beam of ultrasonic signal, which beam has a focal point such that within the pipe, the beam is either colliminated, divergent or convergent; and 3) receiving the ultrasonic signals within the beam using the ultrasonic receiver. An apparatus operable to perform the aforesaid method is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2007Date of Patent: March 9, 2010Assignee: Expro Meters, Inc.Inventors: Timothy J. Bailey, Mark Fernald, Changjiu Dang, Christian O'Keefe
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Patent number: 7503227Abstract: An apparatus for measuring velocity of a fluid passing through a pipe is provided. The apparatus includes a spatial array of sensors having at least two sensors disposed at different axial locations along the pipe, wherein the sensors provide at least one signal indicative of a stochastic parameter associated with a characteristic of the fluid, wherein the characteristic includes at least one of unsteady temperature, density, consistency, transparency, conductivity, capacitance, resistivity, and inductance. A signal processor is also provided, wherein the signal processor is configured to receive the at least one signal and determine the velocity of the fluid using the at least one signal.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2006Date of Patent: March 17, 2009Assignee: Cidra Corporate Services, IncInventors: Michael Davis, Timothy Bailey, Mark Fernald, Alan Kersey, Christian O'Keefe
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Patent number: 7430924Abstract: A flow measurement apparatus is provided that combines the functionality of an apparatus that uses strain-based sensors and ultrasonic sensors to measure the speed of sound propagating through a fluid flowing within a pipe, and measure pressures disturbances (e.g. vortical disturbances or eddies) moving with a fluid to determine respective parameters of the flow propagating through a pipe. The apparatus includes a sensing device that includes an array of pressure sensors used to measure the acoustic and convective pressure variations in the flow to determine desired parameters and an ultrasonic meter portion to measure the velocity and volumetric flow of the fluid. In response to an input signal or internal logic, the processor can manually or dynamically switch between the pressure sensors and ultrasonic sensors to measure the parameters of the flow.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2007Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: Expro Meters Inc.Inventors: Daniel L. Gysling, Robert Maron, Christian O'Keefe
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Publication number: 20080022782Abstract: A flow measurement apparatus is provided that combines the functionality of an apparatus that uses strain-based sensors and ultrasonic sensors to measure the speed of sound propagating through a fluid flowing within a pipe, and measure pressures disturbances (e.g. vortical disturbances or eddies) moving with a fluid to determine respective parameters of the flow propagating through a pipe. The apparatus includes a sensing device that includes an array of pressure sensors used to measure the acoustic and convective pressure variations in the flow to determine desired parameters and an ultrasonic meter portion to measure the velocity and volumetric flow of the fluid. In response to an input signal or internal logic, the processor can manually or dynamically switch between the pressure sensors and ultrasonic sensors to measure the parameters of the flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2007Publication date: January 31, 2008Inventors: Daniel Gysling, Robert Maron, Christian O'Keefe
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Patent number: 7237440Abstract: A flow measurement apparatus is provided that combines the functionality of an apparatus that uses strain-based sensors and ultrasonic sensors to measure the speed of sound propagating through a fluid flowing within a pipe, and measure pressures disturbances (e.g. vortical disturbances or eddies) moving with a fluid to determine respective parameters of the flow propagating through a pipe. The apparatus includes a sensing device that includes an array of pressure sensors used to measure the acoustic and convective pressure variations in the flow to determine desired parameters and an ultrasonic meter portion to measure the velocity and volumetric flow of the fluid. In response to an input signal or internal logic, the processor can manually or dynamically switch between the pressure sensors and ultrasonic sensors to measure the parameters of the flow.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2004Date of Patent: July 3, 2007Assignee: CiDRA CorporationInventors: Daniel L. Gysling, Robert Maron, Christian O'Keefe
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Publication number: 20070044572Abstract: An apparatus for measuring velocity of a fluid passing through a pipe is provided. The apparatus includes a spatial array of sensors having at least two sensors disposed at different axial locations along the pipe, wherein the sensors provide at least one signal indicative of a stochastic parameter associated with a characteristic of the fluid, wherein the characteristic includes at least one of unsteady temperature, density, consistency, transparency, conductivity, capacitance, resistivity, and inductance. A signal processor is also provided, wherein the signal processor is configured to receive the at least one signal and determine the velocity of the fluid using the at least one signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2006Publication date: March 1, 2007Inventors: Michael Davis, Timothy Bailey, Mark Fernald, Alan Kersey, Christian O'Keefe
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Patent number: 7126740Abstract: A reconfigurable multifunctional optical device has an optical arrangement for receiving an optical signal, each having optical bands or channels, and a spatial light modulator for reflecting the at least one optical signal provided thereon. The optical arrangement features a free optics configuration with a light dispersion element for spreading each optical signal into one or more respective optical bands or channels for performing separate optical functions on each optical signal. The spatial light modulator includes a micro-mirror device with an array of micro-mirrors, and the respective optical bands or channels reflect off respective micro-mirrors. The free optics configuration includes a common set of optical components for performing each separate optical function on each optical signal. The separate optical functions reflect off separate non-overlapping areas on the spatial light modulator. The separate optical functions include optical switching, conditioning or monitoring functions.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2003Date of Patent: October 24, 2006Assignee: CiDRA CorporationInventors: Paul Szczepanek, John A. Moon, Alan D. Kersey, James S. Sirkis, James R. Dunphy, Joseph Pinto, Christian O'Keefe, Michael A. Davis
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Patent number: 6922277Abstract: A reconfigurable optical interleaver/deinterleaver device combines/separates a pair of optical input signals from and/or to an optical WDM input signal. The interleaver device includes a spatial light modulator having a micro-mirror device with a two-dimensional array of micro-mirrors that flip between first and second positions in a “digital” fashion in response to a control signal provided by a controller in accordance with a switching algorithm and an input command. A pair of collimators, diffraction gratings and Fourier lens collectively collimate, separate and focus the optical input channels and optical add channels onto the array of micro-mirrors. Each optical channel is focused on a plurality of micro-mirrors of the micro-mirror device, which effectively pixelates the optical channels.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2002Date of Patent: July 26, 2005Assignee: CiDRA CorporationInventors: John A. Moon, Alan D. Kersey, Jay W. Dawson, James R. Dunphy, Joseph Pinto, Christian O'Keefe, Paul Szczepanek
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Publication number: 20050125170Abstract: A flow measurement apparatus is provided that combines the functionality of an apparatus that uses strain-based sensors and ultrasonic sensors to measure the speed of sound propagating through a fluid flowing within a pipe, and measure pressures disturbances (e.g. vortical disturbances or eddies) moving with a fluid to determine respective parameters of the flow propagating through a pipe. The apparatus includes a sensing device that includes an array of pressure sensors used to measure the acoustic and convective pressure variations in the flow to determine desired parameters and an ultrasonic meter portion to measure the velocity and volumetric flow of the fluid. In response to an input signal or internal logic, the processor can manually or dynamically switch between the pressure sensors and ultrasonic sensors to measure the parameters of the flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2004Publication date: June 9, 2005Inventors: Daniel Gysling, Robert Maron, Christian O'Keefe
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Publication number: 20040008401Abstract: A reconfigurable multifunctional optical device has an optical arrangement for receiving an optical signal, each having optical bands or channels, and a spatial light modulator for reflecting the at least one optical signal provided thereon. The optical arrangement features a free optics configuration with a light dispersion element for spreading each optical signal into one or more respective optical bands or channels for performing separate optical functions on each optical signal. The spatial light modulator includes a micro-mirror device with an array of micro-mirrors, and the respective optical bands or channels reflect off respective micro-mirrors. The free optics configuration includes a common set of optical components for performing each separate optical function on each optical signal. The separate optical functions reflect off separate non-overlapping areas on the spatial light modulator. The separate optical functions include optical switching, conditioning or monitoring functions.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2003Publication date: January 15, 2004Applicant: CiDRA CorporationInventors: Paul Szczepanek, John A. Moon, Alan D. Kersey, James S. Sirkis, James R. Dunphy, Joseph Pinto, Christian O'Keefe, Michael A. Davis
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Publication number: 20030095307Abstract: A reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM) selectively drops and/or adds desired optical channel(s) from and/or to an optical WDM input signal. The ROADM includes a spatial light modulator having a micro-mirror device with an array of micro-mirrors, and a light dispersion element. The micro-mirrors tilt between two positions in response to a control signal provided by a controller in accordance with a switching algorithm and input command. Collimators, diffraction gratings and Fourier lens collectively collimate, separate and focus the optical input channels and optical add channels onto the array of micro-mirrors. Each optical channel is focused on micro-mirrors of the micro-mirror device, which effectively pixelates the optical channels. To drop and/or add an optical channel to the optical input signal, mirrors associated with each desired optical channel are tilted away from a return path to the second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2002Publication date: May 22, 2003Applicant: CiDRA CorporationInventors: John A. Moon, Alan D. Kersey, Jay W. Dawson, James R. Dunphy, Joseph Pinto, Christian O'Keefe, Paul Szczepanek
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Publication number: 20030090756Abstract: A reconfigurable optical channel monitor selects and determines a parameter of desired optical channel(s) from and/or to an optical WDM input signal. The OCM includes a spatial light modulator having a micro-mirror device with a two-dimensional array of micro-mirrors that tilt between first and second positions in response to a control signal from a controller in accordance with a switching algorithm and an input command. A collimator, diffraction grating, and Fourier lens collectively converge the optical input channels onto the micro-mirrors array. The optical channel is focused onto a plurality of micro-mirrors. To select each input channel, a group of micro-mirrors associated with each desired input channel is tilted to reflect the desired input channel back along the return path to a photodetector and processing unit to determine a parameter of the selected input signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2002Publication date: May 15, 2003Applicant: CiDRA CorporationInventors: John A. Moon, Alan D. Kersey, Jay W. Dawson, James R. Dunphy, Joseph Pinto, Christian O'Keefe, Paul Szczepanek
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Publication number: 20030086150Abstract: A reconfigurable optical interleaver/deinterleaver device combines/separates a pair of optical input signals from and/or to an optical WDM input signal. The interleaver device includes a spatial light modulator having a micro-mirror device with a two-dimensional array of micro-mirrors that flip between first and second positions in a “digital” fashion in response to a control signal provided by a controller in accordance with a switching algorithm and an input command. A pair of collimators, diffraction gratings and Fourier lens collectively collimate, separate and focus the optical input channels and optical add channels onto the array of micro-mirrors. Each optical channel is focused on a plurality of micro-mirrors of the micro-mirror device, which effectively pixelates the optical channels.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2002Publication date: May 8, 2003Applicant: CiDRA CorporationInventors: John A. Moon, Alan D. Kersey, Jay W. Dawson, James R. Dunphy, Joseph Pinto, Christian O'Keefe, Paul Szczepanek