Patents by Inventor Douglas G. Niessen

Douglas G. Niessen 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).

  • System and method for guided boring obstacle detection
    Patent number: 6679120
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting an underground obstacle in which a plurality of acoustic signal sensors are deployed in a predetermined pattern on an area of ground defined by a guided drill path. A drill head of a drill is inserted into the ground and a borehole is drilled in the ground along the guided drill path. The noise signal generated by the drill head is detected at at least two of the acoustic signal sensors and the difference in arrival time of the noise signal at the two acoustic signal sensors is determined. This difference in arrival time of noise signal is analyzed, whereby the presence or absence of an underground obstacle is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventors: Robert W. Cribbs, Ching-Chen Wu, Douglas G. Niessen
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GUIDED BORING OBSTACLE DETECTION
    Publication number: 20040007070
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting an underground obstacle in which a plurality of acoustic signal sensors are deployed in a predetermined pattern on an area of ground defined by a guided drill path. A drill head of a drill is inserted into the ground and a borehole is drilled in the ground along the guided drill path. The noise signal generated by the drill head is detected at at least two of the acoustic signal sensors and the difference in arrival time of the noise signal at the two acoustic signal sensors is determined. This difference in arrival time of noise signal is analyzed, whereby the presence or absence of an underground obstacle is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventors: Robert W. Cribbs, Ching-Chen Wu, Douglas G. Niessen