Patents by Inventor Tianhua Zhang

Tianhua Zhang 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: 8364107
    Abstract: Implementations are directed to predicting signal degradation at receivers used to display a programming service. The receivers capture signal strength data that is then transmitted to a processing location, which may be associated with a provider of the programming service. A signal degradation detector at the provider operates to predict whether or not a future unacceptable signal quality will occur within a time interval. The prediction may be based on a test quantity calculated from signals captured at the receiver and based on a figure of merit for the geographic locale in which the receiver is located. A maintenance call may be initiated for those receivers that have such a poor signal quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Robert J. V. Jackson, Tianhua Zhang, Moutaz Elkaissi, Hao Nguyen, Jorge Sotelo, Wendell Blackman, Greg Goldey
  • Publication number: 20130002258
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for determining dielectric permittivity for core plugs extracted from the field or cores re-saturated with various fluids. The relative dielectric constant of reservoir core plugs is measured in controlled condition of temperature, pressure and fluid saturation within a confined cell. Four-points resistivity measurements of the rock sample in the confined cell is also provided under the controlled temperature, pressure and fluid saturation conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Patrice Ligneul, Fabrice Pairoys, Paolo Primiero, Tianhua Zhang, Salah Mohammed Al-Ofi
  • Publication number: 20130006535
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining the rock solid (matrix) dielectric permittivity for subterranean rocks, such as carbonate rocks, are described. According to some embodiments, this is accomplished by linking the matrix permittivity to the detailed chemical composition of the rock. The linking function is defined by coefficients for each component that can be determined by inversion in a laboratory calibration process such that the function compensates for the permittivity contribution of rock components that may be undetectable through downhole logging procedures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Tianhua Zhang, Jean-Marc Donadille, Patrice Ligneul, Mahmood Akbar
  • Publication number: 20120273273
    Abstract: Systems and methods for analysis of drilling cuttings are described. Complex permittivity is measured of rock cutting samples obtained during drilling operations. The origin of the cuttings is known by flow rate analysis in the drilling system. Various means can be used for rock cutting dielectric measurement. For example, the dielectric measurement can be made by matching the unknown permittivity of the medium to be analyzed to the permittivity of known liquid mixtures by successive saturation and looking for a “zero-contrast” measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Patrice Ligneul, Valerie Judith Anderson, Tianhua Zhang, Gerald Henry Meeten, Andrew Clarke, Mohammed Badri
  • Publication number: 20110319043
    Abstract: Implementations are directed to predicting signal degradation at receivers used to display a programming service. The receivers capture signal strength data that is then transmitted to a processing location, which may be associated with a provider of the programming service. A signal degradation detector at the provider operates to predict whether or not a future unacceptable signal quality will occur within a time interval. The prediction may be based on a test quantity calculated from signals captured at the receiver and based on a figure of merit for the geographic locale in which the receiver is located. A maintenance call may be initiated for those receivers that have such a poor signal quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Robert J.V. Jackson, Tianhua Zhang, Moutaz Elkaissi, Hao Nguyen, Jorge Sotelo, Wendell Blackman, Greg Goldey
  • Publication number: 20110227577
    Abstract: An apparatus and related methods are described for detecting features of a reservoir surrounding a borehole, the apparatus being capable of emitting an electromagnetic wave signal and receiving a signal representing a response of the reservoir to the electromagnetic wave signal, wherein the emitted signal is a broadband signal selected from within the range of 1 Hz to 1000 Ghz and the received signal includes a directional characteristic to provide an azimuthal determination of the direction of a discontinuity within the formation as the discontinuity reflects or scatters at least part of the broadband signal; azimuthally scanning the surrounding formation; and inverting the received signal for deriving at least a distance of the reflecting discontinuity from the borehole using simultaneous inversion of the reflected or scattered wavefield at multiple frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tianhua Zhang, Mohammed Badri, Patrice Ligneul, Mahmood Akbar
  • Patent number: 7759943
    Abstract: Sensor assemblies including transmitter and receiver antennas to respectively transmit or receive electromagnetic energy. The sensor assemblies are disposed in downhole tools adapted for subsurface disposal. The receiver is disposed at a distance less than six inches (15 cm) from the transmitter on the sensor body. The sensor transmitter or receiver includes an antenna with its axis tilted with respect to the axis of the downhole tool. A sensor includes a tri-axial system of antennas. Another sensor includes a cross-dipole antenna system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Dean M. Homan, Dzevat Omeragic, Tianhua Zhang, Nicolas Sebline
  • Publication number: 20080290873
    Abstract: Sensor assemblies including transmitter and receiver antennas to respectively transmit or receive electromagnetic energy. The sensor assemblies are disposed in downhole tools adapted for subsurface disposal. The receiver is disposed at a distance less than six inches (15 cm) from the transmitter on the sensor body. The sensor transmitter or receiver includes an antenna with its axis tilted with respect to the axis of the downhole tool. A sensor includes a tri-axial system of antennas. Another sensor includes a cross-dipole antenna system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Dean M. Homan, Dzevat Omeragic, Tianhua Zhang, Nicolas Sebline
  • Publication number: 20070244646
    Abstract: A method of deriving formation characterization comprises receiving measurement data of a substrate area; defining a measurement error distribution; creating multiple parameterized formation models of the subsurface area based on the measurement error distribution and the measurement data; generating multiple tool responses corresponding to the multiple parameterized formation models; considering the generated tool responses corresponding to the multiple parameterized formation models; and deriving the formation characterization based on the result of considering generated tool responses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: TIANHUA ZHANG, IAN STOWE
  • Patent number: 7239145
    Abstract: Sensor assemblies including transmitter and receiver antennas to respectively transmit or receive electromagnetic energy. The sensor assemblies are disposed in downhole tools adapted for subsurface disposal. The receiver is disposed at a distance less than six inches (15 cm) from the transmitter on the sensor body. The sensor transmitter or receiver includes an antenna with its axis tilted with respect to the axis of the downhole tool. A sensor includes a tri-axial system of antennas. Another sensor includes a cross-dipole antenna system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Center
    Inventors: Dean M. Homan, Dzevat Omeragic, Tianhua Zhang, Nicolas Sebline
  • Publication number: 20050212520
    Abstract: Sensor assemblies including transmitter and receiver antennas to respectively transmit or receive electromagnetic energy. The sensor assemblies are disposed in downhole tools adapted for subsurface disposal. The receiver is disposed at a distance less than six inches (15 cm) from the transmitter on the sensor body. The sensor transmitter or receiver includes an antenna with its axis tilted with respect to the axis of the downhole tool. A sensor includes a tri-axial system of antennas. Another sensor includes a cross-dipole antenna system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Inventors: Dean Homan, Dzevat Omeragic, Tianhua Zhang, Nicolas Sebline