Condition Responsive Light Guide (e.g., Light Guide Is Physically Affected By Parameter Sensed Which Results In Light Conveyed To The Photocell) Patents (Class 250/227.14)
  • Patent number: 11958255
    Abstract: An in-situ fiber-optic temperature field measurement is disclosed that can allow process monitoring and diagnosis for thermoplastic composite welding and other applications. A distributed fiber-optic sensor can be permanently embedded in a thermoplastic welded structure when it is welded and left there to perform lifelong monitoring and inspection. The fiber optic sensor can include a dissolvable coating, or a coating matched to the composite material to be welded. Other applications include in-situ fiber-optic temperature field measurement on thermoset composite curing (autoclave), for thermoplastic and thermoset composites during compression molding, and for fiber-optic field measurements on freeze/thaw of large items of public health interest, such as stored or transported foodstuffs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: University of South Carolina
    Inventors: Victor Giurgiutiu, Michael Van Tooren, Bin Lin, Lingyu Yu, Mohammad Faisal Haider
  • Patent number: 11933664
    Abstract: A distributed acoustic system (DAS) may comprise an interrogator and an umbilical line attached at one end to the interrogator, a downhole fiber attached to the umbilical line at the end opposite the interrogator. The interrogator may further include a proximal circulator, a distal circulator connected to the proximal circulator by a first fiber optic cable, and a second fiber optic cable connecting the proximal circulator and the distal circulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Ellmauthaler, Glenn Andrew Wilson, John L. Maida
  • Patent number: 11921321
    Abstract: Provided are three dimensional, stretchable, optical sensor networks that can localize deformations. The devices described herein are suitable for uses in soft robots to determine the position of external contact, such as touching, and possibly internal deformations that may be caused by actuation. Sensor networks of the present disclosure contain a substrate, such as a 3D lattice, and cores having a cladding, such as air. Light passes through the cores and upon deformation of the substrate, cores may come into contact, allowing light to couple between cores due to frustrated total internal reflection. The resulting changes in intensity in the cores can be used to determine the placement and magnitude of deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Cornell University
    Inventors: Patricia Xu, Robert F. Shepherd
  • Patent number: 11852512
    Abstract: In a method for interrogating at least one optical sensor coupled to an optical path, at least two time-shifted optical signals are fed into the optical path and reflected optical signals of the at least two probe signals created by the at least one optical sensor are detected. Each detected reflected optical signal is assigned to one of the at least one optical sensor and a correct optical frequency is assigned to each detected reflected optical signal. An absolute value or a value range or a change of a value or value range of the parameter to be sensed is determined from the one or more of the following physical conditions: the optical reflection signals, the reflectivity of the at least one optical sensor, and the frequency of each detected optical reflection signal, or from one or more dependencies that link these physical conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: ADVA Optical Networking SE
    Inventor: Michael Eiselt
  • Patent number: 11774245
    Abstract: The vehicle hull with an interferometric fiber-optic gyroscope includes an outer hull, an inner hull arranged within the outer hull, and an interferometric fiber-optic gyroscope. A fiber optic coil of the interferometric fiber-optic gyroscope is wound around the inner hull in a space between the inner hull and the outer hull. As a non-limiting example, the vehicle may be a dual-hull submarine, and the fiber optic coil may be would around the pressure hull of the submarine within the space between the pressure hull and the light hull. The interferometric fiber-optic gyroscope also includes a light source and an optical modulator in optical communication therewith. The fiber optic coil is optically coupled at two ends thereof to the optical modulator for receiving two counter-propagating light beams therefrom. A photodetector is optically coupled with the optical modulator for receiving a recombined light beam produced by the optical modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventor: Morgan D. Rosenberg
  • Patent number: 11768153
    Abstract: Disclosed is a structure (e.g., a lab-on-chip structure) including a substrate, an insulator layer on the substrate, and at least one optical ring resonator. Each ring resonator includes cladding material on the insulator layer and, embedded within the cladding material, a first waveguide core with an input and an output, and second waveguide core(s) (e.g., ring waveguide core(s)) positioned laterally adjacent to the first waveguide core. A reservoir is below the ring resonator within the insulator layer and substrate such that surfaces of the waveguide cores are exposed within the reservoir. During a sensing operation, the waveguide core surfaces contact with fluid within the reservoir and a light signal at the output of the first waveguide core is monitored (e.g., by a sensing circuit, which in some embodiments is also coupled to a reference optical ring resonator) and used, for example, for spectrum-based target identification and, optionally, characterization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: GlobalFoundries U.S. Inc.
    Inventors: Bartlomiej J. Pawlak, Michal Rakowski
  • Patent number: 11761797
    Abstract: An optical fiber with one or more microgratings is disclosed. Methods and apparatus are described for making an optical fiber with one or more microgratings. Methods and apparatus are described for an optical fiber with one or more microgratings Optical sensing methods and an optical sensing system effectively decouple strain range from the laser tuning range, permit the use of a smaller tuning range without sacrificing strain range, and compensate for ambiguity in phase measurements normally associated with smaller tuning ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Froggatt, Dawn K. Gifford, Alexander K. Sang
  • Patent number: 11740155
    Abstract: Methods and systems for analyzing an industrial structure are provided. With a plurality of sensors (e.g. FBGs and/or piezoelectric transducers and/or electromagnetic acoustic transducers) deployed in, on or in proximity to the structure, sensors are interrogated and a function representative of the impulse response of the structure is determined by passive inverse filter. Subsequently, a map of the propagation of the elastic waves through the structure is determined via various modalities, and in particular by tomography (of bulk or guided waves, by analysis of time of flight or of the complete signal). Embodiments especially relate to the management of the number and position of the sensors, to the use of artificial noise sources, and to automatically controlling the sensors and/or noise sources to monitor the health of the structure, or even to view the dynamic behavior of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Bastien Chapuis, Tom Druet
  • Patent number: 11732578
    Abstract: A distributed acoustic system (DAS) method and system. The system may comprise an interrogator and an umbilical line comprising a first fiber optic cable and a second fiber optic cable attached at one end to the interrogator. The DAS may further include a downhole fiber attached to the umbilical line at the end opposite the interrogator and a light source disposed in the interrogator that is configured to emit a plurality of coherent light frequencies into the umbilical line and the downhole fiber. The method may include generating interferometric signals of the plurality of frequencies of backscattered light that have been received by the photo detector assembly and processing the interferometric signals with an information handling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Ellmauthaler, John L. Maida, Jr., Ira Jeffrey Bush, Michel Joseph LeBlanc, Glenn Andrew Wilson
  • Patent number: 11719526
    Abstract: A device for detecting wear of a wear member composed of electrically resistive material. The wear member comprises at least two electrodes separated from each other, where each electrode overlies, or is embedded in, an outer surface of the electrically resistive material. One of the electrodes is connected to a resistor at a measurement node to form a resistive voltage divider. A voltage measurement device measures a change in voltage at the measurement node, where the change is voltage is indicative of the degree of removal of resistive material from a face of the wear member and where the change in voltage is continuously variable and not limited to discrete wear levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Noel W. Anderson, Michael L. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 11650153
    Abstract: Plasmonic optical fibers, plasmonic optical sensors and methods of manufacturing the same. A fiber core conveys an optical signal therewithin and provides a plasmonic sensing area exposed to a fluid. The plasmonic sensing area is formed only on a section of an external surface of the fiber core. The plasmonic sensing area provides an interface within the section of the external surface for the conveyed signal to at least partially exit the fiber core and cause a modified optical signal to be conveyed in the fiber core. An optical signal generator may provide the optical signal to the plasmonic optical fiber, an optical signal receiver may discriminate the conveyed optical signal from the modified optical signal and a processor module may analyze the modified optical signal and identifies physical characteristics of the fluid present at the sensing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Inventor: Alireza Hassani
  • Patent number: 11619542
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS)—distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) based systems, methods, and structures that advantageously enable and/or facilitate the determination of natural frequency(ies) of civil infrastructures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Sarper Ozharar, Yue Tian, Yangmin Ding, Ting Wang
  • Patent number: 11589925
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical system using an interventional elongated medical device having an optical fiber configured for optical shape sensing of the medical device. The system comprises a detection unit configured to detect a confined manipulation section along the medical device for manipulation by a user without an interaction interface arranged on the medical device and an analysis unit configured to analyze a user manipulation applied to the manipulation section based on optical shape sensing of the medical device in the manipulation section and to trigger an event in the medical system, if the analysis unit identifies the user manipulation in the manipulation section as a specific manipulation associated with the event to be triggered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Sander Hans Denissen, Wilhelmus Henrica Gerarda Maria Van Den Boomen, Molly Lara Flexman
  • Patent number: 11590676
    Abstract: System and method for in-process cure monitoring of a material utilizes one or more sensors such as fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) or phase-shifted FBGs (PS-FBGs) and at least one optical line fiber connected to the sensor(s). The sensor(s) and the optical line may be embedded in the material prior to curing the material may comprise a fiber reinforced polymer. Waves are excited into the material during curing thereof to form guided waves that propagate through the material. At least one wave metric of the guided waves is measured utilizing the sensor(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF NASA
    Inventors: Tyler B. Hudson, Fuh-Gwo Yuan, Nicolas Auwaijan, Frank L. Palmieri
  • Patent number: 11549344
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems and methods for controlling production of hydrocarbon material disposed within a subterranean formation are provided. In one aspect, a method is provided for producing hydrocarbon material by displacement via flow communication station of a production well. Working states of the production well are analyzed by setting the flow communication stations in the working state, producing hydrocarbon material while in the working state, and sensing a characteristic of the produced material while in the working state. A working state that optimizes operating parameters of the of the production well is determined based on the sensed characteristic, and the production well is subsequently operated in that working state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: NCS MULTISTAGE INC.
    Inventors: Marty Stromquist, John Edward Ravensbergen, Lyle Laun, Tim Johnson
  • Patent number: 11549804
    Abstract: Disclosed is detection apparatus for flow deformation of foundation layer in horizontal direction including: housing, rotation assembly rotatably disposed within accommodation cavity of the housing, and measurement assembly including first optical fiber lead wire, first optical fiber sensor disposed on first optical fiber lead wire, second optical fiber lead wire, and second optical fiber sensor disposed on second optical fiber lead wire, and disposed within the accommodation cavity. First optical fiber sensor is configured to measure tensile strain of first optical fiber lead wire and first optical fiber sensor before and after the rotation assembly rotates; second optical fiber sensor is configured to measure tensile strain of second optical fiber lead wire and second optical fiber sensor before and after the rotation assembly rotates, to obtain strain amount and displacement change amount, and further to obtain flow deformation degree and flow deformation direction of soil mass of the foundation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Inventors: Dingfeng Cao, Chengchao Guo, Pengpeng Ni, Fuming Wang
  • Patent number: 11543286
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS)-distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) based systems, methods, and structures that advantageously enable and/or facilitate the monitoring of civil infrastructures via acoustic wave speed measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Inventors: Sarper Ozharar, Yue Tian, Yangmin Ding, Ting Wang
  • Patent number: 11544863
    Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for surface monitoring. In one implementation, a target surface ahead of a vehicle is illuminated with light emitted from at least one light source. Image data of the target surface is captured from returns collected by at least one imager. At least one surface property of the target surface is measured using the image data. A set of friction metrics is generated from the at least one surface property. An estimated coefficient of friction for the target surface is determined from the set of friction metrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Inventor: Randol W. Aikin
  • Patent number: 11545263
    Abstract: A physiological sensor has light emitting sources, each activated by addressing at least one row and at least one column of an electrical grid. The light emitting sources are capable of transmitting light of multiple wavelengths and a detector is responsive to the transmitted light after attenuation by body tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Cercacor Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Smith, David Dalke, Ammar Al-Ali, Mohamed K. Diab, Marcelo M. Lamego
  • Patent number: 11519802
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a unique new approach to generating operating condition information used for assessing flow assurance and structural integrity. More specifically, apparatuses, systems and sensor housing assemblies configured in accordance with embodiments of the present invention utilize fiber optic sensors for enabling monitoring of operating condition information within one or more elongated tubular members within a subsea environment. To this end, such fiber optic sensors connected by lengths of optical fiber are strategically placed at a plurality of locations along a length of each elongated tubular member thereby allowing critical operating conditions such as strain, temperature and pressure of the elongated tubular member and/or a fluid therein to be monitored. A viscous media is used for mitigating attenuation associated with exposure of optical fiber exposed to forces generated by pressure within the subsea environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Astro Technology Group, LLC
    Inventor: David V Brower
  • Patent number: 11519758
    Abstract: A method of detecting removal of a maintenance hatch includes transmitting an optical pulse along an optical fiber, wherein a first portion of the optical fiber is proximate to the maintenance hatch. The method further includes detecting backscatter light from the optical fiber using a sensor. The method further includes determining information related to the first portion of the optical fiber based on a comparison of the detected backscatter light and a trained model. The method further includes identifying whether the maintenance hatch has been removed based on the determined information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoto Ogura, Yukihide Yoda, Koyo Mori
  • Patent number: 11519779
    Abstract: A fluid properties sensing system includes an optical sensor which generates a sensor signal based on received laser light, a light source which transmits laser light through a transmitting fiber to a sensor head, a receiver that detects a portion of the laser light from a receiving fiber through an evanescent field of the transmitting fiber when the laser light radiates through a transmitting fiber wall of the transmitting fiber and interacts with a fluid medium at an interface of the sensor and the fluid medium, and a processor. The fibers are coupled at one end through the evanescent field to form the sensor head disposed in a flow field and to interact with the fluid medium. The processor identifies a change in the sensor signal based on a detected portion of the laser light resulting from an interaction of the sensor head with the fluid medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: INNOVEERING, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Bivolaru, Jiaji Lin, George Papadopoulos
  • Patent number: 11511077
    Abstract: The present invention is advantageous in that the shape of the catheter can be sensed by detecting the position of bending of the catheter body, the direction thereof, the angle thereof, and the curvature thereof through a triplet calculation of information regarding three wavelengths that have undergone a transition along respective FBGs provided on three optical cores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignees: THE ASAN FOUNDATION, UNIVERSITY OF ULSAN FOUNDATION FOR INDUSTRY COOPERATION
    Inventors: Chang Mo Hwang, Young Hak Kim, Gi Byoung Nam, Jae Soon Choi, Gi Seok Jeong, So Yeon Jin
  • Patent number: 11478306
    Abstract: A medical manipulator system according to the present invention is provided with: a manipulator; a manipulator channel; a route that extends along the manipulator channel; a shape sensor that detects shape information of the manipulator channel; a shape-sensor driving portion that causes the shape sensor to be driven; a manipulator driving portion that causes the manipulator to be driven; a positional-information calculating portion that calculates positional information of the shape sensor on the basis of a driven amount of the shape-sensor driving portion; a shape estimating portion that estimates a bent shape of the manipulator on the basis of the shape information of the manipulator channel and the positional information; a control-parameter calculating portion that calculates a control parameter of the manipulator from the bent-shape information; and a manipulator controller that controls the manipulator on the basis of the control parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takeshi Arai
  • Patent number: 11473941
    Abstract: Example embodiments include an optical interrogation system with a sensing fiber having a single core, the single core having multiple light propagating modes. Interferometric apparatus probes the single core multimode sensing fiber over a range of predetermined wavelengths and detects measurement interferometric data associated with the multiple light propagating modes of the single core for each predetermined wavelength in the range. Data processing circuitry processes the measurement interferometric data associated with the multiple light propagating modes of the single core to determine one or more shape-sensing parameters of the sensing fiber from which the shape of the fiber in three dimensions can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Froggatt, Dawn K. Gifford, Eric E. Sanborn, Alexander K. Sang
  • Patent number: 11460446
    Abstract: A method is provided of inspecting a nested multi-layer structure including a first and second electrically conductive layer and a third layer disposed behind the second conductive layer. The method includes deploying a sensor device including an electromagnetic acoustic transducer to a borehole location proximate to the structure, generating a drive signal including a plurality of frequencies, applying an electrical current signal to the sensor device based on the drive signal and inducing currents in the first conductive layer that induce currents generating acoustic signals having the plurality of frequencies, detecting a first set of resonant frequencies based on received electromagnetic signals, detecting a second set of resonant frequencies based on received acoustic signals, estimating a property of the first and/or the second conductive layer based on the first set of resonant frequencies, and estimating a property of the third layer based on the second set of resonant frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Sushant Dutta, Otto Fanini, Joseph Olaiya, Sandip Maity, Wei Han, Scott Ingram
  • Patent number: 11441948
    Abstract: A multi-dispersive spectrometer is provided in which the spectrometer comprises an optical system configured to direct an excitation signal from an excitation light source toward a sample, receive a spectroscopy signal from the sample, and direct the spectroscopy signal toward the detector. The optical system comprises a movable optical component adapted to move the spectroscopy signal relative to at least one sensor of the detector and the detector is adapted to detect a plurality of discrete shifted spectroscopy signals. A method of obtaining a Raman spectrum from a sample is also provided. The method comprises directing an excitation signal from an excitation light source toward a sample; receiving a spectroscopy signal from the sample; and directing the spectroscopy signal toward a detector, wherein the spectroscopy signal is moved relative to at least one sensor of the detector to provide a plurality of discrete shifted spectroscopy signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Inventors: Quaid Vohra, Celestin Zemtsop, Mark Watson
  • Patent number: 11428814
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for tracking movement over the ground or other surfaces of a buried utility locator during a utility locate operation are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Michael J. Martin, Ray Merewether, Sequoyah Aldridge
  • Patent number: 11421527
    Abstract: A system and technique for obtaining two or more distributed measurements from an optical sensing fiber deployed along a desired measuring path are disclosed. Interrogating probes from two or more different distributed measuring systems are combined and launched into the sensing fiber. Backscattered light generated in response to the combined interrogating probes is separated into portions and each portion is provided to a respective distributed measuring instrument. In this manner, distributed measurements corresponding to different parameters of interest, such as temperature and pressure, along the measuring path can be measured simultaneously using the same sensing fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paul Frederick Cilgrim Dickenson, Gareth Lees, Peter Wait, Jakub Szypicyn, Colin Allan Wilson
  • Patent number: 11385110
    Abstract: A monitoring system for an electric vehicle that draws current from a conductor by means of a current collector that contacts a conductor in operation of the electric vehicle. The monitoring system includes a plurality of sensor modules throughout the current collector, wherein each sensor module comprises a plurality of FBG (Fibre Bragg Grating) sensors. Sensors of each module are arranged in a geometric pattern that compensates for temperature induced wavelength changes in the FBG sensors of each module. An optical source illuminates each sensor module and an optical coupler optically couples the optical source to each sensor module. An optical signal interpretation module receives optical signals from each sensor module wherein the optical signals are generated by the sensor modules in response to illumination of the sensor modules, wherein the interpretation module is configured to determine from the optical signals, a temperature-independent strain measurement for each sensor module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: CITY, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
    Inventors: Tong Sun, Kenneth Grattan, Ye Chen, Miodrag Vidakovic, Matthias Fabian, Fei Xiong
  • Patent number: 11375960
    Abstract: A measuring system (1) comprises a sensor (6) arranged to be attached to a subject for obtaining a measured value representing a physical or a physiological quantity of the subject. The measuring system further comprises means for deriving a subject-related value from the measured value. The sensor is arranged to be attached at one of a plurality of positions on the subject. The measuring system further comprises means for establishing the position of the sensor on the subject. The means for deriving the subject-related value is arranged for deriving the subject-related value also in dependence on the position of the sensor on the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Annelies Goris, Maarten Peter Bodlaender
  • Patent number: 11378552
    Abstract: A microscale photoacoustic sensor uses the detection of ultrasound waves generated by a sample in response to incident light absorption to perform photoacoustic spectroscopy, imaging, and microscopy. The microscale photoacoustic sensor, including components to excite a sample and detect ultrasound waves, may be integrated onto a single chip. The microscale photoacoustic sensor may excite a sample using a metasurface collimator. The metasurface collimator includes an array of diffraction grooves to collimate an excitation beam uniformly out of the plane of the sensor to create a wide and homogeneous beam spot. The microscale photoacoustic sensor may detect ultrasound waves using an optical photoacoustic transducer. The optical photoacoustic transducer includes a resonator on a mechanical membrane to detect ultrasound waves with high sensitivity. The microscale photoacoustic sensor may be used in applications such as deep-tissue neural imaging or microfluidic biological screening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Robin Singh, Anuradha M. Agarwal, Brian Anthony
  • Patent number: 11353367
    Abstract: A temperature sensor for measuring temperature is described. The sensor comprises a fibre optic cable (104) comprising optical fibre (102) and an interrogator unit (106) configured to interrogate the optical fibre with electromagnetic radiation, detect any radiation that is Rayleigh backscattered within the optical fibre and determine a measurement signal indicative of temperature changes for at least one longitudinal sensing portion of the optical fibre. A controllable thermal element, which may be a heating element, such as an electrically conducting element (108), is arranged along the length of the fibre optic cable (104) and in thermal communication with the fibre optic cable (104). A controller (110) is configured to generate a thermal variation in the controllable thermal element, e.g. by generating a time varying electric current in the electrically conducting element (108).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Inventor: Alastair Godfrey
  • Patent number: 11331688
    Abstract: A device for a lacquer transfer includes a transfer roller mounted at and rotatable relative to a frame. The roller includes a cylindrical support-body, first ring-element, second ring-element, and a tire including a middle-section forming a circumferential outer contact surface with depressions, the roller configured to roll with the outer contract surface on a work surface of a workpiece for transferring lacquer from the outer contact surface and the depressions to the work surface. The tire includes two annular end-sections attached to a cylindrical outer shell of the support-body resulting in two axially separated and circumferentially extending connections, the tire, connections, and outer shell of the support-body being fluid-tight. The first and second ring-elements are in the first cavity seated on the support-body at a distance in an axial direction of the roller from one another and the middle-section of the tire between the first and second ring-elements is prestrained in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignees: Airbus Operations GmbH, Airbus (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Pierre C. Zahlen, Alexander Gillessen, Christian Schepp, Daniel Kress, Waldemar Kümmel
  • Patent number: 11326936
    Abstract: A distributed acoustic system (DAS) may comprise an interrogator and an umbilical line attached at one end to the interrogator, a downhole fiber attached to the umbilical line at the end opposite the interrogator. The interrogator may further include a proximal circulator, a distal circulator connected to the proximal circulator by a first fiber optic cable, and a second fiber optic cable connecting the proximal circulator and the distal circulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Ellmauthaler, Glenn Andrew Wilson, John L. Maida
  • Patent number: 11313744
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting dynamic strain of a housing. The system includes an optical fiber linearly affixed along a surface of a length of the housing and an interrogator comprising a laser source and a photodetector. The optical fiber comprises at least one pair of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) tuned to reflect substantially identical wavelengths with a segment of the optical fiber extending between the FBGs. The segment of the optical fiber is linearly affixed along the surface of the housing. The interrogator is configured to perform interferometry by shining laser light along the optical fiber and detecting light reflected by the FBGs. The interrogator outputs dynamic strain measurements based on interferometry performed on the reflected light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Hifi Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: John Hull, Seyed Ehsan Jalilian
  • Patent number: 11300524
    Abstract: A metrology measurement apparatus may include one or more illumination sources, a beamsplitter configured to receive illumination from the one or more illumination sources from an illumination pathway and direct the illumination along a measurement pathway, and an objective lens. The objective lens may direct the illumination from the measurement pathway to a sample, collect light from the sample, and direct the collected light along the measurement pathway to the beamsplitter such that the beamsplitter may direct the collected light along a collection pathway to a detector. The apparatus may further include a pupil-plane scanner along the measurement pathway with a pupil relay and a deflector in a relayed pupil plane such that adjusting the deflector adjusts a position of the illumination spot on the sample without modifying a position of the illumination pupil distribution or a position of a distribution of the collected light along the collection pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: KLA Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew V. Hill, Amnon Manassen, Avi Abramov, Asaf Granot, Andrei V. Shchegrov
  • Patent number: 11282307
    Abstract: A flight restriction setting system includes a damage detector and a flight restriction calculator. The damage detector is configured to detect damage caused to a structure constituting an aircraft. The flight restriction calculator is configured to set flight restriction on the aircraft according to a degree of the damage detected by the damage detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kensuke Yoshimura, Masakatsu Abe
  • Patent number: 11280642
    Abstract: A reflection mode sensor system may include an optical fiber core and an optical fiber cladding. A first long period grating (LPG) may be positioned along the optical fiber core having a first grating period, a second LPG may be positioned along the optical fiber core having a second grating period, and a third LPG may be positioned along the optical fiber core having a third grating period. The grating periods may enable sensing of multiple parameters simultaneously. A metal coating may be applied to an end facet of the combined optical fiber core and optical fiber cladding. The metal coating may also cover a side surface of the optical fiber cladding along a length from the end facet. The metal coating may include a paste applied to the optical fiber core and the optical fiber cladding, where the paste has been cured, and includes a metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Boise State University
    Inventors: Harish Subbaraman, Sohel Rana, Nirmala Kandadai
  • Patent number: 11283244
    Abstract: A topological laser system is described. The laser system comprises an array of optical elements arranged in an array and coupled between them such that the array is configured for supporting one or more topological modes. The plurality of optical elements comprises optical elements carrying gain material configured for emitting optical radiation in response to pumping energy. The laser system further comprises a pumping unit configured to provide pumping of a group of the optical elements of the array within at least a portion of the spatial region corresponding with said topological mode; and at least one output port optically coupled to one or more of the optical elements associated with said topological mode. The at least one output ports is configured for extracting a portion of light intensity from said laser system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignees: TECHNION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, LTD., THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Mordechai Segev, Gal Harari, Demetrios N. Christodoulides, Miguel Angel Bandres Motola
  • Patent number: 11249248
    Abstract: There is described a method of fabricating an optical fiber device, the method comprising: positioning longitudinal portions of a plurality of optical fibers alongside each other in a given geometrical relationship, depositing liquid coating material around the longitudinal portions of the plurality of optical fibers; and the liquid coating material setting up around the longitudinal portions of the plurality of optical fibers thereby maintaining said given geometrical relationship along the longitudinal portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: POLYVALOR, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Raman Kashyap, Sébastien Loranger, Frédéric Monet, Samuel Kadoury, Pierre Lorre
  • Patent number: 11150114
    Abstract: A multiplexed fiber optic sensor system including at least one light source, one or more first optical fibers having a first end arranged to receive light from the light source(s) and transmit the light to at least one fiber optic sensor, and one or more second optical fibers arranged to receive reflected light from the fiber optic sensors and transmit the reflected light to a light sensing element. Using the sensor system, it is possible to measure physical phenomena, such as electromagnetic phenomena, along multiple points along or within a material or structure of interest or on separate materials or structures. The fiber optic sensors can be electromagnetic phenomena sensors, pressure sensors, acceleration sensors, strain sensors, temperature sensors, or other sensors designed to measure physical phenomena. The sensor system can be used to measure phenomena of interest at several locations or take different kinds of measurements at the same or approximately the same location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: SMARTSENSECOM, INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas Lagakos, Victor Kaybulkin, Patrick Hernandez, Christopher Vizas
  • Patent number: 11150148
    Abstract: An optical fiber detecting device includes: an optical fiber configured to extend in contact with a surface of an object to be measured; a metal covering configured to cover a part of the optical fiber in an extending direction of the optical fiber from an outside of the object to be measured; a fixing section configured to fix an inner surface of the metal covering and the optical fiber; and welding sections configured to fix the metal covering to the object to be measured at positions interposing the optical fiber in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Takeda, Yoshihide Wadayama, Ryo Kawabata
  • Patent number: 11150083
    Abstract: System and method for determining real-time sag and shape information of an electrical power line based on strain distribution along a length of an optical fiber associated with the power line. An embedded fiber coupled to an overhead transmission line measures strain using the backscatter of an optical signal, the optical signal is then interrogated using an interferometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: The Curators of the University of Missouri
    Inventors: Jie Huang, Rui Bo
  • Patent number: 11149520
    Abstract: A cementing tool with a top seal and a bottom seal may be positionable within a casing string of a wellbore. A fiber optic line may be coupled to the top seal and to a second fiber optic line coupled to a bottom seal that is deployed within an annulus. An amplifier coupled to the cementing tool may amplify a source optical signal from a light source and a sensing measurement signal from the second fiber optic line and the first fiber optic line. One or more operational parameters, such as cementing parameters, may be adjusted based, at least in part, on the sensing measurement signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: David Andrew Barfoot, Christopher Lee Stokley, John Laureto Maida, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11131544
    Abstract: An optical fiber curvature sensor. Two networks (R1, R2) with periodic longitudinal modulation of the refractive index of the optical fiber core are inscribed in the fiber (F) one behind the other or one on top of the other. The networks are configured to respectively reflect wavelengths ?1 and ?2 such that ?1=?B+??B1 and ?2=?B+??B2, where ?B is the Bragg wavelength of the networks and where ?B1 and ?B2 are shifts sensitive to the temperature, to deformations and to the curvature of the optical fiber. The two networks are defined so that the quantities ??B1 and ??B2 have substantially identical sensitivity to temperature and to deformations and substantially opposite sensitivity to curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignees: Université de Nantes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Romain Guyard, Yann Lecieux, Cyril Lupi, Dominique Leduc
  • Patent number: 11092499
    Abstract: An integrated measuring system comprises a structural element for building constructions, having an internal cavity, hermetically closed to contain a compressible fluid, and a measuring system for measuring stresses and/or deformations on the structural element, whereby it is possible to measure pressure and temperature of the compressible fluid so as to measure a change in the compressible fluid pressure and determine a variation of the volume of the internal cavity resulting from an action imparted to the structural element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Inventor: Francesco Tondolo
  • Patent number: 11076764
    Abstract: System and method that use a pressure sensitive mat to monitor vitals signs of an individual positioned on the pressure sensitive mat. The pressure sensor mat is coupled to pressure sensors that each have an adjustable pressure responsivity. In order to be able to monitor the vital signs without interruption due to the individual repositioning themself on the pressure sensitive mat and thereby running the risk of increasing the pressure on some pressure sensors to the point of saturation, or running the risk of decreasing the pressure on other pressure sensors to the point losing any usable signal, the system comprises circuitry that monitors a baseline pressure sensor at one pressure sensor and controls, as a function of the monitored signal, the pressure responsivity at a neighbor pressure sensor. This allows the neighbor sensor to generate a monitored signal with discernable time dependent features associated with the individual's vital signs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Press-IR Inc.
    Inventors: Rafik Alphonse Goubran, Frank-Dietrich Knoefel, Raymond Bruce Wallace
  • Patent number: 11079260
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for detecting components of a multiphasic flow are disclosed. A flowmeter may include a plurality of optical fibers disposed across a fluid flow. The optical fibers may generate backscattering of a portion of a laser beam transmitted along the optical fibers. The backscattering may be produced by a grating formed by zinc dicyanoaurate formed in each of the optical fibers. Heterodyne detection may be used to determine a Brillouin frequency shift that is used to determine strain and temperature measurements at different locations along the optical fibers. Artificial Intelligence uses the strain and temperature measurements to determine a flow regime of the fluid flow and flow rates of components forming the fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Karam Chand, Frode Hveding
  • Patent number: 11076930
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a conductor-less, shape-able surgical lighting system for use in surgical applications in which a medical clinician, once having established a surgical site, can shape the lighting system to selectively illuminate desired volumes of the surgical site. The system includes one or more preselected lengths of an elongate light emitting member formed of a transparent elastomer matrix material having a glass transition temperature of lower than or substantially equal to room temperature to render the elongate light emitting member bendable and shape-able. Embedded in the transparent elastomer matrix material are particles of a transparent material having a refractive index different from a refractive index of the matrix material dispersed in the elastomer matrix material so that light coupled into the elongate light emitting member is scattered and refracted out of the elongate light emitting member along its length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: SYNAPTIVE MEDICAL INC.
    Inventors: Siu Wai Jacky Mak, Michael Frank Gunter Wood