Patents Assigned to HiFi Engineering, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11953385
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an enclosure having one or more apertures for receiving therethrough optical fiber, and one or more actuators sealed within the enclosure for generating one or more interference signals for interfering with optical fiber within the enclosure such that an optical path length of the optical fiber is altered. A method for verifying an event detection system includes interrogating optical fiber positioned alongside a conduit by sending one or more light pulses along the optical fiber and receiving reflections of the one or more light pulses. The method further includes using an event verification device housed within an enclosure through which passes the optical fiber to generate one or more interference signals for interfering with the optical fiber such that an optical path length of the optical fiber is altered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: HIFI ENGINEERING INC.
    Inventors: John Hull, Seyed Ehsan Jalilian
  • Patent number: 11946732
    Abstract: A method of wrapping optical fiber around a fluid conduit. The optical fiber is wrapped at least partially around the conduit. The optical fiber is secured relative to the conduit at one or more securing locations, thereby defining a sequence of multiple optical fiber portions. Each optical fiber portion comprises a portion of the optical fiber. Each securing location delimits a given optical fiber portion from the subsequent optical fiber portion in the sequence of optical fiber portions. A direction of wrapping of each consecutive optical fiber portion in the sequence of optical fiber portions may be alternated between a clockwise direction and a counter-clockwise direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: HIFI ENGINEERING INC.
    Inventors: Arne Dankers, Seyed Ehsan Jalilian
  • Patent number: 11906394
    Abstract: There is described a method of locating an area of interest in a conduit, comprising: measuring multiple acoustic signals at multiple locations along the conduit; for each acoustic signal, determining its autocorrelation; and applying a relationship to the determined autocorrelations to estimate a location of the area of interest, wherein the relationship is between autocorrelations of acoustic signals measured in a modelled conduit and modelled areas of interest in the modelled conduit, wherein it is assumed that acoustic signals propagating along the modelled conduit reflect from at least one point in the modelled conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: HIFI ENGINEERING INC.
    Inventors: Arne Dankers, Seyed Ehsan Jalilian
  • Publication number: 20240003765
    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: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: Hifi Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: John Hull, Seyed Ehsan Jalilian
  • Patent number: 11754462
    Abstract: There are described methods, systems, and computer-readable media for detecting events in a conduit. Multiple lengths of optical fiber positioned alongside a conduit are used to detect a signal. For each length of optical fiber, interferometric data is obtained from the detected signal. The interferometric data obtained for one length of optical fiber is compared to the interferometric data obtained for one or more other lengths of optical fiber. Based on the comparison, it is determined whether the signal originated from the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: HIFI ENGINEERING INC.
    Inventors: Arne Dankers, Seyed Ehsan Jalilian
  • Patent number: 11680829
    Abstract: There is provided a system for determining multiple baselines for detecting events in a conduit. The system comprises an optical fiber interrogator for interrogating optical fiber; and one or more processors communicative with the optical fiber interrogator and memory having stored thereon computer program code configured, when executed by the one or more processors, to cause the one or more processors to perform a method. The method comprises, for each of multiple channels of the conduit, each channel comprising a portion of the conduit: obtaining phase data for the channel, the phase data being obtained by causing the optical fiber interrogator to interrogate optical fiber positioned alongside the conduit; and determining one or more baselines from the phase data. As a result, events in the conduit may be detected with fewer false positives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: HIFI ENGINEERING INC.
    Inventors: Adekunle Adeyemi, Seyed Ehsan Jalilian
  • Patent number: 11662489
    Abstract: There is described a method of making an acoustic sensor having a frequency response approximating a desired frequency response. The method comprises wrapping optical fiber around a core according to a wrapping pattern. The wrapping pattern is determined from an impulse response of the acoustic sensor. The impulse response is determined from the desired frequency response of the acoustic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: HIFI ENGINEERING INC.
    Inventors: Arne Dankers, Seyed Ehsan Jalilian
  • Patent number: 11630008
    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: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Hifi Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: John Hull, Seyed Ehsan Jalilian
  • Publication number: 20230104471
    Abstract: There is described a method for interrogating optical fiber comprising fiber Bragg gratings (“FBGs”), using an optical fiber interrogator. The method comprises (a) generating an initial light pulse from phase coherent light emitted from a light source, wherein the initial light pulse is generated by modulating the intensity of the light; (b) splitting the initial light pulse into a pair of light pulses; (c) causing one of the light pulses to be delayed relative to the other of the light pulses; (d) transmitting the light pulses along the optical fiber; (e) receiving reflections of the light pulses off the FBGs; and (f) determining whether an optical path length between the FBGs has changed from an interference pattern resulting from the reflections of the light pulses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: Hifi Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: Brian H. Moore, Walter Jeffrey Shakespeare, Phillip William Wallace, Viet Hoang, Chris Henrikson, Ajay Sandhu, Adrian Dumitru, Thomas Clement, Dongliang Huang, Seyed Ehsan Jalilian
  • Patent number: 11609086
    Abstract: There is described a method for interrogating optical fiber comprising fiber Bragg gratings (“FBGs”), using an optical fiber interrogator. The method comprises (a) generating an initial light pulse from phase coherent light emitted from a light source, wherein the initial light pulse is generated by modulating the intensity of the light; (b) splitting the initial light pulse into a pair of light pulses; (c) causing one of the light pulses to be delayed relative to the other of the light pulses; (d) transmitting the light pulses along the optical fiber; (e) receiving reflections of the light pulses off the FBGs; and (f) determining whether an optical path length between the FBGs has changed from an interference pattern resulting from the reflections of the light pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Hifi Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: Brian H. Moore, Walter Jeffrey Shakespeare, Phillip William Wallace, Viet Hoang, Chris Henrikson, Ajay Sandhu, Adrian Dumitru, Thomas Clement, Dongliang Huang, Seyed Ehsan Jalilian
  • Patent number: 11448548
    Abstract: An optical fiber assembly comprising an optical fiber casing and optical fiber deployed within and fixed relative to the casing at multiple fixation points spaced along the casing. The optical fiber assembly includes one or more weights attached within the casing to the optical fiber, for increasing a tension of the optical fiber between the multiple fixation points; flexible portions and rigid portions, with the optical fiber fixed to the flexible portions; and/or at least one guide member positioned at at least one of the fixation points and configured to constrain a bend radius of the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: HIFI ENGINEERING INC.
    Inventors: Arne Dankers, Seyed Ehsan Jalilian
  • Patent number: 11441740
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a method of simulating a leak in a pipeline. The method includes: receiving a fluid stream from a fluid supply; and outputting the received fluid stream through an outlet such that the received fluid stream hits an outer surface of the pipeline at a location opposite the outlet such that a vibration is caused in the pipeline. Some other embodiments provide a corresponding system for simulating a leak in a pipeline, and a corresponding outlet for coupling a conduit to a pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Hifi Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: John Hull, Seyed Ehsan Jalilian, Oleksiy Pletnyov
  • Patent number: 11441926
    Abstract: There is provided a system for determining multiple baselines for detecting events in a conduit. The system comprises an optical fiber interrogator for interrogating optical fiber; and one or more processors communicative with the optical fiber interrogator and memory having stored thereon computer program code configured, when executed by the one or more processors, to cause the one or more processors to perform a method. The method comprises, for each of multiple channels of the conduit, each channel comprising a portion of the conduit: obtaining phase data for the channel, the phase data being obtained by causing the optical fiber interrogator to interrogate optical fiber positioned alongside the conduit; and determining one or more baselines from the phase data. As a result, events in the conduit may be detected with fewer false positives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: HIFI ENGINEERING INC.
    Inventors: Adekunle Adeyemi, Seyed Ehsan Jalilian
  • Patent number: 11428885
    Abstract: There are described methods and systems for deploying optical fiber within a conduit. In one aspect, an optical fiber injector comprising a pressure vessel having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The fluid outlet is engaged with an open end of the conduit. A length of optical fiber is provided within the pressure vessel. The optical fiber is then jetted into the conduit by injecting a fluid into the pressure vessel via the fluid inlet. The optical fiber injector is configured such that the fluid is directed from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet, and urges the optical fiber to move through the conduit, thereby deploying the optical fiber within the conduit. In a further aspect, there is provided a modular assembly comprising a pipeline and a line of two or more conduits arranged end-to-end. Each pair of opposing ends of adjacent conduits is connected together by a separate splice box. The line is positioned along and adjacent to a length of the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: HIFI ENGINEERING INC.
    Inventors: John Hull, Neil Gulewicz, Robert Sokolowski, Oleksiy Pletnyov, Souheil Merhi, Philip Cheuk, Seyed Ehsan Jalilian
  • Patent number: 11428600
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and techniques for determining whether an acoustic event lias occurred along a fluid conduit iliat lias acoustic sensors positioned along its length. For each of the sensors, a processor is used to determine a linear relationship between a measured acoustic signal measured using the sensor and a white noise acoustic source located along a longitudinal segment of the fluid conduit overlapping the sensor. From the linear relationship, the processor determines an acoustic path response that includes an acoustic response of the longitudinal segment and an acoustic source transfer function dial transforms the white noise acoustic source. Over time, variations in the acoustic path responses and/or acoustic source transfer functions are monitored. When the event threshold is exceeded, the acoustic event is identified as having occurred along the longitudinal segment corresponding to the acoustic path response or acoustic source transfer function that varied in excess of the event threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: HIFI ENGINEERING INC.
    Inventors: Arne Dankers, Seyed Ehsan Jalilian, David Westwick
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20220057193
    Abstract: There is described a method for interrogating optical fiber comprising fiber Bragg gratings (“FBGs”), using an optical fiber interrogator. The method comprises (a) generating an initial light pulse from phase coherent light emitted from a light source, wherein the initial light pulse is generated by modulating the intensity of the light; (b) splitting the initial light pulse into a pair of light pulses; (c) causing one of the light pulses to be delayed relative to the other of the light pulses; (d) transmitting the light pulses along the optical fiber; (e) receiving reflections of the light pulses off the FBGs; and (f) determining whether an optical path length between the FBGs has changed from an interference pattern resulting from the reflections of the light pulses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Applicant: Hifi Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: Brian H. Moore, Walter Jeffrey Shakespeare, Phillip William Wallace, Viet Hoang, Chris Henrikson, Ajay Sandhu, Adrian Dumitru, Thomas Clement, Dongliang Huang, Seyed Ehsan Jalilian
  • Patent number: 11243122
    Abstract: Described are methods and systems using optical fiber interferometry to sense interference causing events in a region of interest and differentiate between a strain event and a thermal event. Other methods and systems relate to the use of optical fiber interferometry for determining temperature offset in a region of interest and using the determined temperature offset for determining temperature in the region of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Hifi Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: John Hull, Seyed Ehsan Jalilian
  • Patent number: 11199393
    Abstract: There is described a method for interrogating optical fiber comprising fiber Bragg gratings (“FBGs”), using an optical fiber interrogator. The method comprises (a) generating an initial light pulse from phase coherent light emitted from a light source, wherein the initial light pulse is generated by modulating the intensity of the light; (b) splitting the initial light pulse into a pair of light pulses; (c) causing one of the light pulses to be delayed relative to the other of the light pulses; (d) transmitting the light pulses along the optical fiber; (e) receiving reflections of the light pulses off the FBGs; and (f) determining whether an optical path length between the FBGs has changed from an interference pattern resulting from the reflections of the light pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: HiFi Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: Brian H. Moore, Walter Jeffrey Shakespeare, Phillip William Wallace, Viet Hoang, Chris Henrikson, Ajay Sandhu, Adrian Dumitru, Thomas Clement, Dongliang Huang, Seyed Ehsan Jalilian
  • Publication number: 20210247250
    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: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Applicant: Hifi Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: John Hull, Seyed Ehsan Jalilian