Patents by Inventor Alan Patrick

Alan Patrick 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).

  • Publication number: 20230152416
    Abstract: A location system for locating workers including a plurality of light detectors mounted at known locations and configured to detect light from one or more workers, and a processing system configured to determine locations of the workers using the light detected by the light detectors. There is also disclosed a wearable device for locating a worker including a wireless transceiver, and a wearable device light source and/or one or more reflective elements. There is also disclosed a method for locating workers including detecting light from one or more workers using a plurality of light detectors mounted at known locations, and determining locations of the workers using the light detected by the light detectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Alan Patrick John Finlay, Andrew Henry John Larkins
  • Publication number: 20230064473
    Abstract: Described herein are techniques and mechanisms for modules in a battery stack to provide backup power to their neighbor modules thereby permitting the neighboring cell to activate bypass switches, which can effectively remove a module's associated battery cells from the charge/discharge loop and permit the battery to continue safe operations. This mechanism can be a cost-effective technique of providing backup power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Alan Patrick Cahill, Uwe Broeckelmann
  • Patent number: 11519230
    Abstract: A sensor unit for a fingerboard latch assembly that comprises a latch bracket and a latch rotatably supported on the latch bracket is mountable on the latch. The sensor unit comprises a sensor configured to sense an adjacent tubular, and a processor that processes the output of the sensor to provide a tubular monitor signal representing the presence or absence of an adjacent tubular A wireless communication unit wirelessly communicates the tubular monitor signal. This allows a wireless sensor unit to be provided that is suitable for operation in remote locations and can verify the presence or absence of tubular to ensure it is securely stored in a fingerboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: SALUNDA LIMITED
    Inventor: Alan Patrick John Finlay
  • Patent number: 11402205
    Abstract: A sensor unit mountable on a rotatable element on a platform that is itself movable, and includes an orientation sensor arranged to take measurements that are dependent on the orientation of the sensor unit, a processor arranged to derive a rotational position signal representing the orientation of the rotatable element from the measurements, and a buffer arranged to buffer a series of recent measurements taken by the orientation sensor over a predetermined period of time. The processor derives the rotational position signal making a correction to compensate for the effect of the motion of the platform on the measurements on the basis of the overall series of measurements buffered in the buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Salunda Limited
    Inventors: Alan Patrick John Finlay, John Mark Newton, Andrew Henry John Larkins, Mathew William Davis, Grant Nicholls
  • Publication number: 20220210947
    Abstract: A coupling device for a fluid cooling system may have a first coupling unit having a first housing, which has a first sub-housing and a second sub-housing connectable to the first sub-housing. The first sub-housing may have a first axial passage opening connectable to a first fluid line, a first signal interface and a first end face. The second sub-housing may have a second axial passage opening connectable to a second fluid line, a second signal interface and a second end face. The first sub-housing and the second sub-housing are axially connectable to one another and the passage openings are fluidically connected to one another and the signal interfaces are connected to one another. The two sub-housings may be laterally connectable to one another, so that in the laterally coupled state, the two sub-housings are arranged parallel next to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Applicant: Techn GmbH
    Inventors: Nikolaus KOHL, Alan Patrick ENCINA, Thilo GUSCHAUSKI, Andreas SCHÜTZ
  • Publication number: 20220178399
    Abstract: There is provided a sensor unit for a fastener assembly, the sensor unit comprising a mounting arranged to rigidly attach the sensor unit to, or adjacent to, a fastener assembly; and a sensor, that is an optical flow sensor or an inductive sensor, configured to sense movement of the fastener assembly. The sensor unit may comprise a processor arranged to process the output of the sensor to detect loosening of the fastener assembly and to output a signal representing the status of the fastener assembly. The sensor unit may comprise a wireless communication unit arranged to communicate the signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Alan Patrick John Finlay, Philip Samuel Pickles, John Mark Newton
  • Patent number: 11280930
    Abstract: A sensor system for sensing the contents of a bore including a plurality of coils disposed behind a non-metallic lining. An oscillator circuit may be used to drive the coils to generate oscillating electromagnetic fields, and a detection circuit generates output signals from each coil representing a parameter of the electrical oscillations that depends on the contents of the bore. The coils may include a primary coil and a one secondary coil, wherein the oscillating electromagnetic field generated by the secondary coil has a lesser degree of interaction with the contents of bore than the oscillating electromagnetic field generated by the primary coil. The sensor system may use the output signal from the secondary coil to compensate the output signal from the primary coil for environmental effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Salunda Limited
    Inventors: Martin Roy Harrison, Alan Patrick John Finlay
  • Publication number: 20220018926
    Abstract: A location system for locating workers including a plurality of light detectors mounted at known locations and configured to detect light from one or more workers, and a processing system configured to determine locations of the workers using the light detected by the light detectors. There is also disclosed a wearable device for locating a worker including a wireless transceiver, and a wearable device light source and/or one or more reflective elements. There is also disclosed a method for locating workers including detecting light from one or more workers using a plurality of light detectors mounted at known locations, and determining locations of the workers using the light detected by the light detectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Alan Patrick John Finlay, Andrew Henry John Larkins
  • Patent number: 11079464
    Abstract: A location system for locating workers in including a plurality of light detectors mounted at known locations and configured to detect light from one or more workers, and a processing system configured to determine locations of the workers using the light detected by the light detectors. There is also disclosed a wearable device for locating a worker including a wireless transceiver, and a wearable device light source and/or one or more reflective elements. There is also disclosed a method for locating workers including detecting light from one or more workers using a plurality of light detectors mounted at known locations, and determining locations of the workers using the light detected by the light detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Salunda Limited
    Inventors: Alan Patrick John Finlay, Andrew Henry John Larkins
  • Patent number: 11015403
    Abstract: A sensor unit for a fingerboard latch assembly comprising a latch bracket and a latch rotatably mounted on the latch bracket comprises a sensor arranged to sense the orientation of the latch and a wireless, optical or other communication unit arranged to communicate the orientation of the latch sensed by the sensor. The sensor unit may be mountable on the latch and comprise an orientation sensor arranged to take measurements that are dependent on the orientation of the sensor unit, and a processor arranged to derive an orientation signal representing the orientation of the latch from the measurements, the communication unit being arranged to communicate the orientation signal. A monitoring system receives the sensed orientations from plural sensor units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Salunda Limited
    Inventors: Alan Patrick John Finlay, John Mark Newton, Andrew Henry John Larkins, Mathew William Davis, Grant Nicholls
  • Patent number: 10962392
    Abstract: A sensor assembly is provided for a fingerboard latch assembly that comprises: a latch bracket; bolts for mounting the latch bracket to a fingerboard; a latch; and a bracket pin rotatably supporting the latch on the latch bracket to allow rotation of the latch between an open position and a closed position. The sensor assembly has a mounting arrangement that mounts to the bolts, holding a closed-position proximity sensor probe facing downwardly for sensing proximity of a crank portion of the latch and/or the piston head in the closed position, and also holding an open-position proximity sensor probe facing forwardly for sensing proximity of an arm of the latch in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Salunda Limited
    Inventors: Alan Patrick John Finlay, John Mark Newton
  • Publication number: 20210010334
    Abstract: A sensor unit for a fingerboard latch assembly that comprises a latch bracket and a latch rotatably supported on the latch bracket is mountable on the latch. The sensor unit comprises a sensor configured to sense an adjacent tubular, and a processor that processes the output of the sensor to provide a tubular monitor signal representing the presence or absence of an adjacent tubular A wireless communication unit wirelessly communicates the tubular monitor signal. This allows a wireless sensor unit to be provided that is suitable for operation in remote locations and can verify the presence or absence of tubular to ensure it is securely stored in a fingerboard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventor: Alan Patrick John Finlay
  • Patent number: 10892925
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for an integrated circuit, current loop interface that can receive and extract a high-frequency digital communication signal from a low-frequency analog current signal using a complex impedance circuit. The complex impedance circuit can allow for low input impedance at the lower frequencies of the analog current signal and high input impedance at the higher frequencies of the digital communication signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: ANALOG DEVICES INTERNATIONAL UNLIMITED COMPANY
    Inventors: Michal Brychta, Alan Patrick Cahill, Sharad Vijaykumar
  • Patent number: 10801319
    Abstract: An elongate component such as a drill string of drill pipes connected by joint sections inside a bore is sensed using at least one set of electromagnetic coils, the coils within the set being arranged at different angular positions around the bore facing the bore. There may be at least two sets of coils separated along the axial direction of the bore. Electrical oscillations are generated in the coils to produce oscillating electromagnetic fields that interact with the contents of the bore. A parameter of the electrical oscillations generated in each coil is detected. The detected parameters may be used to derive both (1) a measure of the axial position along the bore, and (2) a measure of the lateral position. The detected parameters may be used to derive a measure of electromagnetic properties of the contents of the pipe in a region adjacent each coil, thereby imaging the contents of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Salunda Limited
    Inventors: Martin Roy Harrison, Philip Samuel Pickles, Alan Patrick John Finlay
  • Publication number: 20200212452
    Abstract: A catalytic composition for producing a fuel cell electrode comprises a catalytically active material in particulate form, for example platinum, a carbon nanomaterial which is coated with a first ionomer, as well as a binding agent composition in which the catalytically active material and the coated carbon nanomaterial are present in dispersed form, wherein the binding agent composition comprises a second ionomer and the first and second ionomers are the same or different. The composition is used to produce a catalytic layer of a fuel cell electrode for a fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Siyu YE, Kyoung BAI, Dustin William H. BANHAM, Rajesh BASHYAM, Alan Patrick YOUNG
  • Publication number: 20200162076
    Abstract: Techniques for mixing, or modulating, a high-frequency, digital communication signal with a low-frequency, analog current loop signal are provided. In certain examples, the techniques allow mixing the signals in a non-AC coupled manner. In certain examples, such mixing techniques can allow for simplified connections between a modem chip and an analog current loop interface chip of an analog I/O module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Alan Patrick Cahill, Michal Brychta, Patrick C. Kirby
  • Publication number: 20200162293
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for an integrated circuit, current loop interface that can receive and extract a high-frequency digital communication signal from a low-frequency analog current signal using a complex impedance circuit. The complex impedance circuit can allow for low input impedance at the lower frequencies of the analog current signal and high input impedance at the higher frequencies of the digital communication signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Michal Brychta, Alan Patrick Cahill, Sharad Vijaykumar
  • Patent number: 10597953
    Abstract: A sensor unit for a fingerboard latch assembly comprising a latch bracket and a latch rotatably mounted on the latch bracket comprises a sensor arranged to sense the orientation of the latch and a wireless, optical or other communication unit arranged to communicate the orientation of the latch sensed by the sensor. The sensor unit may be mountable on the latch and comprise an orientation sensor arranged to take measurements that are dependent on the orientation of the sensor unit, and a processor arranged to derive an orientation signal representing the orientation of the latch from the measurements, the communication unit being arranged to communicate the orientation signal. A monitoring system receives the sensed orientations from plural sensor units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Salunda Limited
    Inventors: Alan Patrick John Finlay, John Mark Newton, Andrew Henry John Larkins, Mathew William Davis, Grant Nicholls
  • Publication number: 20200064433
    Abstract: A location system for locating workers in including a plurality of light detectors mounted at known locations and configured to detect light from one or more workers, and a processing system configured to determine locations of the workers using the light detected by the light detectors. There is also disclosed a wearable device for locating a worker including a wireless transceiver, and a wearable device light source and/or one or more reflective elements. There is also disclosed a method for locating workers including detecting light from one or more workers using a plurality of light detectors mounted at known locations, and determining locations of the workers using the light detected by the light detectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Alan Patrick John Finlay, Andrew Henry John Larkins
  • Patent number: D954112
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Jean Carlos Pereira De Camargo, Alan Patrick Dos Santos, Nicholas Stephen Shane, Daenio Cleodolphi