Patents by Inventor Craig McDonald

Craig McDonald 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: 11977220
    Abstract: A digital micromirror device comprises an array of micromirror pixels, the array comprising a first micromirror pixel and a second micromirror pixel. The first micromirror pixel comprises a hinge, where the hinge is configured to tilt toward a first raised address electrode and toward a second raised address electrode. The first micromirror pixel also comprises a first micromirror coupled to the hinge, where the first micromirror has a sculpted edge. The second micromirror pixel comprises a second micromirror, where a first gap between a first point on the sculpted edge and a nearest point to the first point on the second micromirror is larger than a second gap between a second point on the sculpted edge and a nearest point to the second point on the second micromirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: William Craig McDonald, James Norman Hall, Terry Alan Bartlett
  • Publication number: 20230279748
    Abstract: The invention provides an access apparatus for accessing a flow system in a subsea oil and gas production installation, a method of installation and a subsea horizontal connection installation. In one aspect, the access apparatus comprises a body, a plurality of connectors configured to connect the apparatus to the flow system and an access interface providing an access point to the flow system. The body defines at least one bore which fluidly connects at least one of the plurality of connectors to the access interface to provide a path between the access interface and the flow system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Ian Donald, John Reid, Craig McDonald
  • Patent number: 11702910
    Abstract: The invention provides a jumper termination apparatus for a subsea jumper flowline, a flow system incorporating a jumper termination apparatus, and a method of use. The jumper termination apparatus comprises a body, a jumper coupling means configured to couple the body to a jumper flowline, a connector coupling means configured to couple the body to a subsea manifold connector, and an access interface disposed on the body, arranged above the connector coupling means and vertically oriented to enable access from above. The body defines a first flow path from a coupled jumper flowline to a coupled subsea manifold connector, and a second flow path from the access interface to the first flow path or the subsea manifold connector. The access interface is configured to be connected to a termination apparatus of a second jumper flowline in a vertically stacked arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Enpro Subsea Limited
    Inventors: Ian Donald, John Reid, Craig McDonald
  • Publication number: 20230184063
    Abstract: The invention provides a subsea oil and gas production installation, methods of installing the installation and methods of use. The installation comprises a subsea production system comprising a first production pipeline and a second production pipeline, a first subsea manifold in fluid communication with the first production pipeline comprising a fluid access interface and a flowline connector, a removable module fluidly connected to the fluid access interface of the first subsea manifold and configured to receive production fluid from one or more subsea wells and a second subsea manifold in fluid communication with the second production pipeline. The first subsea manifold defines a first flow path between the fluid access interface and the first production pipeline and a second bypass flow path between the fluid access interface and the flowline connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Ian Donald, John Reid, Craig McDonald, Michael McGhie
  • Publication number: 20230070502
    Abstract: Systems and Apparatus for micromirror designs with electrode contact. In some examples, a micromirror including a mirror, a mirror via coupled to the mirror, a hinge coupled to the mirror via, the hinge including a springtip associated with a first side of the micromirror, the springtip associated with a first terminal, and an electrode associated with the first side of the micromirror, the electrode having a dielectric coating in contact with the springtip, the electrode associated with a second terminal different than the first terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: William Craig McDonald, Ryan Patrick Savage
  • Publication number: 20220269067
    Abstract: A system includes a hinge structure. The hinge structure includes four support posts and four hinges, each hinge coupled to an edge of a support post and to a plate of the hinge structure, where each hinge includes two 90° turns. The system also includes a mirror coupled to the hinge structure and an electrode structure coupled to the hinge structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: William Craig McDONALD, James Norman HALL, Kelly Jay TAYLOR, Song ZHENG
  • Patent number: 11391124
    Abstract: The invention provides a subsea manifold for a subsea production system comprising at least one removable module, and methods of installation and use. The at least one removable is configured to perform a function selected from the group comprising: fluid control, fluid sampling, fluid diversion, fluid recovery, fluid injection, fluid circulation, fluid measurement and/or fluid metering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Enpro Subsea Limited
    Inventors: Ian Donald, John Reid, Craig McDonald
  • Patent number: 11293251
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for introducing a fluid into a subsea production flow system, a system and a method of use. The apparatus comprises a first flow path through the apparatus for fluidly coupling a subsea well to a subsea production flow system and an inlet for receiving a fluid. A second flow path fluidly connects the inlet and the subsea production flow system. A valve is operable to control the flow of the fluid through the inlet to the subsea production flow system. In one embodiment, the invention provides an apparatus for preventing or reducing flow of a first treatment chemical into a subsea production flow system, a system, and a method of use. In an alternative embodiment, the invention provides an apparatus for injecting a gas into a subsea production flow system, a system, and a method of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Enpro Subsea Limited
    Inventors: Ian Donald, John Reid, Craig McDonald
  • Publication number: 20220090471
    Abstract: The invention provides a subsea in-line tee arrangement for a subsea production system comprising at least one removable module. The removable module is configured to be assembled with a jumper flowline and provide flow access between a jumper flowline and the subsea in-line tee. At least one retrievable process apparatus can be connected to the retrievable module. The at least one retrievable process apparatus is configured to perform a function selected from the group comprising: fluid control, fluid sampling, fluid diversion, fluid recovery, fluid injection, fluid circulation, fluid measurement and/or fluid metering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Ian Donald, John Reid, Craig McDonald
  • Patent number: 11256083
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical actuator for a light beam steering device is provided that includes memory cells coupled to at least one electronic circuitry component and electrode segments coupled to a respective one of the memory cells via the at least one electronic circuitry component. A flexible metal layer having support pillars is on the electrode segments. Flexible beams are attached to the support pillars and a movable electrode attaches to the flexible beams. A mirror is attached to the movable electrode. When one or more of the electrode segments is activated, the mirror is displaced a distance to steer a light beam output from a light source in a direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: William Craig McDonald, James Norman Hall
  • Publication number: 20220025740
    Abstract: The invention provides a subsea manifold for a subsea production system comprising at least one removable module, and methods of installation and use. The at least one removable is configured to perform a function selected from the group comprising: fluid control, fluid sampling, fluid diversion, fluid recovery, fluid injection, fluid circulation, fluid measurement and/or fluid metering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Ian DONALD, John REID, Craig MCDONALD
  • Publication number: 20210382296
    Abstract: A digital micromirror device comprises an array of micromirror pixels, the array comprising a first micromirror pixel and a second micromirror pixel. The first micromirror pixel comprises a hinge, where the hinge is configured to tilt toward a first raised address electrode and toward a second raised address electrode. The first micromirror pixel also comprises a first micromirror coupled to the hinge, where the first micromirror has a sculpted edge. The second micromirror pixel comprises a second micromirror, where a first gap between a first point on the sculpted edge and a nearest point to the first point on the second micromirror is larger than a second gap between a second point on the sculpted edge and a nearest point to the second point on the second micromirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: William Craig McDONALD, James Norman HALL, Terry Alan BARTLETT
  • Publication number: 20210111537
    Abstract: Described examples include apparatus having a driving electrode on a substrate. The apparatus has a platform suspended above the driving electrode and conductively coupled to a platform electrode, where the platform is configured to move in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the substrate in response to a voltage difference applied between the driving electrode and the platform electrode. The apparatus also has a mirror post on the platform. The apparatus has a mirror coupled to the platform by the mirror post, where the mirror is rectangular.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: James Norman Hall, Terry Alan Bartlett, William Craig McDonald
  • Publication number: 20210054713
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for introducing a fluid into a subsea production flow system, a system and a method of use. The apparatus comprises a first flow path through the apparatus for fluidly coupling a subsea well to a subsea production flow system and an inlet for receiving a fluid. A second flow path fluidly connects the inlet and the subsea production flow system. A valve is operable to control the flow of the fluid through the inlet to the subsea production flow system. In one embodiment, the invention provides an apparatus for preventing or reducing flow of a first treatment chemical into a subsea production flow system, a system, and a method of use. In an alternative embodiment, the invention provides an apparatus for injecting a gas into a subsea production flow system, a system, and a method of use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Ian Donald, John Reid, Craig McDonald
  • Publication number: 20210002986
    Abstract: The invention provides a jumper termination apparatus for a subsea jumper flowline, a flow system for a subsea hydrocarbon production or injection installation incorporating such a jumper termination apparatus, and a method of use. The jumper termination apparatus comprises a body, a jumper coupling means configured to couple the body to a jumper flowline, and a connector coupling means configured to couple the body to a subsea manifold connector. An access interface is disposed on the body. The body defines a first flow path from a coupled jumper flowline to a coupled subsea manifold connector, and a second flow path from the access interface to the first flow path or the subsea manifold connector. The access interface is configured to be connected to a second jumper flowline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Ian Donald, John Reid, Craig McDonald
  • Publication number: 20200408072
    Abstract: The invention provides an access apparatus for accessing a flow system in a subsea oil and gas production installation, a method of installation and a subsea horizontal connection installation. In one aspect, the access apparatus comprises a body, a plurality of connectors configured to connect the apparatus to the flow system and an access interface providing an access point to the flow system. The body defines at least one bore which fluidly connects at least one of the plurality of connectors to the access interface to provide a path between the access interface and the flow system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Ian DONALD, John REID, Craig MCDONALD
  • Publication number: 20200209614
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical actuator for a light beam steering device is provided that includes memory cells coupled to at least one electronic circuitry component and electrode segments coupled to a respective one of the memory cells via the at least one electronic circuitry component. A flexible metal layer having support pillars is on the electrode segments. Flexible beams are attached to the support pillars and a movable electrode attaches to the flexible beams. A mirror is attached to the movable electrode. When one or more of the electrode segments is activated, the mirror is displaced a distance to steer a light beam output from a light source in a direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: WILLIAM CRAIG MCDONALD, JAMES NORMAN HALL
  • Patent number: 10371939
    Abstract: One or more apparatus providing over-travel protection for actuators are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a mirror; a first plate coupled to the mirror; and a support post coupled the first plate, the support post structured to prevent the mirror from moving within a threshold distance to a second plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: William Craig McDonald, James Norman Hall, Adam Joseph Fruehling
  • Publication number: 20190179135
    Abstract: One or more apparatus providing over-travel protection for actuators are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a mirror; a first plate coupled to the mirror; and a support post coupled the first plate, the support post structured to prevent the mirror from moving within a threshold distance to a second plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: William Craig McDonald, James Norman Hall, Adam Joseph Fruehling
  • Patent number: 10202823
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to providing a hub coupled into a production tree, manifold, or other equipment, and a base module that is attachable to and retrievable from the hub. The base module may be reconfigurable. The base module may be configured to receive other modules that are reconfigurable, wherein the other modules are retrievable from the base module. The hub provides a dedicated space or support at or near the production tree or equipment for using the base module. An interface is provided between the base module and the production tree. A fluid conduit provides a fluid path across or through the interface. The hub may be part of the interface such that the module can fluidly couple to the fluid conduit and the production tree across the interface via the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: OneSubsea IP UK Limited
    Inventors: Graham Hall, Graham Shee, Craig McDonald