Patents by Inventor David W. Beck

David W. Beck 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: 20240104425
    Abstract: An approach is disclosed that receives, at a computer system, a set of biometric data readings pertaining to a user of the system. The biometric data readings are received from biometric sensors that are near the user. After receiving the biometric readings, an audible notification is transmitted to the user. Subsequently, a second set of biometric data readings pertaining to the user from the biometric sensors that are proximate to the user. The first and second sets of biometric data readings are compared with the comparison resulting in a confidence level that the user heard the transmitted audible notification. The audible notification is retransmitted in response to the confidence level being below a threshold not retransmitted in response to the confidence level meeting the threshold indicating that the user heard the first transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Russell Speight VanBlon, Kevin W Beck, Thorsten Stremlau, David Schwarz
  • Patent number: 9547104
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and systems for oil field downhole sensing and communication during drilling and/or production, wherein such methods and systems utilize coaxial cable to transmit electromagnetic (EM) energy, continuously or as a pulse, to passive downhole sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Don M. Coates, M. Clark Thompson, David W. Beck, Manuel E. Gonzalez, Michael A. Kendrick, Daniel L. Neagley
  • Patent number: 8567495
    Abstract: A sensor is configured to sense pressure in an isolated or subterranean environment. The sensor is configured to act as a capacitor with a capacitance that varies as a function of pressure. The sensor has a robust design with minimal moving parts, and in which any parts that do move do not communicate electrically through direct electrical conduction (e.g., through conductive leads). Instead, moving parts that participate in the performance of sensor as a capacitor receive and dispense electrical charge only through a dielectric fluid (e.g., a gas or liquid within the sensor). This may reduce hysterysis, lag, and/or friction with respect to pressure-dependent capacitor designs in which wiring is connected directly to moving parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: David W. Beck
  • Patent number: 8390471
    Abstract: A system, method and device may be used to monitor conditions in a borehole. Energy is transmitted to a pulse generator located proximate a position to be interrogated with a sensor. The pulse generator stores the energy, then releases it in a pulse of electromagnetic energy, providing the energy to resonant circuits that incorporate the sensors. The resonant circuits modulate the electromagnetic energy and transmit the modulated energy so that it may be received and processed in order to obtain the desired measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Don M Coates, M. Clark Thompson, David W. Beck
  • Patent number: 8261607
    Abstract: Exemplary systems and method are directed to a sensing device, and to a pressure sensing system and method. An exemplary method includes supplying electromagnetic energy to a transducer which is configured to reflect the electromagnetic energy at a ring frequency determined by an inductance of the transducer, wherein the inductance changes in response to compression of the inductive element. The ring frequency of electromagnetic energy reflected by the transducer is correlated to a pressure value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Don M. Coates, David W. Beck, M. Clark Thompson
  • Publication number: 20120211278
    Abstract: A system, method and device may be used to monitor conditions in a borehole. Well tubing and casing act as a conductive pair for delivering power to one or more downhole active sensors. At the surface, power and signal are isolated so that the same conductive pair may act to transmit the sensor signals to the surface. In an embodiment, the sensor signals are RF signals and the surface electronics demodulate the RF signals from the sensor power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Manuel E. Gonzalez, M. Clark Thompson, Robert L. Williford, David W. Beck
  • Publication number: 20120097388
    Abstract: A sensor is configured to sense pressure in an isolated or subterranean environment. The sensor is configured to act as a capacitor with a capacitance that varies as a function of pressure. The sensor has a robust design with minimal moving parts, and in which any parts that do move do not communicate electrically through direct electrical conduction (e.g., through conductive leads). Instead, moving parts that participate in the performance of sensor as a capacitor receive and dispense electrical charge only through a dielectric fluid (e.g., a gas or liquid within the sensor). This may reduce hysterysis, lag, and/or friction with respect to pressure-dependent capacitor designs in which wiring is connected directly to moving parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventor: DAVID W. BECK
  • Patent number: 8106791
    Abstract: Exemplary systems and methods are directed to transmission of electromagnetic (EM) pulses in a downhole environment, which is located below a surface of a landform. A sequence of EM energy pulses is generated from a signal generator located at the surface of the landform. The energy pulses are reflected at a ring frequency by one or more downhole transducers. The reflected energy pulse is received at a receiver, which is located at the surface, during a predetermined time interval. The receiver detects the received energy pulses through a time domain or frequency domain technique. The detected ring frequency is correlated to a parameter or condition of the downhole environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: M. Clark Thompson, Don M. Coates, David W. Beck
  • Publication number: 20110022336
    Abstract: Exemplary systems and method are directed to a sensing device, and to a pressure sensing system and method. An exemplary method includes supplying electromagnetic energy to a transducer which is configured to reflect the electromagnetic energy at a ring frequency determined by an inductance of the transducer, wherein the inductance changes in response to compression of the inductive element. The ring frequency of electromagnetic energy reflected by the transducer is correlated to a pressure value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Don M. Coates, David W. Beck, M. Clark Thompson
  • Patent number: 7841234
    Abstract: Exemplary systems and method are directed to a sensing device, and to a pressure sensing system and method. An exemplary method includes supplying electromagnetic energy to a transducer which is configured to reflect the electromagnetic energy at a ring frequency determined by an inductance of the transducer, wherein the inductance changes in response to compression of the inductive element. The ring frequency of electromagnetic energy reflected by the transducer is correlated to a pressure value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Don M. Coates, David W. Beck, M. Clark Thompson
  • Patent number: 7636052
    Abstract: A system, method and device may be used to monitor acoustic energy in a borehole. Electromagnetic energy is used to energize a resonant circuit incorporating a sensor. The sensor modulates the electromagnetic energy in accordance with received acoustic energy and transmits the modulated energy so that it may be received and processed in order to obtain the desired measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Don M. Coates, M. Clark Thompson, David W. Beck
  • Publication number: 20090174409
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and systems for oil field downhole sensing and communication during drilling and/or production, wherein such methods and systems utilize coaxial cable to transmit electromagnetic (EM) energy, continuously or as a pulse, to passive downhole sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Don M. COATES, M. Clark Thompson, David W. Beck, Manuel E. Gonzalez, Michael A. Kendrick, Daniel L. Neagley
  • Publication number: 20090159361
    Abstract: A system, method and device may be used to monitor acoustic energy in a borehole. Electromagnetic energy is used to energize a resonant circuit incorporating a sensor. The sensor modulates the electromagnetic energy in accordance with received acoustic energy and transmits the modulated energy so that it may be received and processed in order to obtain the desired measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Don M. COATES, M. Clark Thompson, David W. Beck
  • Patent number: 7530737
    Abstract: Exemplary systems and methods are directed to measuring temperature in a borehole located below a surface of a landform using high-energy transmission. A sequence of electromagnetic (EM) energy pulses are generated from a signal generator located at the surface of the landform. The energy pulses are reflected at a ring frequency by one or more downhole transducers. The reflected energy pulses are received at a receiver, which is located at the surface, during a predetermined time interval. The receiver detects the received energy pulses through a time domain or frequency domain technique. Each detected ring frequency is correlated to an inductance of the associated downhole transducer. The inductance is correlated to a temperature of the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: M. Clark Thompson, David W. Beck, Don M. Coates
  • Publication number: 20090031796
    Abstract: Exemplary systems and method are directed to a sensing device, and to a pressure sensing system and method. An exemplary method includes supplying electromagnetic energy to a transducer which is configured to reflect the electromagnetic energy at a ring frequency determined by an inductance of the transducer, wherein the inductance changes in response to compression of the inductive element. The ring frequency of electromagnetic energy reflected by the transducer is correlated to a pressure value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: Don M. Coates, David W. Beck, M. Clark Thompson
  • Publication number: 20080285619
    Abstract: Exemplary systems and methods are directed to measuring temperature in a borehole located below a surface of a landform using high-energy transmission. A sequence of electromagnetic (EM) energy pulses are generated from a signal generator located at the surface of the landform. The energy pulses are reflected at a ring frequency by one or more downhole transducers. The reflected energy pulses are received at a receiver, which is located at the surface, during a predetermined time interval. The receiver detects the received energy pulses through a time domain or frequency domain technique. Each detected ring frequency is correlated to an inductance of the associated downhole transducer. The inductance is correlated to a temperature of the borehole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: M. Clark Thompson, David W. Beck, Don M. Coates
  • Publication number: 20080253230
    Abstract: Exemplary systems and methods are directed to transmission of electromagnetic (EM) pulses in a downhole environment, which is located below a surface of a landform. A sequence of EM energy pulses is generated from a signal generator located at the surface of the landform. The energy pulses are reflected at a ring frequency by one or more downhole transducers. The reflected energy pulse is received at a receiver, which is located at the surface, during a predetermined time interval. The receiver detects the received energy pulses through a time domain or frequency domain technique. The detected ring frequency is correlated to a parameter or condition of the downhole environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: M. Clark Thompson, David W. Beck, Don M. Coates
  • Publication number: 20080061789
    Abstract: A system, method and device may be used to monitor conditions in a borehole. Energy is transmitted to a pulse generator located proximate a position to be interrogated with a sensor. The pulse generator stores the energy, then releases it in a pulse of electromagnetic energy, providing the energy to resonant circuits that incorporate the sensors. The resonant circuits modulate the electromagnetic energy and transmit the modulated energy so that it may be received and processed in order to obtain the desired measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Don M. Coates, M. Clark Thompson, David W. Beck
  • Patent number: 4663814
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing a propeller hub secured by a nut to a tapered drive shaft. A puller abutment is fixed to the hub in position to engage the nut and prevent axial movement of the nut relative to the hub. Rotation of the nut against the axially immovable abutment results in axial movement of the hub, nut and abutment relative to the shaft, separating the hub from the shaft. Continued rotation of the nut separates the hub and nut from the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1987
    Inventor: David W. Beck