Patents by Inventor Graham Manders

Graham Manders 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: 11920412
    Abstract: A device and method used for inspecting and measuring coiled tubing, production tubing or drill pipe as it enters the well. Defects such as internal and external wall loss, cracking and deformation can be detected and quantified. The axial motion of the tubing can be measured allowing for depth measurements that are more accurate and reliable than what can be obtained using an encoder wheel system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: DarkVision Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Graham Manders
  • Publication number: 20230358131
    Abstract: A device and method used to inspect wellbores, cased or uncased using cameras. Improvements in downhole optical imaging are provided using telecentric lens, prisms and mirrors, or structured lighting. Stereoscopic arrangements and ultrasound sensor may provide 3D or contour information. The images are stored on the tool and analyzed later. The present tool overcomes the deficiencies currently experience by downhole camera operators, such as poor scale and perspective.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy Luu, Graham Manders, Damian Nesbitt
  • Patent number: 11725497
    Abstract: A device and method for manipulating a robotic end effector in a well. Actuators manipulate the end effector independently through multiple degrees of freedom to improve the perspective of the end effector. An imaging sensor may be used to image, measure and identify features of a well and objects located therein. The sensor may be an ultrasound transducer, camera or x-ray sensor arranged radially, axial or distributed over a 2D surface. The end effector may be connected to a tool, such as a fishing tool, a welder, a milling tool, or a repair tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: DarkVision Technologies Inc
    Inventors: Michael Halpenny-Mason, Matt James, Graham Manders
  • Patent number: 11644441
    Abstract: A system, device and method for imaging, measuring and identifying surface features in a tubular, such as a casing, wellbore, or pipe. The device comprises an ultrasound transducer for sonifying an area of the surface of the tubular, with a pulse intercepting axial locations of the sonified area at different times. Reflected signals are processed using their time of flight to interpret the reflected signals as axial locations of features on the surface of the tubular. Multiple sonified areas are partially overlapped in the axial direction to capture features redundantly. Reflections from the multiple areas are combined to remove noise and strengthen reflections from real features. A geometric model of the surface of the tubular is rendered and displayed. Capturing larger areas per frame increases the logging rate and oversampling improves the resolution and signal to noise ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: DarkVision Technologies Inc
    Inventors: Graham Manders, Michael Halpenny-Mason
  • Patent number: 11578591
    Abstract: A device and method used to correct beamforming of an acoustic phased array in cases of eccentricity of the acoustic device in a tubular. A processor calculates the eccentricity from multiple scan lines and create a geometric model of a well or pipe relative to the device. The processor may correct each scan line's focus and/or angle of incidence at a surface of the well or pipe based on the observed eccentricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: DARKVISION TECHNOLOGIES INC
    Inventor: Graham Manders
  • Patent number: 11573341
    Abstract: A device and method used to increase the resolution when imaging, measuring and inspecting wells, pipes and objects located therein. The device comprises an array of acoustic transducers that both transmit and receive acoustic signals. Scan lines may be overlapped by interlacing transmission and receiving windows thus increasing either the resolution or logging speed drastically compared to conventional approaches. The sequence of the scan lines making up an imaging frame is created by stratifying physically close lines and randomly selecting from within each stratum, preventing interference from neighboring transducers, signals and acoustic artifacts that fundamentally limit logging speed and resolution using conventional methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: DARKVISION TECHNOLOGIES INC
    Inventors: Graham Manders, Michael Halpenny-Mason
  • Publication number: 20220339670
    Abstract: An acoustic transducer array and method of making same. A first metal layer is deposited on a first side of a piezoelectric composite to form a common electrode and a second metal layer is provided over the obverse side. Portions of the second metal layer are removed to create a plurality of individual electrodes. A third metal layer may be deposited onto the plurality of individual electrodes, the third metal layer being thicker than the second metal layer. The individual electrodes extend beyond the piezoelectric composite in the elevation direction to create electrode leads. Metal layers may be provided by lithography, a wireframe or a foil sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicant: DarkVision Technologies Inc
    Inventors: Jay HOPE, Graham MANDERS, Connor VANDENBERG, Jacob William ROSE
  • Publication number: 20210040838
    Abstract: A device and method used for inspecting and measuring coiled tubing, production tubing or drill pipe as it enters the well. Defects such as internal and external wall loss, cracking and deformation can be detected and quantified. The axial motion of the tubing can be measured allowing for depth measurements that are more accurate and reliable than what can be obtained using an encoder wheel system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicant: DarkVision Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Graham Manders
  • Publication number: 20200249203
    Abstract: A system, device and method for imaging, measuring and identifying surface features in a tubular, such as a casing, wellbore, or pipe. The device comprises an ultrasound transducer for sonifying an area of the surface of the tubular, with a pulse intercepting axial locations of the sonified area at different times. Reflected signals are processed using their time of flight to interpret the reflected signals as axial locations of features on the surface of the tubular. Multiple sonified areas are partially overlapped in the axial direction to capture features redundantly. Reflections from the multiple areas are combined to remove noise and strengthen reflections from real features. A geometric model of the surface of the tubular is rendered and displayed. Capturing larger areas per frame increases the logging rate and oversampling improves the resolution and signal to noise ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: DarkVision Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Graham Manders, Mike Halpenny
  • Publication number: 20200190974
    Abstract: A device and method used to correct beamforming of an acoustic phased array in cases of eccentricity of the acoustic device in a tubular. A processor calculates the eccentricity from multiple scan lines and create a geometric model of a well or pipe relative to the device. The processor may correct each scan line's focus and/or angle of incidence at a surface of the well or pipe based on the observed eccentricity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventor: Graham Manders
  • Publication number: 20200116880
    Abstract: A device and method used to increase the resolution when imaging, measuring and inspecting wells, pipes and objects located therein. The device comprises an array of acoustic transducers that both transmit and receive acoustic signals. Scan lines may be overlapped by interlacing transmission and receiving windows thus increasing either the resolution or logging speed drastically compared to conventional approaches. The sequence of the scan lines making up an imaging frame is created by stratifying physically close lines and randomly selecting from within each stratum, preventing interference from neighboring transducers, signals and acoustic artifacts that fundamentally limit logging speed and resolution using conventional methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Graham Manders, Mike Halpenny
  • Publication number: 20200055196
    Abstract: A device and method for manipulating a robotic end effector in a well. Actuators manipulate the end effector independently through multiple degrees of freedom to improve the perspective of the end effector. An imaging sensor may be used to image, measure and identify features of a well and objects located therein. The sensor may be an ultrasound transducer, camera or x-ray sensor arranged radially, axial or distributed over a 2D surface. The end effector may be connected to a tool, such as a fishing tool, a welder, a milling tool, or a repair tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Applicant: DarkVision Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Halpenny, Matt James, Graham Manders