Patents by Inventor Jili Liu

Jili Liu 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: 10151196
    Abstract: A telemetry system with a plurality of controllers and telemetry systems, where the controllers are configured to obtain information from one or more sensors and transmit that information on one or more of the plurality of telemetry systems. The configuration of a controller may be changed so as to change which information is transmitted on a given telemetry system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Evolution Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron W. Logan, David A. Switzer, Jili Liu, Justin C. Logan
  • Patent number: 10119393
    Abstract: Data is communicated from sensors at a downhole location near a drill bit to surface equipment. Communication to the surface equipment may be direct or may pass through a series of nodes. The nodes in some cases are intelligently reconfigured to achieve desired data rates, achieve power management goals, and/or compensate for failed nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Evolution Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Derkacz, Aaron William Logan, Justin C. Logan, Jili Liu, David A. Switzer, Robert Harris, Barry Daniel Buternowsky, Kurtis West
  • Patent number: 10113417
    Abstract: Methods and systems for testing connectivity in an EM telemetry system for transmission of a ground originating uplink EM telemetry signal. The methods and systems comprise a switch coupled to the link and configured to selectively connect the link to a test signal generator or a signal receiver, the test signal generator configured to generate a test signal and to supply it to a ground conductor, and the current within the link is measured to determine whether the link and ground conductor can properly transmit the ground originating uplink EM telemetry signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Evolution Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: Jili Liu, Ming Zhao
  • Publication number: 20180266242
    Abstract: An electromagnetic telemetry system adjusts telemetry parameters which may include carrier frequency, signal amplitude and/or data encoding protocol to achieve reliable data transmission and to conserve power. In some embodiments, sweep signals transmit a range of carrier frequencies and the parameters are determined in part by analyzing the received sweep signals. In some embodiments, different parameters are selected automatically based on a mode of drilling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Jili LIU, Mingdong XU, Aaron W. LOGAN, David A. SWITZER, Monica E. VARGA, Mojtaba KAZEMI MIRAKI
  • Publication number: 20180252096
    Abstract: A wireless communications system for a downhole drilling operation comprises surface communications equipment and a downhole telemetry tool. The surface communications equipment comprises a surface EM communications module with an EM downlink transmitter configured to transmit an EM downlink transmission at a frequency between 0.01 Hz and 0.1 Hz. The downhole telemetry tool is mountable to a drill string and has a downhole electromagnetic (EM) communications unit with an EM downlink receiver configured to receive the EM downlink transmission. The downhole EM communications unit can further comprise an EM uplink transmitter configured to transmit an EM uplink transmission at a frequency greater than 0.5 Hz, in which case the surface EM communications module further comprises an EM uplink receiver configured to receive the EM uplink transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: David A. Switzer, Jili Liu, Mingdong Xu, Mojtaba Kazemi Miraki, Aaron W. Logan
  • Patent number: 10066481
    Abstract: A measurement-while-drilling (MWD) telemetry system comprises a downhole MWD telemetry tool comprising a mud pulse (MP) telemetry unit and an electromagnetic (EM) telemetry unit. The MWD telemetry tool can be configured to transmit data in an EM-only telemetry mode using only the EM telemetry unit, in an MP-only mode using only the MP telemetry unit, or in a concurrent telemetry mode using both the EM and MP telemetry units concurrently. When transmitting data in the concurrent telemetry mode, the telemetry tool can be configured to transmit in a concurrent confirmation mode wherein the same telemetry data is transmitted by each of the EM and MP telemetry units, or in a concurrent shared mode wherein some of the telemetry data is transmitted by the EM telemetry unit, and the rest of the telemetry data is transmitted by the MP telemetry unit. The telemetry tool can be programmed to change its operating telemetry mode in response to a downlink command sent by an operator at surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Evolution Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Switzer, Jili Liu, Aaron W. Logan, Mingdong Xu
  • Patent number: 10066475
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein generally relate to a method and apparatus for providing a back up system of Directional and Inclination (D&I) information to be gathered and transmitted in addition to primary D&I sensors currently employed in industry. A downhole probe assembly including primary sensors, back up sensors and a controller is disclosed. The primary sensors comprise primary accelerometers and primary magnetometers configured to gather information relating to each of orthogonal axes X, Y and Z. The back up sensors comprise back up accelerometers configured to gather information relating to each of orthogonal axes X, Y and Z, the back up accelerometers being solid state accelerometers. The controller is in electrical communication with the primary sensors and the back up sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: EVOLUTION ENGINEERING INC.
    Inventors: David A. Switzer, Aaron W. Logan, Jili Liu, Mojtaba Kazemi Miraki
  • Publication number: 20180209264
    Abstract: A telemetry system with a plurality of controllers and telemetry systems, where the controllers are configured to obtain information from one or more sensors and transmit that information on one or more of the plurality of telemetry systems. The configuration of a controller may be changed so as to change which information is transmitted on a given telemetry system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Aaron W. LOGAN, David A. SWITZER, Jili LIU, Justin C. LOGAN
  • Publication number: 20180179889
    Abstract: A measurement-while-drilling (MWD) telemetry system comprises a downhole MWD telemetry tool comprising a mud pulse (MP) telemetry unit and an electromagnetic (EM) telemetry unit. The MWD telemetry tool can be configured to transmit data in an EM-only telemetry mode using only the EM telemetry unit, in an MP-only mode using only the MP telemetry unit, or in a concurrent telemetry mode using both the EM and MP telemetry units concurrently. When transmitting data in the concurrent telemetry mode, the telemetry tool can be configured to transmit in a concurrent confirmation mode wherein the same telemetry data is transmitted by each of the EM and MP telemetry units, or in a concurrent shared mode wherein some of the telemetry data is transmitted by the EM telemetry unit, and the rest of the telemetry data is transmitted by the MP telemetry unit. The telemetry tool can be programmed to change its operating telemetry mode in response to a downlink command sent by an operator at surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: David A. SWITZER, Jili LIU, Aaron W. LOGAN, Mingdong XU
  • Patent number: 9995134
    Abstract: An apparatus for transmitting electromagnetic (EM) telemetry data from a downhole location to surface comprising: an EM signal transmitter configured to generate positive and negative polarity EM pulses corresponding to a telemetry signal; and an electronics subassembly communicative with the EM signal transmitter and comprising a processor and a memory having encoded thereon program code executable by the processor to perform a method comprising encoding measurement data into an EM telemetry signal using a modulation scheme comprising mapping a symbol set to at least one positive polarity EM pulse and one negative polarity EM pulse; and sending a control signal to the EM signal transmitter to generate EM pulses corresponding to the EM telemetry signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Evolution Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: Jili Liu, Aaron W. Logan, Mingdong Xu, David A. Switzer
  • Patent number: 9988897
    Abstract: An electromagnetic telemetry system adjusts telemetry parameters which may include carrier frequency, signal amplitude and/or data encoding protocol to achieve reliable data transmission and to conserve power. In some embodiments, sweep signals transmit a range of carrier frequencies and the parameters are determined in part by analyzing the received sweep signals. In some embodiments, different parameters are selected automatically based on a mode of drilling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Evolution Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: Jili Liu, Mingdong Xu, Aaron W. Logan, David A. Switzer, Monica E. Varga, Mojtaba Kazemi Miraki
  • Patent number: 9988896
    Abstract: Methods, techniques, and systems for transmitting a data frame of an electromagnetic (EM) telemetry signal to or from a downhole location can be performed using multi-channel transmissions in which at least two different channels at two different frequencies are used to send a long header and the data frame. At least a portion of the long header is transmitted at a first frequency, and at least a portion of the data frame and any remaining portion of the long header not transmitted at the first frequency are transmitted at one or more additional frequencies different from each other and the first frequency. In one example, only two channels are used: one channel is used to transmit all of the long header, another channel is used to transmit all of the data frame, and either of the channels is used to transmit an identifier identifying the type of the data frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Evolution Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Switzer, Jili Liu, Mingdong Xu, Aaron W. Logan
  • Patent number: 9976414
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein generally relate a downhole probe assembly incorporating a Bluetooth device for wirelessly transmitting electrical information between the downhole probe assembly and a surface electronic interface such as a computer when the probe assembly is above ground. The downhole probe assembly includes sensors for sensing downhole conditions; a controller in electrical communication with the sensors and configured to receive and process information from the sensors; a housing enclosing the one or more than one sensor and the controller; the Bluetooth device in electrical communication with the controller; and an end cap assembly fitted at one end of the housing. The end cap assembly partially surrounds the Bluetooth device and is configured for transmission of the electrical information therethrough. Also described is an end cap assembly for fitting to one end of a downhole probe assembly including a transmission module mated with and electrically connected to the Bluetooth device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Evolution Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Switzer, Jili Liu, Patrick R. Derkacz, Aaron W. Logan
  • Patent number: 9951611
    Abstract: A telemetry system with a plurality of controllers and telemetry systems, where the controllers are configured to obtain information from one or more sensors and transmit that information on one or more of the plurality of telemetry systems. The configuration of a controller may be changed so as to change which information is transmitted on a given telemetry system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Evolution Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron W. Logan, David A. Switzer, Jili Liu, Justin C. Logan
  • Publication number: 20180109640
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present application relate to a method for pushing information, a system for pushing information, and a computer program product for pushing information. A method for pushing information is provided. The method includes sending a query request including a user's instant messaging identifier to a target database, receiving a query result from the target database, the query result including data information corresponding to the user's instant messaging identifier, determining an instant messaging client to push the data information, the determination being based on the user's instant messaging identifier, and pushing the data information to the determined instant messaging client. The data information is looked up in the target database based on a stored correspondence between the user's instant messaging identifier and the data information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventor: Jili Liu
  • Patent number: 9903198
    Abstract: A measurement-while-drilling (MWD) telemetry system comprises a downhole MWD telemetry tool comprising a mud pulse (MP) telemetry unit and an electromagnetic (EM) telemetry unit. The MWD telemetry tool can be configured to transmit data in an EM-only telemetry mode using only the EM telemetry unit, in an MP-only mode using only the MP telemetry unit, or in a concurrent telemetry mode using both the EM and MP telemetry units concurrently. When transmitting data in the concurrent telemetry mode, the telemetry tool can be configured to transmit in a concurrent confirmation mode wherein the same telemetry data is transmitted by each of the EM and MP telemetry units, or in a concurrent shared mode wherein some of the telemetry data is transmitted by the EM telemetry unit, and the rest of the telemetry data is transmitted by the MP telemetry unit. The telemetry tool can be programmed to change its operating telemetry mode in response to a downlink command sent by an operator at surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Evolution Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Switzer, Jili Liu, Aaron W. Logan, Mingdong Xu
  • Publication number: 20170362934
    Abstract: A measurement-while-drilling (MWD) telemetry system comprises a downhole MWD telemetry tool comprising a mud pulse (MP) telemetry unit and an electromagnetic (EM) telemetry unit. The MWD telemetry tool can be configured to transmit data in an EM-only telemetry mode using only the EM telemetry unit, in an MP-only mode using only the MP telemetry unit, or in a concurrent telemetry mode using both the EM and MP telemetry units concurrently. When transmitting data in the concurrent telemetry mode, the telemetry tool can be configured to transmit in a concurrent confirmation mode wherein the same telemetry data is transmitted by each of the EM and MP telemetry units, or in a concurrent shared mode wherein some of the telemetry data is transmitted by the EM telemetry unit, and the rest of the telemetry data is transmitted by the MP telemetry unit. The telemetry tool can be programmed to change its operating telemetry mode in response to a downlink command sent by an operator at surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: David A. SWITZER, Jili LIU, Aaron W. LOGAN, Mingdong XU
  • Publication number: 20170356288
    Abstract: A wireless communications system for a downhole drilling operation comprises surface communications equipment and a downhole telemetry tool. The surface communications equipment comprises a surface EM communications module with an EM downlink transmitter configured to transmit an EM downlink transmission at a frequency between 0.01 Hz and 0.1 Hz. The downhole telemetry tool is mountable to a drill string and has a downhole electromagnetic (EM) communications unit with an EM downlink receiver configured to receive the EM downlink transmission. The downhole EM communications unit can further comprise an EM uplink transmitter configured to transmit an EM uplink transmission at a frequency greater than 0.5 Hz, in which case the surface EM communications module further comprises an EM uplink receiver configured to receive the EM uplink transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: David A. Switzer, Jili Liu, Mingdong Xu, Mojtaba Kazemi Miraki, Aaron W. Logan
  • Patent number: 9828854
    Abstract: A pressure measurement apparatus for a downhole measurement-while-drilling tool comprises a feed through connector and a pressure transducer. The feed through connector comprises a body with opposing first and second ends, at least one electrical interconnection extending axially through the body and out of both ends, and a pressure transducer receptacle in the first end and a communications bore extending from the receptacle to the second end. The pressure transducer is seated in the receptacle such that a pressure at the first end can be measured, and comprises at least one electrical contact that extends from the pressure transducer through the communication bore and out of the second end. The pressure transducer can take pressure measurements for predicting wear of a primary seal in a motor subassembly of the tool, detect a pressure-related battery failure event, and control operation of a dual pulse height fluid pressure pulse generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Evolution Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron W. Logan, Jili Liu, David A. Switzer, Justin C. Logan
  • Patent number: 9828852
    Abstract: A fluid pressure pulse generator comprising a stator and rotor that can be used in measurement while drilling using mud pulse or pressure pulse telemetry is disclosed. The stator comprises a stator body with a circular opening therethrough and the rotor comprises a circular rotor body rotatably received in the circular opening of the stator body. One of the stator body or the rotor body comprises one or more than one fluid opening for flow of fluid therethrough and the other of the stator body or the rotor body comprises one or more than one full flow chamber. The rotor is rotatable between a full flow configuration whereby the full flow chamber and the fluid opening align so that fluid flows from the full flow chamber through the fluid opening, and a reduced flow configuration whereby the full flow chamber and the fluid opening are not aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Evolution Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron W. Logan, David A. Switzer, Justin C. Logan, Jili Liu