Patents by Inventor Michael HALPENNY-MASON

Michael HALPENNY-MASON 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: 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: 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: 20220179068
    Abstract: A device and method used to image conduits, such as pipes, wellbores and tubulars, with imaging sensors, such as cameras and ultrasound arrays. The speed and location of the device are determined using one or more speed sensor modules. Images are then registered to more precise axial locations along the conduit than are normally possible using wireline encoders or other methods. The conduit may be visualized to proper scale for improved analysis of defects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Applicant: DarkVision Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Michael HALPENNY-MASON, Connor VANDENBERG, Kelvin WONG