Patents by Inventor R. Benjamin Litman

R. Benjamin Litman 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: 11306583
    Abstract: Systems and methods for transmitting power and information using acoustic energy produced by transducers are provided. The systems have particular application for powering and communication with electronics through drilling and pipe systems. Pairs of acoustic wedges holding transducers are provided for sending energy and information through a substrate which may be a steel pipe. Each wedge has an angled transducer which can be used to produce shear waves. The waves propagate through the substrate and are received by a second acoustic wedge. The shear waves, on reaching the second acoustic wedge, are converted back into electrical signals by a second transducer. Tangential shear waves, high, shallow wave transmission angles, and direct steel-steel bonding between wedges and substrates may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Henry A. Scarton, Gary J. Saulnier, Kyle R. Wilt, R. Benjamin Litman
  • Publication number: 20210095560
    Abstract: Systems and methods for transmitting power and information using acoustic energy produced by transducers are provided. The systems have particular application for powering and communication with electronics through drilling and pipe systems. Pairs of acoustic wedges holding transducers are provided for sending energy and information through a substrate which may be a steel pipe. Each wedge has an angled transducer which can be used to produce shear waves. The waves propagate through the substrate and are received by a second acoustic wedge. The shear waves, on reaching the second acoustic wedge, are converted back into electrical signals by a second transducer. Tangential shear waves, high, shallow wave transmission angles, and direct steel-steel bonding between wedges and substrates may be used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Henry A. SCARTON, Gary J. SAULNIER, Kyle R. WILT, R. Benjamin LITMAN
  • Patent number: 10753200
    Abstract: Systems and methods for transmitting power and information using acoustic energy produced by transducers are provided. The systems have particular application for powering and communication with electronics through drilling and pipe systems. Pairs of acoustic wedges holding transducers are provided for sending energy and information through a substrate which may be a steel pipe. Each wedge has an angled transducer which can be used to produce shear waves. The waves propagate through the substrate and are received by a second acoustic wedge. The shear waves, on reaching the second acoustic wedge, are converted back into electrical signals by a second transducer. Tangential shear waves, high, shallow wave transmission angles, and direct steel-steel bonding between wedges and substrates may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Henry A. Scarton, Gary J. Saulnier, Kyle R. Wilt, R. Benjamin Litman
  • Publication number: 20190277134
    Abstract: Systems and methods for transmitting power and information using acoustic energy produced by transducers are provided. The systems have particular application for powering and communication with electronics through drilling and pipe systems. Pairs of acoustic wedges holding transducers are provided for sending energy and information through a substrate which may be a steel pipe. Each wedge has an angled transducer which can be used to produce shear waves. The waves propagate through the substrate and are received by a second acoustic wedge. The shear waves, on reaching the second acoustic wedge, are converted back into electrical signals by a second transducer. Tangential shear waves, high, shallow wave transmission angles, and direct steel-steel bonding between wedges and substrates may be used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Henry A. SCARTON, Gary J. SAULNIER, Kyle R. WILT, R. Benjamin LITMAN
  • Patent number: 10287876
    Abstract: Systems and methods for transmitting power and information using acoustic energy produced by transducers are provided. The systems have particular application for powering and communication with electronics through drilling and pipe systems. Pairs of acoustic wedges holding transducers are provided for sending energy and information through a substrate which may be a steel pipe. Each wedge has an angled transducer which can be used to produce shear waves. The waves propagate through the substrate and are received by a second acoustic wedge. The shear waves, on reaching the second acoustic wedge, are converted back into electrical signals by a second transducer. Tangential shear waves, high, shallow wave transmission angles, and direct steel-steel bonding between wedges and substrates may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Henry A. Scarton, Gary J. Saulnier, Kyle R. Wilt, R. Benjamin Litman
  • Patent number: 9556727
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transmitting power and data along a metal pipe using wideband acoustic waves. Arrangements use shear-horizontal waves, transmitting narrowband signals for power applications and wideband signals for communications having a bandwidth greater than the coherence bandwidth of the acoustic-electric channel. Chirp wave signals, direct sequence spread signals, and on-off keying are used. Acoustic-electric channels include wedges fixed to a pipe or other substrate, transducers fixed to the wedges, and electronics linked to each transducer for sending and receiving power and signals. Matching networks, rectification circuits, and non-coherent signal reception methods may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Gary J. Saulnier, Kyle R. Wilt, R. Benjamin Litman, Henry A. Scarton, Soumya Chakraborty
  • Publication number: 20170009573
    Abstract: Systems and methods for transmitting power and information using acoustic energy produced by transducers are provided. The systems have particular application for powering and communication with electronics through drilling and pipe systems. Pairs of acoustic wedges holding transducers are provided for sending energy and information through a substrate which may be a steel pipe. Each wedge has an angled transducer which can be used to produce shear waves. The waves propagate through the substrate and are received by a second acoustic wedge. The shear waves, on reaching the second acoustic wedge, are converted back into electrical signals by a second transducer. Tangential shear waves, high, shallow wave transmission angles, and direct steel-steel bonding between wedges and substrates may be used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Henry A. SCARTON, Gary J. SAULNIER, Kyle R. WILT, R. Benjamin LITMAN
  • Publication number: 20160265349
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transmitting power and data along a metal pipe using wideband acoustic waves. Arrangements use shear-horizontal waves, transmitting narrowband signals for power applications and wideband signals for communications having a bandwidth greater than the coherence bandwidth of the acoustic-electric channel. Chirp wave signals, direct sequence spread signals, and on-off keying are used. Acoustic-electric channels include wedges fixed to a pipe or other substrate, transducers fixed to the wedges, and electronics linked to each transducer for sending and receiving power and signals. Matching networks, rectification circuits, and non-coherent signal reception methods may be used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Applicant: RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
    Inventors: GARY J. SAULNIER, Kyle R. Wilt, R. Benjamin Litman, Henry A. Scarton, Soumya Chakraborty