Patents by Inventor William Albert Challener

William Albert Challener 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: 20230393335
    Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit includes a waveguide that receive photons from an optical fiber and directs the photons in a loop formed by the waveguide. The circuit also includes one or more of a variable optical attenuator and configured to adjust a number of the photons between a key level and one or more decoy levels, an intensity modulator coupled with the waveguide and configured to adjust a number of the photons between a key level and a decoy level, and a phase shifter coupled with the waveguide and configured to change a phase of the photons. The waveguide is configured to direct one or more of the photons back out of the optical fiber after the one or more of the photons has passed through the loop formed by the waveguide with a polarization state of the one or more of the photons rotated by 90°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: William Albert Challener, Stephen Francis Bush
  • Patent number: 11609142
    Abstract: A gas sensing tube includes an outer surface, and an inner surface defining a passage. A sensor node is arranged along the sensing tube. The sensor node includes an inlet fluidically connected to the passage, an outlet fluidically connected to the passage, and an interior chamber arranged between the inlet and the outlet. A sensor cable extends along the sensing tube. The sensor cable includes a first conduit having a first connector coupled to the sensor node at the inlet and a second conduit having a second connector connected to the sensor node at the outlet. The sensor cable has a first conductor extending through the first conduit and being coupled to the first connector and a second conductor extending through the second conduit and being coupled to the second connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventor: William Albert Challener
  • Patent number: 11492903
    Abstract: A system includes a downhole tool having a housing and a passage extending through the housing, where the passage includes an inlet configured to receive a flow of a wellbore fluid and an outlet configured to discharge the flow of the wellbore fluid. The downhole tool includes a heating element configured to heat the flow of the wellbore fluid and to enable the flow of the wellbore fluid to transition to a single-phase fluid flow within the passage. The downhole tool includes a phase composition sensor positioned adjacent the passage and configured to provide feedback indicative of formation of the single-phase fluid flow. The system includes a controller configured to monitor a power consumption of the heating element and to determine an enthalpy of the wellbore fluid based in part on the power consumption and the feedback from the phase composition sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: William Albert Challener, Emad Andarawis Andarawis, David Milford Shaddock, Sameer Dinkar Vartak
  • Patent number: 11435252
    Abstract: A gas sensor system includes a sensing tube having an outer surface, and an inner surface defining a passage. A plurality of openings is formed through the outer surface and the inner surface. Each of the plurality of openings being no greater than 0.5 millimeters (mm) in diameter. A hydrophobic sealant layer covers the sensing tube. A protective layer covers the hydrophobic sealant layer. A sensor node is arranged along the sensing tube. The sensor node includes an inlet, an outlet, and an interior chamber arranged between the inlet and the outlet. A sensor element is arranged in the sensor node. The sensor element includes a first end and a second end. A sensor cable extends along the sensing tube. The sensor cable includes a first section connected to the first end of the sensor element and a second section connected to the second end of the sensor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventor: William Albert Challener
  • Patent number: 11287408
    Abstract: A gas detector sensor node includes a first sensor conductor having a terminal end, a second sensor conductor including an end section, and a coupler joining the terminal end of the first sensor conductor with the end section of the second sensor conductor. The coupler is permeable to gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Harris Karp, William Albert Challener
  • Patent number: 11249011
    Abstract: An apparatus and an associated method is provided for waveguide spectroscopy of a sample inside a container. The apparatus may include a substrate with a window that is transparent at the wavelengths of interest and is coupled to the container holding a sample; a waveguide core of a material that is transparent at the wavelengths of interest located on an inner surface of the transparent window adjacent the sample, the waveguide core having a refractive index greater than that of the sample, an optical element configured to couple light into and out of the waveguide, and a light source and one or more detectors located outside of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Global Life Sciences Solutions USA LLC
    Inventor: William Albert Challener
  • Publication number: 20220003628
    Abstract: A gas sensing tube includes an outer surface, and an inner surface defining a passage. A sensor node is arranged along the sensing tube. The sensor node includes an inlet fluidically connected to the passage, an outlet fluidically connected to the passage, and an interior chamber arranged between the inlet and the outlet. A sensor cable extends along the sensing tube. The sensor cable includes a first conduit having a first connector coupled to the sensor node at the inlet and a second conduit having a second connector connected to the sensor node at the outlet. The sensor cable has a first conductor extending through the first conduit and being coupled to the first connector and a second conductor extending through the second conduit and being coupled to the second connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventor: William Albert Challener
  • Publication number: 20210108505
    Abstract: A system includes a downhole tool having a housing and a passage extending through the housing, where the passage includes an inlet configured to receive a flow of a wellbore fluid and an outlet configured to discharge the flow of the wellbore fluid. The downhole tool includes a heating element configured to heat the flow of the wellbore fluid and to enable the flow of the wellbore fluid to transition to a single-phase fluid flow within the passage. The downhole tool includes a phase composition sensor positioned adjacent the passage and configured to provide feedback indicative of formation of the single-phase fluid flow. The system includes a controller configured to monitor a power consumption of the heating element and to determine an enthalpy of the wellbore fluid based in part on the power consumption and the feedback from the phase composition sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: William Albert Challener, Emad Andarawis Andarawis, David Milford Shaddock, Sameer Dinkar Vartak
  • Patent number: 10942198
    Abstract: An accelerometer includes a membrane; a laser source, the laser source producing a laser beam, the laser beam directed at the membrane causing the membrane to vibrate; a transparent cap, the transparent cap disposed between the laser source and the membrane; an antireflecting film disposed on an outer surface of the transparent cap; and a detector sensing a reflected portion of the laser beam, the reflected portion including a modulated intensity. An acceleration signal is based in part on the frequency of the modulated intensity of the reflected portion of the laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: William Albert Challener
  • Patent number: 10830787
    Abstract: An accelerometer includes a membrane, an energy source producing a laser beam which is directed at the membrane causing it to vibrate, and a transparent cap disposed at one end of the energy source. The accelerometer includes a first controller for adjusting an output power of the energy source in a first feedback loop, a second controller for controlling the wavelength of the laser beam in a second feedback loop, and a detector sensing a reflected portion of the laser beam. An acceleration signal is based in part on the frequency of the reflected portion of the laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Albert Challener, Mengli Wang
  • Patent number: 10816458
    Abstract: A gas analysis system includes spectroscopy assembly coupled to a vehicle. The spectroscopy assembly includes a plurality of emitters configured to emit a plurality of light beams toward a target surface. Each light beam of the plurality of light beams comprises a predetermined wavelength. The spectroscopy assembly includes a collection optic configured to receive a plurality of reflected light beams reflected from the target surface. Additionally, the spectroscopy assembly includes a detector configured to receive the plurality of reflected light beams from the collection optic and to detect a spectral intensity of the plurality of reflected light beams. Further, the spectroscopy assembly includes a controller configured to receive a light beam signal from the detector indicative of the spectral intensity of the plurality of reflected light beams. The controller is configured to detect a target fluid based on the light beam signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ansas Matthias Kasten, William Albert Challener, Jason Harris Karp, Cheng-Po Chen
  • Patent number: 10816520
    Abstract: A gas analysis system includes a scanning platform configured to direct a plurality of light beams over a target area. The scanning platform includes emitter spectroscopy assembly configured to emit the plurality of light beams toward respective target surfaces of the target area, receive a plurality of reflected light beams from the respective target surfaces, and determine a spectral intensity of each reflected light beam of the plurality of reflected light beams. Moreover, the scanning platform includes a main controller receive the feedback from the spectroscopy assembly indicative of the spectral intensity of each reflected light beam of the plurality of reflected light beams and determine a volumetric characterization of a gas plume based at least in part on the spectral intensity of a reflected light beam of the plurality of reflected light beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ansas Matthias Kasten, William Albert Challener
  • Patent number: 10753864
    Abstract: A gas analysis system includes a spectroscopy assembly coupled to a vehicle. The spectroscopy assembly includes a multiplexer configured to combine a plurality of light beams into a multiplexed light beam, wherein the multiplexer is configured to direct the multiplexed light beam toward a target surface. Additionally, the spectroscopy assembly includes a collection optic configured to receive a reflected multiplexed light beam from the target surface. Further, the spectroscopy assembly includes a controller configured to de-multiplex the multiplexed light beam into a plurality of reflected light beams and determine a spectral intensity of the plurality of reflected light beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ansas Matthias Kasten, William Albert Challener
  • Publication number: 20200182842
    Abstract: A gas analysis system includes a scanning platform configured to direct a plurality of light beams over a target area. The scanning platform includes emitter spectroscopy assembly configured to emit the plurality of light beams toward respective target surfaces of the target area, receive a plurality of reflected light beams from the respective target surfaces, and determine a spectral intensity of each reflected light beam of the plurality of reflected light beams. Moreover, the scanning platform includes a main controller receive the feedback from the spectroscopy assembly indicative of the spectral intensity of each reflected light beam of the plurality of reflected light beams and determine a volumetric characterization of a gas plume based at least in part on the spectral intensity of a reflected light beam of the plurality of reflected light beams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Ansas Matthias Kasten, William Albert Challener
  • Publication number: 20200182779
    Abstract: A gas analysis system includes spectroscopy assembly coupled to a vehicle. The spectroscopy assembly includes a plurality of emitters configured to emit a plurality of light beams toward a target surface. Each light beam of the plurality of light beams comprises a predetermined wavelength. The spectroscopy assembly includes a collection optic configured to receive a plurality of reflected light beams reflected from the target surface. Additionally, the spectroscopy assembly includes a detector configured to receive the plurality of reflected light beams from the collection optic and to detect a spectral intensity of the plurality of reflected light beams. Further, the spectroscopy assembly includes a controller configured to receive a light beam signal from the detector indicative of the spectral intensity of the plurality of reflected light beams. The controller is configured to detect a target fluid based on the light beam signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Ansas Matthias Kasten, William Albert Challener, Jason Harris Karp, Cheng-Po Chen
  • Publication number: 20200182780
    Abstract: A gas analysis system includes a spectroscopy assembly coupled to a vehicle. The spectroscopy assembly includes a multiplexer configured to combine a plurality of light beams into a multiplexed light beam, wherein the multiplexer is configured to direct the multiplexed light beam toward a target surface. Additionally, the spectroscopy assembly includes a collection optic configured to receive a reflected multiplexed light beam from the target surface. Further, the spectroscopy assembly includes a controller configured to de-multiplex the multiplexed light beam into a plurality of reflected light beams and determine a spectral intensity of the plurality of reflected light beams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Ansas Matthias Kasten, William Albert Challener
  • Publication number: 20200132975
    Abstract: A microscope is provided. The microscope includes an illumination source configured to provide illumination beams to image a portion of a biological sample. The microscope also includes an optical unit configured to enable both phase contrast imaging and multicolor fluorescence imaging of the portion of the biological sample utilizing parallel point scanning. The microscope further includes a detector configured to simultaneously acquire multiple point images at different locations of the portion of the biological sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Ansas Matthias Kasten, William Albert Challener, Jason Harris Karp, Sudeep Mandal
  • Patent number: 10634890
    Abstract: A microscope is provided. The microscope includes an illumination source configured to provide illumination beams to image a portion of a biological sample. The microscope also includes an optical unit configured to enable both phase contrast imaging and multicolor fluorescence imaging of the portion of the biological sample utilizing parallel point scanning. The microscope further includes a detector configured to simultaneously acquire multiple point images at different locations of the portion of the biological sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ansas Matthias Kasten, William Albert Challener, Jason Harris Karp, Sudeep Mandal
  • Patent number: 10488429
    Abstract: An accelerometer includes a controller, a light source operatively coupled to the controller, and a bifurcated waveguide coupled to the light source and configured to receive light output by the light source. The bifurcated waveguide includes a first waveguide portion and a second waveguide portion. The accelerometer also includes a first resonator operatively coupled to the controller and configured to receive light from the first waveguide portion, and a second resonator operatively coupled to the controller and configured to receive light from the second waveguide portion. The first resonator includes a first proof mass, and the second resonator includes a second proof mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sergey Alexandrovich Zotov, Ansas Matthias Kasten, Yizhen Lin, Jason Harris Karp, William Albert Challener, Aaron Jay Knobloch
  • Publication number: 20190339151
    Abstract: A gas sensor system includes a sensing tube having an outer surface, and an inner surface defining a passage. A plurality of openings is formed through the outer surface and the inner surface. Each of the plurality of openings being no greater than 0.5 millimeters (mm) in diameter. A hydrophobic sealant layer covers the sensing tube. A protective layer covers the hydrophobic sealant layer. A sensor node is arranged along the sensing tube. The sensor node includes an inlet, an outlet, and an interior chamber arranged between the inlet and the outlet. A sensor element is arranged in the sensor node. The sensor element includes a first end and a second end. A sensor cable extends along the sensing tube. The sensor cable includes a first section connected to the first end of the sensor element and a second section connected to the second end of the sensor element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: Baker Hughes, a GE company, LLC
    Inventor: William Albert Challener