Patents Issued in March 27, 2018
  • Patent number: 9927509
    Abstract: A current measurement device is provided for use with a measurement target having a conductive path. The current measurement device includes a non-contact current sensor to be positioned adjacent the conductive path of the measurement target. A calibration current superimposing unit, including a first electrode and a second electrode to be positioned in contact with the conductive path of the measurement target, is configured to output a calibration current to flow through the conductive path between the first electrode and the second electrode. A controller, coupled to the non-contact current sensor and the calibration current superimposing unit, is configured to control the output of the calibration current from the calibration current superimposing unit, and is configured to sample a signal from the non-contact current sensor positioned adjacent the conductive path of the measurement target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Keysight Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Miyake
  • Patent number: 9927510
    Abstract: A star tracker determines a location or orientation of an object, such as a space vehicle, by observing unpolarized light from one or more stars or other relatively bright navigational marks, without imaging optics, pixelated imaging sensors or associated pixel readout electronics. An angle of incidence of the light is determined by comparing signals from two or more differently polarized optical sensors. The star tracker may be fabricated on a thin substrate. Some embodiments have vertical profiles of essentially just their optical sensors. Some embodiments include micro-baffles to limit field of view of the optical sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik L. Waldron, Juha-Pekka J. Laine, Gregory P. Blasche, Murali V. Chaparala, Robin Mark Adrian Dawson, Benjamin F. Lane, Stephen P. Smith
  • Patent number: 9927511
    Abstract: A system configured to provide detailed location information to a user in an emergency by communicating with one or more communication devices having unique identifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventors: Jack Shurtz, Mark Nathaniel Drennan
  • Patent number: 9927512
    Abstract: An indoor ultrasonic location tracking system that can utilize standard audio speakers to provide indoor ranging information to modern mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. The method uses a communication scheme based on linearly increasing frequency modulated chirps in the audio bandwidth just above the human hearing frequency range where mobile devices are still sensitive. The method uses gradual frequency and amplitude changes that minimize human perceivable (psychoacoustic) artifacts derived from the non-ideal impulse response of audio speakers. Chirps also benefit from Pulse Compression, which improves ranging resolution and resilience to both Doppler shifts and multi-path propagation that plague indoor environments. The method supports the decoding of multiple unique identifier packets simultaneously. A Time-Difference-of-Arrival pseudo-ranging technique allows for localization without explicit synchronization with the broadcasting infrastructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Carnegie Mellon University, a Pennsylvania Non-Profit Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony Rowe, Patrick Lazik
  • Patent number: 9927513
    Abstract: A method for effecting the airborne determination of geographic coordinates of corresponding pixels from digital synthetic aperture radar images, where the SAR images are available in the form of slant range images and the recording position of the respective SAR image is known. The coordinates of the corresponding pixels in the SAR images and the corresponding range gates are used in each case to determine the distance between a corresponding resolution cell on the ground and the respective recording position of the respective SAR image. The determined distances and associated recording positions of the SAR images are used to determine the geographic coordinates of the corresponding pixels in the SAR images by employing a WGS84 ellipsoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Benjamin Benninghofen, Tamer Koban, Christoph Stahl
  • Patent number: 9927514
    Abstract: A method and system for remote monitoring of a two/three-dimensional field of displacements and vibrations of an object, the method including transmitting of a plurality of radar waves by a plurality of corresponding radar devices positioned at a predefined distance from a plurality of corresponding receiver devices applied on the object, obtaining a first distance value between each radar device and the corresponding receiver or target device, the first distance value being affected by an error consisting of the sum between an electromagnetic propagation disturbance in the atmosphere of the radar waves and a reciprocal interference between the single receiver or target devices and one or more fixed reflectors positioned in the proximity of the receiver devices, and obtaining, simultaneously with respect to the first distance value, a second distance value between each radar device and a plurality of corresponding calibration devices positioned at predefined distances from said radar devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: ENI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Giunta, Andrea Monti-Guarnieri
  • Patent number: 9927515
    Abstract: An active situational sensor achieves SWaP-C and SNR improvements by using a liquid crystal waveguide to steer a spot-beam onto a conical shape of a fixed mirror, which redirects the spot-beam to scan a FOV. The sensor may rapidly scan a 360° horizontal FOV with a specified vertical FOV or any portion thereof, jump discretely between multiple specific objects per frame, vary the dwell time on an object or compensate for other external factors to tailor the scan to a particular application or changing real-time conditions. The sensor can be used to provide object intensity or ranging in complex, dynamic systems such as aviation, air traffic control, ship navigation, unmanned ground vehicles, collision avoidance, object targeting etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Sean D. Keller, Gerald P. Uyeno
  • Patent number: 9927516
    Abstract: A distance measuring apparatus includes: a light-emitting element that emits first to third pulsed beams; sensors that detect reflected light that is each of the pulsed beams reflected off an object, convert the reflected light into electrical signals, and accumulate the electrical signals over a predetermined exposure time; and a computing unit that derives a distance to the object using first to third signal amounts output by the sensors as a result of detecting, over the predetermined exposure time from first to third points in time, and the computing unit derives the distance to the object based on a first derived amount that is an amount derived using the first and second signal amounts and a second derived amount that is an amount derived using the second and third signal amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hirokazu Shiraki
  • Patent number: 9927517
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a rainfall sensor having a rainfall analyzer configured to induce transmitted electromagnetic waves that are guided by a transmission medium to propagate along the transmission medium, wherein the transmitted electromagnetic waves propagate without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the rainfall analyzer receives reflected electromagnetic waves from the transmission medium in response to the transmitted electromagnetic waves and wherein the rainfall analyzer analyzes the reflected electromagnetic waves and generates rainfall data in response thereto. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert Bennett, Paul Shala Henry, Irwin Gerszberg, Farhad Barzegar, Donald J. Barnickel, Thomas M. Willis, III
  • Patent number: 9927518
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for detecting location information of a target, comprising: a controller for setting the number of time slots to which a signal is transmitted, different center frequencies for each of the time slots, and an a bandwidth of the signal to be transmitted to each of the time slots; a transmitter using one transmitting antenna to transmit the set signal to each of the time slots; a receiver using a plurality of receiving antennas to receive a signal reflected from a target for each of the plurality of time slots; and a signal processor using the received signal to extract the location information of the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Eu Gin Hyun, Jong Hun Lee, Cherl Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 9927519
    Abstract: In a general aspect, motion detected using wireless signals is categorized. In some aspects, frequency response signals are obtained. The frequency response signals are based on wireless signals that were transmitted through a space and received at a wireless sensor device over a time period. Values of a statistical parameter are determined for the time period, with the statistical parameter for the time period being based on a function applied to frequency components of the frequency response signals over the time period. A category of motion that occurred in the space during the time period is identified based on the values of the statistical parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Cognitive Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Mohammad Omer, Stephen Arnold Devison, Yunfeng Piao, Dustin Griesdorf, Tajinder Manku, Oleksiy Kravets, Christopher Vytautas Olekas
  • Patent number: 9927520
    Abstract: A method of detecting a collision of the marine vessel includes sensing using distance sensors to determine whether an object is within a predefined distance of a marine vessel, and determining a direction of the object with respect to the marine vessel. The method further includes receiving a propulsion control input at a propulsion control input device, and determining whether execution of the propulsion control input will result in any portion of the marine vessel moving toward the object. A collision warning is then generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron J. Ward, Matthew David Jarrell
  • Patent number: 9927521
    Abstract: A method and a device for high frequency acoustic spectrum imaging for an object over a field of view. A camera captures an image of the object. A raster with grids is created as an overlay on the captured image. A directional microphone detects high frequency acoustic waves emanating from the object. An acoustic data signal corresponding to the high frequency acoustic waves is generated by a microphone data processing unit. The coordinates of the focal point of the directional microphone on the grid of the raster is recorded and sent as a real-time feedback position signal to a processor for each measurement of the acoustic signal data. The processor plots a visual representation of the acoustic signal data mapping it to the corresponding coordinates on the raster and creates a high frequency acoustic spectrum image for the object by superimposing the raster on the captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Bastiaan Brand
  • Patent number: 9927522
    Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to determining positional information of an object in a field of view. In particular, it relates to calculating a distance of the object from a reference such as a sensor including scanning the field of view by selectively illuminating directionally oriented light sources and measuring one or more differences in property of returning light emitted from the light sources and reflected from the object. The property can be intensity or phase difference of the light. It also relates to finding an object in a region of space. In particular, it relates to scanning the region of space with directionally controllable illumination, determining a difference in a property of the illumination received for two or more points in the scanning, and determining positional information of the object based in part upon the points in the scanning corresponding to the difference in the property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Leap Motion, Inc.
    Inventor: David Holz
  • Patent number: 9927523
    Abstract: An event filtering device and a motion recognition device using thereof are provided. The motion recognition device includes an emitter configured to emit an infrared ray in a pattern; a detector configured to detect events in a visible ray area and an infrared ray area; a filter configured to determine whether at least one portion of the detected events is detected using the infrared ray in the pattern, and filter the detected events based on a result of the determination; and a motion recognizer configured to perform motion recognition based on a detected event accepted by the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyoobin Lee, Hyun Surk Ryu, Jun Haeng Lee, Jun Seok Kim, Keun Joo Park, Chang Woo Shin, Joo Yeon Woo
  • Patent number: 9927524
    Abstract: A lidar imager for acquiring a range image of a scene comprises a light source for emitting a light beam, a scanning device for scanning the light beam across the scene and a light sensor for receiving light reflected from the scene. The scanning device comprises a spatial light modulator (SLM) configured to display holograms that deflect the light beam into different directions within the scene to be imaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Kaiser
  • Patent number: 9927525
    Abstract: Disclosed is a golf ball locating system that includes a golf ball having a control circuit therein. The control circuit includes a global positioning system (GPS) chip, a radio frequency transmitter, one or more antennas, and a rechargeable battery. The golf ball is capable of transmitting a signal to a smartphone or similar mobile electronic device having a related software application thereon. The software application indicates the position of the golf ball relative to the user. The software application preferably displays a map of the golf course, and indicates the position of the ball on the course. As the user approaches the golf ball, the mobile electronic device will produce an audible alert, such as a tone, with increasing frequency as the golfer nears his or her golf ball. In this way, a user can easily locate his or her golf ball while golfing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventor: Scott Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 9927526
    Abstract: A method for calculating a position of a receiver. The method includes determining a first position of the receiver at a first time using data from satellites and determining a second position of the receiver at a second time using the first position and data from a non-satellite sensor. The method also includes calculating the positions of the satellites at the second time and comparing, for each satellite, the calculated position with a known position at the second time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Elbit Systems of America, LLC
    Inventor: Enrique Sernik
  • Patent number: 9927527
    Abstract: Signal acquisition methods and receivers utilizing such signal acquisition methods are disclosed. More specifically, a signal acquisition method may include: identifying a list of available beam patterns that an antenna unit is configured to provide; iteratively searching for satellite signals by controlling the antenna unit to utilize one of the list of available beam patterns in each iteration; determining whether a satellite signal is detected in each iteration; collecting ephemeris data of a satellite producing the satellite signal when the satellite signal is detected in each iteration; and controlling beamforming operations of the antenna unit for satellite signal acquisition based on the ephemeris data collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Weger, Kristal D. Long, Timothy R. Schroeder
  • Patent number: 9927528
    Abstract: The disclosure describes methods of managing the power consumption of a GNSS receiver by identifying when to activate and deactivate the GNSS receiver, and by managing storage of GNSS location data points. In one embodiment, the GNSS receiver is activated if there is a change in wireless transmissions from stationary sources. In another embodiment, the GNSS receiver is deactivated when the GNSS signal quality is sufficient to calculate a GNSS location. In another embodiment, the GNSS receiver is deactivated for a time period in correlation with a GNSS speed. In yet another embodiment, redundant GNSS location data points are identified and only non-redundant data points are stored. In yet another embodiment, a GNSS device comprises a processor and a GNSS receiver configured to track GNSS signals and calculate a GNSS location. The GNSS receiver deactivates when the average signal quality value meets or exceeds the baseline signal value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Spark Technology Labs Inc.
    Inventors: Perry Jarmuszewski, George Mankaruse, Rongrong Zhang
  • Patent number: 9927529
    Abstract: A programmable buoy system having one or more buoys capable of connecting through the internet to a buoy command server. The buoy command server relays commands to each of the one or more buoys in response to user commands sent from a buoys command interface application on a mobile device. The programmable buoy system includes one or more buoys each having a hull with two or more pontoons where the hull has a top side and bottom side. A stationary rudder extends downward from the bottom side of the hull to be positioned in a body of water when the one or more buoys are in use. A motor is pivotably connected on each one or more buoys, wherein the motor has a propeller positioned away from the bottom side of the hull. The propeller and motor move the select one of the one or more buoys in the body of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew P. Morin, Kevin J. Morin
  • Patent number: 9927530
    Abstract: A GPS-aided inertial navigation method includes providing multiple sensors including multiple inertial measurement units (IMUs) and at least one global positioning system receivers and antennas (GPSs) and computer with embedded navigation software. The computer interfaces with all IMUs and all GPS receivers; running, in parallel, in multiple standard inertial navigation (IN) schemes; computes the mean of all the INSs to obtain a fused IN solution for the IMUs' mean location; computes the mean of all the GPS solutions to obtain a fused GPS solution for the GPS antennas' mean location; applies a lever-arm correction, with the vector from the mean IMU location to the ‘mean antenna’ location, to the fused GPS solution; feeds the fused IN solution and the lever-arm corrected fused GPS solution to a single navigation filter, as if there were a single IMU and a single GPS; and runs an IMU/IN/GPS correction module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignees: ISRAEL MILITARY INDUSTRIES LTD., IMI Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Shmuel Boyarski
  • Patent number: 9927531
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for differentially altering the radiation response across multiple MOSCAP sensors by placing different thin gate materials with different atomic numbers on a series of MOS-based radiation sensors. The secondary electrons created in high-atomic weight materials (such as gold) at lower incident photon energy levels enable a tissue equivalent radiation response and radiations source identification/differentiation. This is a desirable alternative to using filters with different coefficients across a series of MOSCAP radiation sensor which will attenuate the signal and degrade the device form factor. The method and apparatus disclosed achieves the same functionality but with inherent gain instead of attenuation, thus increasing sensitivity. This will improve the minimum resolvable dose for x-rays and low-energy gammas (high-energy gammas will remain the same), and produces a response that can distinguish the energy level of incident radiation photon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: PURDUE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Mark Raymond Salasky, Sean M. Scott, P. Alexander Walerow, Daniel John Valentino, Dimitrios Peroulis
  • Patent number: 9927532
    Abstract: A collimator, which is adhesively bonded to a detector element array, is prevented from falling off from the radiation detection apparatus even in case that a failure of the adhesive joint occurs in the collimator. There is provided a radiation detection apparatus comprising: a detector element array in which a plurality of detector elements are arranged substantially in a fan-angle direction and in a cone-angle direction of a radiation; a collimator adhesively bonded to a side of the detector element array on which the radiation impinges, and having outer end surfaces on both sides in the slice direction tapered to align with a direction of emission from a radiation source; and a pair of blocks disposed to sandwich the collimator in the cone-angle direction, and having inner end surfaces on both sides in the cone-angle direction tapered to align with the direction of emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Katsumasa Nose
  • Patent number: 9927533
    Abstract: An instrument for assaying radiation includes a radiation sensor and a collimator that covers at least a portion of the radiation sensor. The collimator defines a first field of view to the radiation sensor. An insert in the collimator defines a second field of view to the radiation sensor that is less than the first field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Jody Rustyn Coleman, Eduardo B. Farfan
  • Patent number: 9927534
    Abstract: A detector arrangement for detecting at least one of rays, ions and particles includes a plurality of detectors. Each detector has a respective anode output and the detectors are arranged with the respective anode outputs being in an electrical series. The arrangement includes a plurality of resistive elements interspersed in the electrical series. The arrangement includes a first measurement point at a first end of the electrical series and a second measurement point at a second end of the electrical series. The arrangement includes electrical circuitry, electrically connected to the first and second measurement points for receiving electrical signals/pulses from the first and second measurement points, and for using the electrical signals/pulses from the first and second measurement points to determine which of the plurality of detectors made the detection utilizing a division of charge that exists between the first and second measurement points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kevin Scott McKinny, Matthew Thomas McPheeters
  • Patent number: 9927535
    Abstract: Radon detection or sensing is provided within a building automation system for a site (e.g., building or campus). As such, one or more short-term and/or long-term radon levels may be detected or monitored. The radon levels are monitored from a remote location. The building automation system may be programmed to automatically respond to a specific (e.g., unsafe) radon level and/or a change in one or more radon levels, or combinations thereof, in order to mitigate or reduce the monitored or detected radon levels. Trending, pattern comparison between radon level and other measured information, automated response, interaction or response between different radon sensors, or combinations thereof may be provided by integrating one or more radon sensors into a building automation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventor: Kristine C. Rodell
  • Patent number: 9927536
    Abstract: A radiation detection apparatus includes a selecting unit that allows a light having a light emission wavelength and a polarization direction to pass thorough the selecting unit, an optical system that forms an image of the light, a photon detecting unit that observes the image formed by the optical system, and detects the photon in whole range of the entire image, a counting unit that calculates the number of the alpha rays based on a result of counting the photons derived from the light emission of gas excited by the alpha rays, whereby it is possible to sufficiently eliminate background light (noise light) even if background light is strong, and therefore observe weak light emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Hidehiko Kuroda, Kunihiko Nakayama, Kei Takakura, Mikio Izumi, Naoto Kume
  • Patent number: 9927537
    Abstract: A positron emission tomography (PET) photosensor output circuit configured to be operably coupled to a PET photosensor system is provided that includes a plurality of regional circuit portions and a summing portion. Each regional circuit portion is configured to be operably coupled to a corresponding photosensor system region and includes an input portion, a first branch, and a second branch. The first branch includes a delay unit and a switch. The second branch includes a sensor unit configured to place the switch in a closed position when a signal received via the input portion satisfies a threshold and to place the switch in an open position when the signal received via the input portion does not satisfy the threshold. The summing portion is configured to receive corresponding regional circuit outputs from the regional circuit portions, and to combine the regional circuit outputs to provide a summed output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Chang Lyong Kim
  • Patent number: 9927538
    Abstract: A method of producing a radiometric physical phantom of a biological organism to be irradiated or already irradiated having at least two volumes of appreciably different biological tissues comprises a step of determining a radiological three-dimensional model on the basis of anatomical three-dimensional image(s) of the organism, a step of producing a material framework of the phantom with the aid of a 3D printer, and a step of filling the enclosures of the framework with gels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Bordy
  • Patent number: 9927539
    Abstract: A radiation detector assembly is provided that includes a semiconductor detector having a surface, plural pixelated anodes, and at least one processor. The pixelated anodes are disposed on the surface. Each pixelated anode is configured to generate a primary signal responsive to reception of a photon by the pixelated anode and to generate at least one secondary signal responsive to an induced charge caused by reception of a photon by at least one adjacent anode. The at least one processor is operably coupled to the pixelated anodes. The at least one processor configured to define sub-pixels for each pixelated anode; acquire signals corresponding to acquisition events from the pixelated anodes; determine sub-pixel locations for the acquisition events using the signals; and apply at least one calibration parameter on a per sub-pixel basis for the acquisition events based on the determined sub-pixel locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Arie Shahar, Mark David Fries, Yaron Glazer, Avishai Ofan
  • Patent number: 9927540
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining a sail path of vessels on a map representative of a marine geographic area, to perform a turn between a start point and an end point, each vessel having a turn radius, the start point, respectively the end point, being associated with a start, respectively an end, circle, the sail path being curvilinear and composed of arcs and straight segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SERCEL
    Inventor: Fabien Chene
  • Patent number: 9927541
    Abstract: A tool for monopole and multipole sonic logging includes an acoustic source section, an acoustic receiver section, and an isolator section disposed therebetween. The tool may include a mandrel having integrally formed alternating first portions having a first outer diameter and second portions having a second outer diameter. The second outer diameter is smaller than the first outer diameter, which allows the portions to function acoustically as a mass and spring system. The isolator section sufficiently mutes or delays extensional and flexural modes intrinsic to the logging tool itself. Thus, the effects of the tool presence on the measurements are minimized. In addition, a plurality of axially oriented grooves are defined in an outer surface of the acoustic receiver section, and each groove is configured for receiving an acoustic receiver module that includes a sensor, an amplifier, an A/D converter, and a digital multiplexer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshihiro Kinoshita, Naoki Sakiyama, Hitoshi Sugiyama, Yuichiro Wada, Toshimichi Wago, Akito Shigekane
  • Patent number: 9927542
    Abstract: An illustrative acoustic range finding method including deploying a tool downhole, transmitting a first acoustic waveform with a transmitting acoustic transducer of the tool, receiving a second acoustic waveform with a receiving acoustic transducer of the tool, removing a deterministic waveform from the second acoustic waveform to obtain an echo waveform, and deriving a measurement from said echo waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Philip William Tracadas
  • Patent number: 9927543
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for extracting slowness dispersion characteristics of sonic wave forms in broadband acoustic waves received by multiple sensors including means to digitize the sonic wave forms to form discrete time wave forms and converting the discrete time wave forms into frequency domain wave forms and means to divide a processing band of the wave forms into frequency sub-bands. For each sub-band approximating a family of candidate dispersion curves for multiple modes, parameterizing each of the curves by phase and group slowness, and forming a frequency dependent over-complete dictionary of basis elements, each corresponding to a pair of phase and group slownesses. In addition, forming multiple measurement vectors from the frequency domain data and implementing a sparse Bayesian learning (SBL) algorithm on the vectors with a block sparse signal model and outputting the results. Also, a means for generating a final dispersion curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Pu Wang, Sandip Bose
  • Patent number: 9927544
    Abstract: A system, method, and sensor tool for enhancing sensor effectiveness. A wave is received utilizing multiple sensors in a downhole tool. Hodogram analysis of the wave is performed in response to measurements from the multiple sensors. A direction associated with the wave is determined. The multiple sensors are rotated to best sense the wave in response to the direction associated with the wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Wei Hsuan Huang
  • Patent number: 9927545
    Abstract: Multi-frequency buried object location system transmitters and locators are disclosed. A transmitter may generate and provide output signals to a buried object at a plurality of frequencies, which may be selected based on a connection type. Corresponding locators may simultaneously receive a plurality of magnetic field signals emitted from the buried object and generate visual and/or audible output information based at least in part on the plurality of received magnetic field signals. The visual and/or audible output may be further based on signals received from a quad-gradient antenna array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, David A. Cox, Stephanie M. Bench, Jan Soukup, Timothy M. Turner, Ryan B. Levin, Ray Merewether
  • Patent number: 9927546
    Abstract: Buried object locator systems including transmitters and associated buried object locators using phase-synchronized signals are disclosed. A transmitter may generate output current signals that are phase-synchronized with a corresponding locator for improved utility locating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Ray Merewether, Inho Shin, Jan Soukup, Stephanie M. Bench, David A. Cox
  • Patent number: 9927547
    Abstract: A self-powered borehole communication assembly including a first electrode member having a first electrode potential and a second electrode member having a second electrode potential different than the first electrode potential. The first and second electrodes form an electrochemical cell when disposed in a borehole fluid that is at least partially electrolytic. The electrochemical cell is operatively arranged for producing a current and a voltage with at least one of the current or the voltage configured to directly convey information related to at least one borehole condition, property, or parameter. A method of communicating is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Edward Wood, Zhiyue Xu, Yang Xu, David Gerrard
  • Patent number: 9927548
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method for well logging as well as a data processing device thereof. Said apparatus for well logging comprises a drill collar body and an array of antennas, wherein said array of antennas comprises at least a pair of transmitting antenna and receiving antenna, said transmitting antenna and receiving antenna are configured for generating a curve of axial forward depth of investigation. By employing the method for well logging according to the present invention, not only the variation of resistivity in the axial forward formation may be measured in real time during the drilling, but also the interfacial characteristics of the axial forward formations having different resistivity may be discriminated during drilling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignees: CHINA PETROLEUM & CHEMICAL CORPORATION, SHENGLI DRILLING TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF SINOPEC
    Inventors: Jinzhou Yang, Zuohui Li, Nan Lin, Baojun Wei, Qinglong Liu, Hongbing Xiao
  • Patent number: 9927549
    Abstract: Born Scattering Inversion (BSI) systems and methods are disclosed. A BSI system may be incorporated in a well system for accessing natural gas, oil and geothermal reserves in a geologic formation beneath the surface of the Earth. The BSI system may be used to generate a three-dimensional image of a proppant-filled hydraulically-induced fracture in the geologic formation. The BSI system may include computing equipment and sensors for measuring electromagnetic fields in the vicinity of the fracture before and after the fracture is generated, adjusting the parameters of a first Born approximation model of a scattered component of the surface electromagnetic fields using the measured electromagnetic fields, and generating the image of the proppant-filled fracture using the adjusted parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignees: CARBO Ceramics Inc., Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: David F. Aldridge, Lewis C. Bartel
  • Patent number: 9927550
    Abstract: A method and system for applying nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) sequences to a substance and determining presence of a chemical species within the substance using the sequences are described herein. The method includes applying an NQR pulse sequence to the substance using a non-resonant transmitter circuit. The method further includes detecting a NQR signal within the substance and determining presence of a chemical species within the substance using the NQR signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soumyajit Mandal, Yi-Qiao Song
  • Patent number: 9927551
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus and a system, as well as a method and an article, may operate to obtain a plurality of measurements of a formation parameter, each measurement obtained in response to energy propagated into the formation at a plurality of frequencies of propagated energy; to process the measurements over each of the plurality of frequencies to obtain estimated values of the formation parameter; to select an estimated value from the obtained estimated values for each logging depth as a true measurement value for the logging depth based on one or more of the plurality of frequencies and a resistivity range; to generate a combination log that combines a plurality of the true measurement values for each logging depth; and to control a drilling operation based on the combination log. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Junsheng Hou, Luis Emilio San Martin, Dagang Wu, Burkay Donderici
  • Patent number: 9927552
    Abstract: A system for generating eccentering corrected response includes a logging tool configured to examine a material filled in an annular space to generate a tool response. The material is filled in an annular space formed by an outer conduit and an inner conduit disposed in the outer conduit. The logging tool is disposed in an inner conduit. The tool response includes scattered gamma ray photon counts distorted by a radial shift of the logging tool. The system includes a data transmission device coupled to a plurality of detectors and configured to transmit data detected by the plurality of detectors. The system also includes a computer processor linked to the data transmission device and configured to receive the tool response. The computer processor is configured to process the tool response and generate an eccentered corrected response by correcting effects of the radial shift in the tool response using eccentering correction technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Anthony Lexa, Meena Ganesh, John Edward Smaardyk, Donald Kenney Steinman
  • Patent number: 9927553
    Abstract: An optical sensor, optical system, and proximity sensor are disclosed. An illustrative proximity sensor is disclosed to include a light source and a photodetector including a photo-sensitive area that receives incident light and converts the received incident light into an electrical signal. The light source and photodetector are positioned diagonally relative to one another, thereby enabling the devices to be positioned closer together on a body or substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: James Costello, Cherng Woei Heng, Boon Keat Tan
  • Patent number: 9927554
    Abstract: A method and system for analysis of a digital core image obtained from a sample are disclosed. The method includes performing segmentations on the digital core image using multiple approaches to obtain multiple segmented images which are statistically analyzed to select the most suitable approach of the multiple approaches. Thereafter, a digital core model is generated using the segmented image corresponding to the most suitable approach. A simulation test may be performed on the digital core model to obtain a model test result and an oilfield operation may be performed based on the model test result. The system includes measurement and testing equipment to obtain the digital core image and a computing system including a data repository for storing a digital core image and a digital core model, and a digital core modeling tool. The digital core modeling tool performs the segmentations, statistical analysis, and generates the digital core model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Andersen, Alexander Nikolaevich Nadeev, Igor Andreevich Varfolomeev, Ivan Yakimchuk, Denis Klemin, Dmitry Anatolievich Koroteev, Sergey Sergeevich Safonov
  • Patent number: 9927555
    Abstract: A composition for a polarizing film including a polymer and at least one of dichroic dye, wherein the dichroic dye includes a first dichroic dye represented by Chemical Formula 1 and having a molecular weight of greater than or equal to about 500 Daltons: wherein in Chemical Formula 1, Ar1 to Ar3, R1, R2, n, and m are the same as described in the detailed description.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ha Na Kim, Deuk Kyu Moon, Yong Joo Lee, Boreum Jeong, Myung Sup Jung
  • Patent number: 9927556
    Abstract: In one aspect, structures are provided that comprise (a) a one-dimensional periodic plurality of layers, wherein at least two of the layers have a refractive index differential sufficient to provide effective contrast; and (b) one or more light-emitting nanostructure materials effectively positioned with respect to the refractive index differential interface, wherein the structure provides a polarized output emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignees: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials LLC, Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Brian Cunningham, Gloria G. See, Peter Trefonas, III, Jieqian Zhang, Jong Keun Park, Kevin Howard, Kishori Deshpande, Trevor Ewers
  • Patent number: 9927557
    Abstract: An aspect of the present invention relates to an eyeglass lens comprising a lens substrate and a vapor-deposited film either directly or indirectly on the lens substrate, wherein the vapor-deposited film is an oxide film of metal selected from the group consisting of zirconium and tantalum, with a proportion accounted for by regions observed in a streaky shape, in a columnar shape, or in a lump shape in a cross-sectional image of the vapor-deposited film obtained by a transmission electron microscope of equal to or less than 20%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: HOYA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Tadokoro, Naomi Ogawa, Makoto Adachi, Yuko Komine, Koushi Harada
  • Patent number: 9927558
    Abstract: Embodiments comprise a system created through fabricating a lens array through which lasers are emitted. The lens array may be fabricated in the semiconductor substrate used for fabricating the lasers or may be a separate substrate of other transparent material that would be aligned to the lasers. In some embodiments, more lenses may be produced than will eventually be used by the lasers. The inner portion of the substrate may be formed with the lenses that will be used for emitting lasers, and the outer portion of the substrate may be formed with lenses that will not be used for emitting lasers—rather, through etching these additional lenses, the inner lenses may be created with a higher quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: TRILUMINA CORP.
    Inventors: Richard F. Carson, John R. Joseph, Mial E. Warren, Thomas A. Wilcox