Earth Science Patents (Class 702/2)
  • Publication number: 20140095075
    Abstract: Seafloor movements are monitored by measuring the ambient seawater pressure at a plurality of locations adjacent to the seafloor using asynchronous pressure signals generated by a plurality of pressure sensors mounted at different locations on the seafloor over a prolonged period of time(t), wherein harmonic tide-related pressure variations on the asynchronous pressure signals are corrected by an algorithm comprising a mathematical equation that models spatial and temporal pressure variations in an objective function. The method is unconstrained with regard to the synchronicity of depth and/or pressure measurements and does not require additional stationary short tem local reference measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: SHELL INTERNATIONALE RESEARCH MAATSCHAPPIJ B.V.
    Inventors: Stefan Kampshoff, Hanno Klemm
  • Patent number: 8688381
    Abstract: Method for simultaneous full-wavefield inversion of gathers of source (or receiver) encoded (30) geophysical data (80) to determine a physical properties model (20) for a subsurface region, especially suitable for surveys where fixed-receiver geometry conditions were not satisfied in the data acquisition (40). The inversion involves optimization of a cross-correlation objective function (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Partha S. Routh, Jerome R. Krebs, Spyridon Lazaratos, Anatoly Baumstein
  • Patent number: 8686744
    Abstract: Circuitry and methods for measuring capacitive mismatch with improved precision. The capacitors under measurement are connected in series in a voltage divider, with the node common to both capacitors connected to the gate of a source follower transistor. In one disclosed embodiment of the invention, a ramped voltage is applied to the drain of the source follower transistor simultaneously with the ramped voltage applied to the voltage divider; the slope of the ramped drain voltage is at the nominal slope of the voltage at the common node of the voltage divider. In another embodiment, a second transistor in saturation has its gate coupled to the source of the source follower device, and its source connected to the drain of the source follower device in series with a constant voltage drop. The drain-to-source voltage of the source follower device is thus held constant in each embodiment, improving precision of the measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Andrew Marshall, Md. Imran Hossain, Michelle N. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8688368
    Abstract: The present localization system determines a precise location for an address based on images. Some implementations identify the precise location using one image. Other implementations identify the precise location using multiple images. While still other implementations identify the precise location by interpolation, which uses precise locations of addresses nearby that were previously localized using one or more images. The images used in determining the precise locations have a visual feature associated with the address appearing in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eyal Ofek, Pragyana K. Mishra
  • Patent number: 8686721
    Abstract: A system, method and computer-readable medium for mapping magnetic activity for a current linking a planet's space environment to an ionosphere of the planet are disclosed. Magnetic field measurements of the current are obtained from a plurality of satellites orbiting the planet. A residual magnetic field is determined from the obtained magnetic field measurements. The determined residual magnetic field is arranged to create a time series for a selected location of a planet-centered coordinate system. The magnetic activity is mapped using the created time series for the selected location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Brian J. Anderson, Lars P. Dyrud, Jonathan T. Fentzke, Robin J. Barnes
  • Patent number: 8682042
    Abstract: A medication order processing system (10) includes a plurality of nursing stations (12, 14, 16). Physician orders prescribing medications for patients are faxed from the nursing stations to a computer which is included in an interchange fax station (28) located at the pharmacy. The interchange fax station is operative to prioritize the orders and to present them to pharmacists working at pharmacist work stations (40, 42). Pharmacist work stations are enabled to review, electronically annotate, and input orders reviewed at the pharmacy work station into a pharmacy order system of the facility. Input to the pharmacy order system results in the medication being administered to the patient. Data related to each patient to which a medication order pertains is captured from screen outputs from the pharmacy order system. The captured data is analyzed to produce data that is stored in a database of the medication order system in correlated relation with image data corresponding to images of medication orders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Automated Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Manion, Maria P. Robinson, R. Michael McGrady
  • Patent number: 8680994
    Abstract: A method for designating vegetation as potential impact vegetation includes identifying data relating to target vegetation from a dataset and determining a reach distance of the target vegetation. The reach distance includes a distance from a point on a ground to a point of the target vegetation that is farthest from the point on the ground. The method also includes comparing the reach distance of the target vegetation with a closest distance between the point on the ground and a structure to produce a compared reach distance value and determining a health indicator value for the target vegetation. The method further includes comparing the health indicator value of the target vegetation to a health indicator threshold value and designating the target vegetation as having a potential to impact the structure based on the compared reach distance value and the comparison of the health indicator to the health indicator threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Utility Risk Management Corporation, LLC
    Inventors: Vesa Johannes Leppanen, Adam Robert Rousselle, Hugh Andrew Clymer, Leighton Dalmasse, Brian Beck, Jari Kinnunen, Andrey Shipilov
  • Patent number: 8682584
    Abstract: Embodiments of a method for assessing potential nitrogen concentration of plant available nitrogen in soil comprises collecting soil samples, analyzing one or more of the soil samples to compute the amount of nitrate and the amount of ammonium, analyzing one or more of the soil samples to compute the amount of mineralizable nitrogen using a soil respiration method, obtaining a total plant available nitrogen value in the soil samples by summing the computed nitrate value, the computed ammonium value, and the computed mineralizable nitrogen value, and calculating a potential nitrogen assessment value by subtracting from the total plant available nitrogen value an amount of nitrogen applied at time of planting not represented within the soil sample and further subtracting an amount of nitrogen required to achieve the crop yield goal multiplied by the yield crop goal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Brookside Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Luke Baker, Thomas Menke
  • Publication number: 20140067269
    Abstract: A method can include providing fault geometry data and fracture data for a fracture; estimating a parameter value of a far field stress based at least in part on the fault geometry data and the fracture data; and determining an undisturbed parameter value for the fracture. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Franz Maerten, Laurent Maerten, Mustapha Lejri
  • Publication number: 20140067268
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for monitoring an oceanic environment for hazardous substances. One system includes one or more subsea equipment arranged in an oceanic environment, and at least one optical computing device arranged on or near the one or more subsea equipment for monitoring the oceanic environment. The at least one optical computing device may have at least one integrated computational element configured to optically interact with the oceanic environment and thereby generate optically interacted light. At least one detector may be arranged to receive the optically interacted light and generate an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the oceanic environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ola Tunheim, Robert P. Freese, Laurence J. Abney, James R. MacLennan
  • Publication number: 20140058676
    Abstract: The pore structure of rocks and other materials can be determined through microscopy and subjected to digital simulation to determine the properties of fluid flows through the material. To determine a porosity-permeability over an extended range even when working from a small model, some disclosed method embodiments obtain a three-dimensional pore/matrix model of a sample; measure a distribution of porosity-related parameter variation as a function of subvolume size; measure a connectivity-related parameter as a function of subvolume size; derive a reachable porosity range as a function of subvolume size based at least in part on the distribution of porosity-related parameter variation and the connectivity-related parameter; select a subvolume size offering a maximum reachable porosity range; find permeability values associated with the maximum reachable porosity range; and display said permeability values as a function of porosity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Ingrain, Inc.
    Inventors: Giuseppe DE PRISCO, Jonas Toelke
  • Patent number: 8660848
    Abstract: In the method of these teachings for detection of physical phenomena from or analysis of physical signals, an improved Empirical Mode Decomposition method decomposes physical signals representative of a physical phenomenon into components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventor: Mayer Humi
  • Patent number: 8660796
    Abstract: Processing gamma count rate decay curves using neural networks. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising obtaining a gamma count rate decay curve one each for a plurality of gamma detectors of a nuclear logging tool (the gamma count rate decay curves recorded at a particular borehole depth), applying the gamma count rate decay curves to input nodes of a neural network, predicting by the neural network a geophysical parameter of the formation surrounding the borehole, repeating the obtaining, applying and predicting for a plurality of borehole depths, and producing a plot of the geophysical parameter of the formation as a function of borehole depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry A. Jacobson, Dingding Chen, John A. Quirein
  • Publication number: 20140052375
    Abstract: A directional filter for processing full-tensor gradiometer data is described. The filter processes input data using a method comprising receiving geophysical data collected based on characteristics of geographic features in an environment, and applying a directional filter to the received geophysical data in a first instance so as to provide first filtered data. A filtering direction of the directional filter is determined based on properties in the received geophysical data. The method also includes updating the filtering direction based on properties in the first filtered data, applying the directional filter to the received geophysical data in a subsequent instance using the updated filtering direction so as to provide subsequent filtered data, and based on the updated filtering direction having a subsequent update less than a threshold, outputting directionally filtered data. The subsequent update is determined due to properties in the subsequent filtered data output from the subsequent instance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: Bell Geospace Inc.
    Inventor: James Brewster
  • Publication number: 20140032129
    Abstract: Improved gas leak detection from moving platforms is provided. Automatic horizontal spatial scale analysis can be performed in order to distinguish a leak from background levels of the measured gas. Source identification can be provided by using isotopic ratios and/or chemical tracers to distinguish gas leaks from other sources of the measured gas. Multi-point measurements combined with spatial analysis of the multi-point measurement results can provide leak source distance estimates. These methods can be practiced individually or in any combination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventor: Picarro, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20140025300
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a moisture measuring apparatus which, when the body of the apparatus for measuring a state of moisture in a measurement target object is mounted into the measurement target object, provides a user with a mounting state as to whether the moisture measuring apparatus has been appropriately mounted. In the present invention, the CPU of a moisture measuring apparatus determines the mounting state of the moisture measuring apparatus in soil that is a measurement target object (judges whether or not there is a gap between a sensor electrode and soil) based on the state of moisture (moisture amount) measured by a soil moisture amount sensor, and informs a result of the judgment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventor: Ryo OKUMURA
  • Patent number: 8635026
    Abstract: Mechanical properties of formation rock from a subsurface reservoir are measured with a computerized system while a core sample from the formation is being cut, during a process known as slabbing, for other analytical purposes. Forces exerted during cutting of the slab from the original core sample are sensed and stored in the computer system. The recorded force data, cutting time and dimensions of the core sample and the cut slab are processed in the computer system. Measures of characteristics and mechanical properties of the rock, such as rock strength and angle of internal friction, are obtained with the computer system. Separate and specialized testing procedures performed on test core plugs using samples specially extracted from the original core sample are not required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Mohammed S Ameen
  • Publication number: 20140019047
    Abstract: Disclosed in the invention is a multi-information coupling prediction method of coal and gas outburst danger, which is achieved by establishing a multi-index coupling prediction model to detect indexes including original gas pressure of a coal layer, the original rock stress, the critical burst gas pressure of a coal sample, the mechanical performance of coal body, the exploit influence, the drilling cutting gas desorption index, the drilling cutting quantity index and the like, therefore to coupling predict the coal and gas outburst danger. By the multi-information coupling prediction method, the information of the coal and gas outburst danger can be fully complemented; the gas and crustal stress outburst danger prediction is carried out; the defects of insufficient complementation information of a single-index and inaccurate prediction are overcome; and the accuracy of the coal and gas outburst danger prediction is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: CHINA UNIVERSITY OF MINING AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Baiquan Lin, Wei Yang, Cheng Zhai
  • Publication number: 20140012504
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for efficiently assessing the results of reflectance spectroscopy on a soil sample to determine the presence of contaminants in the soil, by constructing a model based on analysis of known samples. The model may be constructed using an all possibilities approach and data mining techniques, on a range of samples, for example of different kinds of soil without pollutants and with different levels of pollutants. The Disclosure relates both to the construction of the model and to its use in the field in analyzing soil contaminants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Ramot at Tel-Aviv University Ltd.
    Inventors: Eyal Ben-Dor, Gil Eshel, Guy Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20140012505
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for the detection of conductive bodies using three-component electric or magnetic dipole transmitters. The fields from multiple transmitters can be combined to enhance fields at specific locations and in specific orientation. A one- two- or three-component receiver or receiver array is provided for detecting the secondary field radiated by a conductive body. The data from multiple receivers can be combined to enhance the response at a specific sensing location with a specific orientation. Another method is provided in which a three-component transmitter and receiver are separated by an arbitrary distance, and where the position and orientation of the receiver relative to the transmitter are calculated, allowing the response of a highly conductive body to be detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: LAURENTIAN UNIVERSITY OF SUDBURY
    Inventor: Richard Smith
  • Publication number: 20140012503
    Abstract: A system for detecting buried assets includes a locator apparatus comprising a compartment for storing a mobile computing device, one or more sensors for reading analog signals from buried assets and an amplifier for amplifying the signals. The locator apparatus further includes an encoder for encoding the signals and a transmitter for transmitting the encoded signals to a mobile computing device. The system also includes a mobile computing device secured within the compartment of the locator apparatus, the mobile computing device comprising a radio frequency receiver for receiving the encoded signals, a decoder for decoding the encoded signals, a processing unit configured for converting the analog signals to digital signals, and executing digital signal processing algorithms upon the digital signals so as to produce buried asset data corresponding to the analog signals that were read, and a display for displaying the buried asset data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventor: Alan Haddy
  • Patent number: 8614578
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to determining the attenuation of an electromagnetic signal passing through a conductive material. An antenna is provided and placed in relatively close proximity to the conductive material. An alternating current is passed through the antenna and the impedance of the antenna is measured. The attenuation is determined using the measured impedance. A single frequency measurement may be made, or multiple measurements using different frequencies may be made. Grouped parameters based on properties of the material and the frequency of the current are used to relate the coil impedance to the attenuation. A current frequency for which the ratio of the antenna's resistive part of the impedance to the angular frequency of the current is substantially insensitive to at least one of the parameters is preferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Guozhong Gao, H. Frank Morrison, Hong Zhang, Richard A. Rosthal, David Alumbaugh, Cyrille Levesque
  • Patent number: 8615660
    Abstract: A cloud computing system for real-time streaming of drilling data from a drilling rig using satellites, wherein the system includes client devices for transmitting the drilling data. Radio boxes disposed around the drilling rig to form a local area network for connecting with the client devices. A router and switch connected to the local area network for receiving and transmitting the drilling data. A processor and data storage configured to receive the drilling data and form well logging data for transmission to the router and switch. A modem in communication with the router and switch used to send the drilling data to satellite dishes. A server positioned apart from the drilling rig used to receive drilling data and from well logs and executive dashboards. The server can stream the drilling data, well logs, and executive dashboard in real-time to remote client devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Selman and Associates, Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas H. Selman, Matthew J. Jennings
  • Patent number: 8615082
    Abstract: A system for real-time streaming of drilling data from a drilling rig using satellites, wherein the system includes client devices for transmitting the drilling data. Radio boxes can be disposed around the drilling rig and can form a local area network for connecting with the client devices. A router and switch can be connected to the local area network for receiving and transmitting the drilling data. A processor and data storage can be configured to receive the drilling data and form well logging data for transmission to the router and switch. A modem in communication with the router and switch can send the drilling data to satellite dishes. A server positioned apart from the drilling rig can receive drilling data and from well logs and executive dashboards. The server can stream the drilling data, well logs, and executive dashboard in real-time to remote client devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Selman and Associates, Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas H. Selman, Matthew J. Jennings
  • Publication number: 20130338923
    Abstract: A method for measuring the resistivity of geologic formations is described. An electromagnetic field may be generated using at least one stationary long-range transmitter. The frequency of the electromagnetic field may be between and/or including the ULF/ELF range. At least one component of the electromagnetic field may be measured by land, marine, submarine, and/or airborne receiver. A conductivity distribution may be determined based on the at least one measured component. The determined conductivity distribution may be correlated with geological formations and/or hydrocarbon deposits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: TechnoImaging, LLC
    Inventor: Michael S. Zhdanov
  • Patent number: 8608439
    Abstract: A system for arranging and operating an array of wind machines to protect crops from damaging weather conditions, such as freezing frost, rain and heat. The method includes a wind machine positioned to force air across the crop. The wind machine is preferably a propeller/tower configuration. The operational method of the wind machine array includes the steps of sensing ambient meteorological and the hardiness of the crop to withstand a particular adverse weather condition and operating the wind machines in response to these factors. Multiples of wind machines are employed in the preferred embodiment of the method, the siting of the wind machines preferably based upon topographic and historical meteorological conditions. The operation of the wind machines can be automatically and remotely operated with the aid of satellite communications including internet links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Inventor: Daryl G. Hill
  • Patent number: 8606520
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method that obtains emissivity or reflectivity based on ratios of the brightness temperature measured by a satellite and the land surface temperature, calculates two reflectivity using polarizing features of a microwave according to surface characteristics, and measures a volumetric soil water content of a land surface considering that water has different physical characteristics from those of soil. In particular, it may be possible to measure volumetric soil water contents on territories of other countries as well as regions which have many limitations and troubles in direct measurement of the volumetric soil water contents. Accordingly, valuable materials in terms of nation economy may be produced together with substantial contribution to industrial fields that have direct effects on agriculture and disaster prevention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Korea Meteorological Administration
    Inventors: Sungwook Hong, Inchul Shin, Mi-Lim Ou
  • Publication number: 20130325346
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for monitoring agricultural products. In particular, the present invention relates to monitoring fruit production, plant growth, and plant vitality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: AGERPOINT, INC.
    Inventor: K. Thomas McPeek
  • Patent number: 8594897
    Abstract: Methods and products are provided for facilitating application of variable-product agrochemicals, such as fertilizer, to an application area, such as a field. The fertilizer or agrochemical may include a single fertilizer or agrochemical type or a mixture. In one embodiment, a fertilizer-application area is divided into application cells, and a fertilizer product is determined for each cell, based on zones of the application area with a similar characteristic, such as topographic wetness index levels. Based on a determined product for each cell, instructions for controlling an agrochemical applicator are automatically generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: The Curators of the University of Missouri
    Inventors: Peter P. Motavalli, Kelly A. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8594972
    Abstract: A system for measuring a parameter of a medium with a vehicle moving in a traveling direction through the medium includes four detecting portions and a calculating portion. The four detecting portions respectively detect first through fourth values of the parameter from first through fourth lines-of-sight in first through fourth directions at first through fourth positions of the vehicle at first through fourth times. The first line-of-sight and the third line-of-sight are in a first plane and intersect at a first intersection, while the second line-of-sight and the fourth line-of-sight are in a second plane and intersect at a second intersection. The calculating portion calculates the parameter based on the first through fourth values and the first and second intersections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Larry J. Paxton, Joseph M. Comberiate, Michael A. Kelly
  • Patent number: 8589079
    Abstract: A method of passive surveying comprises generating one or more detected signals by passively detecting a signal generated within a subsurface earth formation due to a seismoelectric response or an electroseismic response in at least one porous subsurface earth formation containing at least one fluid, and processing the one or more detected signals to determine at least one property of the subsurface earth formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Hunt Energy Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Arthur Thompson, Alan Katz, Robert England, Mohammad Rahman, Naga P. Devineni
  • Patent number: 8589080
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of determining the stress state associated with a geological fault is described. The source data comprises measured fault displacement values, or proxy displacement values, associated with the fault. An error function calculates error as a function of normalized fault displacement and normalized slip tendency. Candidate stress states are used to determine slip tendency values, which are used in the error function to calculate an error value. This value is minimized to determine the “best” candidate stress state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Alan P. Morris, David A. Ferrill, John M. McFarland
  • Patent number: 8577611
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying individual trees in LiDAR data based on the view of a LiDAR data point. In one embodiment, those LiDAR data points that do not have neighboring LiDAR data points that block the local view at a defined angle are considered to be in a central part of a tree canopy. In one embodiment, those LiDAR data points that are in a central part of a tree canopy are added to an output file that stores clusters of data points for each tree canopy detected. The central part of the tree canopy area can be analyzed to predict one or more characteristics of the tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser NR Company
    Inventor: Zhenkui Ma
  • Publication number: 20130289878
    Abstract: A system for monitoring coastal underground water is disclosed. The system includes a freshwater/saltwater interface position tracking device that is inserted into an observation well used for observing coastal underground water and can move on a freshwater/saltwater interface according to a change of buoyancy; and a first measuring sensor that is inserted into the observation well so as to be placed at a position above the freshwater/saltwater interface position tracking device and has a distance measuring unit used for measuring a first distance between the freshwater/saltwater interface position tracking device and the first measuring sensor, wherein the first measuring sensor has a first signal output unit used for outputting a signal indicative of the measured first distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: KOREA INSTITUTE OF GEOSCIENCE AND MINERAL RESOURCES
    Inventors: Yongcheol Kim, Yoon Sung Hee
  • Patent number: 8571799
    Abstract: A methodology improves sampling and characterization of heterogeneous, unconventional hydrocarbon-bearing regions. The methodology is designed to integrate consistently across measurements and scales. Additionally, the methodology involves characterizing various scales, such as regional-scale heterogeneity, wellbore-scale heterogeneity, core-scale heterogeneity, sample-scale, and pore-scale heterogeneity. The results are integrated across the multiple scales based on results obtained from the characterization of the scales. The methodology further comprises determining data propagation across the multiple scales in a hydrocarbon-bearing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Roberto Suarez-Rivera, David Handwerger, Lars Sonneland, Samuel Fluckiger, Mary Milner, Douglas Ekart
  • Publication number: 20130276368
    Abstract: This invention provides a plant health diagnostic method and a plant health diagnostic device for detecting initial disorder of a plant individual body carrying pests or the like in a large-scale plant cultivation field. The plant health diagnostic method is for diagnosing a health state of a plant in accordance with chlorophyll fluorescence emitted from chlorophyll of a plant body. The method includes: obtaining a first minimum point s after a maximum point p having largest chlorophyll fluorescence intensity and a first maximum point m after the minimum point s on a time course curve for the chlorophyll fluorescence intensity; defining chlorophyll fluorescence intensity values at the minimum point s and the first maximum point m after the minimum point s as S and M, respectively; and comparing the value S and the value M to evaluate the state of the plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Kotaro Takayama, Hiroshige Nishina, Soushi Iyoki
  • Patent number: 8566036
    Abstract: A method of passive surveying comprises generating one or more detected signals by passively detecting a signal generated within a subsurface earth formation due to a seismoelectric response or an electroseismic response in at least one porous subsurface earth formation containing at least one fluid, and processing the one or more detected signals to determine at least one property of the subsurface earth formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Hunt Energy Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Arthur Thompson, Alan Katz, Robert England, Mohammad Rahman, Naga P. Devineni
  • Patent number: 8566037
    Abstract: A method of passive surveying comprises generating one or more detected signals by passively detecting a signal generated within a subsurface earth formation due to a seismoelectric response or an electroseismic response in at least one porous subsurface earth formation containing at least one fluid, and processing the one or more detected signals to determine at least one property of the subsurface earth formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Hunt Energy Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Arthur Thompson, Alan Katz, Robert England, Mohammad Rahman, Naga P. Devineni
  • Patent number: 8558157
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying agrochemicals within a geographical area includes a dispensing system configured for dispensing the agrochemicals and a variable rate controller operatively connected to the dispensing system and configured to control dispensement of agrochemicals from the dispensing system. The variable rate controller is programmed with an algorithm which uses a plant growth stage appropriate plug value for an initial calibration. A method for applying agrochemicals within a geographical area includes acquiring a growth stage appropriate plug value for an initial calibration, using the growth state appropriate plug value in the initial calibration, and applying agrochemicals to the geographical area according to the initial calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Kyle H. Holland
  • Patent number: 8559680
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for computer-aided segmentation of an environment into individual objects, in particular of a wood into individual trees, in which signals (SIG_R) backscattered by the objects are recorded by measurement technology, wherein the backscattered signals (SIG_R) result from the irradiation of the environment to be segmented with electromagnetic radiation. Furthermore, in the method according to the invention, spatial co-ordinates (x, y, z) of points which cause the backscattering and represent the object parts (X1, X2, . . . , X5) are determined from the backscattered signals (SIG_R), and a feature vector (f) is assigned to each of the points (P; P1, P2), which feature vector comprises at least the spatial co-ordinates (x, y, z) of the point in question (P; P1, P2). Then a distance measure (d) is determined for each of the feature vectors (f), which represents a similarity between the feature vectors (f) of two points (P; P1, P2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Hochschule Munchen
    Inventors: Claudius Schnorr, Peter Krzystek, Josef Reitberger, Volkan Oniz
  • Patent number: 8560240
    Abstract: A riverbed scour detection system, comprising a wireless sensor network embedded in areas of potential scour. The scour detection network has one or more vertical stacks of sensor nodes placed in the riverbed at known locations. The sensors detect each other, and non detection of a sensor indicates its removal by scour activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Gregory C. Willden, Donald R. Poole, Jr., Ben A. Abbott, Ronald T. Green
  • Patent number: 8554480
    Abstract: A patient treatment management system involves a repository including treatment information for a particular patient identifying treatment objectives and an associated schedule for achievement of the objectives. An interface processor acquires data representing clinical information of a particular patient related to a particular treatment objective. A monitoring processor assesses from the acquired clinical information whether the particular treatment objective is achieved substantially by a scheduled time deadline. A task scheduling processor automatically initiates scheduling of a first sequence of tasks to be performed by a healthcare worker in response to a determination the treatment objective is achieved and initiates scheduling of a different second sequence of tasks to be performed by a healthcare worker in response to a determination the treatment objective is not achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean Grigsby, Madelyn McGillin
  • Patent number: 8543439
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for determining a plurality of turfs from where to reallocate a workforce to a given turf. According to embodiments, a method for determining a plurality of turfs from where to reallocate a workforce to a given turf is provided. According to the method, an indication of the given turf is received. Optimal turfs from where to reallocate technicians to the given turf are determined from a plurality of turfs. Visual cues for identifying at least a portion of the optimal turfs are generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert Ingman, Robert Cole, Richard Miller
  • Patent number: 8538695
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying individual trees in LiDAR data based on the view of a LiDAR data point. In one embodiment, the number of trees represented by a LiDAR data point cluster is estimated based on a calculated value related to the exposure to the sky of a LiDAR data point in the LiDAR data point cluster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser NR Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey J. Welty
  • Publication number: 20130238246
    Abstract: Method for performing simultaneous encoded-source inversion of geophysical data to estimate parameters of a physical property model (41), especially adapted for surveys without fixed-receiver acquisition geometry, such as marine seismic surveys with moving source and receivers. The encoding functions (32) used on the sources to generate one or more simultaneous encoded-source gathers of data (35), as well as to simulate the same (34), are orthogonal or pseudo-orthogonal with respect to cross-correlation. In addition, receivers are also encoded, with the receiver encoding being designed to make a given receiver less sensitive to sources to which it was not listening during the survey (38). The encoding functions may be temporal bandpass filters differing one from another by central frequency, phase, or both. Efficiency of the method may be further improved by grouping several sources into a super-source, grouping the corresponding gathers into a super-gather, and then applying the above encoding strategy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Inventors: Jerome R. Krebs, Young Ho Cha, Sunwoong Lee, Pavel Dimitrov, Anoop A. Mullur, Nathan J. Downey, Partha S. Routh
  • Patent number: 8521432
    Abstract: A performance assessment system for deep geologic repository for radioactive waste disposal is introduced to integrate a number of independent sub-system to perform the repository assessments in a systematic way under computer-based environment. Basically, the sub-system includes the input data file preparation sub-system for near-field/far-field multiple running, the near-field/far-field multiple running sub-system and the uncertainty and sensitivity analysis sub-system. With the system, the assessment for the deep geologic repository for radioactive waste disposal in many aspects can be achieved more completely and precisely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Institute of Nuclear Energy Research Atomic Energy Council
    Inventor: Shin-Jon Ju
  • Patent number: 8521372
    Abstract: A system and method for managing the collection and processing of agricultural field data from a single location is provided. The system includes functionality to create workorders for the taking of samples at a predetermined location, transmit the sampling workorders to the equipment or operators at a job site, e.g., an agricultural field, and log the results of a completed sampling workorder. The system also includes functionality to transmit log data related to the taken samples to a laboratory and receive analysis information on the taken samples from the laboratory. The system then combines log data and analysis information on the taken samples for use in determining additional actions at the predetermined location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: AgJunction LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Dale Hunt, Jeffrey Allen Dearborn
  • Publication number: 20130218471
    Abstract: Systems and devices for assessment of an impact by an event on an environment are disclosed. Processes for automated impact assessment are also disclosed. An impact assessment can be performed in computer-generated environments which include data regarding the environment impacted and data regarding the event impacting the environment. Environment data may be represented as a geospatial layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: Stratvue SPV, Inc.
    Inventor: Stratvue SPV, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130211721
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided that inventory a plot of trees based on data including one or more (e.g., all) of radar images of the plot, spectral images of the plot (e.g., high resolution images taken by satellite), other data (e.g., elevation, slope, aspect), and actual tree survey data physically collected about the plot and/or another plot having similar characteristics. Although the actual tree survey data collected is typically less than the amount of actual survey data used by prior approaches, the present systems and methods are still capable of inventorying the entire plot with a high degree of confidence (e.g., at least 95% confidence).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventor: Zachary Parisa
  • Publication number: 20130205733
    Abstract: A arrangement is provided for the anticipatory assessment of plants to be gathered by a harvesting machine, disclosed as a combine harvester, and includes a non-contact sensor arrangement for the generation of signals representing at least one characteristic of plants located ahead of the machine, a measurement device for recording at least one characteristic of the plants actually gathered by the machine, and an evaluation device for producing calibration data with the aid of signals generated by the measurement device and from statistical parameters derived from the signals of the sensor arrangement and for the calculation of the characteristic of plants to be gathered with the aid of statistical parameters, which were derived from the signals of the sensor arrangement, corresponding to the plants to be gathered, and with the aid of the calibration data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventors: OLE PETERS, Benedikt Jung, Klaus Hahn, Cristian Dima