Earth Science Patents (Class 702/2)
  • Publication number: 20130204531
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method for analyzing a sample of material. The method includes (a) converting a portion of the sample into a plasma multiple times; (b) recording a spectrum of electromagnetic radiation emitted in response to each of the sample conversions to define a sequence of spectra for the sample, in which each member of the sequence corresponds to the spectrum recorded in response to a different one of the sample conversions; (c) using an electronic processor to compare the sequence of spectra for the sample to a sequence of spectra for each of at least one reference sample in a reference library; and (d) using the electronic processor to determine information about the sample based on the comparison to the reference samples in the library.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: MATERIALYTICS, LLC
    Inventor: Materialytics, LLC
  • Publication number: 20130197806
    Abstract: A geoposition is determined at a point using a geoposition determining mobile communication device. A crop management zone is identified based on one or more predetermined crop management boundaries and the geoposition of the point. Information about the field is wirelessly communicated between the geoposition determining mobile communications device and a remote site. Analysis may be performed at the remote site with the results of the analysis communicated to the mobile communication device at the growing point. Information may be collected at the point which is stored or analyzed at the remote site. Information may include digital images of plant conditions which may be analyzed to determine conditions such as disease or pest infestation. Contextual information from a number of different types of sources may be used to provide meaningful analysis and feedback to the producer. The producer may define crop management zones using the geoposition determining mobile communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
    Inventor: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8494697
    Abstract: A ship motion prediction system is described that includes a plurality of surface platforms and a central computer having a communications interface. The platforms each include a propulsion system for movement of the platform, a plurality of sensors operable for gathering sensor data relating to an environment proximate the platform, a processing device communicatively coupled to the propulsion system and the plurality of sensors, and a transceiver communicatively coupled to the processing device. The central computer includes a communications interface, and the processing device is programmed to transmit sensor data to the central computer via the transceiver and the communications interface. The central computer is programmed to transmit commands for operation of the propulsion system to the processing device via the communications interface and transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Philip J. Ballou, Henry Chen
  • Patent number: 8494773
    Abstract: One apparatus embodiment includes an electronic assembly, equipped to sense one or more changes in an environmental condition. The assembly includes a logic circuit coupled to: one or more environmental sensors, memory that provides data storage, and a wireless communicator. The logic circuit is configured to perform time measurement, perform environmental measurement with the one or more environmental sensors, store time-stamped environmental data in the memory, and communicate with particular other electronic assemblies, equipped to sense one or more changes in an environmental condition, via the wireless communicator. The logic circuit is also coupled to a power source that provides power to at least one of the logic circuit and the wireless communicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: PakSense, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Jensen, Casimir E. Lawler, Jr., James Hatchett, Wayne K. Debord, Michael L. Byce
  • Patent number: 8494776
    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: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Hunt Energy Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Arthur Thompson, Alan Katz, Robert England, Mohammad Rahman, Naga P. Devineni
  • Publication number: 20130179080
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of a workflow or method for petrophysical rock typing of carbonates in an oil or gas reservoir or field comprising determining a Data Scenario (DS) for the reservoir or field, determining a plurality of Depositional Rock Types (DRTs) for the reservoir or field, determining a Digenetic Modification (DM) from a plurality of diagenetic modifiers or primary textures associated with the plurality of DRTs, selecting a Reservoir Type (RT) corresponding to the plurality of DRTs,determining at least one pore type, and determining, on the basis of the plurality of DRTs, the Diagenetic Modification (DM), and the at least one pore type, a plurality of Petrophysical Rock Types (PRTs) associated with the RT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Skalinski, Jeroen Kenter
  • Patent number: 8483965
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for detecting and categorizing subsurface hydrocarbon reservoirs. Air samples are collected and analyzed by counting hydrocarbon ions, such as methane ions and counting at least one higher order hydrocarbon ions, such as propane, pentane or hexane. The methane ions and at least one higher order hydrocarbon ions are associated with location co-ordinates to form a first raw data set and second raw data set. The first and second raw data sets are analyzed and processed to produce hydrocarbon footprints. The hydrocarbon footprints are superpositioned with other available geological information and subsurface formations of interest are identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Sky Hunter Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Bradley, Russ Duncan, Aaron Balasch
  • Patent number: 8483963
    Abstract: A method of modeling the spatial variation in wind resource at a prospective wind farm site. The method involves calculating terrain exposure at multiple locations of interest, such as the locations of meteorological towers and prospective wind turbine locations. Measured average wind speeds from the meteorological tower locations are empirically correlated with terrain exposure to create a model wherein annual average wind speed can be calculated for any location on the site as a function of terrain exposure. The method can use upwind terrain exposure, downwind terrain exposure, or both. It can also be used together with terrain elevation to create a robust three parameter model. The method requires wind measurements from at least two meteorological towers, with improved performance when measurements are available from a larger number of meteorological towers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventor: John Bertrand Kline
  • Patent number: 8483852
    Abstract: A method can include providing a geological time data structure configured to link objects of a reservoir model to geological times; linking one of the objects of the reservoir model to one of the geological times; generating simulation results for the reservoir model; and, based at least in part on the geological time data structure, outputting at least some of the simulation results along a geological time axis. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Bernd Kurtenbach, Martin Neumaier, Stefan Steden, Nicola Tessen
  • Publication number: 20130173162
    Abstract: A field detecting device includes at least one detecting module, a server module and a power module. Each of the detecting module, the server module and the power module has a casing. A first fixing structure and a first connecting pin are provided on the upper surfaces, and a second fixing structure and a connecting second pin are provided on the lower surface. The power module is capable of powering the detecting module and the server module. The server module is capable of driving the at least one detecting module according to the environment detecting program, so as to receive the environment detecting signals. Therefore, the assembling order of the detecting modules, the server module and the power module can be changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: CHUNG YUAN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Chung Yuan Christian University
  • Publication number: 20130173163
    Abstract: Volume imaging of geological structures and/or man-made objects having physical property using geophysical field sources and/or sensors mounted from at least one data acquisition system. The sources may include natural field sources and/or man-made sources. The sensors may measure at least one component of the geophysical field. The subsets of the geophysical survey formed by the at least one source of geophysical data are selected, and the integrated sensitivity subdomains for selected subsets of the survey are determined by determining the volumes where the integrated sensitivity of the subset is greater than a predetermined threshold. The total sensitivity is determined as the superposition of the sensitivities from all of the integrated sensitivity subdomains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: TECHNOIMAGING, LLC
    Inventor: Technolmaging, LLC
  • Patent number: 8478533
    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 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Hunt Energy Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Arthur Thompson, Alan Katz, Robert England, Mohammad Rahman, Naga P. Devineni
  • Patent number: 8478529
    Abstract: Determining optical visibility in an environment that may contain airborne dust particles is described. In one aspect, a method determines an ambient relative humidity in the environment. A near infrared wave is transmitted through a portion of the environment. An optical visibility in the environment is calculated based on the ambient relative humidity and attenuation of the near infrared wave during transmission through the environment. Various contrast thresholds are employed in the determination of optical visibility in the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: King Saud University
    Inventors: Abdulaziz Salem Al-Ruwais, Abobakr Sultan Ahmed
  • Patent number: 8472023
    Abstract: The nitrate-nitrogen concentration in soil is estimated based on the nitrate-nitrogen 200 nm absorption peak. In one embodiment, a device measures the attenuation spectrum of a soil-extractant mixture over a wavelength range that includes wavelengths in the vicinity of the 200 nm absorption peak (the spectral operating range) and then determines the nitrate-nitrogen concentration based on the attenuation spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Solum, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael John Preiner, Nicholas Carleton Koshnick, Justin Stewart White, John Paul Strachan
  • Patent number: 8473089
    Abstract: A method for assessing health status of a processing chamber is provided. The method includes executing a recipe. The method also includes receiving processing data from a set of sensors during execution of the recipe. The method further includes analyzing the processing data utilizing a set of multi-variate predictive models. The method yet also includes generating a set of component wear data values. The method yet further includes comparing the set of component wear data values against a set of useful life threshold ranges. The method moreover includes generating a warning if the set of component wear data values is outside of the set of useful life threshold ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Luc Albarede, Eric Pape, Vijayakumar C Venugopal, Brian D Choi
  • Publication number: 20130151153
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for testing soil by means of biological methods using microorganisms that inhabit the soil to be tested. In addition, the authenticity of the production region of an agricultural product is determined from the soil adhered thereto. Specifically disclosed is a method for measuring the crop cultivation frequency of soil, which comprises a sample generation step for generating a suspension of soil to be measured as a micro-organism sample; a dropping step for dropping the suspension, which is the generated microorganism sample, into a plurality of nutrient sources in which the consumption rates of at least a portion thereof differ depending on the microorganism species; and an observation step for observing the cumulative consumption rate of each nutrient source by the microorganisms after dropping. In addition, the authenticity of the production region label is assessed by comparing the soil adhered to the agricultural product to soil from the production region on the label.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: DGC SOGO KENKYUSHO
    Inventor: Shoji Hatano
  • Publication number: 20130144527
    Abstract: A device, system and method for personal health monitoring based on multitude-points environmental data is disclosed. a plurality of indoor sensing devices and a plurality of outdoor sensing devices may be connected to a network to allow bidirectional communication between the sensing devices and a central server, and between the sensing devices themselves, over a communication network such as the internet. According to one method of the disclosed invention, a source of pollutions may be detected by comparing the levels of pollution sensed by different neighboring sensing devices and recommendations as to how to reduce the exposure to sensed pollutants may be sent to end users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventor: Irad Kuhnreichi
  • Publication number: 20130138346
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for determining characteristics of a target region which is embedded in background material below a body of water. In accordance with one embodiment, a resistivity background is determined. In addition, characteristics of an electric dipole due to the target region are determined. A resistance for the target region is then computed using the characteristics of the electric dipole and the resistivity background. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventor: Johan MATTSSON
  • Publication number: 20130138349
    Abstract: A system for monitoring and display of representative parameters in a selected monitoring geography incorporates multiple sensor suites (10) deployed at selected measurement sites within a monitoring geography which provide output data. A computer (18) receives output from the sensor suites and incorporates a computational module (208) for processing of the sensor suite output data with respect to a selected model and integration and networking software (23) for selection of parameters in the computational module and display of selected visualizations of the processed data, Monitoring terminals (20) are deployed through a network (21) and connected to the computer under control of the integration and networking software. The terminals communicate with the computational module and receive and display results from the computational module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: GROUNDSWELL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Mark Kram
  • Publication number: 20130138351
    Abstract: Plotting values indicative of characteristics of an underground formation. At least some of the illustrative embodiments include: obtaining a plurality of values indicative of characteristics of an underground formation; and plotting the plurality of values on an output device of a computer system. The plotting may further include: plotting parallel to a first axis a first plurality of symbols where each symbol is indicative of a value of a characteristic of a first portion of the underground formation, location of the first plurality of symbols with respect to the first axis is indicative of a first parameter, and location of the first plurality of symbols with respect to a second axis is indicative of a second parameter distinct from the first parameter; and wherein location of at least one symbol with respect to the first axis is also indicative of a third parameter, different than the first and second parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: LANDMARK GRAPHICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: William L. Fink
  • Patent number: 8452537
    Abstract: A system that predicts current tornado activity has been developed. The system includes a processor that receives model data from a meteorological data source that indicates tornadic activity and generates a model data tornado potential index. The processor also receives radar data indicative of tornadic activity and generates a radar data tornado potential index using weighted values assigned to different components of the radar data, where the components of the radar data comprise, a tornado vortex signature (TVS) data value, a mesocyclonic activity (MESO) data value, a precipitation and intensity (dBz) data value, a vertically integrated liquid (VIL) data value, and hail size data value. The processor further generates a composite tornado potential index using weighted values of the model data tornado potential index and the radar data tornado potential index and stores the index in an electronic, data storage media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Baron Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Alan Havin, Robert J. Dreisewerd, Jr., Robert O. Baron, Sr.
  • Patent number: 8447575
    Abstract: For determining an impact index which indicates the image or damage caused by an earthquake to a portfolio, an equation is stored for calculating a local earthquake intensity for a geographical location. The portfolio includes geographical locations and individual weighting factors assigned to the geographical locations. Furthermore, for the geographical locations stored are one or more impact ratio tables including impact ratios for different earthquake intensity levels. The impact index is calculated for the geographical locations by determining in each case the impact ratio for the local intensity at the respective geographical location, and adding up the impact ratios weighted in each case by the weighting factor assigned to the respective geographical location. An impact index that reflects the geographical distribution of the portfolio can be determined, without the need for a network of seismological measurement stations associated with the geographical locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Martin Bertogg
  • Publication number: 20130116925
    Abstract: A method for analyzing characteristics of a geological formation includes obtaining at a processor data representative of at least one of stratigraphic, structural, or physical characteristics of the geological formation, applying at the processor a wavelet transform to at least a portion of the obtained data or data interpreted or derived from the obtained data to derive one or more wavelet transform coefficients representative of the obtained data, segmenting at the processor at least one or more of the obtained data or data interpreted or derived from the obtained data into segments, determining at the processor a measure of variability of the obtained data or the data interpreted or derived from the obtained data over each segment at one or more scales of the wavelet transform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Marina Hruska, David Katz
  • Publication number: 20130116927
    Abstract: Method for estimating porosity and water saturation or other geological parameters of a subsurface region when the lithology of the region is unknown, requiring only geophysical data from remote surveys. The geophysical data are inverted (14-18) treating lithology as a third, and discrete, unknown model parameter (12) to be solved for in the inversion. A technique for solving mixed integer non-linear programs may be used. Suitable rock physics relationships (13) are used to relate the desired geological parameters to the geophysical model parameters required for simulating the geophysical data in the inversion process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventors: Christopher J. DiCaprio, Rebecca L. Saltzer, Anoop A. Mullur
  • Publication number: 20130110398
    Abstract: New time-domain response system calibration techniques are described for determining dry density and water content of soil based on electromagnetic wave propagation through it. For example, one disclosed technique use the ratio between V1, the voltage difference between the peak and trough of the response signal, and Vf, the long-term (i.e., steady-state) response of the system to the input pulse. These values are measurable, even for highly conductive soils, and calibration done in a laboratory can be applied to measurements taken in an uncontrolled field environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventor: Purdue Research Foundation
  • Publication number: 20130103451
    Abstract: A system and method for gathering, analyzing, managing and sharing data from a ground modification project is disclosed. The system includes a process, a data producer interface, a storage device and a data consumer interface. The data producer interface interfaces with one or more data producers, which are located on-site of the ground modification project and produce data associated with the ground modification project. The storage device stores the data produced by the one or more data producers and received using the data producer interface. The data consumer interface interfaces with one or more data consumers, the data consumer interface providing access to the data stored in the storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: ADVANCED CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES LTD.
    Inventor: Advanced Construction Techniques Ltd.
  • Patent number: 8426211
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of detecting soil nutrients or soil nutrients in soil from reflected light, and also includes systems for the measurement, calculation and transmission of data relating to or carrying out that method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Bowling Green State University
    Inventors: B. B. Maruthi Sridhar, Robert K. Vincent
  • Publication number: 20130080057
    Abstract: A programmed computer or non-transitory computer readable storage media has instructions that are executable by a processor to identify LiDAR data points associated with items of vegetation or other objects. Each LiDAR data point is tested to determine if it lies within the value of a closed surface defined for higher LiDAR points. If so, the LiDAR point is grouped with the LiDAR points associated with a previously identified item of vegetation. If not, a new item of vegetation is identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: WEYERHAEUSER NR COMPANY
    Inventor: Jeffrey J. Welty
  • Publication number: 20130073205
    Abstract: A data system and a method for determining the harvestability and transportability of a stand marked for cutting, the method comprising: maintaining data on the properties of the soil of the stand; determining a value for the harvestability and transportability of the stand, which value is dependent on said properties; defining said value also on the basis of such conditions of said stand which affects said properties; maintaining data on the harvestability and transportability defined for the stand. Said property is one or more of the following: soil type, auxiliary attributes of the soil type, other permanent factors. Said conditions are one or more of the following: snow depth, frost depth, soil moisture content, temperature, amount of rainfall, quantity of growing stock, relations between tree species, other variable factors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: UPM-KYMMENE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kauko Kärkkäinen, Tero Anttila
  • Publication number: 20130066556
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for estimating electrical impedance spectra and pore parameters. The method may include estimating electrical impedance spectra using an estimated average ion concentration in pores within an earth formation. The method may also include estimating electrical impedance information about the earth formation; and estimating at least one parameter of interest by comparing the electrical impedance information with the estimated electrical impedance spectra. The apparatus may include at least one processor. The apparatus may also include an electrical impedance tool configured for use in a borehole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Matthias Bücker, Andreas Hördt, Christian Fulda
  • Patent number: 8395541
    Abstract: A method of providing weather radar images to a flight crew of an aircraft includes obtaining raw volumetric radar data corresponding to at least one signal reflected off of a weather system. Based on the radar data, the weather system is computationally classified as being of a first type of a plurality of weather-system types. After classifying the weather system, the radar data is image processed, the image processing yielding an image representing the weather system and corresponding to the first weather-system type. The image is displayed on a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Ratan Khatwa, Santosh Mathan
  • Publication number: 20130060470
    Abstract: In a geomagnetism measurement apparatus, a magnetic sensor detects magnetic data, and a storage unit stores the magnetic data sequentially output from the magnetic sensor. An ellipsoid generation unit calculates each ellipsoidal central point of first, second and third ellipsoids each of which has in the vicinity thereof a plurality of the magnetic data stored in the storage unit. An ellipsoidal central point decision unit decides whether or not a distance between respective ellipsoidal central points is equal to or less than a threshold value. A correction value generation unit calculates an ellipsoidal correction matrix for converting coordinates on an ellipsoid into coordinates on a sphere based on a coefficient matrix representing a shape of one of the first, second and third ellipsoids according to the decision result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: IBUKI HANDA
  • Patent number: 8386180
    Abstract: We describe a method of processing geophysical data including at least measured potential field data from a potential field survey of a surveyed region of the earth to provide a three-dimensional representation of the underlying geology of said surveyed region, the method comprising: inputting terrain-corrected potential field data for said surveyed region, said potential field data comprising data for a range of spatial wavelengths, geological features at different depths in said surveyed region being associated with different wavelengths in said range of wavelengths; filtering said potential field data by spatial wavelength to generate a first plurality of filtered sets of potential field data, each relating to a respective wavelength or range of wavelengths, each targeting geological features at a different respective said depth; processing each said filtered set of potential field data, to identify a set of spatial features comprising one or both of line spatial features and point spatial features in each
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: ARKeX Limited
    Inventor: Mark Davies
  • Publication number: 20130046468
    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: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: BROOKSIDE LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventors: Luke Baker, Thomas Menke
  • Publication number: 20130046469
    Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to the evaluation of lithology, mineralogy and organic content of earth materials. More particularly, the subject disclosure relates to evaluating lithology, mineralogy and organic content of earth materials using diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael M. HERRON, Susan HERRON, Alyssa CHARSKY, Ridvan AKKURT
  • Patent number: 8380435
    Abstract: Method for identifying geologic features from geophysical or attribute data using windowed principal component (22), or independent component, or diffusion mapping (61) analysis. Subtle features are made identifiable in partial or residual data volumes. The residual data volumes (24) are created by (36) eliminating data not captured by the most prominent principal components (14). The partial data volumes are created by (35) projecting the data (21) on to selected principal components (22, 61). Geologic features may also be identified from pattern analysis (77) or anomaly volumes (62, 79) generated with a variable-scale data similarity matrix (73). The method is suitable for identifying physical features indicative of hydrocarbon potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Krishnan Kumaran, Jingbo Wang, Stefan Hussenoeder, Dominique G. Gillard, Guy F. Medema, Fred W. Schroeder, Robert L. Brovey, Pavel Dimitrov, Matthew S. Casey
  • Patent number: 8374553
    Abstract: A wireless sub-surface soil sensor having a switchable configuration antenna that can be optimized for various soils is disclosed herein. The wireless sub-surface sensor also measures the moisture and salinity of a material. The wireless sub-surface sensor preferably includes a cover for protecting circuitry of the sensor. The wireless soil sensor is designed to be buried underground and to transmit to above ground receivers, which provide feedback for configuring the switchable antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Green Badge, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Campbell, Kathy Sohrabi, Clayton R. Karmel
  • Patent number: 8367420
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of detecting soil nutrients or soil nutrients in soil from reflected light, and also includes systems for the measurement, calculation and transmission of data relating to or carrying out that method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Bowling Green State University
    Inventors: B. B. Maruthi Sridhar, Robert K. Vincent
  • Patent number: 8365005
    Abstract: Methods of registering events in a wind power system comprising at least two data processors. The data processors of said wind power system are mutually time synchronized. Events are registered in said at least two data processors. The timing of said events registered in different of said at least two data processors is established according to said time synchronization. Events may be registered and preferably analyzed according to a common timing. The event analysis makes it possible to establish an analysis where events of different wind turbines are basically interrelated and where information regarding such interrelation may be important or crucial for establishment of control or fault detection based on correctly timed events from different wind turbines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: John Bengtson, Bo Lovmand, Tage Kristensen, Niels Erik Danielsen
  • Publication number: 20130018585
    Abstract: A method for the real time volume imaging of geological structures and/or man-made objects having electrical conductivity is described, using electromagnetic (EM) sources and/or EM sensors mounted from at least one moving platform. The EM sources may include natural EM sources and/or man-made inductive sources and/or man-made galvanic sources. The EM sensors may measure at least one component of the EM field at the at least one sensor position. The EM fields measured for each combination of EM source and EM sensor may be volume imaged in real time using a moving sensitivity domain that captures the finite spatial sensitivity of each combination of EM sources and EM sensors. At least one desired property, such as conductivity, dielectric permittivity and/or induced polarization parameters, may be derived from the volume image, providing a reconstruction or classification of the physical properties of the geological structures and/or man-made objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: TECHNOIMAGING, LLC.
    Inventors: Michael S. Zhdanov, Glenn A. Wilson, Leif H. Cox
  • Patent number: 8355680
    Abstract: A radio wave propagation analysis result display system calculates an analysis result of radio wave propagation inside a building by subtracting a transmission loss caused by an external wall of the building from an analysis result of radio wave propagation outside the building, and displays a map capable of expressing the height, on which the calculated radio wave propagation analysis result is displayed and superimposed on the building, on a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Nyu
  • Patent number: 8347658
    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: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Hunt Energy Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Arthur Thompson, Alan Katz, Robert England, Mohammad Rahman, Naga P. Devineni
  • Patent number: 8352302
    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: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert Ingman, Robert Cole, Richard Miller
  • Patent number: 8340910
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring soil and water resources is disclosed herein. Sensors capable of monitoring soil temperature, moisture and salinity are utilized with other sensors capable of monitoring such values as air temperature in order to provide real-time parameters to users/operators of land area in order to optimize plant and turf growth, and to optimize water usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Green Badge LLC
    Inventors: Carmen Magro, Jeffrey Campbell
  • Patent number: 8340792
    Abstract: A system and method of managing therapy provided to patients in an institution. The system monitors all aspects of the medication delivery to a patient, as well as other information related to the patient, such as values of vital signs, laboratory results and patient factors such as history, diagnosis, allergies and the like. The system includes one or more databases of information, including institutionally developed rules, guidelines and protocol representing the best medical practices of the institution. The system provides alerts and/or recommendations based on the application of the rules to the information being monitored, and alerts care givers accordingly, providing for dynamic adjustment of the patient's therapy. The system also monitors the status of the alerts, and if no action is taken in a selected period of time, may escalate the priority of the alert and/or halt the delivery of medication to the patient until the alert is resolved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: CareFusion 303, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Condurso, Cynthia Yamaga, Robert Butterfield, Simon Morling, Clifton Pait, Patricia West, Timothy Vanderveen, Richard Crass
  • Patent number: 8335649
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for estimating photovoltaic power generation for use in photovoltaic fleet operation is provided. A set of sky clearness indexes is generated as a ratio of each irradiance observation in a set of irradiance observations that has been regularly measured for a plurality of locations, which are each within a geographic region suitable for operation of a photovoltaic fleet, and clear sky irradiance. A time series of the set of the sky clearness indexes is formed for all of the locations within the geographic region. Fleet irradiance statistics for the photovoltaic fleet are generated through statistical evaluation of the time series of the set of the sky clearness indexes. Power statistics for the photovoltaic fleet are built as a function of the fleet irradiance statistics and an overall power rating of the photovoltaic fleet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Clean Power Research, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Hoff
  • Publication number: 20120316785
    Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for seismic imaging implements a seismic imaging algorithm utilizing Reverse Time Migration technique requiring large communication bandwidth and low latency to convert a parallel problem into one solved using massive domain partitioning. Several aspects of the imaging problem are addressed, including very regular and local communication patterns, balanced compute and communication requirements, scratch data handling and multiple-pass approaches. The partitioning of the velocity model into processing blocks allows each sub-problem to fit in a local cache, increasing locality and bandwidth and reducing latency. The RTM seismic data processing utilizes data that includes combined shot data, i.e., shot data selected from amongst a plurality of shots that are combined at like spatial points of the volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lurng-Kuo Liu, Ligang Lu, Michael P. Perrone
  • Publication number: 20120316786
    Abstract: A system and method implementing a hierarchical approach to RTM (Reverse Time Migration) seismic imaging at different granularity in space and time. An RTM seismic imaging algorithm utilizes RTM technique to convert a parallel problem into one solved using massive domain partitioning. In the method, a coarse-grain grid for the 3D volume of the geological subsurface structure under investigation is initially processed, permitting the RTM imaging process to be performed faster and produces lower level seismic image for inspection. Criteria are then applied to the first level of seismic image to determine whether to reject the image or whether a finer resolution seismic imaging is needed. In the case of finer resolution is needed, RTM resolution for the target volume is adjusted accordingly and RTM imaging process is applied with the new resolution. The process is repeated until either the image is accepted or rejected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lurng-Kuo Liu, Ligang Lu, Michael P. Perrone
  • Patent number: 8326542
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for retrieving seismic data from a seismic section provided in a bitmap format. The method includes reconstructing a two dimensional matrix of seismic interpolated data in which a value at a given pixel in the matrix is proportional to local density of wiggles in the seismic section with an added value of a previously calculated pixel. The method may be implemented in either of computer hardware configured to perform said method and computer software embodied in a non-transitory, tangible, computer-readable storage medium. Also disclosed are corresponding computer program product and data processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dan Shmuel Chevion, Yaacov Navon
  • Patent number: RE43903
    Abstract: A compact, portable weather station for predicting local extreme weather conditions and for reporting remote weather conditions. The weather station has sensors for determining local temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, ambient light, and ambient static charge. A microprocessor has memory for storing data relating to past weather conditions and data processing apparatus and algorithms for determining probable developing weather conditions responsive to sensed local conditions. The weather station has a radio receiver for communicating with global weather reporting communications systems utilizing cellular communications. Operating commands, predicted local weather conditions, and remote weather conditions are annunciated in synthesized voice in any one of a variety of predetermined languages. The weather station includes voice synthesizing and recognition apparatus for annunciating verbal prompts and weather conditions, and for responding to vocal control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Richmond IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Anthony Brown