G01S15/58

System and method for determining wave characteristics from a moving platform
09739882 · 2017-08-22 · ·

A system and a method for determining one or more wave characteristics from a moving platform are disclosed. A sonar system, such as an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler, can profile the water motion relative to the platform, and an earth reference can determine a measure of the platform motion relative to a fixed earth reference. Both water profile and earth reference measurements can be synergistically employed to compensate for motion of the platform. Directional wave spectra and non-directional wave spectrum can be computed and translated via linear wave theory to surface height spectra and used to calculate characteristics, such as significant wave height, peak period, and peak direction.

System and method for determining wave characteristics from a moving platform
09739882 · 2017-08-22 · ·

A system and a method for determining one or more wave characteristics from a moving platform are disclosed. A sonar system, such as an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler, can profile the water motion relative to the platform, and an earth reference can determine a measure of the platform motion relative to a fixed earth reference. Both water profile and earth reference measurements can be synergistically employed to compensate for motion of the platform. Directional wave spectra and non-directional wave spectrum can be computed and translated via linear wave theory to surface height spectra and used to calculate characteristics, such as significant wave height, peak period, and peak direction.

Proximity detection systems and methods
09739147 · 2017-08-22 · ·

Methods and systems for detecting a person located around a piece of equipment. One system includes processor configured to define a first virtual zone around a piece of equipment, determine a location of a person, and define a second virtual zone around the person at the location. As the location of the person changes, the processor is further configured to determine a direction of travel of the person, and automatically modify the second virtual zone to extend a first distance in the direction of travel of the person and extend in a second distance opposite the direction, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance. In response to at least a portion of the second virtual zone overlapping with at least a portion of the first virtual zone, the processor is configured to perform at least one action.

Proximity detection systems and methods
09739147 · 2017-08-22 · ·

Methods and systems for detecting a person located around a piece of equipment. One system includes processor configured to define a first virtual zone around a piece of equipment, determine a location of a person, and define a second virtual zone around the person at the location. As the location of the person changes, the processor is further configured to determine a direction of travel of the person, and automatically modify the second virtual zone to extend a first distance in the direction of travel of the person and extend in a second distance opposite the direction, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance. In response to at least a portion of the second virtual zone overlapping with at least a portion of the first virtual zone, the processor is configured to perform at least one action.

Systems and methods for ultrasonic velocity and acceleration detection

The present disclosure provides systems and methods associated with determining velocity and/or acceleration information using ultrasound. A system may include one or more ultrasonic transmitters and/or receivers. An ultrasonic transmitter may be configured to transmit ultrasound into a region bounded by one or more surfaces. The ultrasonic receiver may detect a Doppler shift of reflected ultrasound to determine an acceleration and/or velocity associated with an object. The velocity and/or acceleration information may be utilized to modify the state of a gaming system, entertainment system, infotainment system, and/or other device. The velocity and/or acceleration date may be used in combination with a mapping or positioning system that generates positional data associated with the objects.

Systems and methods for ultrasonic velocity and acceleration detection

The present disclosure provides systems and methods associated with determining velocity and/or acceleration information using ultrasound. A system may include one or more ultrasonic transmitters and/or receivers. An ultrasonic transmitter may be configured to transmit ultrasound into a region bounded by one or more surfaces. The ultrasonic receiver may detect a Doppler shift of reflected ultrasound to determine an acceleration and/or velocity associated with an object. The velocity and/or acceleration information may be utilized to modify the state of a gaming system, entertainment system, infotainment system, and/or other device. The velocity and/or acceleration date may be used in combination with a mapping or positioning system that generates positional data associated with the objects.

Three-phase flow identification and rate detection

An apparatus for estimating a fraction of each component of a fluid of interest flowing in a cased borehole and a property of the fluid includes an acoustic waveguide sensor having a waveguide configured to guide an acoustic signal along a waveguide path and an array of acoustic transducers coupled to the waveguide for transmitting and receiving an acoustic signal, the acoustic waveguide sensor being configured to transmit and receive a compression-wave acoustic signal that is reflected off of the casing and transmit and receive a shear-wave acoustic signal that propagates along the path. A controller is coupled to the waveguide sensor and configured to perform a compression-wave acoustic measurement on the fluid using the acoustic waveguide sensor in order to estimate the fraction of each component of the fluid and to perform a shear-wave acoustic measurement in order to estimate the property of the fluid.

Three-phase flow identification and rate detection

An apparatus for estimating a fraction of each component of a fluid of interest flowing in a cased borehole and a property of the fluid includes an acoustic waveguide sensor having a waveguide configured to guide an acoustic signal along a waveguide path and an array of acoustic transducers coupled to the waveguide for transmitting and receiving an acoustic signal, the acoustic waveguide sensor being configured to transmit and receive a compression-wave acoustic signal that is reflected off of the casing and transmit and receive a shear-wave acoustic signal that propagates along the path. A controller is coupled to the waveguide sensor and configured to perform a compression-wave acoustic measurement on the fluid using the acoustic waveguide sensor in order to estimate the fraction of each component of the fluid and to perform a shear-wave acoustic measurement in order to estimate the property of the fluid.

Ultrasound transducer

The present disclosure relates to an ultrasound transducer having at least one transducer element for sending or receiving ultrasound signals. The ultrasound transducer includes a matching element acoustically coupled to the transducer element that is designed to ensure acoustic matching between the transducer element and a medium that acts on the matching element. In a first subregion of the axial extent, the matching element partially fills each cross section of the matching element, and a filling component in the first subregion along the first longitudinal axis monotonically increases in the direction of the first side. The matching element has a plurality of ring elements in the first subregion arranged concentrically around the first longitudinal axis. Each ring element partially fills each cross section in the first subregion, wherein the first subregion comprises at least 80% of an axial extent of the matching element along the first longitudinal axis.

Ultrasound transducer

The present disclosure relates to an ultrasound transducer having at least one transducer element for sending or receiving ultrasound signals. The ultrasound transducer includes a matching element acoustically coupled to the transducer element that is designed to ensure acoustic matching between the transducer element and a medium that acts on the matching element. In a first subregion of the axial extent, the matching element partially fills each cross section of the matching element, and a filling component in the first subregion along the first longitudinal axis monotonically increases in the direction of the first side. The matching element has a plurality of ring elements in the first subregion arranged concentrically around the first longitudinal axis. Each ring element partially fills each cross section in the first subregion, wherein the first subregion comprises at least 80% of an axial extent of the matching element along the first longitudinal axis.