Glenn Everett Light, 5314031 Park Cove Dr, Westminster, CO 80023

8486545, Jul 16, 2013

Sep 28, 2006

11/540495

Bruce R. Lanning - Littleton CO, US
Glenn M. Light - San Antonio TX, US
James A. Moryl - Helotes TX, US

Southwest Research Institute - San Antonio TX

G01N 29/04
G01R 33/18
H01L 41/06

4286921, 324237, 324238, 324240, 324241, 324242, 73598

Systems and methods for flaw detection and monitoring at elevated temperatures with wireless communication using surface embedded, monolithically integrated, thin-film, magnetically actuated sensors, and methods for fabricating the sensors. The sensor is a monolithically integrated, multi-layered (nano-composite), thin-film sensor structure that incorporates a thin-film, multi-layer magnetostrictive element, a thin-film electrically insulating or dielectric layer, and a thin-film activating layer such as a planar coil. The method for manufacturing the multi-layered, thin-film sensor structure as described above, utilizes a variety of factors that allow for optimization of sensor characteristics for application to specific structures and in specific environments. The system and method integrating the multi-layered, thin-film sensor structure as described above, further utilizes wireless connectivity to the sensor to allow the sensor to be mounted on moving components within the monitored assembly.

5587534, Dec 24, 1996

Oct 28, 1994

8/330592

Joseph D. McColskey - Broomfield CO
William P. Dube - Denver CO
Christopher M. Fortunko - Boulder CO
Raymond E. Schramm - Thornton CO
Martin C. Renken - Boulder CO
Cecil M. Teller - San Antonio TX
Glenn M. Light - San Antonio TX

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce - Washington DC

G01N 2910

73623

A new ultrasonic method for measuring wall thickness and detecting material flaws in natural-gas pipelines, risers, and similar structures. The method is inherently suitable for the task, because it relies on the use of the natural gas as the coupling fluid for transmitting the probing ultrasonic signals into and out of the pipe wall. Furthermore, the method facilitates the operation of the inspection from the inside of the pipe. An experimental apparatus used to demonstrate the technical feasibility of this approach and provide experimental and theoretical evidence that support the claims is described. Significantly, it is shown that by the use of a diplexer, the same transducer can be used to generate and detect the probing ultrasonic signals. The same configuration is used in commercial ultrasonic inspection of oil pipelines where oil is the coupling fluid; but until now this method could not be used in natural gas pipelines due to the low specific acoustic impedance of natural gas.