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Cidra Corporation

Cidra Corporate Services Inc.

F Kevin Didden

Alan D Kersey

Arthur D Hay

Daniel L Gysling

Martin A Putnam

Mark R Fernald

John A Moon

Michael A Davis

Timothy J Bailey

James R Dunphy

Robert J Maron

Guy A Daigle

Tuo Li

Allen R Davis

Phillip E Pruett

A system of one or more configurable flowmeters allows an individual, locally or remotely, to selectively activate one or more functions of the flowmeters. The individual is capable of selecting which parameter of the process flow that the flowmeter is to measure, thereby effectively providing latent functions that may be selectively brought on line or shut off. The system may also allow an individual, locally or remotely, to selectively activate one or more latent flowmeters in the system. The system may be a distributed control system (DCS), which receives input signals from conventional meters and devices in the process flow and provides control signals to one or more devices in the flow process. The system may also provide a method of flowmeter selection and billing.

System of distributed configurable flowmeters

A method and apparatus for labeling an item using diffraction grating-based encoded optical identification elementsincludes an optical substratehaving at least one diffraction gratingdisposed therein. The gratinghas one or more colocated pitches &#x39b; which represent a unique identification digital code that is detected when illuminated by incident light. The incident lightmay be directed transversely from the side of the substrate(or from an end) with a narrow band (single wavelength) or multiple wavelength source, and the code is represented by a spatial distribution of light or a wavelength spectrum, respectively, or a combination thereof. The elementcan provide a large number of unique codes, e.g., greater than 67 million codes, and can withstand harsh environments. The encoded elementmay be used to label any desired item, such as large or small objects, products, solids, powders, liquids, gases, plants, minerals, cells and/or animals, or any combination of or portion of one or more thereof. The label may be used for many different purposes, such as for sorting, tracking, identification, verification, authentication, anti-theft/anti-counterfeit, security/anti-terrorism, or for other purposes. In a manufacturing environment, the elementsmay be used to track inventory for production information or sales of goods/products.

Method and apparatus for labeling using diffraction grating-based encoded optical identification elements

A fiber optic Bragg grating pressure sensor particularly suited for measuring ambient pressure of a fluid includes a pressuring detecting device,such as a glass element whose elastic deformation is proportional to applied pressure. An optical fiber,with an integral first grating,is wrapped at least once around the device and has at least a portion of its length fused to the device,such that elastic deformation of the device,generates a corresponding axial strain in the fiber,and/or the grating,and thus a corresponding change of the fiber length and/or characteristic reflectance wavelength of the grating,. A second grating,may be formed near the pressure detecting device,so as to sense ambient temperature but not be affected by deformation of the device,for temperature compensation. Also, the fiber,may have more than one grating or be doped at least between a pair of gratings,, to form a fiber laser or a DFB fiber laser which lasing wavelength changes with changing pressure.

Fiber optic bragg grating pressure sensor

Distributed selectable fiber optic sensing system include a plurality of fiber grating sensors,connected to an optical fiber,and installed in an oil/gas well,and an instrumentation box,at the surface which selects which of the sensors,to activate, or provide output data from to a display,or to a remote link,such as the internet. The box,has a transceiver/converter,which provides a source optical signal,and receives a return optical signal,and which converts the return signal,to a signal indicative of the parameters being measured by the sensors,. A sensor selection signal is provided from the remote link,the keyboard,to the converter,which is indicative of which of the sensors,to be selected to provide output data for. The end user only pays for the sensors,that are selected. Each of the sensors,may be similar to any fiber optic grating-based sensor that measures one or more parameters, such as pressure, temperature, liquid fraction, flow, acoustic, seismic, resistivity, corrosion, pipe wall build-up, or other parameters.

Distributed selectable latent fiber optic sensors

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Wallingford, CT, United States of America

F Kevin Didden