# US 12,110,779 B2 · Downhole sensor apparatus and related systems, apparatus, and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,110,779 B2 - Document ID: US12110779B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/945,428 - Filed: 2020-07-31 - Published: 2022-02-03 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2020-07-31 - Assignees: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC - Applicants: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC - Inventors: Kenneth R. Evans; Jeremy Todd Townsend; Jason Habernal; Juan Miguel Bilen; Cecil Schandorf; Chaitanya K. Vempati - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12110779B2 ## CPC - E21B 47/01: Devices for supporting measuring instruments on drill bits, pipes, rods or wirelines; Protecting measuring instruments in boreholes against heat, shock, pressure or the like - E21B 47/013: Devices specially adapted for supporting measuring instruments on drill bits - E21B 47/13: by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency - G01P 3/44: for measuring angular speed (G01P3/56 takes precedence) - G01P 15/00: Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - G01P: MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT (measuring or recording blood flow A61B5/02, A61B8/06; monitoring speed or deceleration of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L3/00; vehicle lighting systems adapted to indicate speed B60Q1/54; determining position or course in navigation, measuring ground distance in geodesy or surveying G01C; combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement G01C23/00; measuring velocity of sound G01H; measuring velocity of light G01J7/00; measuring direction or velocity of solid objects by reception or emission of radiowaves or other waves and based on propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effect, propagation time, direction of propagation, G01S; measuring speed of nuclear radiation G01T; measuring acceleration of gravity G01V; {measuring or recording the speed of trains B61L23/00; speed indicators incorporated in motor vehicles B60K35/00; measuring frequency or phase G01R; traffic control G08G}) ## Abstract A downhole sensor apparatus may include a structure securing a circuit board. The structure may be configured to be inserted into a recess in a tool on a drill string. The downhole sensor apparatus may include one or more sensors coupled to the circuit board and a cap over the structure. The downhole sensor apparatus may further include a data port electrically coupled to the circuit board and configured to transmit data from the sensors to an external device. The downhole sensor apparatus may include a threaded element configured to thread into complementary threads in the recess in the tool. The downhole sensor apparatus may be configured to operate in an idle condition. The downhole sensor apparatus may compare readings from at least two sensors to threshold downhole conditions and begin normal operation when the readings from the at least two sensors meet or exceed the threshold downhole conditions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A downhole sensor apparatus comprising: a structure carrying a circuit board, the structure configured to be inserted into a recess in a tool on a drill string; one or more sensors coupled to the circuit board; a cap over the structure, the cap secured to the tool and configured to be exposed to an environment around the tool; a data port disposed through the cap, the data port electrically coupled to the circuit board and configured to transmit data from the one or more sensors to an external device, without removing the cap from the tool; a removable plug disposed through the cap over the data port, wherein the plug is configured to block access to the data port and to protect the data port from the environment around the tool when installed and the cap is configured to provide access to the data port when the removable plug is removed; and a securing element configured to engage a complementary feature in the recess in the tool, the securing element configured to secure the structure to the tool. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The downhole sensor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cap comprises the securing element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The downhole sensor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cap comprises a ridge proximate a base of the cap. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The downhole sensor apparatus of claim 3, wherein the securing element comprises a locking ring separate from the structure and the cap, wherein the locking ring is configured to contact the ridge of the cap and secure the cap and the structure to the tool. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The downhole sensor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the structure comprises a keying feature configured to secure the structure and the circuit board in a specific orientation relative to the tool. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The downhole sensor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data port comprises a connector configured to receive an external wired connection. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The downhole sensor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data port comprises a wireless transmitter configured to transmit the data wirelessly to the external device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The downhole sensor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cap comprises an aperture extending through the cap. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The downhole sensor apparatus of claim 8, wherein the data port is disposed in the aperture through the cap. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An earth-boring tool comprising: a recess in the earth-boring tool; the downhole sensor apparatus of claim 1 disposed in the recess in the earth-boring tool; wherein the structure is positioned between the cap and the earth-boring tool; and a securing element configured to secure the cap to the earth-boring tool, the securing element comprising a ring configured to engage complementary features in the recess of the earth-boring tool and a ridge extending from the cap. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The earth-boring tool of claim 10, further comprising a data transfer device electrically coupled to the circuit board, the data transfer device configured to transmit data from the one or more sensors to an external device, wherein the data transfer device comprises a wireless transmitter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The earth-boring tool of claim 11, wherein the cap comprises a radio frequency transparent material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The earth-boring tool of claim 10, further comprising a data transfer device electrically coupled to the circuit board, the data transfer device configured to transmit data from the one or more sensors to an external device, wherein the data transfer device comprises a data port configured to receive a wired connector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The earth-boring tool of claim 13, wherein the data transfer device is disposed in the cap. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The earth-boring tool of claim 10, further comprising a sensor coupled to the structure configured to measure one or more mechanical properties of the structure. ### Claim 16 A method of controlling a sensor apparatus on a downhole tool, the method comprising: operating the sensor apparatus in an idle condition; capturing readings from at least one sensor at a time interval; comparing the readings from the at least one sensor to threshold downhole conditions; and when the readings from the at least one sensor meets or exceeds the threshold downhole conditions, activating a start-up sequence; monitoring at least one additional sensor during the start-up sequence; when the at least one additional sensor meets or exceeds an additional threshold downhole condition, beginning a normal operating condition of the sensor apparatus. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein at least one of the readings comprises a rotational speed reading. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least three sensors. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein at least one of the readings comprises a calculated downhole condition. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: detecting an acceleration from an accelerometer; starting a timer after detecting the acceleration; and capturing the readings from the at least one sensor at the time interval after starting the timer.