Smart seals and other elastomer systems for health and pressure monitoring
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorSunil Kumar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is an apparatus for monitoring a material configured to perform one or more functions or for actuating the material. One or more electrodes are coupled to the material. An electronic device is coupled to the one or more electrodes and is configured to detect an electrical characteristic of the material to monitor the material or to apply an electrical stimulus to actuate the material.
Claims31
An apparatus comprising:
- an electrode configured to be coupled to a material disposed in a downhole tool configured to be conveyed in a borehole penetrating the earth, wherein the electrode is in contact with the material;
- and
- an electronic device coupled to the electrode and configured to detect an electrical characteristic of the material to monitor the material or to apply an electrical stimulus to the material to actuate the material directly from the applied electrical stimulus;
- wherein the electronic device is configured to receive an input related to an environment experienced by the material and to compensate for the environment in detecting a change in an electrical characteristic of the material.
A method for monitoring a material disposed in a downhole tool configured to be conveyed in a borehole penetrating the earth or actuating the material, the method comprising:
- coupling an electrode to the material, wherein the electrode is in contact with the material;
- detecting an electrical characteristic of the material using an electronic device coupled to the electrode to monitor the material or applying an electrical stimulus to the material using the electronic device and the electrode to actuate the material directly from the applied electrical stimulus;
- receiving an input related to an environment experienced by the material;
- and
- compensating for the environment in detecting a change in an electrical characteristic of the material.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for monitoring a material disposed in a downhole tool configured to be conveyed in a borehole penetrating the earth or actuating the material by:
- detecting an electrical characteristic of the material using an electronic device coupled to an electrode that is coupled to and in contact with the material to monitor the material or by applying an electrical stimulus to the material using the electronic device and the electrode to actuate the material directly from the applied electrical stimulus receiving an input related to an environment experienced by the material;
- and compensating for the environment in detecting a change in an electrical characteristic of the material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.