ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 6 -- United States Patent no. 12,460,530, issued on Nov. 4, was assigned to IMDEX TECHNOLOGIES PTY LTD (Balcatta, Australia).
"Drilling rate of penetration" was invented by Gordon Stewart (Forrestfield, Australia).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Rate of penetration (ROP) measurement system (10) has sensor apparatus on a drill rig detecting drilling advancement. Sender (38, 200) transmits to a receiver (40, 204), optionally via a reflector (39, 208). An electronic sub (201) can include the sender (200), receiver (204) or reflector (208). Reflector (39, 208) reflects signals to the receiver (40, 204). Distance measurement or space mapping can use LIDAR/laser and MEMS mirror....