US Patent 11008816 Drill bits for oil and gas applications

A drill bit includes multiple cutting devices and a microelectronics unit. Each cutting device of the multiple cutting devices includes a cutting layer formed to cut a rock formation and a capacitive sensor disposed adjacent the cutting layer. The capacitive sensor is configured to generate an electric field across the cutting layer and to transmit a signal corresponding to a voltage associated with the electric field. The microelectronics unit of the drill bit is configured to receive the signal from the capacitive sensor of each cutting device of the multiple cutting devices such that the microelectronics unit receives multiple signals and to determine an indicator of mechanical wear of the drill bit based on a change in the voltage associated with the electric field across the cutting layer of each cutting device of the multiple cutting devices using the multiple signals.