Patent ID: 7921937

Claim:
A downhole drilling assembly for controlling a manner of engagement of a drill bit with a subterranean formation, comprising: a bottom hole assembly comprising: a drill bit including at least one cutting structure thereon; a downhole motor having a power section adapted to convert energy from drilling fluid passing through the bottom hole assembly to rotate the drill bit, the downhole motor including a rotor; and a bypass valve assembly configured to adjust at least one aspect of operation of the downhole drilling assembly that affects at least one of a force and a speed with which the at least one cutting structure may engage a subterranean formation being drilled by the drill bit, wherein the bypass valve assembly is configured to divert at least a portion of a drilling fluid flowing through the bottom hole assembly through an interior bore of the rotor and wherein the bypass valve assembly is configured to divert at least another portion of the drilling fluid flowing through the bottom hole assembly through the bypass valve assembly into the power section of the downhole motor; at least one sensor configured to measure at least one downhole drilling parameter; and a processor operably coupled to the at least one sensor and the bypass valve assembly to cause the bypass valve assembly to adjust the at least one aspect of operation of the downhole drilling assembly responsive to input from the at least one sensor.