A method and apparatus for determining the location of stuck pipe are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes the step of attaching a free point logging tool to a working line such as a slickline or wireline. The free point logging tool has a freepoint sensor and, optionally, an acoustic sensor. The freepoint sensor acquires magnetic permeability data in a string of pipe, while the acoustic sensor acquires acoustic data in the pipe. Two sets of data for each sensor are acquired—one in which the pipe under investigation is unstressed, and one in which the pipe is stressed. The first set and second sets of magnetic permeability data are compared to determine the stuck point location for the pipe. The first and second sets of acoustic data are compared to determine the nature in which the pipe is stuck.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for use in a wellbore. In addition, the invention relates to a downhole tool for determining the location and nature of an obstruction in a wellbore. More particularly still, the invention relates to a downhole tool for locating the point at which a tubular such as a drill string is stuck in a hollow tubular or a wellbore.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wellbores are typically formed by boring a hole into the earth through use of a drill bit disposed at the end of a tubular string. Most commonly, the tubular string is a series of threadedly connected drill collars. Weight is applied to the drill string while the drill bit is rotated. Fluids are then circulated through a bore within the drill string, through the drill bit, and then back up the annular region formed between the drill string and the surrounding earth formation. The circulation of fluid in this manner serves to clear the bottom of the hole of cuttings, serves to cool the bit, and also serves to circulate the cuttings back up to the surface for retrieval and inspection.
With today's wells, it is not unusual for a wellbore to be completed in excess of ten thousand feet. The upper portion of the wellbore is lined with a string of surface casing, while intermediate portions of the wellbore are lined with liner strings. The lowest portion of the wellbore remains open to the surrounding earth during drilling. As the well is drilled to new depths, the drill string becomes increasingly longer. Because the wells are often non-vertical or diverted, a somewhat tortured path can be formed leading to the bottom of the wellbore where new drilling takes place. Because of the non-linear path through the wellbore, the drill string can become bound or other wise stuck in the wellbore as it moves axially or rotationally. In addition, the process of circulating fluids up the annulus within the earth formation can cause subterranean rock to cave into the bore and encase the drill string. All drilling operations must be stopped and valuable rig time lost while the pipe is retrieved.
Because of the length of the drill string and the difficulty in releasing stuck pipe, it is useful to know the point at which one tubular is stuck within another tubular or within a wellbore. The point above the stuck point is known as the "free point." It is possible to estimate the free point from the surface. This is based upon the principle that the length of the tubular will increase linearly when a tensile force within a given range is applied. The total length of tubular in the wellbore is known to the operator. In addition, various mechanical properties of the pipe, such as yield strength and thickness, are also known. The operator can then calculate a theoretical extent of pipe elongation when a certain amount of tensile force is applied. The theoretical length is based on the assumption that the applied force is acting on the entire length of the tubular.
The known tensile force is next applied to the tubular. The actual length of elongation of the pipe is then measured at the surface of the well. The actual length of elongation is compared with the total theoretical length of elongation. By comparing the measured elongation to the theoretical elongation, the operator can estimate the sticking point of the tubular. For example, if the measured elongation is fifty percent of the theoretical elongation, then it is estimated that the tubular is stuck at a point that is approximately one half of the length of the tubular from the surface. Such knowledge makes it possible to locate tools or other items above, adjacent, or below the point at which the tubular is expected to be stuck.
It is desirable for the operator to obtain a more precise determination of the stuck point for a string of pipe. To do this, the operator may employ a tool known as a "free point tool." The prior art includes a variety of free point apparatuses and methods for ascertaining the point at which a tubular is stuck.
One common technique involves the use of a tool that has either one or two anchors for attaching to the inner wall of the drill pipe. The tool is lowered down the bore of the drilling pipe, and attached at a point to the pipe. The tool utilizes a pair of relatively movable sensor members to determine if relative movement occurred. The tool is located within the tubular at a point where the stuck point is estimated. The tool is then anchored to the tubular at each end of the free point tool, and a known tensile force (or torsional force) is applied within the string. Typically, the force is applied from the surface. If the portion of the pipe between the anchored ends of the free point tool is elongated when a tensile force is applied (or twisted when a torsional force is applied), it is known that at least a portion of the free point tool is above the sticking point. If the free point tool does not record any elongation when a tensile force is applied (or twisting when a torsional force is applied), it is known that the free point tool is completely below the sticking point. The free point tool may be incrementally relocated within the drill pipe, and the one or more anchor members reattached to the drill pipe. By anchoring the free point tool within the stuck tubular and measuring the response in different locations to a force applied at the surface, the location of the sticking point may be accurately determined.
Mechanical free point tools of this type are considered reliable; however, they suffer from certain disadvantages. For example, mechanical transducer free point tools rely upon moving parts. It is desirable to have a free point tool that contains few or no moving parts. In addition, mechanical free point tools are considered slow to operate. In this respect, the sequential attachment and detachment of the free point tool to the drill string requires time. Those familiar with the drilling industry understand that the operation of a drilling rig, particularly those located offshore, is very expensive.
Other tools have been developed which include means for measuring the magnetic permeability of the pipe. In this regard, one known characteristic of ferromagnetic pipe is that the magnetic permeability of the material changes as a function of stresses in the material. This principle allows for the detection of changes in magnetic flux rather than mechanical movement. The operator maintains constant tension in the stuck pipe from the surface, and allows the magnetic permeability tool sensor to operate while the tool is being moved through a selected section of drill pipe. The operator maintains data that correlates changes in magnetic flux to depth of the tool. This may prove to be a faster procedure than free point tools that rely upon sequential mechanical anchoring to the drill string. However, the operation of such a tool remains expensive, as it requires that an electrical wireline be provided for running into the wellbore.
A need therefore exists for a free point tool that can be quickly run into a wellbore on a more economical basis. A need alternatively exists for a free point logging tool that employs digital telemetry memory technology to store detected information downhole for quick retrieval and subsequent analysis. Still further, a need exists for a free point tool that combines features of an acoustic stuck pipe logging tool (which graphically presents information as to the stuck condition of a pipe), with a free point sensor in one logging string package.

Method for determining a stuck point for pipe, and free point logging tool


A web extension is managed through a manifest file. An application managing the web extension receives attributes of the extension from a developer or metadata of the extension. A pointer to the web extension is inserted into the attributes. The pointer can be used as a link to activate the web extension. The attributes are stored in a manifest file formatted in extensible markup language (XML). The functionality of the web extension is managed based on the manifest file.

Data analysis is an integral part of modern services provided by software. Analysis services span a vast array of information mining and mapping. Analysis systems receive content from variety of resources including business and social networking systems. User information is also gathered and collected from ever expanding array of personal devices. User generated content is stored and managed by expansive systems providing interactive services with the stored information. The ever expanding amount of information generated by systems and users are processed by analysis systems to produce patterns, predictions, etc. Analysis results are utilized by other systems relying on the results to generate reports, evaluate user performance, determine recommendations, etc.
External tools expand longevity of legacy solutions. Integrated tools can enable an existing application to provide new functionality. An existing solution lacking analysis functionality can add analysis features through integrated tools. However, most third party tool solutions are custom developed and lack flexibility. Most legacy applications rarely provide standardized interfaces to integrate external tools. Vendors develop custom solutions to integrate external tools for inflexible legacy applications at great cost to a customer. Custom solutions are rarely portable or upgradeable. In addition, a typical vendor developing external tools spends resources to maintain in house legacy knowledge base. Legacy knowledge bases depreciate at alarming speed with each new product cycle and change in the technology.

Managing web extension through manifest file


To provide device capable of enhancing the detection accuracy of a wheel speed detecting device and reducing cost. A wheel speed detecting device for a rear wheel includes a pulsar ring mounted on a rear wheel hub, and a pulse counting sensor mounted on a swing arm. The pulsar ring includes a disc, and pulse detecting holes are formed at a predetermined pitch on a pitch circle drawn at a radially inward circumferential position spaced at a predetermined distance from the outer edge of the disc. The pulse detecting hole is formed in a position on the center side apart from the outer edge of the pulsar ring, leaving the outer edge of the pulsar ring in a circular form. Therefore, it is possible to prevent warpage of the pulsar ring by the outer edge portion if the pulse detecting holes are made by pressing.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a wheel speed detecting device which detects the rotational speed of a wheel.
2. Description of Related Art
Motorcycles adopting, for instance, an Antilock Brake System (ABS) are equipped with a wheel speed detecting device for detecting the rotational speed of front and rear wheels. As a background art wheel speed detecting device, the xe2x80x9cWheel Speed Detecting Device in Motorcyclesxe2x80x9d disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H8-133154 has been known. This background art will be explained in detail by referring to FIG. 18.
FIG. 18 is a side view of a background art wheel speed detecting device. The wheel speed detecting device mounted on the rear wheel of a motorcycle will be explained below.
In a wheel speed detecting device 150, a sensor ring (hereinafter referred to as the xe2x80x9cpulsar ringxe2x80x9d) 153 is attached on a spoke portion 152 of a rear wheel 151. A pulse counting sensor 156 (e.g., an electromagnetic rotary sensor) is attached on a swing arm 155 which supports the rear wheel 151, oppositely to teeth 154 of the pulsar ring 153.
According to the wheel speed detecting device 150, with the rotation of the rear wheel 151, the pulsar ring 153 rotates together with the rear wheel 151, while the teeth 154 of the pulsar ring 153 pass the pulse counting sensor 156. The pulse counting sensor 156 counts the teeth 154 that have passed thereby, thus detecting the wheel speed of the rear wheel 151 (the rotational speed of the rear wheel 151).
To improve the detection accuracy of the teeth 154 by the pulse counting sensor 156, it is desirable to mount the pulse counting sensor 156 close to the teeth 154. In order to mount the pulse counting sensor 156 close to the teeth 154, it is necessary to set the flatness of the pulsar ring 153 (particularly, the teeth 154).
If the flatness of the pulsar ring 153 exceeds a permissible range, unevenness of the pulsar ring 153 increases. It is therefore necessary set the pulse counting sensor 156 apart from the teeth 154 with the unevenness taken into account. Accordingly, it is difficult to improve the detection accuracy of the teeth 154 by the pulse counting sensor 156.
The teeth 154 of the pulsar ring 153, therefore, have been formed by a cutting process to set the flatness of the pulsar ring 153 (especially the teeth 154 ) within the permissible range. This processing of the pulsar ring 153 requires time and labor, thus increasing the cost.
Forming the pulsar ring 153 by pressing has also been considered. However, since the teeth 154 are relatively long and slender, if processed by pressing, the teeth 154 of the pulsar ring 153 will be subjected to warpage.
Therefore, it is necessary to correct the warpage of the teeth 154 after pressing the pulsar ring 153. This also increases the time and labor, thus increasing cost.
It has therefore been desired to put into practice a wheel speed detecting device capable of enhancing the detecting accuracy and lowering cost.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device which can enhance the detecting accuracy of a wheel speed detecting device and lower the cost.
In view of the above-described problems, the wheel speed detecting device according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a pulsar ring attached on the wheel side and a pulse counting sensor attached on the vehicle body side. The pulsar ring comprises a disc, and pulse detecting holes or pulse detecting recesses are provided at a predetermined pitch on a pitch circle drawn in a radially inward circumferential position spaced at a distance from an outer edge of the disc.
The pulse detecting holes are opened at a position on the center side, spaced from an outer edge of the pulsar ring, whereby the outer edge of the pulsar ring can remain in a circular shape. Therefore, it is possible to reduce warpage of the pulsar ring at the outer edge if the pulse detecting holes are formed by pressing. Furthermore, the flatness of the pulsar ring can be held within the permissible range.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the disc has a sensing surface on the side directed toward the pulse counting sensor, a stiffening rib is provided in the vicinity of, or on the back side of, the sensing surface.
The sensing surface can be increased in rigidity by providing the stiffening rib in the vicinity of, or on the back side of, the sensing surface. Therefore, if the pulsar ring has a reduced plate thickness, it is possible to ensure the flatness of the sensing surface within the permissible range, while enabling a reduction in weight of the pulsar.
A third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the stiffening rib is provided along the sensing surface, and the height of this stiffening rib is set larger than the clearance from the sensing surface to the pulse counting sensor.
The stiffening rib is provided along the sensing surface and the height of this stiffening rib is increased larger than the clearance from the sensing surface to the pulse counting sensor. Therefore, it is possible to cover the clearance between the sensing surface and the pulse counting sensor with the stiffening rib, the stiffening rib being usable as a protective cover. Therefore, the clearance between the sensing surface and the pulse counting sensor is protected by the stiffening rib, so that the clearance can be prevented from catching a flying substance such as a flying rock.
Furthermore, since the stiffening rib is usable as a protective cover, no individual protective cover is needed, thereby preventing an increase in the number of components. Accordingly, the time and effort required to install a protective cover can be dispensed with.
In a fourth aspect of the present invention, the stiffening rib is formed by bending the outer edge of the disc.
With this construction, the wheel speed detecting device can be improved in quality by increasing the rigidity of the pulsar ring with the outer edge of the disc being bent.
Furthermore, a pulsar ring of predetermined thickness can be obtained with a decrease in weight, making it possible to decrease cost and to improve vehicle performance.
A fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the pulsar ring is prepared from a pressed part with punched pulse detecting holes, and one or both sides of the pulsar ring which faces toward a punch is called the first side and the other is the second side. Furthermore, the pulsar ring is attached so that the second surface faces the pulse counting sensor.
When the pulse detecting hole is punched from the first side through to the second side, the edge of the hole in the first side becomes round, while the hole in the second side has a sharp edge.
In the fifth aspect of the present invention, the pulsar ring is attached with the second side having the sharp-edge holes directed toward the pulse counting sensor.
By using the pulsar ring having sharp-edge holes, the sensing performance of the pulse counting sensor can be improved.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Wheel speed detecting device for a vehicle


A rotary transformer includes a resonant circuit and a coil drive circuit. The resonant circuit includes a resonating capacitor connected to a power MOS transistor, coupled across the primary coil of the transformer. The coil drive circuit includes a diode connected to a power MOS transistor coupled across the primary coil of the transformer. A microprocessor detects changes in the voltage across the primary coil. The resonant circuit is connected and disconnected from the transformer during a power transfer mode and a data transfer mode, respectively. During the power transfer mode, stored energy in the leakage inductance of the primary coil is used for power coupling, via the resonant circuit, instead of being dissipated as heat. The resonant circuit is disconnected from the rotary transformer during the data transfer mode to maximize bandwidth for two-way data transfer between the primary and secondary sides of the transformer. The transformer uses a synchronous mode of operation in which the power MOS transistor of the coil drive circuit is turned on when the voltage across the primary coil changes from a positive to a negative value during the power transfer mode. The synchronous mode of operation virtually eliminates a current spike through the diode of the coil drive circuit and provides the microprocessor an appropriate amount of time to recognize the voltage changes across the primary coil.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to rotary transformers, and more particularly to a rotary transformer with a synchronized mode of operation that transfers both power and data between two structures.
2. Description of the Related Art
Rotary transformers are often used for transmitting both data and power between two structures that rotate relative to one another, such as between a vehicle tire and its corresponding wheel axle in a tire pressure sensor system. In another example, a rotary transformer can be used to couple data and power from a steering column to a steering wheel, as disclosed in co-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,121,692, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
As is known in the art, loosely coupled power transformers do not conduct power efficiently between the primary and secondary of the transformer. Instead, a part of the input current into the primary coil stores energy in the leakage. inductance of the coil. Prior art structures often include a Zener diode across the primary to absorb the energy of the voltage spike that occurs in the transformer when the current to the primary coil is turned off. More particularly, the Zener diode will conduct current before the drive transistor in the primary side breaks down. However, under this approach, the stored energy is dissipated as heat, thereby wasting the energy built up in the primary coil""s leakage inductance and lowering the power coupling efficiency of the transformer.
To overcome this problem, conventional rotary transformer designs tend to focus on methods of increasing the coupling efficiency by constructing a magnetically efficient structure for power transmission, such as by using more expensive, high-efficiency core materials, and then adding a complex load impedance mechanism for providing limited two-way communication through the transformer. This results in an overly complicated structure requiring close mechanical tolerances, which increases the manufacturing cost of the system. Further, the bandwidth for these structures tends to be relatively narrow, which limits the amount of data or the speed at which data can be transmitted between the primary and secondary sides of the transformer.
To increase the bandwidth in the rotary transformer, a loosely coupled rotary transformer that includes a resonant circuit, such as a resonating capacitor connected to a power MOS transistor, may be coupled across the primary coil of the transformer, as described in co-pending, co-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/395,817 filed on Sep. 14, 1999, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. In the loosely coupled rotary transformer, the resonant circuit is connected and disconnected from the transformer during a power transfer mode and a data transfer mode, respectively. During the power transfer mode, stored energy in the leakage inductance of the primary coil is used for the power coupling, via the resonant circuit, instead of being dissipated as heat. The resonant circuit is disconnected from the rotary transformer during the data transfer mode to maximize bandwidth for two-way data transfer between the primary and secondary sides of the transformer. Including the resonant circuit in the loosely coupled transformer optimizes data and power transfer without requiring the use of high-cost, high-efficiency magnetic structures in the core of the transformer.
The loosely coupled rotary transformer utilizes a fixed frequency drive circuit, and a resonant drive mode that is very power efficient compared to other known rotary transformer drive methods. The transformer resonant frequency and drive frequency is matched for the nominal supply voltage and secondary load. However, a problem may arise when the supply voltage is not properly regulated, or the secondary load is subject to large changes from a nominal level. In both cases, the power coupling efficiency may decrease from a nominal level.
The inventors of the present invention have recognized this problem and have modified the operation of the rotary transformer drive circuit to maintain high power efficiency for changes in either supply voltage or secondary load. This is especially important for vehicle operation where the supply voltage for proper operation may vary between a voltage of approximately 9.0 and approximately 16.0 volts, which is almost a 2:1 ratio.
The invention comprises a rotary transformer with a synchronous mode of operation to facilitate the transfer of power and two-way communications between two structures, such as a column and steering wheel of a vehicle. During normal operation, the rotary transformer repetitively alternates between a power transfer mode and a data transfer mode by multiplexing time across the rotary transformer. A microprocessor supplies a pulse train that periodically applies fill power from a power supply, such as a vehicle battery to the transformer""s primary coil, or xe2x80x9ccolumn coil.xe2x80x9d In the referenced prior patent, during the power mode when the pulses supplied to the primary coil are xe2x80x9conxe2x80x9d, the microprocessor disconnects a resonating or tuning capacitor C1 from the primary coil. When the pulses are xe2x80x9coffxe2x80x9d, the resonating capacitor is reconnected, at which time energy stored in the resonating capacitor is supplied across the rotary transformer. By connecting the resonating capacitor C1 to the primary coil only when the pulses are turned xe2x80x9coffxe2x80x9d, the power required to drive the rotary transformer is minimized and the energy recovered from the primary coil is maximized. For synchronized operation, the subject of this application, the tuning capacitor is connected during the entire power mode. It is disconnected only during the data transfer mode. The microprocessor can also adjust the width of the pulses supplied to the primary coil to maintain a constant power level at the wheel circuit using means well known in the art, such as a voltage regulator.
After a preset length of time allotted for the power transfer mode, the microprocessor causes the primary circuit to change to the data transfer mode. During this mode, the primary circuit transmits a preset number of data bits to the secondary side across the rotary transformer, and then the secondary side transmits a preset number of bits to the primary circuit across the rotary transformer. Then, the circuit returns to the power transfer mode and repeats the sequence.
One aspect of the invention is that during the power transfer mode, the drive transistor of the coil drive circuit is switched xe2x80x9conxe2x80x9d when the voltage across the primary coil changes from positive to negative at approximately one half of a cycle to provide a synchronous mode of operation. This synchronized mode of operation virtually eliminates a current spike through the diode of the coil drive circuit that exists using conventional modes of operation, which turn the drive transistor xe2x80x9conxe2x80x9d at the end of the power transfer mode, such as in fixed frequency and variable frequency modes of operation. By preventing the current spike through the diode of the coil drive circuit, the stress to the driving transistor and electromagnetic interference to the operating environment of the rotary transformer are minimized. In addition, the synchronous mode operation of the invention provides the microprocessor a sufficient amount of time to recognize the change of the resonant waveform of the primary circuit during the power transfer mode so that it can change the output ports, unlike conventional modes of operation.

Rotary transformer with synchronized operation


An emergency signaling device comprises a flexible substrate stowed in the trunk of a vehicle for extending from a folded position to an extended position, for conveying a message to motorists approaching the vehicle. The emergency signaling device may extend from the trunk of the vehicle upon activation of a remote trunk release when a hazard flasher system is on, or the like. The emergency signaling device may be removed from the vehicle for use as an emergency signaling device.

A leading cause of serious automobile accidents are roadside emergencies (e.g., flat tires, mechanical failure, or the like) which cause a motorist to park his or her automobile along the side of a road where it may be struck by another automobile having an inattentive or distracted driver. Such accidents occur most likely during times when the driver of the oncoming automobile may be unable to see the parked vehicle or recognize that the vehicle is not moving, such as, at night when the driver may be drowsy, during periods of high traffic when the driver may be distracted by other automobiles on the road, or during poor visibility (e.g., rain, snow, fog, or the like) when the driver may be unable to discern that the parked automobile is not on the road and is not moving.
In addition to the hazard lights of the parked automobile, the motorist may employ emergency warning devices such as flares, triangular reflective markers, portable lights, or the like to warn other drivers of the possible danger. However, such warning devices are typically small and are placed near the ground making them difficult to see, especially when the drivers of oncoming automobiles are least likely to see them (e.g., at night, during periods of high traffic, or during periods of poor visibility). Moreover, such devices are usually only capable of warning oncoming motorists of a potential hazard and cannot direct the oncoming traffic around the hazard or provide messages to emergency personnel such as police, the fire department, or the like.
Consequently, it is desirable to provide an emergency signaling device capable of being mounted to a vehicle for displaying indicia during emergency situations. The emergency signaling device should be capable of warning oncoming motorists of a potential hazard and directing the motorists around the hazard. The emergency signaling device may further be capable of providing messages to emergency personnel such as police, the fire department, or the like.


A downhole apparatus and method for depositing metal at a desired area in a well casing. In one embodiment the apparatus comprises an oxygen tank filled with oxygen, a fuel tank filled with fuel, and a metal depositing device. An inert gas, such as nitrogen, may be supplied to dampen the heat generated by the metal depositing device. In an alternate embodiment, the apparatus comprises a gas tank with nitrous oxide therein and a sparking device to initiate a decomposition reaction to separate the nitrous oxide into its oxygen and nitrogen components. The metal depositing device may be adapted for flame spraying, plasma spraying or welding. A steering head is provided to reciprocate and rotate the apparatus so that the metal depositing device may be directed to the desired area in the casing. A camera and light are disposed at the bottom of the apparatus so that the interior of a well casing is illuminated and an image is transmitted to the operator for proper actuation of the steering sub. Details of a flame spraying method are disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the repair and connection of downhole casing in a wellbore, and more particularly, to a tool system and method for repairing damaged areas, closing gaps between casing sections and filling other openings in well casing by flame spraying, plasma spraying, welding and other similar methods.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When well casing is installed in a wellbore, there may be gaps formed between casing joints. This is a particular problem, for example, between a lateral casing and the wall to which it is welded. Such gaps can be from several inches to as much as twenty feet or more. Closing this gap is a very difficult and time-consuming operation. This is also true in repairing a large damaged area or filling other openings in casing.
Filling such gaps or damaged areas using wire feeder type welding apparatus, either electric or laser type welders, may in fact prove to be impossible. In such cases, the problems associated with such openings may require different operations in the well, and in extreme cases may mean abandonment of that particular wellbore and the drilling of a new well. Obviously, this is a very undesirable situation, and there is thus a need for equipment and techniques to fill gaps or make repairs quickly and easily within the casing in the wellbore.
The present invention solves this problem by providing an apparatus and method for using techniques such as flame spray or plasma spray technology to do the job. It is estimated with this apparatus that about one-half pound per minute of metal may be deposited to the desired area in the casing, so even large areas can be repaired quickly. Unlike standard above-ground welding techniques, flame spraying or plasma spraying allow the metal to be applied directly to the bare wellbore and not just to the metal of the casing. In this way, the thickness of the deposited layer of metal can be built up as needed and spread out to adjacent casing surfaces. Like welding, the filled area becomes an integral part of the adjacent casing section or sections.
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for downhole welding to repair downhole casing in a wellbore and/or to close other openings in the casing or between sections of casing. This is accomplished by flame spraying, plasma spraying, welding, or other techniques for applying metallic material.
Thus, the invention may be described as a method of closing an opening in a wellbore casing string comprising the step of filling the opening with metallic material while the casing string is positioned in the wellbore. The opening in the wellbore casing string may be a damaged area of the casing string, a gap formed at adjacent ends of a pair of casing sections, or any other opening in the casing string.
A preferred embodiment of the apparatus comprises an oxygen supply such as a tank, a fuel tank, a metal supply, and metal depositing means in communication with the oxygen tank, fuel tank and metal supply such that heat is generated by the mixture of oxygen and fuel, and heated metal is deposited in the opening of the well casing and adhered thereto.
The fuel tank is filled with a fuel preferably from the group consisting of liquefied petroleum gas, kerosene and acetylene. The liquefied petroleum gas may include, for example, butane or propane.
The apparatus may comprise meters for metering flow of oxygen from the oxygen tank and fuel from the fuel tank. When the fuel is kerosene, the flow of oxygen is preferably less than about 280 standard cubic feet per gallon of kerosene.
The apparatus may additionally comprise a camera and a light disposed adjacent to the camera for lighting an area toward which the camera is directed. The operator may use the camera to guide the spray head to a desired area in the casing. This guiding of the spray head may be carried out by a steering sub adapted for connection to a tool string whereby the spray head may be rotated and reciprocated within the casing so that the spray head may be directed to the desired area in the casing.
In a preferred embodiment, the metal supply is a quantity of metal powder, and the metal depositing means comprises a powder container in which the metal powder is disposed. The metal depositing means further comprises a spray head in communication with the oxygen tank, fuel tank and powder container such that the mixture is a mixture of oxygen, fuel and metal powder which is discharged as a metallized flame spray from the spray head.
In this flame spray embodiment, the apparatus preferably further comprises an inert gas tank in communication with the powder container. The inert gas tank is filled with an inert gas which pushes the metal powder into the spray head. The inert gas is preferably selected from the group consisting of nitrogen and argon. The inert gas is also mixed with the mixture of oxygen, fuel and powder in order to boost flame speed of the flame discharged from the spray head.
In an alternate embodiment, rather than oxygen, a tank may be filled with a gas such as nitrous oxide (N2O) and decomposed into oxygen and nitrogen by adding heat, such as by a sparking device. The decomposition reaction creates additional heat which continues the reaction thus providing oxygen for combustion of the fuel and nitrogen as an inert gas. Additional nitrogen may be added by means of a separate tank, through the casing or a tube from the surface.
One purpose of the inert gas is to keep the combustion temperature controlled so that it does not become excessive. Thus, the heat is dampened to prevent heat damage to the well casing. The inert gas also helps improve vision through a camera by clearing the smoke caused by the combustion.
A tube may be inserted into the well casing adjacent to the tool to evacuate the fumes, thus also aiding and improving vision through the camera.
In still another embodiment, the nitrogen tank may be eliminated and nitrogen pumped down the well annulus to dampen the combustion temperature and clear the smoke.
Stated in another way, the apparatus of the present invention may be described as one for spraying metal into a desired area of a well casing from the inside of the well casing, the apparatus comprising a steering sub adapted for connection to a tool string, a housing attached to the steering sub such that the steering sub may be used to provide movement of the housing with respect to the tool string, an oxygen tank in the housing wherein the oxygen tank has a quantity of pressurized oxygen therein, an inert gas tank in the housing wherein the inert gas tank has a quantity of pressurized inert gas therein, a fuel tank in the housing wherein the fuel tank has a quantity of fuel therein, a powder container in the housing wherein the powder container has a quantity of metal powder therein and is in communication with the inert gas tank such that the pressurized inert gas tends to push the metal powder out of the powder container, and a spray head connected to the housing and in communication with the oxygen tank, fuel tank and powder container such that fuel, oxygen, inert gas and metal powder are mixed in the spray head and discharged therefrom as a flame spray whereby metal may be deposited on the desired area in the casing.
Numerous objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment is read in conjunction with the drawing which illustrates such embodiment.

Downhole flame spray welding tool system and method


An electronic brake system may be capable of performing braking operation according to a pedal effort of a driver even when the brake system operates abnormally as well as simplifying a configuration thereof by minimizing the number of valves for controlling a flow of oil pressure and precisely controlling pressure therein.

1. Field
Embodiments of the present invention relate to an electronic brake system, and more particularly, to an electronic brake system capable of a structure simplification and a precise pressure control.
2. Description of the Related Art
Every vehicle requires a braking ability and thus requires a brake system, and recently, various types of the brake systems have been proposed for realizing stronger and more stable braking forces. Examples of the brake systems include an anti-lock brake system (ABS) which prevents wheel slip during braking, a brake traction control system (BTCS) which prevents driving wheel slip when a sudden acceleration or a rapid acceleration occurs in a vehicle, and an electronic stability control system (ESC) which together with the ABS and BTSC to control a hydraulic pressure of a braking system so that a vehicle is maintained under a stable driving condition, etc.
Such an electronic brake system includes a plurality of solenoid valves for controlling a brake oil pressure transferred to wheel cylinders (referred to as hydraulic brakes or disk brakes) mounted on the wheels of a vehicle, a pair of low pressure accumulators for temporarily storing oil discharged from the wheel cylinders, a motor and a pump for forcibly pumping the oil stored in the low pressure accumulators, a plurality of check valves to prevent a backflow of oil, and an electronic control unit (ECU) for controlling the operations of the solenoid valves and the motor which are compactly built in an oil pressure block formed of aluminum. Further, a hydraulic pressure supply unit is provided and being used, that receives an electrical signal from a pedal displacement sensor for detecting a displacement of the brake pedal responding to the driver's intention to brake when a driver steps on a brake and supplies pressure to the wheel cylinders.
The electronic brake system provided with the above hydraulic pressure supply unit is disclosed as European Patent No. 2520473. According to the disclosure, the hydraulic pressure supply unit is designed to generate a brake pressure by operating a motor according to a pressure on the brake pedal. Here, the brake pressure is generated by converting a rotatory power of the motor to a rectilinear movement to press a piston.
However, in the electronic brake system with the above structure, the arrangement of the plurality of solenoid valves provided to control the pressure transferred to the wheel cylinders is complex, and, in addition, the plurality of solenoid valves are individually operated to control a hydraulic pressure delivered to the wheel cylinder provided in each wheel, thereby increasing the vibration and the noise due to operating the solenoid valves.
Further, since the configuration of the plurality of the solenoid valves and the flow paths for controlling the pressure according to various control modes becomes complex and in addition, the weight and the volume of the system are increased because a motor, a pump, and a low pressure accumulator are provided additionally, the ease of mounting and the efficient use of space are compromised, and vibration and noise due to motor and pump operations are increased.


A method, apparatus, and system are described in which a signal is generated to inhibit the execution of flip commands that cause a flip between buffers of a frame buffer. One or more of the flip commands and their associated instruction pointers may be preloaded into a frame buffer flip queue prior to removing the signal inhibiting the execution of the flip commands.

For graphics/multimedia applications, video data (i.e., audio and visual data) may be captured by a chipset from a video source using general video capturing techniques. The captured video data is presented for display on a display monitor. During active video re-animation, a series of images may be displayed on a display monitor in sequential order. Video data may be sequentially stored in a pair of buffers. Software is typically provided to drive video hardware specifically configured to sequentially store images in those buffers and "flip" display contents from one image to another. The way to control the switch from one buffer to another is called a buffer flip. The flipping of display contents of images may be activated through a software interrupt service provided by an operating systems (OS) such as Microsoft Windows™.
The flip may be synchronized to the display Vertical Synchronization (VSYNC) signal or not. As non-synchronized flip may cause tearing artifacts, most flips are synchronized to the display VSYNC. Delays and drops of the content in a video frame buffer may happen from time to time as shown in FIG. 1. The drops and delays cause jitter and other visual defects on images presented on the display monitor. The top time line of the graph marks the flip commands and their associated instruction pointers. The bottom time line marks the occurrence of each display VSYNC pulse. Arrow points to the VSYNC for a given flip. FIG. 2 indicates a frame buffer flip register with corresponding entries to the timeline of FIG. 1.
Every time a buffer flip command (also known as a buffer flip instruction) comes in from the software, the associated instruction pointer is stored as an entry in the frame buffer flip queue. Generally, each time a VSYNC pulse occurs the instruction pointer entries in the frame buffer flip queue advance causing an entry lower in depth to overwrite the top entry in depth. The instruction pointer indicates the location for the video data to be displayed on the video monitor changes as well as the particular frame buffer that stores the rendered video data.
However, as FIG. 1 indicates between times T4 through T7, delays in displaying the content in a buffer of the frame buffer may occur to cause defects in the presented video display. The flip command with an associated instruction pointer number 2 (Ptr 2) is loaded into the frame buffer flip queue just after the VSYNC pulse at time T5. The rendered video data displayed at T4 does not change until two VSYNC pulses later at T7.
Moreover, as FIG. 1 indicates between times T7 through T10, the content in a buffer of the frame buffer may be dropped entirely and not presented on the display monitor. The flip command with an associated instruction pointer number 3 (Ptr 3) is loaded into the frame buffer flip queue just after the VSYNC pulse at time T7. The flip command with an associated instruction pointer number 4 (Ptr 4) is loaded into the frame buffer flip queue after the VSYNC pulse at time T7 and before the next successive VSYNC pulse at time T10. The content in a buffer of the frame buffer associated with Ptr 3 is dropped/overwritten without being presented on the display monitor.
Note, in a previous implementation the video graphics display process, the software or hardware typically poll to see if a flip is complete. If flip delay or frame drop occurs with software polling, that may also mean significant CPU cycles spent from that point forward to synchronize the video display process. Also, the frame buffer flip queue may differ from a register storing one entry and possibly a status flag.
While the invention is subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. The embodiments of the invention should be understood to not be limited to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Various apparatuses and methods for switching between buffers using a video frame buffer flip queue


An energy absorbing device has a rod with a part, suitable for cutting by means of surrounding cutting tools mounted in a body sleeve and oriented to the inside. In addition, the rod has an angular guiding part passing into the part suitable for cutting and is pivoted in a support, wherein the body sleeve with the attached cutting tools is connected by breakable elements with the support.

An impact energy absorption device comprising a rod suitable for cutting by the surrounding cutting tools arranged uniformly in the body sleeve is known from patent description PL202114. In order to ensure the proper guiding of cutting tools, the blades of these tools are placed in guides formed on the outer surface of the rod.
There is also known from patent description PL 211405 an impact energy absorption device comprising a rod, with a smoothly varying diameter, suitable for cutting by means of cutting tools. In particular, the rod takes the form of a conic, pyramid or other curvilinear form to provide increased energy absorption capacity in the event of collisions of high kinetic energy.
Known devices perform well their tasks at normal collisions, however in case of an increased deviation angle between the cars, striking each other, some uncontrolled displacements between the body sleeve with the cutting tools and the machined rod occur. Such displacement causes the deformation of the cooperating parts, which in turn makes impossible further efficient absorption of energy.

Device absorbing the energy of impacts of railway cars


In some examples, an electronic device may determine a target time to which the remaining battery charge is to last, such as based on a user input or historical usage of the electronic device. Additionally, the electronic device may determine a current amount of the battery charge remaining, and may determine user activities likely to occur between the present time and the target time. Based at least partially on the amount of the battery charge remaining and the user activities determined to be likely to occur before the target time, the electronic device may apply one or more power management restrictions to one or more resources of the electronic device.

People use electronic devices for communication, socializing, entertainment, work, navigation, web browsing, and a variety of other functions. However, an electronic device typically has a limited amount of energy charged in the battery, thus restricting how often and for how long a user may use the electronic device. For example, people may use their electronic devices throughout the day, and then may have to turn off or otherwise limit the use of their devices toward the end of the day when they notice that their battery charges are close to being depleted. Additionally, some people may carry chargers and may attempt to find open electrical outlets to charge their electronic devices when their battery charges are running low. Furthermore, different people often use their electronic devices in very different ways from other people such that conventional power management configurations may not be useful for some individuals.

Power management on an electronic device


An apparatus for controlling an aeroplane gas turbine engine has various sensors and devices for operating the engine, and two control channels each calculating a command value for controlling operation of the engine based on signals outputted from the sensors. In each of the control channels, it is determined whether any of the sensors and devices is abnormal based on the signals to determine a failure level of the control channel concerned with a numerical value. The failure level is compared with that of the other control channel and based thereon, the command value calculated by the control channel of smaller failure level is sent to the devices. With this, even when both control channels are failed, the engine control can be continued with taking the failure level into account.

Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a control apparatus for an aeroplane gas turbine engine.
Description of the Related Art
A control apparatus for an aeroplane gas turbine engine is equipped with two redundant control channels, each of which is inputted with output signals from several kinds of sensors and calculates command values for controlling the operation of the engine based on the output signals, and when one of the control channels which outputs the command value is failed or abnormal, the control channel is switched to the other to output the command values calculated thereby enabling to continue the engine control. as taught by, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2001-107751 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,716,531.

Control apparatus for aeroplane gas turbine engine


A gyroscope includes a body, a driving mass, which is mobile according to a driving axis, and a sensing mass, which is driven by the driving mass and is mobile according to a sensing axis, in response to rotations of the body. A driving device forms a microelectromechanical control loop with the body and the driving mass and maintains the driving mass in oscillation with a driving frequency. The driving device comprises a frequency detector, which supplies a clock signal at the frequency of oscillation of the driving mass, and a synchronization stage, which applies a calibrated phase shift to the clock signal so as to compensate a phase shift caused by components of the loop that are set between the driving mass and the control node.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a microelectromechanical gyroscope with calibrated synchronization of actuation and to a method for actuating a microelectromechanical gyroscope.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is known, the use of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) has become progressively widespread in various sectors of technology and has yielded encouraging results especially for providing inertial sensors, microintegrated gyroscopes, and electromechanical oscillators for a wide range of applications.
MEMS of this type are usually based on microelectromechanical structures comprising at least one movable mass connected to a fixed body (stator) by springs and movable with respect to the stator according to pre-determined degrees of freedom. The movable mass is moreover coupled to the fixed body via capacitive structures (capacitors). The movement of the movable mass with respect to the fixed body, for example on account of an external stress, modifies the capacitance of the capacitors; from this it is possible to trace back to the relative displacement of the movable mass with respect to the fixed body and hence to the force applied. Vice versa, by supplying appropriate biasing voltages, it is possible to apply an electrostatic force to the movable mass to set it in motion. In addition, to provide electromechanical oscillators, the frequency response of inertial MEMS structures is exploited, which is typically of the second-order low-pass type.
Many MEMS (in particular, all electromechanical oscillators and gyroscopes) include driving devices that have the task of maintaining the movable mass in oscillation.
A first type of known solution envisages supplying, in open loop, periodic excitation at the resonance frequency of the MEMS structure. The solution is simple, but also far from effective, because the resonance frequency is not known with precision on account of the ineliminable dispersions in the processes of micromachining of semiconductors. In addition, the resonance frequency of each individual device can vary over time, for example, on account of temperature gradients or, more simply, on account of ageing.
Feedback driving circuits have then been proposed, based upon the use of sigma-delta modulators. Circuits of this type are undoubtedly more effective than the previous ones in stabilizing the oscillation of the movable mass at the real resonance frequency and in suppressing disturbance.
However, various stages are employed for filtering, decimation, and further processing of the bitstream supplied by the sigma-delta modulator. For this reason, currently available feedback driving circuits are complex to produce, cumbersome and, in practice, costly.
In addition, it should be considered that gyroscopes have a complex electromechanical structure, which comprises two masses that are movable with respect to the stator and are coupled to one another so as to present a relative degree of freedom. The two movable masses are both capacitively coupled to the stator. One of the movable masses is dedicated to driving (driving mass) and is kept in oscillation at the resonance frequency. The other movable mass (sensing mass) is driven in the oscillatory motion and, in the case of rotation of the microstructure with respect to a pre-determined axis with an angular velocity, is subject to a Coriolis force proportional to the angular velocity itself. In practice, the sensing mass operates as an accelerometer that enables sensing of the Coriolis acceleration.
For enabling actuation and providing an electromechanical oscillator in which the sensor performs the role of frequency-selective amplifier, with transfer function of a second-order low-pass type and high merit factor, the driving mass is equipped with two types of differential capacitive structures: driving electrodes and driving-detection electrodes. The driving electrodes have the purpose of sustaining self-oscillation of the movable mass in the direction of actuation, through electrostatic forces generated by the spectral component of the noise at the mechanical resonance frequency of the driving mass. The driving-detection electrodes have the purpose of measuring, through the transduced charge, the position of translation or rotation of the sensing mass in the direction of actuation.
The U.S. Pat. No. 7,305,880 describes a system for controlling the velocity of oscillation of the gyroscope, comprising a differential sense amplifier, a high-pass amplifier, and an actuation and control stage, operating in a continuous-time mode.
The U.S. Pat. No. 7,827,864 describes an improvement of the foregoing control system, in which the control loop comprises a low-pass filter in order to reduce the offset and the effects of parasitic components and couplings by operating on the overall gain and phase of the feedback loop.
These systems, albeit operating frequently in a satisfactory way, may, however, undergo improvement as regards area occupation. These systems synchronize the read and control circuits precisely in order to preserve the advantages deriving from the use of microstructures with driving and sensing masses not electrically insulated from one another (in particular on account of the technological difficulties in providing the insulation, which render the manufacturing processes considerably more complex and costly). For this purpose, phase-locked-loop (PLL) circuits are normally used, which have, however, a far from negligible impact in terms of area occupation, as well as of consumption levels, and include external filtering components. In addition, at the start and upon waking-up from low-consumption (the so-called "power-down") configurations or from conditions of loss of synchronism, the PLL circuits may have transients even of several hundreds of milliseconds before completing phase locking. The consequent delay in the response can be very detrimental in certain applications.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Microelectromechanical gyroscope with calibrated synchronization of actuation and method for actuating a microelectromechanical gyroscope


A method and apparatus are provided for delivering items to a plurality of storage locations is provided. The system includes a plurality of storage locations. The storage locations may be positioned to provide an aisle and a delivery mechanism may be operable within the aisle to deliver items to the storage locations. A displaceable safety mechanism may be provided to impede access to the aisle from the storage location.

The use of automated storage and retrieval has significantly improved the efficiency of material handling. For instance, in the order fulfillment application, automated storage and retrieval systems have significantly reduced the time required to retrieve the items required to fulfill a customer order. A variety of automated storage and retrieval systems are currently known. One exemplary type of system utilizes one or more storage racks, a plurality of vehicles and a track for guiding the vehicles to the storage locations on the racks. The vehicles deliver items to the storage locations where operators remove the items from the storage locations to fulfill orders. When operator removes an item from a storage location, there is the possibility that the operator could reach through the storage location and into the area where the delivery vehicles operate. In such an instance, the operator could be injured if one of the vehicles strikes the operator. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a safety mechanism that prevents inadvertent access to the area where the automated delivery mechanism operates. Additionally, it is desirable that such safety mechanism have minimal or no impact on operator efficiency.

Material handling apparatus having safety mechanism for storage locations


A method for diagnosis of a system made up of a plurality of interlinked modules includes receiving an alarm from the system indicative of a fault in one of the modules. Responsive to the alarm, a causal network is constructed associating the fault with malfunctions in one or more of the modules that may have led to the fault and relating a conditional probability of the fault to respective probabilities of the malfunctions. Based on the alarm and the causal network, at least one of the probabilities of the malfunctions is updated. A diagnosis of the alarm is proposed responsive to the updated probabilities.

The complexity of computer networks continues to grow, and the levels of reliability, availability and service required of these networks continue to rise, as well. These factors place an increasing burden on diagnostic systems that are used in computer networks to identify and isolate network faults. In order to avoid failures that may severely interfere with network activity, it is important to detect intermittent and sporadic problems that are predictive of incipient failures and to pinpoint the devices that are causing the problems. To maintain high availability of the network, these problems should be identified while the network is on-line and running in a normal activity mode. Service personnel can then be instructed to replace faulty elements before they fail completely.
Modern networks typically provide large volumes of diagnostic information, such as topology files, system-wide error logs and component-specific trace files. Analyzing this information to identify network faults is beyond the capabilities of all but the most skilled network administrators. Most automated approaches to network diagnostics attempt to overcome this problems by framing expert knowledge in the form of if-then rules, which are automatically applied to the diagnostic information. Typically, the rules are heuristic, and must be crafted specifically for the system to which they are to be applied. As a result, the rules themselves are difficult to devise and cannot be applied generally to all error conditions that may arise. Such rules are not globally applicable and must generally be updated when the system configuration is changed.
Model-based diagnostic approaches begin from a functional model of the system in question and analyze it to identify faulty components in the case of malfunction. Functional models (also known as forward or causal models) are often readily available as part of system specifications or reliability analysis models. Developing such a model is typically a straightforward part of the system design or analysis process. Thus, creating the model does not require that the designer be expert in diagnosing system faults. Rather, automated algorithms are applied to the functional model in order to reach diagnostic conclusions. As long as the system model is updated to reflect configuration changes, these algorithms will automatically adapt the diagnostics to the changes that are made.
Switched computing and communication networks, such as System Area Networks (SANs), pose particular challenges for diagnostic applications in terms of their complexity and inherent uncertainties. The complexity has to do with the large numbers of components involved, the existence of multiple, dynamic paths between devices in the network, and the huge amount of information that these networks carry. The uncertainties stem, inter alia, from the fact that alarm messages are carried through the network in packet form. As a result, there may be unknown delays in alarm transmission, leading to alarms arriving out of order, and even loss of some alarm packets.
One paradigm known in the art for model-based diagnostics in the presence of uncertainty is Bayesian Networks. Cowell et al. provide a general description of Bayesian Network theory in Probabilistic Networks and Expert Systems (Springer-Verlag, N.Y., 1999), which is incorporated herein by reference. A Bayesian Network is a directed, acyclic graph having nodes corresponding to the domain variables, with conditional probability tables attached to each node. When the directions of the edges in the graph correspond to cause-effect relationships between the nodes, the Bayesian Network is also referred to as a causal network. The absence of an edge between a pair of nodes represents an assumption that the nodes are conditionally independent. The product of the probability tables gives the joint probability distribution of the variables. The probabilities are updated as new evidence is gathered regarding co-occurrence of faults and malfunctions in the system under test. When the diagnostic system receives a new alarm or set of alarms, it uses the Bayesian Network to automatically determine the most probable malfunctions behind the alarm.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,083, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes an exemplary application of Bayesian Networks to diagnostics of a communication network. The communication network is represented as a Bayesian Network, such that devices and communication links in the communication network are represented as nodes in the Bayesian Network. Faults in the communication network are identified and recorded in the form of trouble tickets, and one or more probable causes of the fault are given based on the Bayesian Network calculations. When a fault is corrected, the Bayesian Network is updated with the knowledge learned in correcting the fault. The updated trouble ticket information is used to automatically update the appropriate probability matrices in the Bayesian Network. The Bayesian Network of U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,083 is static and makes no provision for changes in the configuration of the communication network. Furthermore, because the Bayesian Network models the entire communication network, it quickly becomes computationally intractable when it must model a large, complex switched network.
Another approach to the application of Bayesian Networks to fault diagnosis in computer systems is described by Pizza et al., in "Optimal Discrimination between Transient and Permanent Faults," Proceedings of the Third IEEE High Assurance System Engineering Symposium (1998), which is incorporated herein by reference. The authors suggest applying the principles of reliability theory to discriminating between transient faults and permanent faults in components of a computer system. Reliability theory predicts the probability of failure of a given device in terms of failure rate or failure distribution over time (in terms such as Mean Time Between Failures—MTBF). Standard reliability theory techniques are based on sampling device performance under known conditions. In the scheme proposed by Pizza et al., on the other hand, the probabilities of permanent and transient faults of the system components are estimated and updated by inference using a Bayesian Network. This scheme is of only limited practical applicability, however, since in order to arrive at an exact and optimal decision as to failure probability, it looks at each module in the computer system in isolation, without error propagation from one module to another. This is not an assumption that can reasonably be made in real-world switched networks.

Proactive on-line diagnostics in a manageable network

International Business Machines Corporation


A method and apparatus for a multiple-channel image/video coding system are disclosed. A residue generation process is applied to the image/video data to generate residue data. A set of integer operations is applied to the residue data across the input channels to generate residue transformed data having multiple output channels. In one embodiment, the residue transformed data associated with a first output channel is related to the difference between a first residue data associated with a first input channel and a second residue data associated with a second input channel. In another embodiment, the residue transformed data associated with a second output channel is related to the second difference between a threshold and a third residue data associated with a third input channel, and wherein the threshold corresponds to the first truncated or rounded average of the first residue data and the second residue data.

Image compression and video compression have been widely used to reduce required storage or bandwidth associated with the respective image and video data. The underlying image or video data often comprises multiple channels. For example, in the digital camera application, a raw image is often captured using an image sensor with Red (R), Green (G) and Blue (B) color arrays. While the RGB color provides a convenient format to represent a color image or video for capture or display applications, the three color channels have to be treated equally for storage or transmission, which may not be efficient. In the field of image and video coding, various luminance/chrominance color formats are widely used, where each color format corresponds to a luminance component and two chrominance components. For example, YUV or YCrCb color format has been used in various image and video compression standards. Since the human vision is less sensitive to the chrominance signals, the chrominance signals (i.e., U/Cb and V/Cr) can be represented at lower spatial resolution with no degradation or minor degradation on the visual quality. There are also other variations of luminance/chrominance color formats. For example, the YCoCg color format disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,155,055 and the reversible YUV color format disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,044,172 use simplified color transform matrices so that only integer operations are used to convert signals between the RGB and the YCoCg/Integer YUV formats. There is also a color format conversion between RGB in Bayer pattern and the YCoCg color format as disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2006/0083432. In typical image/video compression systems, the compression process is applied to individual luminance and chrominance channels separately.
The color conversion between a primary color format and a luminance/chrominance format involves pixel-based operations, where the conversion is represented by a set of linear equations, i.e., a conversion matrix. While the luminance/chrominance color format removes some redundancy among different channels of original image or video in the primary color format, there is still substantial amount of correlation among different channels in the luminance/chrominance color format. It is desirable to exploit the redundancy among different channels for image or video in the luminance/chrominance color format. Furthermore, it is desirable to reduce the impact on an existing image or video compression system while exploiting the redundancy among different channels.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of image compression system such as a digital camera. Image sensor 110 is used to capture raw image data 120. Image compressor 130 receives raw image data 120 and applies image compression to generate compressed image data 140. Usually, image compression is applied to image data in a luminance/chrominance color format, such as YUV. Therefore, color conversion is performed in image compressor 130 to convert the raw image into the luminance/chrominance color format first and image compression is then applied to individual channels. FIG. 2 illustrates an example of image compression for transmission or interface applications such as MIPI (Mobile Industry Processor Interface), DSI (Display Serial Interface) and HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface), Wi-Fi Display or Bluetooth. Block diagram 200A corresponds to the transmitter side, where raw image data 220 is received from transmitter 210. In the example of HDMI interface between a set-top box and an HDTV set, the transmitter corresponds to the set-top box and the receiver corresponds to the HDTV set. Image compressor 230 compresses the raw image data into compressed image data 240. The compressed image data is then transmitted over the media such as a physical cable or wireless link. Block diagram 220B corresponds to the receiver side, where compressed data 250 is received over a media. The compressed data is then decompressed by image decompressor 260 to recover raw image data 270. The recovered raw image data is then provided to the receiver for display.
FIG. 3 illustrates exemplary block diagrams of image compression systems. System 300A corresponds to a compression system based on spatial prediction. Original image 310 with three channels is processed by quantization. The original image may correspond to color pixels in the RGB format. The original image is converted to a luminance/chrominance color format such as YUV using a 3×3 conversion matrix. After matrix conversion, the result is quantized by input quantization 320 to a fixed data depth, such as 8 bits or 10 bits. Spatial prediction 330A is then applied to individual channels to generate residue data, which is then compressed by entropy coding 350A to generate compressed data. Spatial prediction is well known in the field of image and video coding. For example, the image can be divided into blocks and each block can be predicted based on neighboring blocks that have been processed. System 300B corresponds to a compression system based on frequency transform, where frequency transform 340B is applied to quantized image data. For example, discrete cosine transform (DCT) can be applied to individual channels. The transform coefficients are often quantized (the quantizer for transform coefficients is not explicitly shown in system 330B) and then coded by entropy coding 350B to generate compressed image data. The quantizer for the frequency transformed data is often used for the purpose of bit rate control. System 300C illustrates a compression system based on both spatial prediction and frequency transform, where frequency transform 340C is applied to residual signal from spatial prediction 330C. The transform coefficients are quantized (the quantizer for transform coefficients is not explicitly shown in system 330C) and then coded by entropy coding 350C to generate compressed image data. In FIG. 3, the residual signals are generated by spatial processing 330A, frequency transform 340B or both spatial prediction 330C and frequency transform 340C. Systems shown in FIG. 3 are intended to illustrate examples of generating residual signals in an image compression system. There are many other means to generate residual signals for image compression. For example, the image compression system may use wavelet or pyramid techniques to form residual signals. The invention disclosed herein is not limited to the image compression systems shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of video compression system, where the system consists of three source data channel (410A-410C) corresponding to three input channels. The source data channels are predicted by respective Intra/Inter prediction from block 420. The residual signals (414A-414C) correspond to the differences between source data channels and respective prediction using subtractors 412A-412C. The Intra/Inter prediction process is well known in the art. For example, in the MPEG-2, H.264/AVC and the emerging High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) coding standards, a form of Intra/Inter prediction is used. The Intra prediction and Inter prediction is often adaptively selected for each image area such as a macroblock, a largest coding unit (LCU), a slice, or a picture. The Inter prediction may include motion estimation to exploit temporal redundancy among images in the video sequence. While the redundancy within each input channel has been reduced by the residue generation process, the residual signals (414A-414C) may not be in a form suited for entropy coding. Usually the residual signals are subject to further processing to convert the signal into symbols suited for entropy coding. For example, the residual signals are further processed by two-dimensional transform and quantization (T/Q, 450A-450C) as shown in FIG. 4. Such further processing for the encoder side is referred to as coding process in this disclosure. Accordingly, the two-dimensional transform, quantization, or a combination of both two-dimensional transform and quantization is an example of coding process. The frequency transform used for image coding, such as DCT, can be used as the two-dimensional transform for video compression. Other two-dimensional transforms, such as integer transform, may also be used to achieve high computational efficiency for video applications. The quantized transform coefficients are then compressed using entropy coder 470 to generate compressed video output. The entropy coder usually compressed data symbols into compressed bitstream. For example, the data symbols correspond to the quantized transform coefficients. It is well known in the art that the data symbols may also include other coding information.
The encoder side also needs to reconstruct the coded video in order to form prediction. Accordingly, inverse coding process has to be applied to the data symbols to recover the residual signals. For example, the quantized transform coefficients from T/Q 450A-450C are processed by inverse quantization and inverse two-dimensional transform (IQ/IT, 460A-460C) to generate recovered residual signals (444A-444C). The IQ/IT processed signals are added to the previous prediction signals from Intra/Inter prediction 420 to form reconstructed signals using adders 442A-442C. The reconstructed signals are then processed by in-loop filters 440A-440C to reduce coding artifacts before the reconstructed signals are stored in frame buffers 430A-430C for later use by Intra/Inter prediction 420. FIG. 4 illustrates an example of reconstruction loop in the encoder side to reconstruct the image or video data based on residual signals, where the reconstruction loop comprises adders (442A-442C), in-loop filters (440A-440C), frame buffers (430A-430C) and reconstruction using Intra/Inter prediction (part of block 420). However, a coding system may use different system partition. For example, the inverse quantization may also be included in the reconstruction loop in the encoder side to reconstruct the image or video data based on residual signals. In FIG. 4, the residual signals are generated from the source data channels and Intra/Inter prediction using subtractors 412A-412C. The residual signals are reproduced after T/Q 450A-450C and IQ/IT 460A-460C processing. There are many other means to generate residual signals for video compression. The invention to be disclosed hereinafter is not limited to the video compression systems shown in FIG. 4.

Method and apparatus for residue transform


A system for providing advertisements with search results in response to a search query comprises a front end and an advertisement server. The front end is configured: to receive a search query; to send a first search request to a search server and sending a first advertisement request to an advertisement server, wherein the first search request includes the search query or information based on the search query, and wherein the first advertisement request includes the search query or information based on the search query and an indication that an advertisement response is not to be provided; to receive search results from the search server; and to send at least some of the search results to the advertisement server in a second advertisement request, wherein the second advertisement request includes an indication that an advertisement response is to be provided. The advertisement server is configured: in response to receiving the first advertisement request, to search for advertisements related to the search query to produce plural advertisement results each with an associated score; in response to receiving the second advertisement request, to modify the score of at least one of the plural advertisement results; to rank the plural advertisement results according to their scores; to select one or more of the highest ranked plural advertisement results; and to send an advertisement response to the front end, the advertisement response including the selected one or more highest ranked plural advertisement results. The front end is configured to provide the search results with the selected one or more highest ranked plural advertisement results.

Worldwideweb search services, such as those provided by Google, Inc. through google.com, have been used for a number of years and have been becoming increasingly sophisticated.
It is common when providing search results to a user to provide also one or more advertisements. Advertisements are paid for by advertisers, who are normally charged by the provider of the search services on the basis of a number of impressions (the number of times that an advertisement is presented to users) or on the basis of click-through (the number of occasions on which users click on a link in an advertisement, thereby directing traffic to the advertiser's website). A webpage provided in response to a search query thus typically has two components. The first is a number of search results, which are discreet listings that have been selected by a search engine used by the search services provider to identify webpages that are anticipated to be of interest to the user that submitted the search query. The second component of the webpage is one or more advertisements, which are selected by an advertisement server operated by the search services provider and which have been selected as likely being of interest to the user, based on the search query.
It would be desirable to take into account the search results provided by the search server when selecting advertisements for inclusion in the webpage. However, it has not heretofore been technically feasible to use the results provided by the search server in selecting advertisements without increasing the time between receiving a search query and providing the webpage of search results to an unacceptably long time. The present invention seeks to provide a solution to this problem.


The invention relates to a collimator electrode, comprising an electrode body (81) that is provided with a central electrode aperture (82), wherein the electrode body defines an electrode height between two opposite main surfaces, and wherein the electrode body accommodates a cooling conduit (105) inside the electrode body for transferring a cooling liquid (102). The electrode body preferably has a disk shape or an oblate ring shape.

In the semiconductor industry, an ever-increasing desire exists to manufacture smaller structures with high accuracy and reliability. Lithography is a critical part of such manufacturing process. In a mask-less lithography system, charged particle beamlets may be used to transfer a pattern onto a target. The beamlets may be individually controllable to obtain the desired pattern.
To be commercially viable, the charged particle lithography systems need to be able to meet challenging demands for substantial wafer throughput and stringent error margins. A higher throughput may be obtained by using more beamlets, and hence more current.
However, the handling of a greater number of beamlets results in the need for more control circuitry. The operational control circuitry may cause heating within the lithography system. Furthermore, an increase in the current results in more charged particles that interact with components in the lithography system. The collisions between charged particles and system components inside the lithography system may cause significant heating of respective components. The resulting heating of beam manipulation components may lead to thermal deformations that reduce the accuracy of the lithography process.
The use of a large number of beamlets further increases the risk of unacceptable inaccuracy due to inter-particle interactions between the beamlets (e.g. Coulomb interactions).
The effects of inter-particle interactions may be reduced by shortening the path between particle source and target. Path shortening may be achieved by using stronger electric fields for manipulating the charged particles, which requires application of larger electric potential differences between various electrodes in the charged particle lithography system.
With stronger particle beam currents and electric fields present, the particle collisions and heat generation inside the lithography system will become more intense. The resulting thermal deformations may have a significant negative impact on the field accuracy and on the beam processing accuracy.

Abstract: The invention further relates to a collimator electrode stack for use in a charged particle beam generator, comprising a first collimator electrode and a second collimator electrode that are each provided with a cooling conduit (105) for transferring the cooling liquid (102), and a connecting conduit (110) for a liquid connection between the cooling conduits of the first and second collimator electrodes.


A system is provided for deploying, operating and recovering well tools through flow lines. A system is also provided for deploying, operating and recovering a through flow line production logging system, the preferred system being characterized by the use of a time delay assembly in combination with a locking locator assembly and cooperating reach members with connecting collars disposed between a pump down transport assembly and the production logging tool.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to apparatus and methods for deploying, utilizing and recovering well tools, particularly downhole production logging equipment, through a flow line in a well. As used herein, the term "TFL tools" refers to well tools that are pumped down into wells through conduits such as flow lines without being suspended or supported from the surface.
2. Description of Related Art
In the past, production logging equipment has typically been deployed in wells by the use of wireline, coiled tubing or production tubing. Such conventional well logging systems and methods of deployment cannot be used satisfactorily in all situations. One such example is in offshore production where wells are drilled in a template on the ocean floor that is located several miles away from the production platform. Another example is in horizontal wells, especially tight-radius wells or those having long lateral extensions. A system is therefore needed that will enable TFL tools such as production logging equipment to be pumped down into a well through a flow line, utilized and recovered without being suspended from the surface.
Devices and methods useful for pumping well tools downhole through well conduits have previously been disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,957,119. That patent discloses the use of TFL transport or locomotive pistons joined by a stem comprising a series of interconnecting reach rods to a well tool suspended from the pistons below a circulating nipple in the well bore. In the preferred embodiment, a lock mandrel and standing valve suspended from a running tool are lowered into a no-go landing nipple. The apparatus disclosed therein does not, however, provide means adapted to releasably lock a TFL tool string into a preselected profile in a well bore while simultaneously permitting relative axial movement between the stem and locking means during operation of the well tool. When doing production logging with TFL tools, such axial movement would permit data to be logged at several different points in a well bore without repositioning the locking means.
While axial movement of a logging tool within a well bore is often desirable in order to ascertain well conditions at spaced intervals, means are also needed for limiting the rate of travel at each such interval in order to record meaningful data at a given point.

Production logging system using through flow line tools


In a stream processing system, a stream partitioned by a prescribed time interval is extracted as a partial stream, from one or more real streams formed by continuous time series data, according to playback position information or timestamps of the real streams, and a virtual stream is produced by concatenating one or more partial streams so as to enable a continuous playback. Then, a stream partitioned by another prescribed time interval is extracted as a partial virtual stream, from the virtual stream, according to playback position information or timestamps of the virtual stream, and a meta information related to a content of the partial virtual stream is stored in relation to the partial virtual stream.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a real stream processing system capable of realizing the stream playback for playbacking data while transferring data.
2. Description of the Related Art
It has become increasingly popular to use the stream playback for playbacking data in real time while transferring data from a server rather than downloading data transferred from a server first and then playbacking the downloaded data.
In the case of the stream playback, the playback can be started as soon as the transfer of data from the server starts, so that a user on the client machine side does not have to be kept waiting and there is no need to provide a large capacity storage device on the client machine side so that it is possible to simplify the hardware configuration of the client machine side. There is also a merit that it is possible to prevent the unauthorized secondary use of the downloaded data.
For these reasons, the wider spread of the stream playback is expected in conjunction with the advance of the broadband technology in future.
The stream data transferred from the server are just ordinary time series data, and the stream data themselves do not have any information for identifying data or information on data characteristics. For this reason, it has been difficult to realize a selection of a specific part of the stream data in an attempt to select and playback only a selected part of the stream data.

Stream processing system with function for selectively playbacking arbitrary part of ream stream


Copper surfaces upon which organic resins are electrophoretically deposited to serve as plating or etch resists in the course of manufacturing printed circuits, are preliminarily provided with a uniformizing/passivating coating layer, such as a layer of copper oxide or phosphate conversion coating, over which the organic resin is electrophoretically deposited, resulting in the organic resin being deposited with substantial uniformity in thickness and properties.

The present invention relates to the manufacture of printed circuits and, more particularly, to improvement in those methods for manufacturing printed circuits which make use of electrophoretically deposited organic resists in the manufacturing sequence.
In the manufacture of printed circuits, it is well known to employ organic resists in the manufacturing sequence. For example, organic resists are often provided in a preselected pattern over a copper-covered dielectric substrate to serve as a selective plating resist, whereby a subsequent metallization step selectively further metallizes only those copper areas not covered by the resist material. Also well known is the provision of organic resists in a preselected pattern over a copper-covered dielectric substrate to serve as a selective etch resist, where a subsequent metal etching step selectively etches away only those copper areas not covered by the resist material.
The desired pattern of organic resist can be achieved by selective application of the resist composition to the copper surface through a suitably patterned mask or by photoimaging techniques. In the latter, the photoactive resist composition is applied as a layer to the copper surface and is then imagewise exposed to activating radiation of appropriate wavelength through a mask. Depending upon the nature of the photoactive composition, i.e., whether it is positive-working or negative-working, subsequent development of the composition will result in the leaving behind on the copper surface of a pattern of organic resist corresponding to the negative or positive, as the case may be, of the light-exposure pattern.
It is also known to employ as organic resists compositions which can be electrophoretically deposited over conductive (i.e., copper) surfaces. These resist compositions can be photoactive or non-photoactive. For the former, electrophoretic deposition is used to provide a layer of the composition to the copper surface, following which imagewise exposure and development result in the desired organic resist pattern. For the latter, the surface in question is already present in a pattern of conductive and non-conductive surfaces (such as is the case when a copper surface has been previously selectively patterned with a plating resist which remains temporarily in place), and the electrophoretic deposition of resist results in its selective application only to exposed conductive surfaces.
The prior art relating to electrophoretically depositable organic coatings is extensive. Electrophoretically deposited organic coatings have long been used by the automotive industry to mask selected metal areas during painting of metal panels and the like. Among the earliest references to the use of electrophoretically deposited organic coatings in the printed circuit field is USSR Inventor's Certificate No. 293,312, published May 10, 1971, wherein electrophoretically applied organic compositions are employed as etch resists in the manufacture of a printed circuit. As therein described, a first plating resist pattern is provided on a through-hole-containing copper foil covered substrate, followed by metallization of the through-holes and other copper areas not protected by the plating resist. By means of electrophoretic deposition, an organic resist is then selectively applied over the exposed copper areas to there serve as an etch resist. The plating resist is then removed, the copper thereunder etched down to the substrate surface, and the etch resist then removed to provide the desired pattern of copper circuitry.
Additional patents directed to the use of electrophoretically deposited organic resists in the manufacture of printed circuits include British Patent 1,194,826, published Jun. 10, 1970 (use as a mask for the selective electroplating or etching of metallic surfaces); French Patent Application 2,422,732 (use as a mask in the selective gold plating of electrical contacts); U.S. Pat. No. 3,892,646 to Lazzarini et al (electrophoretic deposition of polymer coating to selected portions of electrical connector contacts to serve as electrical insulation areas in final assembly); U.S. Pat. No. 4,592,816 to Emmons et al (photosensitive polymer compositions depositable by electrophoresis for use as resists in printed circuit manufacture); U.S. Pat. No. 4,746,399 to Demmer et al (use of uncured electrophoretically deposited resin as an etch resist over exposed copper areas of a copper surface patterned with a plating resist); U.S. Pat. No. 4,751,172 to Rodriguez et al (essentially as in the foregoing references, including using exposed and developed photosensitive electrophoretically deposited coating as plating resist and using differently soluble electrophoretically depositable coating as etch resist over copper areas not covered by plating resist); and U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,438 to Banks et al (use of particular electrophoretically deposited resin as resist in printed circuit manufacture).
The foregoing references, and particularly the extensive discussion in a number of them of various types of polymer resins which can be deposited by electrophoresis (e.g., cationic polymers depositable on the surface of a negatively charged substrate (cataphoresis) and anionic polymers deposited on the surface of a positively charged substrate (anaphoresis)), are incorporated herein by reference.
The use of electrophoretically depositable resins as resists in the manufacture of printed circuits provides a number of advantages to the manufacturer. By their nature, they are capable of selective deposition onto only the exposed conductive surfaces of a substrate already patterned in conductive and non-conductive surfaces, and thus provide the manufacturer with an easy means for selectively depositing resin to serve, e.g., as an etch resist for underlying copper areas in the manufacturing sequence. Even when the selective depositing property is not required, such as when the resin is a photoactive resin which will simply be deposited as a layer and subsequently exposed and developed in a pattern, electrophoretic deposition provides an easy means (in substitution for roller coating, curtain coating, etc.) for depositing the resin layer, and particularly for providing the resin as a very thin layer (e.g., 0.2 to 0.5 mil thickness) suitable when very fine line circuitry traces are desired.
Notwithstanding the potential advantages of electrophoretically depositing resists over copper surfaces in the course of printed circuit manufacture, a number of difficulties have been encountered in practice regarding the uniformity of the resist so applied and, as a consequence of such non-uniformity, the inability to obtain functionally satisfactory resists.
The present invention is based upon recognition of the problems and their causes in these regards, and is directed to improved methods for overcoming these deficiencies.

Process for the manufacture of printed circuits using electrophoretically deposited organic resists