A method of aiding the piloting of an aircraft during a maneuver, bringing about an increase in the attitude of the aircraft, is carried out automatically and repeatedly. According to the method, an attitude deviation is determined by subtracting a first value of attitude from a determined current attitude of the aircraft. A horizon line is presented on a display screen of a head-up display device, superimposed with the environment seen in front of the aircraft, as is an indication of the attitude deviation. The first value of attitude corresponds to the minimum value of (1) an optimal value of attitude at the end of the maneuver and (2) a value of attitude of protection against a rear collision.

Within the framework of the present invention, rotation is understood to mean a maneuver of the aircraft, in particular of a transport aircraft, which brings about an increase in the angle of attitude during a takeoff phase. The present invention may also be applied to the following maneuvers: a go-around in the course of an approach phase or a flare-out during a landing phase.
It is known that such a system for aiding piloting can comprise:                a set of information sources, including an information source which determines a current attitude of the aircraft;        a calculation unit which is connected to said set of information sources; and        a head-up display device of HUD type which is connected to said calculation unit and which is able to present, on a display screen, superimposed with the environment seen in front of the aircraft, at least one attitude scale and a means of indication (aircraft reference) associated with said attitude scale and indicating said current attitude of the aircraft.
It is known to present, moreover, on said display screen, a marker generally situated between +10° and +15° on the attitude scale, that the pilot will align with said aircraft reference so as to obtain, for example in the case of a rotation, the desired attitude at the end of rotation. This known way of providing information to the pilot has several drawbacks. In particular:                the zone of the corresponding attitude scale being situated outside the field of display when the aircraft exhibits a zero attitude, the pilot does not see said marker at the moment of the initiation of the rotation. This often induces an overshoot of the desired value of attitude, by reason of too fast a subsequent appearance of said marker in the field of display of the display screen;        the pilot is compelled to look at the top part of the display field so as to monitor the appearance of said marker, and this may cause him to neglect the holding of the trajectory of the aircraft on the center of the runway; and        the visual scan is hardly optimal. Specifically, the pilot first looks downward during rolling, then upward during the rotation, then again downward after the rotation (since he uses the speed vector and the guidance associated therewith during the initial climb).

Method and system for aiding the piloting of an aircraft, during a maneuver bringing about an increase in the attitude of the aircraft


A portable campfire, complete with everything needed to have a fire, is described. The campfire comprises wood fastened in a fixed shape on a base, kindling, and a handle for easy transport. Paper and a lighting means, such as matches can be included, along with extra kindling. The entire campfire, except for any staples or nails which are used to hold it together, will burn up, leaving only ashes behind.

Camping is a popular activity throughout the United States and many other parts of the world, and one of the quintessential activities of camping is sitting around a campfire. Some campers cook over their fires, while others roast marshmallows or just sit and talk. One very common way to make a campfire is to put dry paper in place, top the paper with kindling or small pieces of dry wood, then put larger pieces of wood on top. Once campers have done that, they can light the paper and, if all goes as planned, the paper will light the kindling which, in turn, will set the larger pieces of wood on fire. Over time, as the fire burns down, campers can add more wood to the fire to keep it burning.
However, in many parks, patrons are forbidden from gathering wood to burn in their fires, or there is little or no wood to be found. The stores at many campgrounds sell bundles of wood, but it is often only enough for a small fire, thus necessitating the purchase of several bundles. Often the wood in the bundles is all of a similar size, i.e., there is no kindling or small wood pieces, which are useful in getting the fire started, thus making it difficult to start the fire.
An additional difficulty in many areas of the US is that, usually due to insect infestations or disease, some areas are under quarantine, and it is not permitted to transport wood from those areas. Thus, depending on where they are coming from, campers may not be able to bring in their own firewood. It can be difficult to determine whether a quarantine exists in any given area, so campers may not be sure until they arrive at a campground whether they can bring in their own wood.
Building a campfire may be difficult and time-consuming. If the weather has been rainy or damp, it can be very difficult to find dry wood or even dry kindling to start the fire. And paper, which is often used to help start fires, may not be available.
Many products have been invented to make it easier and faster for campers or others to make and use campfires. The Portable Fused Campfire, U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,248, has a trapezoidal framework formed from wood pieces in graduated sizes, with a waterproof cover. However, this campfire uses wood which, due to quarantines, may not be able to be transported from certain areas. Similarly, the Self-Lighting Firewood Stack with Handle, U.S. Patent Application 2009/0159073, uses logs and thus users could run into issues with the wood quarantine areas with this product also. Additionally, this campfire uses wood that is all of a similar size, rather than a mix of wood sizes, and relies on an ignitable starter material cone to start the fire.
Both the Artificial Campfire disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,044,836 and the Portable Artificial Campfire in U.S. Pat. No. 5,901,697 have artificial logs, a burner and a fuel source, so these are not wood-burning campfires, which is what many campers want. The Ready-to-Use Campfire disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,769 consists of a container filled with paraffin wax, mineral spirits and hardwood chips. Although this fire has hardwood chips in it, these will burn differently from larger wood pieces. Additionally, the container does not burn up, and must be disposed of.
There are numerous portable firepits, camping stoves, and portable fireplaces but these generally don't include the wood necessary for a fire. They often are geared mainly toward cooking rather than simply for campfires.


An air path arrangement for a pneumatic nail gun includes cylinder received in a barrel and a handle is connected to the barrel. A space is defined between the cylinder and an inner periphery of the barrel. A connection path communicates between the interior and a first partition of the chamber. A side path communicates between a space between the cylinder and an inner periphery of the barrel, and a second partition of the chamber. The first partition communicates with an inlet and an outlet in the handle. A movable member, a guide member, a valve, an axle and a base are received in the chamber. The guide member is located between the first and second partitions. The guide member has apertures which communicates with the first and second partitions so that the movable member and the valve are movably received in the first partition and the second partition.

A conventional pneumatic nail gun is able to continuous shoot with one pull of the trigger. However, the function requires a special path arrangement in the nail gun and a large number of parts are involved to achieve the purpose. The parts are installed in the limited space in the nail gun and require high standard of precision of machining so that the manufacturing cost is so high that the nail gun do not have better competitive price in the market. Besides, to assemble the large number of parts is a time-consuming task which includes the labor cost.
The present invention intends to provide an air path arrangement for a pneumatic nail gun and the arrangement does not need a large number of parts and the parts are easily to be assembled.

Air path arrangement for pneumatic nail gun


A method of transmitting one text message to a plurality of receivers is disclosed. The method includes inputting numbers of the receivers and a text message to be transmitted, determining a type of a transmission speed of the inputted text message, and transmitting the inputted text message of the determined type to numbers of the respective receivers. If the text message transmission succeeds, the method further includes confirming whether any further receivers of the text message exist and, if so, inputting new numbers of the further receivers and re-transmitting the corresponding text message to the new numbers of the further receivers. In inputting the phone numbers of the receivers, the sender can transmit the text message more rapidly and conveniently using the phonebook function and one-touch dial function.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a text message transmitting method and, more particularly, to a method of transmitting one text message to a plurality of receivers.
2. Background of the Related Art
As the use of mobile communication terminals, such as cellular phones, PCS phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), etc., increases with the development of mobile communication techniques, diverse additional services using the mobile communication terminal, such as voice message services, radio data communication services, text message services, etc., have been developed. Among them, the text message service has become a more important message transferring method than the voice call service, with respect to youngsters in their teens and twenties. Also, in order to satisfy the consumers' tastes and to improve the quality of service, communication service providers and terminal manufacturers have made a great investment in the development of diverse services and the manufacture of terminals having more useful functions.
FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a related art text message transmitting process for a mobile communication terminal. A sender selects a text message function from a function selection menu that is displayed on a screen of the terminal. The sender then prepares a text message to be transmitted with a phone number of the terminal that is intended to receive the message (step S100).
Thereafter, it is determined whether to store the prepared text message (step S110). If the sender intends to store the message, he/she selects a "message storage" command on a display section of the screen and the text message is stored in a memory (step S120). Then, the sender selects one of the message transmission types, which are classified into normal, urgent, and special (step S130), and the preparation of the text message transmission is completed. A message appears on the display section of the terminal (e.g., "Transmission?") prompting the sender for a command to initiate the text message transmission (not illustrated).
If the text message is transmitted (step S140), the sender terminal, after several seconds, receives a response signal indicating the result of transmission from a message transmission center. The sender terminal analyzes the response signal and judges whether the transmission succeeded (step S150).
If the text message transmission succeeded, the sender terminal displays a message (e.g., "Transmission has been completed") to inform the sender of the successful transmission and returns to an idle mode (steps S170 and S180). If the text message transmission failed, the sender terminal displays a message (e.g, "Retransmission?") asking the sender whether to retransmit and also displays a message (e.g., "Transmission failed") to inform the sender of the transmission failure (step S160). The sender terminal then waits for the sender's command for retransmission.
The retransmission process performed as a result of the transmission failure includes transmitting the prepared text message, receiving the response signal from the message transmission center (step S140), and judging whether the transmission succeeded by analyzing the response signal (step S150). These steps (S140 and S150) are repeated until the text message is successfully transmitted. However, if the sender does not want the retransmission, the sender terminal returns to the idle mode (step S180).
Consequently, when one text message is transmitted to a plurality of receivers, the sender should repeat the above steps (steps S100 to S180) for each receiver. For each receiver that is to receive the text message, the sender inputs the respective receiver's phone number during a separate execution of process steps S100 to S180.
As described above, according to the related art text message transmission method, the sender should repeat a series of processes, such as inputting the respective receiver's phone number, the text message, the message transmission type (i.e., "normal", "urgent", or "special"), and the transmission command, for each separate recipient receiver when transmitting the text message to a plurality of receivers. This causes inconvenience for the sender and makes it difficult to achieve a rapid transmission of the text message.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method of transmitting one text message to many receivers


A system and method for storing, cleaning, drying, and hunting with diaphragm game callers. In an exemplary embodiment, a sturdy, sealable, watertight container is adapted to house and secure one or more diaphragm callers in a fixed position. It also adapted to separate and hold apart the multiple diaphragms of each game caller. Further embodiments include means to facilitate rinsing, by a suitable rinsing agent, the game caller and all its surfaces, including between the separated and held apart diaphragms of the game caller. It may also include means to facilitate the drying of the opposing surfaces of diaphragms.

The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for storing, cleaning, drying, and hunting with diaphragm game callers.
Game callers are devices used by hunters to allure their prey by mimicking attractive calls of the species. Generally, each one is tuned to attract only one specific type of animal. A well-known type of game caller utilizes one or more diaphragms and is called a diaphragm caller. A hunter causes the diaphragm caller to emit sounds by placing the caller into his mouth, either against the roof of his mouth or, in so-called "lip calls", between his lip and teeth, and blowing across the call.
Typically, these diaphragm callers comprise a pair of generally rectangular or horseshoe-shaped frame elements supporting one or more strips of pre-tensioned diaphragm material such as latex, rubber, or the like. The diaphragm is held by the frame along its edges and at the rear, and is free to vibrate and produce sound at its outward end.
Diaphragm callers are relatively small objects that are easily lost if they are not properly stored. They are also extremely fragile and easily broken. Many hunters develop close, even superstitious, ties to their callers and become forlorn if they are lost or broken. Therefore, secure, portable containers that can be used during a hunt as well as between hunts are useful and desirable devices. During a hunt, it is also likely that the hunter will need to carry many diaphragms to accommodate all the types of game the hunter may find. Therefore, there is a need for a portable container to effectively hold multiple diaphragm callers.
Diaphragm callers can also become very dirty over time from the user's saliva and from dirt-ridden landscapes. Therefore, there is also a need for a container that may be used for cleaning the diaphragms as well as store them.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,171 shows a container that houses a number of diaphragm game callers in stacked, upright fashion separately from one another in a small plastic container. However, this device does not separate or hold apart any of the diaphragms of the game caller, secure the game caller in a fixed position inside of a sealed watertight container, facilitate rinsing of the entire game caller in a sealed container, or facilitate drying between the separated and held apart diaphragms of the game caller.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,067 shows a container that separates two diaphragms with a small clip-like device. However, this device does not separate more than two diaphragms of a game caller, secure the game caller in a fixed position inside a sealed watertight container practical for any storing/traveling situation, facilitate rinsing of the game caller in a sealed watertight container, or facilitate the drying of the game caller in sealed watertight container. It is also easily lost, misplaced, or dropped and is not practical in a hunting situation.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include one or more novel features that provide advantages over the prior art. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include a system that is adapted to hold at least one diaphragm game caller. For example, one embodiment of a container may be adapted to separate and hold apart the respective diaphragms of multiple diaphragm game callers. In some exemplary embodiments, the game callers may be rendered easily accessible and instantly capable of optimum tonal performance. In further embodiments, a container may facilitate rinsing and drying of at least one entire game caller.
In one exemplary embodiment, a sturdy, sealable, watertight container that is adapted to house and secure one or more diaphragm callers in a fixed position is provided such that the diaphragm game callers may be in immediate readiness and instant capability of providing optimum tonal performance for the user. Furthermore, it may separate and hold apart the multiple diaphragms of the game callers when in use. Furthermore, such example may be fully functional and practical to use in any hunting, storage, or travel situation or application. The example is adapted to allow diaphragm game callers to be separated in the field at the end of a hunt. Such example may also easily fit into and out of a pocket. Further embodiments may include means to facilitate rinsing of at least one game caller and all its surfaces, including between separated and held apart diaphragms. It may also include means to facilitate the drying of separated opposing surfaces of diaphragms. As a result of one or more of these features, an exemplary embodiment may aid in prolonging the life of a game caller.
In addition to the novel features and advantages mentioned above, other benefits will be readily apparent from the following descriptions of the drawings and exemplary embodiments.

System and method for storing, cleaning, drying, and hunting with diaphragm game callers


Embodiments of the subject technology provide for determining a set of points that form a perimeter of a polygon included in an interactive geographic map. The determined set of points of the perimeter of the polygon is reduced based on a line simplification algorithm. An area, based on the reduced set of points, of the polygon is then reduced by performing a buffering operation on the area that creates an inner buffer zone for the polygon. The subject technology determines whether an area of the inner buffer zone satisfies a predetermined threshold area. Responsive to determining that the predetermined threshold area is satisfied, a centroid of the inner buffer zone may be determined. The subject technology provides, for display to a user, a label at a coordinate position corresponding to the centroid of the inner buffer zone on the interactive geographic map.

Interactive geographic maps, e.g., maps provided by a web map service, can provide a visual representation of a geographic region. An interactive geographic map for a particular geographic region can also describe various features that appear in the particular geographic region. For example, an interactive geographic map can describe line features, e.g., roads and rivers, area features, e.g., countries, parcels, forests, and lakes, and point features, e.g., villages and cities. Each feature in an interactive geographic map can be labeled, e.g., annotated, by positioning, near the feature and in the interactive geographic map, one or more labels that describe the feature. For example, an interactive geographic map that includes a point feature referencing the city of San Francisco can be labeled by placing a label "San Francisco" near the point feature.
Thus, a given interactive mapping application may need to efficiently choose what features (e.g., buildings, parks, lakes, oceans, cities, countries, etc.) to label and where to place those labels. Computerized methods can be used to automatically position respective labels near features in an interactive geographic map. These computerized methods can also apply various algorithms to optimize the placement of labels for features in an interactive geographic map. For example, various algorithms can be applied to position labels in an interactive geographic map in a manner that places such labels near or at the center of a given feature(s).

Label placement for complex geographic polygons


A shift control system includes an engine speed detector, a multistage transmission, a gear position detector, a shifting operation detector, and an output controller. The engine speed detector is configured to detect an engine speed. The gear position detector is configured to detect a transmission gear. The shifting operation detector is configured to detect an operation of a shift operating element. The output controller is configured to restrict output of an engine in a case where an up-shifting operation is detected by the shifting operation detector. The output controller is configured to release output restriction of the engine before the gear position detector detects that switching to a next-stage transmission gear by the up-shifting operation of the shift operating element is completed.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shift control system.
Discussion of the Background
A shift control system for a motorcycle which allows shift operations without operating a main clutch has been disclosed, and there is known a technology in which, when an up-shifting operation is performed, fuel supply is stopped (engine output is cut off) only during the control time and thereafter restarted (the output cutoff is finished).
For example, JP-A No. H5-26065 listed below discloses that, by focusing on a load applied to a dog clutch, the load applied to the dog clutch is estimated from the engine speed and gear position, and the control time is set longer as the load is larger, thereby ensuring sufficient control time for clutchless up-shifting.


A grinding assembly for shaping work pieces that includes one or more grind spindles. Each of the grind spindles include two independent grinding wheels driven by a single spindle drive. The grind spindles translate horizontally to perform both edge and face grinding with a single grind spindle. A non-contact position sensor in a work spindle measures work spindle displacement during grinding and provides feedback to the grind spindle to regulate the force imparted on the work piece by the grind spindle. In variations, an abrasive wheel disposed radially with respect to an axis of spindle rotation is utilized to perform edge grinding of the work piece. In other variations cleaning, polishing and grinding are carried out in a single grinding assembly. In yet other variations, a wheel dressing apparatus is utilized to dress the wheel when one or more forces to maintain productivity of the grind wheel exceed a threhold.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to material processing, and more specifically to grinding technologies. Even more specifically, the present invention relates to surface and edge grinding technologies.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
The use of the semiconductor devices in today's commercial goods is undergoing dramatic growth. In order to expand the use of semiconductor devices in lower cost traditional products, semiconductor devices must be produced at previously unattainable low cost and with smaller size active devices and smaller line widths. Virtually every step of semiconductor device production is undergoing extensive investigation in an effort to obtain efficiencies and cost savings that will expand the market for semiconductor products.
Among the newer methods is the use of "Silicon on Insulator" and other bonding techniques where multiple silicon or other materials are bonded together then thinned to achieve desired performance. Such techniques increase efficiency of operation, lower the cost of semiconductor devices and also enable further progress in state of the art technologies.
It is generally recognized that substantial cost savings can be employed if large-scale manufacturing techniques can be brought to bear on whole wafers containing multiple, usually identical electronic devices which are simultaneously formed on the wafer substrate, prior to the wafer being divided into individual units or dies.
It has been found efficient in constructing semiconductor wafers that a substrate of semiconductor material, for example, silicon, receives overlying layers of active devices and inter-layer interconnects. After each layer is formed on the substrate, the front or active surface of the wafer is planarized or flattened so that succeeding layers are formed with a desired registry and upright orientation.
Exceedingly stringent flatness requirements are necessary for small-dimensioned patterning. As the layers are built up, one upon the other, a variety of electronic devices are formed on the wafer substrate and typically multiple, identical devices are simultaneously formed in the layer-by-layer operations. Usually, only the active or front side of the wafer undergoes extensive flattening, with the reverse or backside remaining free of layering processes and the need for precision flattening steps.
However, for larger wafers, such as the 300 mm diameter size now growing in popularity, extremely demanding flatness and surface finishing is required for both sides of the wafers. As will be appreciated, the techniques used for layer fabrication and the flattening processes cause stress inducing forces to be stored within the wafer construction. Gross chemical and atomic-level forces also are imparted to the internal structure of the semiconductor wafer and contribute to its loss of mechanical ruggedness.
Semiconductor wafers have been increasing in size in recent years in order to achieve efficiencies and cost reductions in manufacture. While most devices wafers are 6″ in diameter, a large fraction are now 8″, and the industry is tooling up for 12″ diameter wafers. These larger wafers take up much floor space and require large and heavy equipment that sometimes cannot be placed on upper floors of fabrication facilities. So for 12″ processing there is great benefit from more compact grinding equipment.
A process of bonding multiple wafers together is a newer method to fabricate these semiconductor devices. These bonded wafers require new surface finishing techniques to achieve the required flatness and surface finishes. After completing final fabrication of the multiple devices on the bonded wafers, the second wafer is then thinned from the backside to achieve the required final thickness. This is generally achieved with commercial wafer back grinders such as provided by Strasbaugh, Disco or by G&N. Such commercial grinders are typically two-step grinding with the first step done on a first rotating spindle by a coarse grind abrasive wheel, and the second step done on a separate grind spindle with a fine grind abrasive. The work piece is typically held and rotated on a chuck that retains the wafer by vacuum in a secure and flat or near flat configuration. The relative motion between the rotating grind wheel and the rotating work piece and the force provided between the two creates the energy needed to suitably grind the surfaces.


A live migration method for a virtual machine passthrough device, includes: performing a register state synchronization method by calling a register state synchronization interface; cancelling a passthrough state of the source virtual machine passthrough device, and migrating the source virtual machine passthrough device to the target virtual machine by iteratively executing multiple rounds of a synchronization operation as following: performing the register state synchronization method by calling the register state synchronization interface to capture a read/write operation on a register of the source virtual machine passthrough device in a migration process, and executing the captured read/write operation on a register of a target virtual machine passthrough device; and performing a DMA dirty page synchronization method by calling a configured DMA dirty page transmission interface, to write data corresponding to a DMA dirty page identified by the source virtual machine passthrough device into a memory of the target virtual machine.

Virtual machine is a complete computer system simulated by a software, having complete hardware system functions and running in a completely isolated environment. A virtual machine usually runs on a host machine, and each host machine may have multiple virtual machines running thereon.
In the cloud computing, a passthrough device may directly passthrough the peripheral component interface express (PCI-E) device on a host machine to a virtual machine, so that the virtual machine may directly access to the device without going through the virtual machine monitor (VMM) on the host machine, which enables the device to achieve optimal performance in the virtual machine. However, since the data transmission of the passthrough device does not require the participation of the virtual machine monitor, the virtual machine monitor cannot obtain the state of the passthrough device during the live migration of the virtual machine, and thus cannot configure the device state on a new virtual machine. Therefore, the passthrough device cannot achieve live migration.

Live migration method and apparatus for virtual machine passthrough device

BEIJING BAIDU NETCOM SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A lighting device for a display device includes a plurality of linear light sources 17 arranged parallel to one another, and a light reflecting plate 14 arranged on the side of the linear light sources 17 that corresponds to the opposite side of the light emitting side. Angled reflective portions 40 each having two inclined surfaces 41, 42 are provided on the light reflecting plate 14, so as to be each positioned between adjacent linear light sources 17. The inclination angle θ1 of the first inclined surface 41a of a first angled reflective portion 40a is set to be larger than the inclination angle θ2 of the first inclined surface 41b of a second angled reflective portion 40b that is positioned closer to the center of the array of the linear light sources 17 than the first angled reflective portion 40a.

In a display device having non-luminous optical elements as typified by a liquid crystal display device, a backlight device is provided on the backside of a display panel such as a liquid crystal panel, so as to illuminate the display panel (as shown in Patent Document 1, for example).    Patent Document 1: JP-A-2005-347062

Lighting device for display device and display device


A method of predicting at least one physical change in crack geometry of a crack in a pipeline based on in-line inspection operating pressure is presented. In one method, a first test on a pipeline is performed at a first pressure, which obtains a first set of test data. A second test is performed on the pipeline at a second pressure, obtaining a second set of test data. The first and second sets of test data are compared for any difference. A run comparison software processing device may be employed. In other methods, finite element analysis of crack-like dimensions is performed to predict Crack Mouth Opening Displacement (CMOD) for a given set of crack dimensions for a surface-breaking crack and inline pipe inspection operating run pressure. Another method predicts probability of detection of a crack associated with a given CMOD as a function of pressure in successive inspections.

This disclosure relates to a method for improving the probability of discrimination of crack-like features from the numerous magnetic flux leakage signals routinely detected by in-line pipeline inspection (ILI) tools such as circumferential magnetization flux leakage (MFL) technology. One problem routinely encountered in application of MFL methods is discrimination of cracks and crack-like features, such as due to stress-corrosion cracking (SCC) from pipe geometric features, such as manufacturing or mill defects. While methods of using MFL ILI technology exists (such as disclosed in Published U.S. Pat. Appln. No. 20070222436, discussed below), the reliability of the discrimination by known methods may be improved.
Detection of a crack using MFL ILI tools requires disruption of an induced magnetic field for detection. MFL detects a high population of geometric features in addition to cracks, which negatively affects reliability. Moreover, flux leakage is impacted by stress level.
Published U.S. Pat. Appln. No. 20070222436 discloses a method for detecting stress corrosion cracking of pipelines, comprising the steps of: identifying pipeline locations and pipeline conditions that are amenable to inspection by a magnetic flux inline tool and by a TFI tool; performing two inspections on the pipeline, one inspection performed using the magnetic flux inline (MFL) tool and an other inspection performed using the TFI tool; aligning signal features resulting from the two inspections; identifying TFI signals occurring above an un-specified threshold; identifying MFL signals for a section of pipeline corresponding to the identified TFI signals; for the identified TFI signals, determining whether the MFL signals are below a second threshold level; designating the sections of the pipeline corresponding to identified TFI signals above the unspecified threshold and below the un-specified second threshold as a potential corrosion feature; identifying TFI signals that exceed a defined metal loss percentage; measuring a width and length of the signal features, and if the width and length of the signal feature exceed threshold crack width and length values, designating as a potential corrosion feature section of pipeline corresponding to the identified TFI signals.
While the methods disclosed in '436 may be useful in certain inspections, the methods do not describe a methodology for characterization of detection of cracks as a function of ILI run parameters. The '436 application also does not identify how much pressure differential is required between successive ILI runs to enable discrimination of crack-like features, or how to determine a pressure for a second inspection which reliably detects cracks but is not disruptive of the business of the pipeline owner or operator.

Method for improved crack detection and discrimination using circumferential magnetic flux leakage