Abstract: An apparatus for altering the positioning of a seat belt shoulder strap relative to a user is presented. More specifically, an apparatus is presented whereby alteration of the positioning of a seat belt shoulder strap relative to a user is engendered via direct interaction between an intermediate point of the shoulder strap and a body part of the user. The now disclosed invention seeks to remediate the problem of discomfort caused by the positioning of a seatbelt shoulder strap in relation to a user through the use of an apparatus that alters the positioning of the shoulder strap in relation to a user by force generated through the interaction of the user's body with a means of restraining the shoulder strap.

Abstract: A broadband wire grid polarizer for the visible spectrum has a plurality of elongated elements supported on a substrate. A region having a lower refractive index than the refractive index of the substrate is disposed between the elements and the substrate to reduce the longest wavelength at which resonance occurs. The region may comprise a plurality of ribs extending from the substrate and supporting the elements. The ribs may be formed by etching slots into the substrate using the elements as a mask. The region may also comprise at least one layer of dielectric film. In addition the region may be comprise ribs extending from the surface, each having at least one layer of dielectric film disposed thereon.

Abstract: A sample support for holding for samples for use with an analysis instrument. The sample support is particularly beneficial for use with analysis instruments which rely on a beam of radiation or accelerated particles and a method for making the same is disclosed. The holder includes a frame with one or more orifices covered by a support surface, typically in the form of a thin polymer film. The film is divided into hydrophobic and hydrophilic portions to isolate precise positions where samples can be placed to intersect a probe beam during analysis.

Abstract: A standoff compensation system is disclosed for use in an acoustic LWD system. An acoustic transducer is provided to measure the standoff distance between the logging tool and the borehole wall. The present invention includes a downhole processor for determining an index value which is used to align received acoustic formation signal measurements based upon the measured standoff distance. The index value can either be calculated by the downhole processor or can be retrieved from a pre-calculated look-up table in ROM. The processor then shifts the received acoustic formation signals based upon the index value assigned to each formation signal. The aligned acoustic formation signals are stacked, so that a single acoustic formation signal can be obtained for each firing period and either stored in downhole memory, used immediately, or transmitted by telemetry to the surface. The firing of the acoustic formation transmitters occurs in a rapid firing mode, followed by a relatively long idle.

Abstract: A LWD tool is disclosed for detecting the existence of and distance to adjacent bed boundaries. A transmitter assembly generates either a short acoustic pulse or a swept frequency signal that is detected by an associated receiver assembly. The received signal(s) are conditioned and converted to high precision digital signals by an A/D converter. The digitized signals are accumulated and transferred to a digital signal processor via a high speed data bus. The digital signal processor also receives a digital signal representing the transmission signal and compares the transmission signal and the received signals together to enable a downhole microprocessor to derive a time lag for the received signals.

Abstract: A transducer and a receiver for use in logging-while-drilling operations, having internal pressure adjustment mechanisms to equalize the pressure between the interior of the transducer or receiver, and the well fluids.