Abstract: An ejector device for ejecting droplets of fluid onto a surface includes an ejector mechanism attached to a fluid reservoir through a fluid loading plate that is configured to pierce the reservoir and channel the fluid to a rear surface of the ejector mechanism by capillary action. The ejector mechanism may have a centro-symmetric configuration with a lead free piezo actuator and may be covered by an auto-closing cover.

Abstract: A powered reamer comprising a stationary assembly having a flow bore therethrough. A rotating assembly is disposed about the stationary assembly and one or more cutting structures are coupled to an outer surface of the rotating assembly. A flow restriction is disposed within the flow bore so as to divert a portion of fluid flowing through the flow bore through an outlet from the flow bore into an annulus between the stationary assembly and the rotating assembly. A power section is formed in the annulus between the stationary assembly and the rotating assembly. The power section operates to eccentrically rotate the rotating assembly about the stationary assembly in response to fluid flowing through the annulus between the stationary assembly and the rotating assembly.

Abstract: A rotary fluid drive has first and second bodies 20, 120. The second body 120 is rotatable relative to and inside of the first body 20 defining a working fluid space 40 there between. Gates 130 are supported by the first body 20 and lobes 124 are provide on the second body 120. Gate pockets 26 are formed in the first body 20 into which the gates swing when contacted by the lobes 124. The gates 130 and the gate pockets 26 are configured to form a debris chamber 27 there between capable of temporarily accommodating solid debris. Each gate 130 has a plurality of projections 136A with intervening gaps 136B. The gaps form a gate pocket flow path 141. Working fluid flows via each gate pocket flow path 141 into the working fluid space 40 when the associated gate 130 is maximally deflected into its associated gate pocket 26.

Abstract: In a piezoelectric ejector assembly, a piezoelectric actuator is attached to an ejector mechanism, while a drive signal generator and a controller are coupled to the actuator. The drive signal generator is configured to generate a drive signal for driving the actuator to oscillate the ejector assembly. The controller is configured to control the drive signal generator to drive the actuator at a resonant frequency of the ejector assembly, and an auto-tuning circuit is provided to define the optimum drive signal frequency.

Abstract: A mechanism for adjusting the relative angular orientation between two coaxial components includes a housing, a mandrel disposed in the housing, a lower ratchet member disposed around the mandrel, wherein a lower engagement interface between the lower ratchet member and the mandrel restricts relative rotation between the lower ratchet member and the mandrel, an upper ratchet member disposed around the mandrel, wherein an upper engagement interface between the upper ratchet member and the mandrel restricts relative rotation between the upper ratchet member and the mandrel, and a central sleeve disposed around the mandrel, wherein an outer engagement interface between the central sleeve and the housing restricts relative rotation between the central sleeve and the housing, wherein the central sleeve has an upper position configured to transmit torque between the upper ratchet member and the housing and a lower position configured to transfer torque between the lower ratchet member and housing.

Abstract: An expanding bullet has a core having a proximal end, a distal end, and a sidewall therebetween. A tip is positioned at the distal end of the core, and has a generally conical distal section, and a generally cylindrical proximal section defining a proximally facing shoulder at their juncture. A jacket having a generally cylindrical proximal portion surrounding at least a portion of the core adjacent its proximal end, and a distal portion that tapers to an open end, the distal portion surrounding the distal portion of the core and the proximal section of the tip, with the distal end of the jacking abutting the shoulder on the tip to form a smooth tapering ogival surface with the tip. The maximum diameter of the tip preferably comprises a substantial portion (preferably at least about 65%) of the diameter of the bullet.

Abstract: Analog interference filter devices and methods for isolation of desirable portions of a radio frequency signal. Signal compensation is used to provide desirable center frequency, passband width, ripple, rolloff, stopband and distortion performance. The filter is implemented with passive and/or active components.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating with a downhole tool. A downhole tool includes a downlink receiver and a command actuator. The downlink receiver receives control information, encoded in rotation of the tool, that controls operation of the tool. The downlink receiver includes a rotation sensor and a decoder. The rotation sensor senses rotation of the tool about a longitudinal axis. The decoder demarcates fields of the control information based on rotation state transitions sensed by the rotation sensor. The rotation state transitions are transitions between a rotating state and a non-rotating state. The decoder also decodes a control value for controlling the tool based on a duration of a field of the control information. The control value is wholly encoded in the field, and the field is encoded as a non-rotating state of the tool. The command actuator applies the control value to control operation of the tool.

Abstract: A steerable drilling apparatus includes a control system inside a cylindrical housing connected to a drill bit having radially-extendable pistons. A fluid-metering assembly directs a piston-actuating fluid into fluid channels leading to respective pistons. The control system controls the fluid-metering assembly to allow fluid flow to selected pistons, causing the actuated pistons to temporarily extend in the opposite direction to a desired wellbore deviation, thereby deflecting the drill bit away from the borehole centerline. An upper member in the fluid-metering assembly can be moved to stabilize, steer, and change TFA within the drill bit. The control system and drill bit are connected so as to facilitate removal to change the drill bit's steering section and cutting structure configuration or gauge simultaneously. The apparatus may incorporate a fluid filter module mounted to the control system. The pistons may incorporate auxiliary cutting elements to provide near-bit reaming capability.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ejector device is provided which is designed to minimize the intake of air into the device upon actuation by providing for laminar flow of the fluid. In an ejector mechanism that includes a generator plate and a piezoelectric actuator operable to directly or indirectly oscillate the generator plate, at a frequency to generate a directed stream of droplets of fluid, the generator plate includes a fluid facing surface, a droplet ejection surface, and a plurality of holes formed through its thickness between the surfaces. The plurality of holes are configured so as to minimize airflow through the plurality of openings from the droplet ejection surface to the fluid facing surface during generation of the directed stream of droplets by configuring the shape of the holes to minimize turbulence.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for wideband frequency and bandwidth tunable filtering are disclosed. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a wideband frequency and bandwidth tunable filter that splits a filter input signal into first and second input signals, modifies the first input signal to produce a first output signal, modifies the second input signal to produce a second output signal having an intermediate frequency response, and combines the first and second output signals while adjusting their relative phases and/or amplitudes to produce a filter output signal with the target frequency response. Adjustment includes splitting the second input signal into third and fourth input signals, which are modified and then combined to produce the second output signal having the intermediate frequency response.

Abstract: A directional heat diffusion assembly and method helps self-cool a transistor by forcing directional heat flow from a heat source, such as from a transistor, group of transistors, integrated circuit, or other integrated heat source, to a heat reservoir at a bottom surface and/or a top surface of the transistor, while also preventing heat flow towards the sidewall of the transistor. The directional heat flow occurs through a directional heat guide member that is comprised of alternating, layered arrangement of thermal insulative layers, and thermal conductive layers having varying thermal conductivities.

Abstract: A downhole motor for directional drilling includes a driveshaft assembly including a driveshaft housing and a driveshaft rotatably disposed within the driveshaft housing. In addition, the downhole motor includes a bearing assembly including a bearing housing and a bearing mandrel rotatably disposed within the bearing housing. The bearing mandrel has a first end directly connected to the driveshaft with a universal joint and a second end coupled to a drill bit. Further, the downhole motor includes an adjustment mandrel configured to adjust an acute deflection angle ? between the central axis of the bearing housing and the central axis of the driveshaft housing. The adjustment mandrel has a central axis coaxially aligned with the bearing housing, a first end coupled to the driveshaft housing, and a second end coupled to the bearing housing.

Abstract: A system and method for sensing vehicle global pitch angle and rate that uses global velocities measured from a single antenna global positioning system (GPS) receiver together with sensor fusion algorithms involving sensor signals and other computed signals. This constructed, or computed, vehicle body's pitch angle may replace the role of a pitch rate sensor in an integrated stability control system. Namely, it achieves enhanced vehicle state estimation without the need for a pitch rate sensor.

Abstract: Analog interference filter devices and methods for isolation of desirable portions of a radio frequency signal. Signal compensation is used to provide desirable center frequency, passband width, ripple, rolloff, stopband and distortion performance. The filter is implemented with passive and/or active components.

Abstract: A downhole motor for directional drilling includes a driveshaft assembly including a driveshaft housing and a driveshaft rotatably disposed within the driveshaft housing. In addition, the downhole motor includes a bearing assembly including a bearing housing and a bearing mandrel rotatably disposed within the bearing housing. The bearing mandrel has a first end directly connected to the driveshaft with a universal joint and a second end coupled to a drill bit. Further, the downhole motor includes an adjustment mandrel configured to adjust an acute deflection angle ? between the central axis of the bearing housing and the central axis of the driveshaft housing. The adjustment mandrel has a central axis coaxially aligned with the bearing housing, a first end coupled to the driveshaft housing, and a second end coupled to the bearing housing.

Abstract: A downhole rotational rate control apparatus, adapted for coupling to the lower end of a drill string, includes a progressive cavity pump or motor, a mud flow control valve, and an electronics section. Drilling mud flowing downward through the drill string is partially diverted to flow through the pump or motor, with the mud flow rate and, in turn, the pump or motor speed being controlled by the mud flow control valve. The control valve is actuated by a control motor in response to inputs from a sensor assembly in the electronics section. By varying the rotational rate of the pump or motor relative to the rotational rate of the drill string, the tool face orientation or non-zero rotational speed of the controlled device in either direction can be varied in a controlled manner.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for wideband frequency and bandwidth tunable filtering are disclosed. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a wideband frequency and bandwidth tunable filter that splits a filter input signal into first and second input signals, modifies the first input signal to produce a first output signal, modifies the second input signal to produce a second output signal having an intermediate frequency response, and combines the first and second output signals while adjusting their relative phases and/or amplitudes to produce a filter output signal with the target frequency response. Adjustment includes splitting the second input signal into third and fourth input signals, which are modified and then combined to produce the second output signal having the intermediate frequency response.

Abstract: A powered reamer comprising a stationary assembly having a flow bore therethrough. A rotating assembly is disposed about the stationary assembly and one or more cutting structures are coupled to an outer surface of the rotating assembly. A flow restriction is disposed within the flow bore so as to divert a portion of fluid flowing through the flow bore through an outlet from the flow bore into an annulus between the stationary assembly and the rotating assembly. A power section is formed in the annulus between the stationary assembly and the rotating assembly. The power section operates to eccentrically rotate the rotating assembly about the stationary assembly in response to fluid flowing through the annulus between the stationary assembly and the rotating assembly.

Abstract: A downhole rotational rate control apparatus, adapted for coupling to the lower end of a drill string, includes a progressive cavity (PC) motor, a driveshaft, a mud flow control valve, and an electronics section. Drilling mud flowing downward through the drill string is partially diverted to flow upward through the PC motor and out into the wellbore annulus, with the mud flow rate and, in turn, the PC motor speed being controlled by the mud flow control valve. The control valve is actuated by a control motor in response to inputs from a sensor assembly in the electronics section. The PC motor drives the driveshaft and a controlled downhole device at a specific zero or non-zero rotational rate. By varying the rotational rate of the PC motor relative to the rotational rate of the drill string, the tool face orientation or non-zero rotational speed of the controlled device in either direction can be varied in a controlled manner.