Abstract: A system and method for performing in-situ measurements of semiconductor devices during chemical vapor deposition (CVD) includes disposing a chip carrier within a sealed chamber of a reactor for carrying out in-situ monitoring of partially fabricated semiconductor devices. The chip carrier includes a plurality of metallized bonding pads disposed along both peripheral edges on a same surface of the base for making electrical connections to metallized pads or contacts on the semiconductor device through bonding wires. Each of the plurality of metallized bonding pads disposed along both peripheral edges is electrically connected to each other as a pair through electrically connecting to a corresponding pair of ports which are disposed along both peripheral edges of the chip carrier. In-situ monitoring of the partially fabricated semiconductor device is performed through connecting the plurality of ports on the chip carrier to an external source-measure unit through a connector and wire harness.

Abstract: A system and method for performing in-situ measurements of semiconductor devices during chemical vapor deposition (CVD) includes disposing a chip carrier within a sealed chamber of a reactor for carrying out in-situ monitoring of partially fabricated semiconductor devices. The chip carrier includes a plurality of metallized bonding pads disposed along both peripheral edges on a same surface of the base for making electrical connections to metallized pads or contacts on the semiconductor device through bonding wires. Each of the plurality of metallized bonding pads disposed along both peripheral edges is electrically connected to each other as a pair through electrically connecting to a corresponding pair of ports which are disposed along both peripheral edges of the chip carrier. In-situ monitoring of the partially fabricated semiconductor device is performed through connecting the plurality of ports on the chip carrier to an external source-measure unit through a connector and wire harness.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to extendable cutting tools for use in a wellbore. In one embodiment, a tool for use in a wellbore includes a tubular body having a bore therethrough, an opening through a wall thereof, and a connector at each longitudinal end thereof; and an arm. The arm is pivotally connected to a first piston and rotationally coupled to the body, is disposed in the opening in a retracted position, and is movable to an extended position where an outer surface of the arm extends outward past an outer surface of the body. The tool further includes the first piston. The first piston is disposed in the body bore, has a bore therethrough, and is operable to move the arm from the retracted position to the extended position in response to fluid pressure in the piston bore exceeding fluid pressure in the opening. The tool further includes a lock operable to retain the first piston in the retracted position; and a second piston operably coupled to the lock.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to extendable cutting tools for use in a wellbore. In one embodiment, a tool for use in a wellbore includes a tubular body having a bore therethrough, an opening through a wall thereof, and a connector at each longitudinal end thereof; and an arm. The arm is pivotally connected to a first piston and rotationally coupled to the body, is disposed in the opening in a retracted position, and is movable to an extended position where an outer surface of the arm extends outward past an outer surface of the body. The tool further includes the first piston. The first piston is disposed in the body bore, has a bore therethrough, and is operable to move the arm from the retracted position to the extended position in response to fluid pressure in the piston bore exceeding fluid pressure in the opening. The tool further includes a lock operable to retain the first piston in the retracted position; and a second piston operably coupled to the lock.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to extendable cutting tools for use in a wellbore. In one embodiment, a tool for use in a wellbore includes a tubular body having a bore therethrough, an opening through a wall thereof, and a connector at each longitudinal end thereof; and an arm. The arm is pivotally connected to a first piston and rotationally coupled to the body, is disposed in the opening in a retracted position, and is movable to an extended position where an outer surface of the arm extends outward past an outer surface of the body. The tool further includes the first piston. The first piston is disposed in the body bore, has a bore therethrough, and is operable to move the arm from the retracted position to the extended position in response to fluid pressure in the piston bore exceeding fluid pressure in the opening. The tool further includes a lock operable to retain the first piston in the retracted position; and a second piston operably coupled to the lock.

Abstract: A method for forming and sealing a hole in a sidewall of a borehole may include conveying a bit and a sealer into the borehole using a carrier, forming a hole in the sidewall using the bit, and introducing a sealant from the sealer to the hole along a surface portion of the bit. An apparatus for forming and sealing a hole in a sidewall of a borehole includes a carrier conveyable into the borehole, a bit disposed on the carrier that forms the hole in a sidewall, and a sealer operable to introduce a sealant to the hole along a surface portion of the bit.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for forming and sealing a hole in the sidewall of a borehole are provided. The method may include conveying a carrier into the borehole, forming the hole in the sidewall using a bit, and sealing at least a portion of the hole by leaving at least a portion of the bit in the hole. An apparatus includes a carrier conveyable into the borehole, and a bit disposed on the carrier that forms the hole in a sidewall, the bit including a sealing portion that seals at least a portion of the hole.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to extendable cutting tools for use in a wellbore. In one embodiment, a tool for use in a wellbore includes a tubular body having a bore therethrough, an opening through a wall thereof, and a connector at each longitudinal end thereof; and an arm. The arm is pivotally connected to a first piston and rotationally coupled to the body, is disposed in the opening in a retracted position, and is movable to an extended position where an outer surface of the arm extends outward past an outer surface of the body. The tool further includes the first piston. The first piston is disposed in the body bore, has a bore therethrough, and is operable to move the arm from the retracted position to the extended position in response to fluid pressure in the piston bore exceeding fluid pressure in the opening. The tool further includes a lock operable to retain the first piston in the retracted position; and a second piston operably coupled to the lock.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for forming and sealing a hole in a sidewall of a borehole are provided. The method may include conveying a bit and a sealer into the borehole using a carrier, forming a hole in the sidewall using the bit, and introducing a sealant from the sealer to the hole along a surface portion of the bit. An apparatus includes a carrier conveyable into the borehole, a bit disposed on the carrier that forms the hole in a sidewall, and a sealer operable to introduce a sealant to the hole along a surface portion of the bit.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for forming and sealing a hole in the sidewall of a borehole are provided. The method may include conveying a carrier into the borehole, forming the hole in the sidewall using a bit, and sealing at least a portion of the hole by leaving at least a portion of the bit in the hole. An apparatus includes a carrier conveyable into the borehole, and a bit disposed on the carrier that forms the hole in a sidewall, the bit including a sealing portion that seals at least a portion of the hole.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining the single phase integrity of a deep well formation sample that is removed to the surface comprises a vacuum jacket insulated single working cylinder divided by two free pistons into three variable volume chambers. The intermediate chamber is pre-charged with a fixed quantity of high pressure gas. Wellbore fluid freely admitted to one end chamber bears against one free piston to further compress the gas. The formation sample is pumped into the other end chamber to first, displace the wellbore fluid from the first end chamber and, sequentially, to further compress the gas to preserve the sample phase state upon removal to the surface.

Abstract: A downhole steering tool is disclosed. The steering tool includes a rotatable shaft, a substantially non-rotating tool body deployed about the shaft, and a plurality of force application members deployed on the steering tool body. The steering tool further includes a bendable section deployed in the steering tool body. The bendable section is disposed to bend preferentially relative to the steering tool body under an applied bending load. The use of a steering tool body having a bendable section tends to advantageously reduce bending stresses in the steering tool body during use. Moreover, tools embodying this invention may be suitable for higher dogleg severity applications.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining the single phase integrity of a deep well formation sample that is removed to the surface comprises a vacuum jacket insulated single working cylinder divided by two free pistons into three variable volume chambers. The intermediate chamber is pre-charged with a fixed quantity of high pressure gas. Wellbore fluid freely admitted to one end chamber bears against one free piston to further compress the gas. The formation sample is pumped into the other end chamber to first, displace the wellbore fluid from the first end chamber and, sequentially, to further compress the gas to preserve the sample phase state upon removal to the surface.

Abstract: A steering tool for use in a well bore is disclosed. The tool includes at least one extendable and retractable blade deployed thereon. The blade is elastically spring biased radially inwards towards the tool such that upon removal of an actuating force, the blade retracts. In exemplary embodiments, the blade includes at least one spring-like, elastically deformable member disposed to elastically spring bias the blade. The spring-like member may include first and second elongated leg portions located on opposing sides of a sprung hairpin portion. Tools embodying this invention may be advantageous for small diameter applications.

Abstract: A formation fluid sampling tool including at least one sample tank mounted in a tool collar. The tool collar includes a through bore and is disposed to be operatively coupled with a drill string such that each sample tank may receive a correspondingly preselected formation fluid sample without removing the drill string from a well bore. At least one of the sample tanks further includes an internal fluid separator movably disposed therein. The separator separates a sample chamber from a pressure balancing chamber in the sample tank. The pressure balancing chamber is disposed to be in fluid communication with drilling fluid exterior thereto. The sampling tool further includes a sample inlet port connected to the sample chamber by an inlet passageway.

Abstract: A downhole tool for use in a well bore is provided. The tool includes a tool body and at least one elongated sprung member deployed on an outer surface thereof. The sprung member is configured to lie in a rest position substantially parallel to the outer surface and further includes at least one movable end that is movable with respect to the tool body. The tool further includes an actuation module deployed on the tool body. The actuation module is operably engaged with the sprung member, and disposed, upon actuation, to deflect said movable end thereof away from the rest position. Displacement of the movable end of the sprung member causes elastic spring biasing of the sprung member via bending thereof. The biasing urges the sprung member to return to the rest position upon de-actuation of the actuation module.

Abstract: A Universal Serial Bus (USB) modem (14) having two operating modes, namely Digital Subscriber Loop (DSL) mode and a voice-band mode, is disclosed. A USB interface device (30) is coupled to a digital signal processor (DSP) (32) and contains a shared memory (44) in which USB endpoints are established for data communication. In the DSL mode, an ATM receive controller (134) receives each ATM cell from the DSP (32) and interrogates the ATM cell header to determine the virtual connection to the corresponding cell, and then forwards the payload portion of the ATM cell, but not the ATM cell header. In the voice-band mode, the ATM receive controller (134) and ATM transmit controller (132) operate in a simple streaming mode. A host interface controller (135) is also provided, by way of which facsimile communications are carried out simultaneously with DSL communications, or in separate sessions relative to voice-band data communications.

Abstract: A downhole tool for use in a well bore is provided. The tool includes a tool body and at least one elongated sprung member deployed on an outer surface thereof. The sprung member is configured to lie in a rest position substantially parallel to the outer surface and further includes at least one movable end that is movable with respect to the tool body. The tool further includes an actuation module deployed on the tool body. The actuation module is operably engaged with the sprung member, and disposed, upon actuation, to deflect said movable end thereof away from the rest position. Displacement of the movable end of the sprung member causes elastic spring biasing of the sprung member via bending thereof. The biasing urges the sprung member to return to the rest position upon de-actuation of the actuation module.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining the single phase integrity of a deep well formation sample that is removed to the surface comprises a vacuum jacket insulated single working cylinder divided by two free pistons into three variable volume chambers. The intermediate chamber is pre-charged with a fixed quantity of high pressure gas. Wellbore fluid freely admitted to one end chamber bears against one free piston to further compress the gas. The formation sample is pumped into the other end chamber to first, displace the wellbore fluid from the first end chamber and, sequentially, to further compress the gas to preserve the sample phase state upon removal to the surface.

Abstract: A USB function device (14) for coupling to a USB host (12). The USB function device (14) comprises circuitry (32) for providing a capability to the USB host, where the circuitry for providing a capability comprises an address space (VBUS). The USB function device (14) further comprises a USB interface circuit (30) coupled between the USB host and the circuitry for providing a capability to the USB host. The USB interface circuit (30) comprises a memory area (44, 106) comprising a write endpoint (1062) accessible to the USB host for writing a plurality of bytes to the memory area via the write endpoint. The plurality of bytes comprise data information and protocol information. The write endpoint comprises an endpoint-type other than a control-type endpoint. The USB interface circuit also comprises circuitry for decoding (166) the protocol information and circuitry for communicating the data information to the address space in response to the protocol information.