Abstract: A stateful connection is monitored between wireless communications devices. A first code packet is generated at a first wireless communications device. The first code packet is transmitted from the first wireless communications device to a second o wireless communications device. A determination is made whether a second code packet generated by the second wireless communications device in response to receipt of the first code packet is received by the first wireless communications device within a predetermined time.

Abstract: A data feed from an electronic exchange carries certain pieces of market information. Software at the trading station receives the data feed and computes an effective bid price and/or an effective ask price based on a particular quantity to trade. Then, the effective bid price and/or effective ask price are indicated to the user. An effective bid price is an average price at which a certain quantity could be sold based on current market conditions. An effective ask price is an average price at which a certain quantity could be bought based on current market conditions. Depending on the available quantities in the market, the effective prices may represent spreads different from the actual spread of the inside market. Additionally, a derivative of price, such as yield, may be used to compute other types of effective bid and/or ask information.

Abstract: An HVAC control system that accommodates and/or facilitates control from a remote location. The HVAC control system may include a web-enabled building control appliance with a controller, a first port and a second port. The controller may implement a web server that is coupled to the first port for serving up one or more web pages on a first network and for receiving a number of responses. The controller may be coupled to the second port so as to communicate with one or more communicating thermostats via a second network. The web server may provide one or more web-pages via the first port that solicit and receive information pertaining to one or more remote sensors that are to be connected to one of the one or more thermostats. The web server may provide a wiring diagram for the one or more remote sensors that is dependent on the received information pertaining to one or more remote sensors.

Abstract: An HVAC sensor is provided that includes a housing that houses a sensor. In some instances, a conduit is provided that has a first end that extends out the back of the HVAC sensor housing and adjacent to (and sometimes through) a hole in a duct of the HVAC system that is situated behind the HVAC sensor. The sensor itself may be positioned adjacent the other end of the conduit outside of the duct, and sometimes inside the housing of the HVAC sensor. The conduit may direct pressurized air emanating from the hole in the duct toward the sensor, thereby allowing the sensor to sense a parameter of the air in the duct without actually positioning the sensor within the duct.

Abstract: A method for automatically monitoring the performance of equipment includes compiling current operating conditions associated with current conditions (PMc). A historical database including a plurality of stored operating conditions and associated stored performance measure (PM*) is searched, each stored operating condition including at least one stored sensor reading, wherein at least one similar operating condition is identified in the search using distances between the current operating conditions and the stored operating conditions. The performance measure (PM*) associated with the similar operating condition is fit to generate a regression model. The regression model is applied to the current operating condition to generate an estimate for the performance measure for the current operating condition (PMe). A difference between PMc and PMe is computed.

Abstract: A swellable downhole packer (10) is provided for positioning downhole in a well to seal with the interior surface of a borehole or the interior surface of a downhole tubular. The packer includes a swellable elastomeric sleeve-shaped body (14) positioned over a mandrel (12) for swelling, and a rigid end ring (16,18). An elastomeric anti-extrusion member (20) is spaced axially between the sleeve-shaped body and the rigid end ring, and has a radial thickness adjacent the end ring greater than the radial thickness adjacent the sleeve-shaped body. A swellable elastomeric member (32) is spaced radially between the exterior surface of the mandrel and the elastomeric anti-extrusion member.

Abstract: A heater for heating packaged die for burn-in and heat testing is described. The heater may be a ceramic-type heater with a metal filament. The heater may be incorporated into the integrated circuit package as an additional ceramic layer of the package, or may be an external heater placed in contact with the package to heat the die. Many different types of integrated circuit packages may be accommodated. The method provides increased energy efficiency for heating the die while reducing temperature stresses on testing equipment. The method allows the use of multiple heaters to heat die to different temperatures. Faulty die may be heated to weaken die attach material to facilitate removal of the die. The heater filament or a separate temperature thermistor located in the package may be used to accurately measure die temperature.

Abstract: A physic package for an atomic clock comprising: a block made of optical glass, a glass ceramic material or another suitable material that includes a plurality of faces on its exterior and a plurality of angled borings that serve as a vacuum chamber cavity, light paths and measurement bores; mirrors fixedly attached using a vacuum tight seal to the exterior of the block at certain locations where two light paths intersect; optically clear windows fixedly attached using a vacuum tight seal to the block's exterior over openings of the measurement bores and at one location where two light paths intersect; and fill tubes fixedly attached using a vacuum tight seal to the exterior of the block over the ends of the vacuum chamber cavity. This physics package design makes possible atomic clocks having reduced size and power consumption and capable of maintaining an ultra-high vacuum without active pumping.

Abstract: A balloon with an attached magnetic speaker sound module. The sound module has a housing containing a magnetic speaker, a power source, and wiring connecting the magnetic speaker the power source. The magnetic speaker is mounted in the housing adjacent an aperture in the housing. The balloon may be constructed of two sides with different weights, with the magnetic speaker adhered to the side with lesser weight so that the balloon floats upright. Alternatively, a counter-weight may be attached to the side of the balloon opposite the magnetic speaker sound module. A method of manufacturing a balloon with an attached magnetic speaker sound module. The balloon is caused to float upright either by constructing the balloon of two sides with different weights and attaching the magnetic speaker sound module to the side with the lesser weight, or by attaching a counter-weight to the side of the balloon opposite the magnetic speaker sound module.

Abstract: A network management system and graphical user interface for configuring a network connection between first and second service access points utilizes a configuration manager and information manager to provide a generic set of models so that different manufacturer's nodal processors and other network hardware can be inserted into the network with minimal changes to the software which controls the device. The system comprises an information manager including routing information for the network. The configuration manager operates to establish a connection across each subnet on the route by sending requests to element managers to program the subnet elements.

Abstract: Ballistic resistant materials having improved strength and lighter weights. More particularly, improved ballistic resistant fabrics produced from drawn, high modulus fibers having a reduced fiber diameter and improved physical strength properties, without changing other properties such as fiber chemistry, binder resin type and binder resin content. The fabrics incorporate low denier per filament monofilament fibers, low denier per filament multifilament fibers, or a combination of low denier per filament monofilament fibers and low denier per filament multifilament fibers in a specialized fabric construction to form fine fiber layers and fabrics having enhanced strength and fiber areal density without altering the fabric weight, or having reduced fabric weight without a corresponding reduction in ballistic performance.

Abstract: Wireless devices, such as field devices or repeater/relay nodes, detect the presence of anomalies in data packets that suggest intrusion. Upon detection of an anomaly, a wireless device sends a notification to a sentinel device, which determines if intrusion may be occurring. If so, the sentinel device downloads a spy routine to at least one of the wireless devices, which enables further investigation into and/or isolation of the intrusion. Since the spy routine is downloaded to the wireless devices, the spy routine can be used in conjunction with memory-constrained wireless devices. Memory-constrained wireless devices may lack adequate memory for storing both a main application executed during normal operation and the spy routine. The spy routine could overwrite one or more modules of the main application. Once executed, the spy routine could itself be overwritten by the one or more modules, allowing the wireless device to return to normal operation.

Abstract: A method for operating a failsafe-enabled wireless device is provided that includes monitoring a signal quality for a wireless signal between a failsafe-enabled wireless device and a controller. A determination is made regarding whether the signal quality is poor. A failsafe procedure is initiated when the signal quality is poor.

Abstract: A process flow for fabricating shallow trench isolation (STI) devices with direct body tie contacts is provided. The process flow follows steps similar to standard STI fabrication methods except that in one of the etching steps, body tie contacts are etched through the nitride layer and STI oxide layer, directly to the body tie. This process flow provides a direct body tie contact to mitigate floating body effects but also eliminates hysteresis and transient upset effects common in non-direct body tie contact configurations, without the critical alignment requirements and critical dimension control of the layout.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for facilitating integration of a wireless field device (such as a wireless sensor or actuator) and a wired protocol that is used in a process control system. The apparatus supports a wireless field device protocol for communicating with the wireless field device. The apparatus also supports a wired field device protocol for communicating with other components of the process control system over a network. The apparatus could map a wireless application model associated with the wireless field device protocol to a wired application model associated with the wired field device protocol. The apparatus could actually support multiple mappings from the wireless application model to wired application models associated with multiple wired field device protocols. As particular examples, the wired field device protocol(s) could include the HART, Foundation Fieldbus, Profibus, and/or Modbus protocols. The network could represent an Ethernet network or a serial network.

Abstract: A tool for enlarging a borehole that includes an elongated tubular body; at least one movable arm affixed to the tubular body, the at least one movable arm comprising an outer surface formed of at least one of a matrix material and an abrasive material; and at least one actuating member for expanding at least one movable arm from the collapsed state to an expanded state is disclosed.

Abstract: High temperature gate driving circuits with improved noise resistance and minimized loss are implemented with high temperature components with a reduced size magnetic isolation transformer. Input broad-pulse width modulated signals are converted to offsetting narrow pulses to cross the reduced size magnetic transformer minimizing isolation losses. One embodiment teaches time and voltage offset narrow single pulses that control a set and reset regeneration of the pulse width output on the secondary side of the transformer. Another embodiment teaches multiple concurrent voltage offset pulses to cross the transformer and charge a threshold capacitor for both filtering noise and controlling the pulse width regeneration on the secondary side of the transformer.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes a media path extending through the image-forming device, and at least one image transfer nip positioned along the media path. An electrode is positioned subsequent to the nip with respect to the media path and is coupled to a voltage source. An electric field produced by the electrode and voltage source limits the degree of post-nip toner scattering by applying an electrostatic force to toner particles on media sheets passing along the media path. The image-forming device further includes a processor for monitoring a plurality of ambient conditions, for adjusting the voltage applied to the electrode, and optionally, for repositioning the electrode with respect to the media path.