Abstract: A method for determining abnormal equipment in semiconductor manufacturing system includes processing wafers. A measurement data relating to wafers at respective processing steps and at each tool stack run count for respective tools is provided. The method also includes performing statistical and correlation analysis on the production history data and the measurement data to determine multiple parameters including bad ratio (Rb) and good ratio (Rg) for each tool. A first bad-to-good probability ratio (R1) for each tool is obtained by dividing Rb by Rg at the tool stack run count. A second bad-to-good probability ratio (R2) of each tool is an overall probability ratio of Rb to Rg of each tool. A first correlation coefficient (C1) is provided for the measurement data corresponding to the tool stack run count. A second correlation coefficient (C2) is provided for the first bad-to-good probability ratio (R1) corresponding to the tool stack run count.

Abstract: Systems and methods evaluate the results produced by histogram segmenting techniques. Exemplary techniques assess boundary region decision or placement techniques according to histogram based metrics, population based metrics, or combinations or transformations thereof.

Abstract: The effective spot size of a spectroscopic metrology device is reduced through deconvolution of a measurement spectra set acquired from a measurement target combined with a training spectra set obtained from a training target. The measurement spectra set may be obtained using sparse sampling of a grid scan of a measurement target. The training spectra set is obtained from a grid scan of a training target that is similar to the measurement target. The training spectra set and the measurement spectra set include spectra from different grid nodes. Deconvolution of the measurement spectra and the training spectra sets produces an estimated spectrum for the measurement target that is an estimate of a spectrum from the measurement target produced with incident light having an effective spot size that is smaller than the actual spot size. One or more characteristics of the measurement target may then be determined using the estimated spectrum.

Abstract: In an approach, a method for fusing point data with areal averages is performed by a computing system. The fusion procedure is coherent, in the sense that the computing system takes into account what the areal averages represent with respect to the point data. The overarching goal is to fit a model that takes into account the information derived from both data sets. The areal averages provide an estimate for what the integral of a model representing the behavior of the environmental variable should be over a particular district and the point values indicate the estimated value at particular locations. Thus, the integral of the fitted model over a district of the grid should approximate the value provided by the areal averages while also approximating the value provided by the point data for locations which are provided by the point data.

Abstract: Various embodiments include apparatus and methods to estimate formation mobility from Stoneley waveforms. An objective function can be generated that represents misfit between measured Stoneley pressure values and synthetic pressure values. A minimization process can be applied to the objective function to estimate formation mobility and intrinsic attenuation. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A cementing system is provided. A cement slurry dispenser includes at least one control valve, at least one liquid additive pump, and at least one water pump. A computer has a display for an interface screen. The e interface screen displays a list zone of available selectable tests for the cement slurry dispenser and corresponding global selection choices, a detail zone, wherein in response to selection of one of the selectable tests from the list zone, substeps of the selected one of the selectable tests is displayed a local activate button configured to commence only the selected one of the selectable tests displayed in the detail zone; and a global activate button configured to commence all of the selectable tests in the list zone that are indicated as selected by the corresponding global selection choices. The computer implements the tests on the cement slurry dispenser.

Abstract: A method of determining the angular orientation of headgear is described. The headgear has tracking points being at least four tracking points, the relative position of the tracking points is calibrated and stored as relative position information, each of the tracking points comprises an infra-red (IR) reflective point. Light reflected from at least some of the tracking points of the headgear is filtered to allow only light in an IR wavelength band to pass. The filtered IR light is imaged to provide a detected image including at least some of the tracking points. At least some of the tracking points in the detected image are identified, and the position of the identified tracking points in the detected image is determined. The angular orientation of the headgear is determined in multiple different angular directions based on the stored relative position information and the position of the identified tracking points.

Abstract: An ultrasound sensing system for monitoring the condition or integrity of a structure, comprising (a) a plurality of ultrasound sensors, each sensor being configured to receive at least one first electrical signal, transmit an ultrasound signal in response to the first electrical signal, receive at least one reflected ultrasound signal, and transmit a second electrical signal in response to the reflected ultrasound signal, the first and second electrical signals being analog; (b) at least one digital sensor interface (DSI) to which at least a portion of the sensors are connectable, the DSI being configured to transmit the first electrical signal and receive the second electrical signal, and to generate an A-scan signal based on the first and second electrical signals for each sensor, the DSI having circuitry for transmitting a digital signal based directly or indirectly on at least the A-scan signal, the digital signal including an address corresponding to the at least one DSI; (c) a digital bus configured to

Abstract: A method for monitoring fluid flow in a conduit comprises: acoustically coupling an optical fiber to the conduit adjacent one or more flow restrictions (R1-R4) in the conduit; inducing a Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) assembly to measure an acoustic noise signature (SNR1-4) generated in the fiber by the fluid flowing through each flow restriction (R1-R4); deriving the fluid flow rate of the fluid (QI, QI+II) flowing through each flow restriction (R1-R4) from the measured acoustic noise signature (SNR1-4); and displaying the derived fluid flow rate (QI, QI+II) at a fluid flow rate monitoring display.

Abstract: A process for determining a location and size of a gas source within an area with a spectrometer gas monitor includes: providing the spectrometer gas monitor; performing fence line monitoring of the area with the spectrometer gas monitor; collecting spectroscopic data over multiple open paths around the area with the spectrometer gas monitor; measuring atmospheric conditions along gas inflows and gas outflows of the area; subtracting a background for a selected gas from the spectroscopic data; applying a boundary constraint to the spectroscopic data; determining an atmospheric concentration of air entering the area; applying bootstrapping to the spectroscopic data; applying zero minimum elimination to the spectroscopic data; and producing inversion data from the spectroscopic data to determine the location and size of the gas source within the area.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus of modeling work vehicle data and predicting machine failures based on the same are disclosed. An example method includes accessing a first alert sequence from a work vehicle, the first alert sequence is associated with one or more of observed diagnostic code, observed vehicle sensor data, or observed vehicle status data; comparing the first alert sequence to a model including an association between reference alert sequences, reference machine failures, and probable parts used to repair the respective reference machine failures; identifying a substantial similarity between the first alert sequence and a first reference alert sequence of the reference alert sequences; and based on the model and the first reference alert sequence, identifying first probable parts of the probable parts used to repair a first reference machine failure of the reference machine failures, where the first reference machine failure is associated with the first reference alert sequence.

Abstract: A degradation cause estimation device is provided with a degradation detector for detecting the amount of degradation undergone by a device, a state observation device for detecting observation values for internal portions, values observed from outside, or device control and operation information, a degradation section detector for detecting a section undergoing degradation using the output values of the degradation detector, and a cause estimator for estimating the cause of the degradation using the device state observations for the degradation section, and outputs the cause for the degradation section.

Abstract: A non-intrusive system which monitors a data center by detecting electromagnetic waves alleviates a resource burden on components and is inexpensive to deploy and scale within a data center. The system detects waves using omnidirectional antennas positioned throughout the data center, thus alleviating the need to physically attach directional antennas to components. The system performs a learning phase wherein representations of detected waves are mapped to occurrence of events within the data center. Once the learning phase is complete, operation of existing network monitoring tools, such as agents and probes, may cease, and the system may begin monitoring for events based on the detected waves. The system may also analyze wave data prior to the occurrence of events to identify event prediction indicators, e.g. distinctive wave values or patterns, which may be used to predict the occurrence of an event.

Abstract: Systems and methods compute dysfunctions via mapping of tri-axial accelerations of drill pipe into drill-string motions. The methods remove gravitational and centripetal accelerations to yield corrected acceleration data due to the vibration only, transform the corrected acceleration data, and maps resulting transformed acceleration data into continuous drill-string positions. The maps provide 2D/3D visualization of drill-string motions to enable real-time optimization and control of well drilling operations and other scenarios where proactive detection of temporal events in automated systems may aid in avoiding failures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus (10) for determining a contribution of at least one grid subsystem of plural grid subsystems to oscillation in angle or grid oscillation in an electrical grid (12). The apparatus (10) is configured to receive a first quantity which corresponds to oscillation in angle at a first grid subsystem (14). The apparatus (10) is also configured to receive a second quantity which corresponds to oscillation in angle at a second grid subsystem (16). The apparatus (10) comprises a processor (32) which is operative to determine a contribution of at least one of the first and second grid subsystems to oscillation in angle or grid oscillation with the contribution being determined in dependence on a phase relationship between the first and second quantities.

Abstract: A system for detecting gas leaks and determining their location and size. A data gathering portion of the system utilizes a hub and spoke configuration to collect path-integrated spectroscopic data over multiple open paths around an area. A processing portion of the system applies a high resolution transport model together with meteorological data of the area to generate an influence function of possible leak locations on gas detector measurement paths, and applies an inversion model to the influence function and the spectroscopic data to generate gas source size and location.

Abstract: Systems and methods for optimizing bed boundary locations and prediction of associated petrophysical property values of a wellbore in a reservoir formation are disclosed. To optimize bed boundary locations and predict petrophysical property values, a process can be used in which a high resolution wellbore log is used to get an initial estimate of boundary positions. The initial estimate can then be used to constrain a joint optimization of bed positions and associated petrophysical property values. Such a process automates both the generation of a single set of boundaries that are common to all measurements and the prediction of petrophysical properties via joint inversion. The same inversion process can be used to derive quality indicators on the corrected bed boundary locations and the petrophysical property values.

Abstract: A method of and system for determination of measured parameter gradients for environmental system control is presented. A system includes a sensor assembly with a first face opposite to and spaced apart from a second face and first and second sensors. The first sensor is adjacent to the first face and senses a first value of an environmental variable nearby. The second sensor is adjacent to the second face and senses a second value of the environmental variable nearby. The system includes a processor and a memory with instructions that cause the processor to: receive the first and second values and estimate a third value of the environmental variable at a distance spaced apart from the second face based on the first and second values. The system includes a sensor communication system for transmitting information including at least one of the first, second, and third value of the environmental variable.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for monitoring steam injection in a steam assisted well are disclosed. The method involves obtaining a first temperature profile of a well by performing distributed temperature sensing on a first fiber optic. The method also obtains a second temperature profile of the well by interrogating a second fiber optic to provide distributed sensing of temperature variations. Interrogating the second fiber optic comprises repeatedly launching interrogations of one or more pulses of coherent radiation into said second fiber optic, detecting any radiation which is Rayleigh backscattered from each interrogation and analyzing the detected backscattered radiation to detect any variation between interrogations due to temperature variation. The method combines said first and second temperature profiles to provide a steam injection profile. The method may also involve determining an acoustic profile of the well through distributed acoustic sensing.

Abstract: Described and shown is a method for operating a flowmeter (1) having a measuring tube (2), wherein the flow (d) of a medium (4) through the measuring tube (2) is measured. A continuous dwell time of the measured flow (d) greater than or equal to a flow threshold (ds) is assigned to a flow interval (?tD,1, ?tD,2) and a flow volume (V1, V2) is determined from the measured flow (d) in the flow interval (?tD,1, ?tD,2). In each case, a continuous dwell time of the measured flow (d) less than the flow threshold (ds) is assigned to a zero flow interval (?tN,1). In each case, a deviation volume of the flow volume (V1, V2) in one of the flow intervals (?tD,1, ?tD,2) from a reference flow volume is determined and the deviation volume is compared to a threshold deviation volume.