Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining the size of particles within a fluidized bed reactor for use with thermally decomposable silicon-containing gas. The pressure of gas adjacent a gas inlet and adjacent a gas outlet of the reactor are measured with pressure sensors. An algorithm is applied to at least one of the pressure measurements to determine the size of particles within the reactor. The determined size of the particles can be used to control the operation of the reactor.

Abstract: A horizon-picking solution for a geological volume of interest is determined. To determine the horizon-picking solution, a plurality of horizons through the geological volume of interest included in an initial horizon-picking solution are perturbed to more closely follow the local character of measured data related to the geological volume of interest. In particular, the horizons may be perturbed simultaneously by blending the initial solution with a secondary horizon-picking solution that automatically identifies a plurality of horizons through the geological volume of interest that follow the measured data related to the geological volume of interest.

Abstract: Techniques for leak detection are described. A leak detection module may include a plurality of wires comprising one or more collection points. The leak detection module may further include a capacitor configured to store a charge for powering the module during a power-off state and a plurality of switches to be controlled by a processor. The processor may initiate a predetermined switching sequence when a power-off state has been detected. During the switching sequence, leak detection data may be collected at the one or more collection points. The collected leak detection data may be stored in a set of registers. The leak detection module may transmit the stored leak detection data. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A method for determining a characteristic of an underground formation with a fluid is described. The method includes providing a sample material of the underground formation; measuring the permeability and the porosity of the sample material; performing a drainage test on the sample material using the fluid; estimating the threshold pressure of the sample material from the drainage test, the permeability and the porosity measurements; and determining the receding contact angle of the fluid on the sample material from the threshold pressure. The sample material can be disaggregated material.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product detects contaminants in a pipe that is transporting a known fluid. A baseline vibration pattern is established from readings generated by a smart sensor that is affixed to the pipe. This baseline vibration pattern is caused by a flow of the known fluid as the known fluid travels through the pipe in an unadulterated form. Subsequent readings from the smart sensor are taken to generate a new vibration pattern. In response to the new vibration pattern being different, beyond a predefined range, from the baseline vibration pattern, the new vibration pattern is matched to a known vibration pattern in order to identify a specific contaminant of the known fluid.

Abstract: A detection apparatus includes a transmitter to generate a detection signal, and a coil assembly including a transmit coil and a receive coil. The transmit coil transmits the detection signal toward an object to be detected, with the object to be detected emitting a target signal in response to the transmitted detection signal. The receive coil receives the target signal emitted from the object along with an undesired coupling signal from the transmit coil. A matching network is coupled to the transmitter and generates an adjusted detection signal by adjusting a profile of the detection signal to match a profile of the undesired coupling signal. An output stage has a first input coupled to the receive coil to receive the target signal and the undesired coupling signal, and a second input coupled to the matching network to receive the adjusted transmit signal. The output stage subtracts the adjusted detection signal from the target signal and the undesired coupling signal so that the target signal remains.

Abstract: A method for identifying missing components of a computer system may include receiving telemetry signals characterizing a current configuration of the computer system and determining a cross power spectral density signature of at least some of the telemetry signals. The method may further include comparing information about the determined cross power spectral density signature with information about a predetermined cross power spectral density signature to determine whether a component is missing within the computer system.

Abstract: Systems and methods of branch circuit load estimation are disclosed. A total power usage of a main line of an electrical distribution panel that includes a plurality of branch circuits with at least two of the plurality of branch circuits coupled to the main line can be determined. A first power usage of the main line is determined with a first of the two branch circuits decoupled from the main line, and a first time period that the first branch circuits is coupled with the main line is identified. A kilowatt-hour energy usage value of the first branch circuit is estimated based on the first time period and a differential between the total power usage and the first power usage.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system comprising at least one transmission unit utilized as a weight measurement and transmission device in communication with a remote receiving and display unit and whereby the system allows for monitoring, tracking, and sorting of multiple weight measurements of fish as caught by a fisherman. The fish weight measurement data along with its associated fish identification data may be coded, sorted, and culled according to the lightest fish of the catch. The main components of the transmission unit include a transmitter, an actuator, a weight transducer, a control unit, and a signal processor. The main components of the receiving and display unit include a receiver, a display screen, and a signal processor.

Abstract: A method for correction of the measured values of optical alignment systems with at least two measurement planes which are located in succession in the beam path. From each measurement plane, the beam path to the light source is transformed back in order to compute new incidence points using a beam which has been corrected by taking into consideration imaging errors.

Abstract: A method for determining the closing time of an electromagnetic fuel injector including the steps of applying at a starting time of the injection a positive voltage to the coil of the electromagnetic actuator in order to circulate through the coil an electric current which causes the opening of an injection valve; applying at an ending time of the injection a negative voltage to the coil in order to annul the electric current flowing through the coil; detecting the trend over time of the voltage across the coil after the annulment of the electric current flowing through the coil; identifying a perturbation of the voltage across the coil; and recognizing the closing time of the injector that coincides with the time of the perturbation of the voltage.

Abstract: An energy detection method is provided. The method obtains an initial time point of an input signal with reference to a digital signal corresponding to the input signal. An ith sample value is obtained by sampling the digital signal. The (i?M?N+1)th to the (i?N)th sample values and the (i?N+1)th to the ith sample value are buffered. The weighting coefficient is set to with initial value. A first parameter is obtained according to the weighting coefficient and the (i?M?N+1)th to the (i?N)th sample values, and a second parameter is obtained according to the (i?N+1)th to the ith sample values. A comparison between the first parameter and the second parameter is made, and the sampling time point of the (i?N+1)th sample value is determined as the signal initial time point when the second parameter is greater than the first parameter.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining the size of particles within a fluidized bed reactor. The pressure of gas adjacent a gas inlet and adjacent a gas outlet of the reactor are measured with pressure sensors. An algorithm is applied to at least one of the pressure measurements to determine the size of particles within the reactor. The determined size of the particles can be used to control the operation of the reactor. A dosing system and method is provided for measuring defined volumes of particles for transport to the reactor.