Abstract: An arrangement for providing external access to functionality switches in a utility meter includes a housing, a number of contacts, at least one button actuator, and a hatch. The housing has a base and a cover that includes at least one switch access opening. The number of contacts are disposed on a substrate that is disposed between said cover and said base. The at least one button actuator is configured to electrically connect at least two of said number of contacts such that the at least one button actuator is accessible via said at least one switch access opening. The hatch disposed on said cover and adapted to selectively provide external access to said at least one switch access opening.

Abstract: A measurement method for a mechatronics apparatus, which includes an electromagnetically actuated component, an electronic control circuit, and at least one sensor, is selectively timed to minimize electromagnetic interference between the electromagnetically actuated component and the sensor(s). This is accomplished by restricting a sensor measurement to a time window, during which time the electromagnetically actuated component either has no current flow, or has a current change magnitude that is lower than a predetermined limit.

Abstract: Apparatus and method is provided for performing detailed mine detection over variable terrain. An articulated robotic scanner comprises an articulated arm mounted to any vehicle such as a robot. One or more mine detectors mounted at the end of the arm. The arm operates autonomously to repetitively sweep the mine detector in ever forward advancing side-to-side arcs over the terrain. The vehicle can operate autonomously or be tele-operated. The position of the mine detector is monitored and known with respect to a known coordinate system. Sensors measure their position relative to the ground and relative to known co-ordinates of the mine detector. A controller determines the relative position of the ground and the mine detector and dynamically adjusts the mine detector's position to maintain a constant separation over variable terrain without ever contacting the ground or objects thereon.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the use of polyaryletherketone-based thermoplastic materials in high pressure, high temperature, production logging applications. A polyaryletherketone resin bonded with glass fibers is formed into a housing for formation evaluation sensors permanently located downhole. The housing is constructed by any of the following processes: filament winding, fiber placement, or compression molding or injection molding. When used in a production well, the housing encloses the formation evaluation sensors and protects the sensors from borehole fluids. Housing properties can be modified with changes in materials added to the resin in order for the housing to function as casing or coiled tubing. This would allow wireline or logging-while-drilling conveyed sensors passing through the casing or coiled tubing to sense the formation and borehole fluid properties.

Abstract: A boring operation performed by a boring head (18) is controlled to avoid interference with an adjacent buried conveyance (20) by first locating the conveyance and thereafter establishing a safety zone (24) thereabout. After establishing the safety zone, a check is made along the border (24a) of the safety zone adjacent the intended bore path for the presence of a monitor signal radiated by the bore head. If the bore monitor signal is detected at the safety zone border, an alert is generated.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for determining the position of a first element relative to a second element. The apparatus includes a magnet being attached to the first element. First and second sensing devices are adapted to detect a magnetic flux density produced by the magnet and responsively generating first and second signals. The apparatus also includes a controller for receiving the first and second signals and responsively determining the position of the first element relative to the second. The present invention enables continuous calibration during the normal operation of the machine.

Abstract: An electro-optic voltage sensor comprises a voltage divider connected to an electric line and to ground and having two insulative compartments separated by an intermediate electrode connected to a Pockels cell. The intermediate electrode supplies to the Pockels cell a reduced voltage derived from the voltage supplied by the electric line to the voltage divider. Each insulative compartment comprises a homogeneous dielectric block with a thickness dependent on the division ratio of the voltage divider. The electro-optic voltage sensor has a very high safety level vis a vis the risk of strong short-circuits combined with mechanical and thermal stability guaranteeing great accuracy of operation and great reliability without special maintenance requirements.