Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and systems for locating virtual elements that can be used or collected by players of a parallel reality game having a virtual world that parallels at least a portion of the real world are provided. In particular, the location of virtual elements in the virtual world is determined based on data associated with one or more real world conditions. Virtual elements can be located in the virtual world at locations corresponding to locations in the real world that encourage safe and effective game play. Locating virtual elements in the virtual world based on data associated with real world conditions improves the link between the parallel virtual world and the real world, enhancing the illusion that the virtual world is another dimension of the real world that the player can interact with through the parallel reality game.

Abstract: An asymmetric key cryptographic system is used to generate a cryptographic certificate for authenticating a memory module. This certificate is generated based on information, readable by the authenticator (e.g., host system), from at least one device on the memory module that is not read in order to obtain the certificate. For example, the certificate for authenticating a module may be stored in the nonvolatile memory of a serial presence detect device. The certificate itself, however, is based at least in part on information read from at least one other device on the memory module. Examples of this other device include a registering clock driver, DRAM device(s), and/or data buffer device(s). In an embodiment, the information read from a device (e.g., DRAM) may be based on one or more device fingerprint(s) derived from physical variations that occur naturally, and inevitably, during integrated circuit manufacturing.

Abstract: A wing lock and deployment apparatus for an air launched vehicle includes a driver acted on by a single linear actuation event. The disclosed wing lock and deployment apparatus is capable of unlocking deployable wings of an air launched vehicle, deploying deployable wings of the air launched vehicle from a stored position, and locking deployable wings of the air launched vehicle in a deployed position in sequential order with the one single linear actuation event.

Abstract: A toe valve for use in a wellbore includes: a tubular mandrel; a housing extending along a periphery of the mandrel; couplings for assembly as part of a casing or liner string; and a valve piston. The valve piston is: disposed in an annulus formed between the housing and the mandrel, movable between an open position and a closed position, and disposed between a valve port of the housing and a valve port of the mandrel in the closed position. The toe valve further includes: an atmospheric chamber for facilitating movement of the valve piston to the open position; a vent port formed through the housing and in fluid communication with the atmospheric chamber; and a flow control device disposed in the vent port and operable to prevent fluid flow from the wellbore into the atmospheric chamber and allow fluid flow from the atmospheric chamber into the wellbore.

Abstract: A rasping shoe for non-rotational deployment of a casing string into a wellbore includes: a tubular body; and a nose mounted to an end of the tubular body. The nose includes: a base portion made from a drillable metal or alloy; a plurality of blades protruding from an outer surface of the base portion; a plurality of broaching cutters mounted to an outer surface of each blade at a rearward portion thereof; and a plurality of gouging cutters mounted to the outer surface of each blade at a forward portion thereof.

Abstract: A float collar for assembly with a composite string of downhole tubulars includes: a tubular housing made from a composite material and having couplings formed at longitudinal ends thereof; a float valve disposed in a bore of the housing; a sheath connecting the float valve to the housing and sealing an interface between the float valve and the housing; and a guide operable to prevent side-tracking of a drill bit into the housing while drilling out the float valve and the sheath.

Abstract: A wellbore roller-reamer comprises a mandrel rotatable about a mandrel axis, and a first roller mounted around the mandrel and having an outer reaming surface for engaging a wall of a wellbore. The first roller is rotatable relative to the mandrel about a first roller axis which is offset from the mandrel axis such that, during use, rotation of the mandrel with the outer reaming surface engaged with a wall of the wellbore causes the first roller to be driven to rotate relative to the mandrel and ream the wall of the wellbore.

Abstract: A flow-actuated valve for use in a wellbore includes: a body; a poppet movable relative to the body between an open position and a closed position; a spring biasing the poppet toward the closed position; and a shifter having a drogue and a detent engaged with a detent profile of the poppet and a locking receptacle of the body when in an auto-fill mode, thereby keeping the poppet in a partially open position. The valve is operable to shift to a float mode in response to a first flow rate moving the poppet toward the open position to disengage the detent from the locking receptacle and a second flow rate imparting a drag force on the drogue sufficient to disengage the detent from the detent profile. The second flow rate is different than the first flow rate.

Abstract: A label, and methods and systems for preparing the label. The label includes a lens or lens array. The label includes at least one surface, a portion of which is embossed, and a lens array provided by the embossed portion of the at least one surface. The method includes applying a material to a substrate and contacting a surface of the material with a master engraving to provide an embossed region on a least a portion of the surface of the material, wherein the embossed region provides at least one lens.

Abstract: A toe valve for use in a wellbore includes: a tubular mandrel; a housing extending along a periphery of the mandrel; couplings at longitudinal ends of the toe valve for assembly as part of a casing or liner string; a valve piston disposed in an annulus formed between the housing and the mandrel, movable between an open position and a closed position, and disposed between a valve port of the housing and a valve port of the mandrel in the closed position; an atmospheric chamber for facilitating movement of the valve piston to the open position; a vent port formed through the housing and in fluid communication with the atmospheric chamber; and a flow control device disposed in the vent port and operable to prevent fluid flow from the wellbore into the atmospheric chamber and allow fluid flow from the atmospheric chamber into the wellbore.

Abstract: A toe valve to control the injection of fluid into a toe of an oil or gas well and including: a body with a bore, the body having a port adapted to permit fluid flow between the bore and an outlet on an external surface of the toe valve when the port is open; a closure member adapted to move from an initial closed position in which the port is closed, to an open position in which the port is open; and an actuating mechanism which can be actuated to urge the closure member from the initial closed position toward the open position, and which can be reset when the closure member is moving between the closed and open positions to return the closure member to the initial closed position.

Abstract: A toe valve for use in a wellbore includes: a tubular mandrel having couplings at longitudinal ends thereof for assembly as part of a casing or liner string; a housing extending along a periphery of the mandrel and mounted thereto; a valve piston disposed in an annulus formed between the housing and the mandrel, movable between an open position and a closed position, disposed between a valve port of the housing and a valve port of the mandrel in the closed position; a fastener releasably connecting the valve piston to the housing in the closed position; an atmospheric chamber forming a portion of the annulus adjacent to the valve piston; and a drive piston disposed in the annulus adjacent to a drive port of the mandrel and operable to release the valve piston.

Abstract: A device for indicating exposure to a pressure. The device may include a base layer, a plurality of microcapsules, and a coating, with the microcapsules being disposed between the base layer and the coating. The microcapsules contain a indicator material that can be released once the microcapsules burst. The microcapsules then have a compressive bursting strength that is chosen or designed to be less than a selected pressure (e.g., the pressure being that to which a particular article may be exposed during high pressure processing). Thus, when the device is subjected to a pressure greater than the compressive bursting strength, at least some microcapsules burst, the indicator material is released from the microcapsules, and the release of the indicator material can be detected by observation of the device. The device may be a label that is associated (such as by being affixed) to the article being subjected to pressure (or multiple labels being associated (such as by being affixed) to multiple articles.

Abstract: A stop collar for mounting to a downhole tubular includes: a cylindrical housing having a threaded inner surface and a tapered inner surface; a compressible slip ring having teeth formed in an inner surface thereof and a pair of tapered outer surfaces; a compressible cam ring having a tapered inner surface; and a cylindrical bolt having a threaded outer surface. A natural outer diameter of each ring is greater than a minor diameter of the threaded surfaces. Screwing the threaded surfaces of the housing and the bolt is operable to drive the tapered surfaces together, thereby compressing the slip ring such that the teeth engage a periphery of the tubular.

Abstract: A device for indicating exposure to a pressure. The device may include a base layer, a plurality of microcapsules, and a coating, with the microcapsules being disposed between the base layer and the coating. The microcapsules contain a indicator material that can be released once the microcapsules burst. The microcapsules then have a compressive bursting strength that is chosen or designed to be less than a selected pressure (e.g., the pressure being that to which a particular article may be exposed during high pressure processing). Thus, when the device is subjected to a pressure greater than the compressive bursting strength, at least some microcapsules burst, the indicator material is released from the microcapsules, and the release of the indicator material can be detected by observation of the device. The device may be a label that is associated (such as by being affixed) to the article being subjected to pressure (or multiple labels being associated (such as by being affixed) to multiple articles.

Abstract: A guide shoe (1), adapted for connection to an end of a tubular for deployment in a wellbore of an oil, gas, or water well, includes: a body (10) having an axis (2) and being adapted for connection to the tubular such that torque can be transmitted between the tubular and the body (10); a nose (50) adapted for connection to the body (10); a locking mechanism (30) adapted to shift between an unlocked configuration, in which rotation of the nose (50) around the axis of the body (10) is permitted in first and second directions, and a locked configuration in which rotation of the nose (50) around the axis of the body (10) is restricted in at least one of the first and second directions. The guide shoe includes a resilient biasing device (20) urging the nose (50) into the locked configuration.

Abstract: A toe valve for use in a wellbore includes: a tubular mandrel having couplings at longitudinal ends thereof for assembly as part of a casing or liner string; a housing extending along a periphery of the mandrel and mounted thereto; a valve piston disposed in an annulus formed between the housing and the mandrel, movable between an open position and a closed position, disposed between a valve port of the housing and a valve port of the mandrel in the closed position; a fastener releasably connecting the valve piston to the housing in the closed position; an atmospheric chamber forming a portion of the annulus adjacent to the valve piston; and a drive piston disposed in the annulus adjacent to a drive port of the mandrel and operable to release the valve piston.

Abstract: A guide shoe (1), adapted for connection to an end of a tubular for deployment in a wellbore of an oil, gas, or water well, includes: a body (10) having an axis (2) and being adapted for connection to the tubular such that torque can be transmitted between the tubular and the body (10); a nose (50) adapted for connection to the body (10); a locking mechanism (30) adapted to shift between an unlocked configuration, in which rotation of the nose (50) around the axis of the body (10) is permitted in first and second directions, and a locked configuration in which rotation of the nose (50) around the axis of the body (10) is restricted in at least one of the first and second directions. The guide shoe includes a resilient biasing device (20) urging the nose (50) into the locked configuration.

Abstract: A downhole tool, comprising: a mandrel having first and second opposing ends and an outer mounting surface, the first end comprising a male threaded portion; a tool component mountable on the mounting surface by sliding said tool component onto the mounting surface from the first end of the mandrel; and a load sleeve defining a torque shoulder, wherein the load sleeve is mountable on the mandrel and securable adjacent the male threaded portion of the first end of the mandrel such that the torque shoulder and the male threaded portion define a pin connector to facilitate connection with a box connector of a separate component.