Abstract: An operationally unintrusive, and scalable system for measurement and transfer of pressure and temperature data from inside a fluid flow tubular such as a subsea pipeline to an existing remote site such as an infrastructure or a subsea vehicle that does not need to penetrate the fluid flow tubular's wall.

Abstract: A remotely controlled packable robot includes a chassis, a motive subsystem for maneuvering the chassis, and an open channel under the robot defined by the chassis and the motive subsystem. A rearward arm base member mount is located between the chassis and a rotatable arm shoulder and is pivotable with respect to the chassis to store the arm underneath the robot in the open channel.

Abstract: A method of operating a mobile remotely controlled ground robot in difficult terrain. Rear driven tracked arms of the robot are pivoted rearward and upward to trail main driven tracks of the robot at a fixed angle relative to and above the ground. The main tracks of the robot are driven forward to traverse the ground. An obstacle is traversed by driving the main tracks to traverse the obstacle pivoting the forward end of the robot upwards and at least one of the rear driven tracks are driven and engaging the ground and/or obstacle to advance the robot forward over the obstacle and to prevent the robot from tipping over backwards.

Abstract: A remotely controlled packable robot includes a chassis with a top surface and a bottom surface, a motive subsystem for maneuvering the chassis, an open channel under the robot defined by the chassis and the motive subsystem, a camera assembly, and a robot arm including a rotatable shoulder, an upper arm pivotable with respect to the shoulder, a forearm, an elbow between the upper arm and the forearm, a wrist connected to the forearm, and a gripper attached to the wrist. A rearward arm base member mount between the chassis and the rotatable arm shoulder is pivotable with respect to the chassis to store the arm underneath the robot in the open channel. A forward camera assembly base member mount for the camera is pivotable with respect to the chassis to store the camera assembly underneath the robot in the open channel. Another camera mount is for retaining the camera assembly on the shoulder of the robot arm. A novel power distribution subsystem is also disclosed.

Abstract: Fluid charging system can provide a higher inlet pressure than the ambient pressure for pumps intended to operated and comprises one or more subsea fluid reservoirs; one or more charge pumps configured to provide an output pressure higher than ambient pressure; various fluid conduits in fluid communication with the subsea fluid reservoirs and charge pumps; and various valves. Fluid is provided to a bladder at a first fluid pressure and fluid charging system used to provide protection for the subsea fluid reservoir and inlet conditions of the subsea pump. A second valve is used to protect the subsea fluid reservoir from pressure leaking back and a feedback loop used to protect inlet conditions of the subsea pump by setting the feedback loop valve to open near the maximum inlet condition.

Abstract: A subsea fluid storage system comprising a soft bladder disposed within a pressure balanced reservoir, a rotatable piston, and a piston rotator which rotates and twists the rotatable piston as it travels along a predetermined axis within the pressure balanced reservoir, predictably and repeatabley collapses the soft bladder when the rotating piston cooperatively travels about the piston rotator, twisting the soft bladder as the rotating piston moves along the predetermined axis, collapsing the bladder inward and thereby emptying the bladder of fluid within the bladder. The piston's rotation pulls the soft bladder away from the pressure balanced reservoir's interior, thereby preventing the bladder's binding or pinching the pressure balanced reservoir's interior. In configurations, fluid is allowed to enter the pressure balanced reservoir via a valve until a balance is achieved between an interior and an exterior of the pressure balanced reservoir.

Abstract: Using a subsea fluid storage system 1 comprising a soft bladder (20) disposed within a pressure balanced reservoir (10), a rotatable piston (30) disposed at least partially within the pressure balanced reservoir where a top of the soft bladder is in communication with the rotatable piston, and a piston rotator (50) operative to rotate and twist the rotatable piston as the rotatable piston travels along a predetermined axis within the pressure balanced reservoir, a predictable and repeatable collapse of the soft bladder may be obtained by allowing the rotating piston (30) to cooperatively travel about the piston rotator (50) to twist the soft bladder (20) as the rotating piston moves along the predetermined axis in such a manner as to collapse the bladder inward, thereby emptying the bladder of fluid within the bladder.

Abstract: A modular subsea chemical injection system, comprising a power and communications module, a power and communications umbilical terminator, a power and communications module, a fluid storage module comprising a plurality of fluid storage bays adapted to selectively receive a corresponding plurality of high and/or low flow fluid storage units, a pump module comprising a plurality of pump bays adapted to selectively receive a corresponding plurality of high fluid flow and/or low fluid flow pumps, and a fluid distribution unit in fluid communication with a pump module fluid port can be disposed on a seafloor adjacent to a well site and used to selectively provide low and/or high flow fluid delivery by use of subsea storage and pressure boosting for low flow fluid needs and low flow fluid needs.

Abstract: A modular subsea chemical injection system, comprising a power and communications module, a power and communications umbilical terminator, a power and communications module, a fluid storage module comprising a plurality of fluid storage bays adapted to selectively receive a corresponding plurality of high and/or low flow fluid storage units, a pump module comprising a plurality of pump bays adapted to selectively receive a corresponding plurality of high fluid flow and/or low fluid flow pumps, and a fluid distribution unit in fluid communication with a pump module fluid port can be disposed on a seafloor adjacent to a well site and used to selectively provide low and/or high flow fluid delivery by use of subsea storage and pressure boosting for low flow fluid needs and low flow fluid needs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to eliminate PLL lock-up during power-up for a VCO. A method in accordance with the present invention comprises coupling a divider to a Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) to create the feedback loop, and driving the divider with a signal, wherein the signal from the VCO is at high frequency upon power up.

Abstract: A GPS receiver with automatic mode-setting and power ramping circuitry is disclosed.

Abstract: A tuned low-noise amplifier is disclosed. A device in accordance with the present invention comprises a first current source, a second current source, a comparator, coupled to the first current source and the second current source, for providing a control signal, and a third current source, receiving the control signal and coupled to the tuned low-noise amplifier, wherein a current in the third current source is proportional to a current in the first current source and the second current source, where values of the first current source, the second current source, and the third current source are based on a quasi-Proportional-To-Absolute-Temperature (PTAT) curve.

Abstract: A quadrature voltage controlled oscillator that generates both in-phase and quadrature signals. The in-phase signal is generated by directly coupling two oscillators, while the quadrature phase signal is generated by cross-coupling the two oscillators.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method for creation and automatic deployment of personalized, dynamic and interactive voice services, including information derived from on-line analytical processing (OLAP) systems and other data repositories. More specifically, the invention relates to a system and method that enable personalized delivery of information in real-time, via natural language voice communication with a voice-enabled terminal device. The system and method combines personalized information broadcast technology with an active voice page. An active voice page is created by the system, stored in a call database and used to generate dynamic voice menus. A call server retrieves the AVP from the call database and delivers the content of the service by dialing a subscriber's telephone number, speaking message text to the subscriber and recording the subscriber's input in response to the call menus. A unique AVP is generated for each subscriber scheduled to receive voice service content.

Abstract: A method and system for accomplishing real-time queries in conjunction with interactive, real-time, voice transmission of information to a user is disclosed. A voice-based communication between a user and a first system is established and a report is transmitted to the user. The report might comprise information and at least one request for user input based on said information. In response to the report, the user can request that additional queries be run against database or other data repository. The requested is drawn from the database automatically, in real-time by connecting to the database.