Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for measuring a specified parameter in a phase-locked loop frequency synthesizer (PLL). In one embodiment, the method comprises introducing multiple phase errors in the PLL, measuring a specified aspect of the introduced phase errors, and determining a value for the specified parameter using the measured aspects of the introduced phase errors. In one embodiment, the phase errors are introduced repetitively in the PLL, and these phase errors produce a modified phase difference between the reference signal and the feedback signal in the PPL. In one embodiment, crossover times, when this modified phase difference crosses over a preset value, are determined, and these crossover times are used to determine the value for the specified parameter. In an embodiment, the parameter is calculated as a mathematical function of the crossover times. The parameter may be, for example, the bandwidth of the PLL.

Abstract: A liquid cooled power electronics assembly configured to use electrically conductive coolant to cool power electronic devices that uses dielectric plates sealed with a metal sleeve around the perimeter of the dielectric plates to form a device assembly. The configuration allows for more direct contact between the electronic device and the coolant, while protecting the electronic device from contact with potentially electrically conductive coolant. Material used to form the dielectric plates and the housing are selected to have similar coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) so that the reliability of the seals is maximized.

Abstract: A non directional pneumatic tire is provided for an agricultural irrigation system. The tire includes first and second side walls and a radially outer wall defining an internal inflation chamber. A non directional tread pattern is defined on the tire and includes a plurality of longitudinal protrusions positioned substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the tire. The longitudinal protrusions are arranged in first and second rows extending from the first and second side walls toward and across the equatorial plane of the tire. The longitudinal protrusions of the first and second rows circumferentially alternate with each other and there is a circumferential spacing between adjacent longitudinal protrusions at the equatorial plane so that no portion of one longitudinal protrusion circumferentially coincides with or overlaps another.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a downhole tool. In one embodiment, a method of deploying a tool in a wellbore is disclosed and consists of installing a tool body at an upper end of a tubular string extending from a wellbore, the body having at least one control line groove formed on its outer surface for housing at least one control line, the at least one control line housed therein; providing an assembly, the assembly strung on the at least one control line and including a compressible element with at least one ring on each end thereof; at least one ring on each end of the element; a locking ring at an upper end of the assembly. The method further includes installing the assembly over the body whereby the at least one control line is housed between the body and the assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring articles is disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a layer formation table. The apparatus also includes means for supplying articles to the layer formation table. At least one row of the articles is formed at a first end of the layer formation table. The apparatus also includes a programmable robot including an end of arm tool for transferring the at least one row of the articles towards a second end of the layer formation table. The programmable robot is configured to form a plurality of rows of articles on the layer formation table. Each of the rows comprises a plurality of articles in side by side contact creating a void between adjacent articles in each of the rows. The programmable robot is configured to nest the articles of one of the rows in the voids of an adjacent row. The end of arm tool includes a multiplicity of guides which form lanes. The rows of articles fill the lanes.

Abstract: A system for generating a non-visual notification of a machine condition includes a machine condition sensor configured to sense a machine condition. A notification generation controller is in communication with the machine condition sensor. The notification generation controller generates a notification according to the sensed machine condition. In a feedback configuration the notification generation controller compares an integral of a rate of change of the sensed machine condition with a threshold to trigger the generation of a notification. In a guidance configuration the notification generation controller uses the deviation of the machine condition from a guidance direction determined with a steering algorithm to control the generation of a notification. A non-visual notification generator is in communication with the notification generation controller and generates a non-visual notification based on the notification.

Abstract: First and second field programmable gate arrays are provided which implement first and second blocks of a circuit design to be simulated. The field programmable gate arrays are operated at a first clock frequency and a wire like link is provided to send a plurality of signals between them. The wire like link includes a serializer, on the first field programmable gate array, to serialize the plurality of signals; a deserializer on the second field programmable gate array, to deserialize the plurality of signals; and a connection between the serializer and the deserializer. The serializer and the deserializer are operated at a second clock frequency, greater than the first clock frequency, and the second clock frequency is selected such that latency of transmission and reception of the plurality of signals is less than the period corresponding to the first clock frequency.

Abstract: A packer has a swellable element and has end rings and compressible elements at each end of the swellable element. The packer may be first set using internal bore pressure to compress one of the compressible elements against one of the end rings with a first hydraulic setting mechanism. The packer may then be set a second time using annulus pressure to compress against the other compressible element with a second hydraulic setting mechanism. Either way, the compressible elements are compressed to expand out to the borehole and to limit extrusion of the swellable element outside the compressed elements.

Abstract: An electronically controlled stepper motor valve utilizes an electric feed through assembly providing electrical connection between the stepper motor and a mating cable connector; wherein the electric feed through assembly includes four individual leads that are sequenced to allow the mating cable connector to be installed in any of four positions, each 90 degrees apart. The ability to use a 90 degree elbow style cable connector allows the EEV footprint to be minimized which provides an advantage when the electric expansion valve is installed in the tight confines of a package system.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring articles is disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a layer formation table. The apparatus also includes means for supplying articles to the layer formation table. At least one row of the articles is formed at a first end of the layer formation table. The apparatus also includes a programmable robot including an end of arm tool for transferring the at least one row of the articles towards a second end of the layer formation table. The programmable robot is configured to form a plurality of rows of articles on the layer formation table. Each of the rows comprises a plurality of articles in side by side contact creating a void between adjacent articles in each of the rows. The programmable robot is configured to nest the articles of one of the rows in the voids of an adjacent row. The end of arm tool includes a multiplicity of guides which form lanes. The rows of articles fill the lanes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a parameter of a production fluid in a wellbore by providing an initially blocked isolated communication path between a sensor and an aperture formed in a sleeve. The isolated communication path is subsequently unblocked to allow measurements of the parameter of the production fluid.

Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a compressor, a condenser, a receiver, an expansion device, and an evaporator in fluid communication with one another. An electronic condenser pressure control valve is in fluid communication with an outlet of the condenser and operative to control a condition at the outlet of the condenser. A controller is operatively coupled to the electronic condenser pressure control valve, the controller including logic configured to operate the electronic condenser pressure control valve to dynamically float the discharge pressure at the condenser outlet based on at least one of one or more system conditions or one or more ambient condition.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and machine readable medium are described for reducing power consumption for push messaging. For example, a method in accordance with one embodiment comprises the operations of: registering with a push notification service over a first communication interface, the push notification service to push notifications to the wireless client in response to detected events; detecting that a usable connection to the push notification service may be established over a second communication interface, the second communication interface being an interface which will be operative for reasons other than a connection to the push notification service; responsively disconnecting from the push notification service over the first communication interface and re-connecting over the second communication interface; and temporarily powering down the first communication interface.

Abstract: A method for detecting unstable signatures when testing a VLSI chip that includes adding to an LFSR one or more save and restore registers for storing an initial seed consisting of 0s and 1s; loading the initial seed into the LFSR and one or more save and restore registers; initializing a MISR and running test loops. Upon reaching a predetermined number of test loops, moving a signature of the MISR to a shadow register; then, performing a signature stability test by loading the initial seed to the LFSR; executing the predetermined number of BIST test loops, and comparing a resulting MISR signature for differences versus a previous signature stored in a MISR save and restore register, wherein unloading is performed by way of serial MISR unloads and single bit XORs.

Abstract: A device and method to control the rate of radial expansion of a compressible sealing element on a packer over the longitudinal length of the sealing element. By varying the rate of compression of the element, the rate of radial expansion of the corresponding portions of the element may also be controlled. Additionally, the rate of radial expansion may also be controlled by controlling the direction and amount of radial expansion along the length of the sealing by reinforcing certain portions of the sealing element while decreasing the rigidity of the reinforcement for other portions.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for electric induction heat treatment of electrically conductive thin strip material. Multiple series-connected coil loops, each having a pole pair, are provided in each of a top and bottom induction coil, which are positioned mirror image to each other. The top and bottom induction coils form a transverse flux induction heat treatment apparatus. A separate flux concentrator is provided over and on the side of each pole. The thin strip material passes between the poles of the top and bottom induction coils and the flux concentrators associated with each of the poles.

Abstract: A method of obtaining an impression of an eye, the method comprises preparing an impression material, contacting the impression material with an eye of a subject, obtaining an impression of the eye on the impression material, creating an indication of the orientation of the impression with respect to the eye, and removing the impression material from the eye. The impression can be used in a method of manufacturing a lens for an eye that comprises receiving one or more data files comprising a back lens surface calculation and a front lens surface calculation, forming a back lens surface from a lens blank based on the back lens surface calculation, forming a front lens surface from the lens blank based on the front lens surface calculation, and forming one or more asymmetric features in the back lens surface based on the back lens surface calculation.

Abstract: This device is for the formation and transfer of rows of articles. In particular, the device is for the formation of a row of articles on a layer formation table and the transfer of the row from one processing operation to another. A programmable robot and EOAT easily sweeps or pushes the load (tier) down the layer formation table returns to it's original position. A single, programmable robot performs all functions. The absolute unique end of arm tooling (EOAT) is fitted to the robot. The articles of one row are nested in the voids between articles in an adjacent row.

Abstract: There is provided a backplane for an organic electronic device including a TFT substrate having a base substrate, a polysilicon layer, a gate dielectric layer, a gate electrode, an interlayer dielectric, and a data electrode; an insulating layer over the TFT substrate; a multiplicity of first openings in the insulating layer having a depth d1; a multiplicity of pixelated diode electrode structures, wherein a first set of diode electrode structures are in the first openings; and a bank structure defining pixel areas over the diode electrode structures; wherein the first openings and first set of diode electrode structures are in at least a first set of the pixel areas.

Abstract: A polarimetric transceiver front-end includes two receive paths configured to receive signals from an antenna, each receive path corresponding to a respective polarization. Each front-end includes a variable amplifier and a variable phase shifter; a first transmit path configured to send signals to the antenna, where the transmit path is connected to the variable phase shifter of one of the two receive paths and includes a variable amplifier; and a transmit/receive switch configured to select between the first transmit path and the two receive paths for signals, where the transmit/receive switch includes a quarter-wavelength transmission line that adds a high impedance to the transmit path when the transmit/receive switch is in a receiving state.