Abstract: A method of automatic drilling of a well with coil tubing or drill pipe tubing utilizes AC motors coupled to variable frequency drives controlled by a programmable logic controller. For example, a coil tube injector is supported in a mast for injecting coil tube from a reel and into a wellbore for drilling the wellbore. The AC motors for the injector are driven for controlling a rate of injection of coil tube by the injector for maintaining at least one drilling parameter such as weight-on-bit, differential mud pressure or rate of penetration. The AC motor for the reel is also controlled for driving the reel and maintaining a relative rate of coil tube supplied from the reel to the injector. Drawworks and a top drive supported by the draworks can also be equipped with AC motors and variable frequency drives for controlling a drilling rate for maintaining at least one of the drilling parameters.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a three-dimensional object is rendered on a two-dimensional display screen by associating a three-dimensional mesh with an image of the object, generating a vector-based texture map that defines a surface area of the object, and rendering the vector-based texture map on the display screen.

Abstract: The invention is an improved audible signaling device with a speaker, a sound chamber, and associated circuitry. The device creates a loud, audible fundamental frequency, and harmonic frequencies that are relatively equal in amplitude to the amplitude of the fundamental frequency.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for operating connectorless, free-space data porting optical structural composites with integrated optical or electrical busses are disclosed. Optical transceivers and fiber optic/coaxial cable are embedded into a foam-core composite sandwich structure which is infiltrated with vinyl ester resin. The embedded busses are composed of a signal source producing an optical free space signal, which is shone onto an optical/electrical bus containing a transceiver for converting this signal into another electrical or optical signal which then is imprinted upon a coaxial or fiber optic cable buried in the composite structure. The signal traverses the composite structure, then a transceiver converts the electrical/optical signal into a free space optical signal which shines out of the composite structure to an outside free space optical receiver. The optical free space signal is oriented to be received and transmitted at an angle of about 90 degrees relative to the composite material.

Abstract: A method of automatic drilling of a well with coil tubing or drill pipe tubing utilizes AC motors coupled to variable frequency drives controlled by a programmable logic controller. For example, a coil tube injector is supported in a mast for injecting coil tube from a reel and into a wellbore for drilling the wellbore. The AC motors for the injector are driven for controlling a rate of injection of coil tube by the injector for maintaining at least one drilling parameter such as weight-on-bit, differential mud pressure or rate of penetration. The AC motor for the reel is also controlled for driving the reel and maintaining a relative rate of coil tube supplied from the reel to the injector. Drawworks and a top drive supported by the draworks can also be equipped with AC motors and variable frequency drives for controlling a drilling rate for maintaining at least one of the drilling parameters.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for operating connectorless, free-space data porting optical structural composites with integrated optical or electrical busses are disclosed. Optical transceivers and fiber optic/coaxial cable are embedded into a foam-core composite sandwich structure which is infiltrated with vinyl ester resin. The embedded busses are composed of a signal source producing an optical free space signal, which is shone onto an optical/electrical bus containing a transceiver for converting this signal into another electrical or optical signal which then is imprinted upon a coaxial or fiber optic cable buried in the composite structure. The signal traverses the composite structure, then a transceiver converts the electrical/optical signal into a free space optical signal which shines out of the composite structure to an outside free space optical receiver. The optical free space signal is oriented to be received and transmitted at an angle of about 90 degrees relative to the composite material.

Abstract: In a system and method to reduce wafer breakages in a wafer handling system, the position of a wafer on a platen is monitored and closing of the platen on a vacuum chamber is prevented if a misaligned wafer is detected. In one embodiment the wafer position is monitored by monitoring the air pressure in vacuum channels of a platen faceplate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining approximately constant gain of an RF power amplifier includes a digital control module for modifying gain parameters of the power amplifier to provide a constant fixed power gain over the entire frequency range of operation. The digital control module compares stored frequency response parameters, which are indicative of the inherent closed-loop gain of the power amplifier, with the current selected gain and carrier frequency setting to generate a digital gain control value. The digital gain control value is used to modify a detected input RF envelope in the power amplifier analog loop. The modified input envelope is compared with an envelope of the transmitted RF signal to adjust the gain of the power amplifier. Optionally, the detected RF input envelope may be sampled to digitally compensate for variations in the RF input signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining approximately constant gain of an RF power amplifier includes a digital control module for modifying gain parameters of the power amplifier to provide a constant fixed power gain over the entire frequency range of operation. The digital control module compares stored frequency response parameters, which are indicative of the inherent closed-loop gain of the power amplifier, with the current selected gain and carrier frequency setting to generate a digital gain control value. The digital gain control value is used to modify a detected input RF envelope in the power amplifier analog loop. The modified input envelope is compared with an envelope of the transmitted RF signal to adjust the gain of the power amplifier. Optionally, the detected RF input envelope may be sampled to digitally compensate for variations in the RF input signal.

Abstract: A piezoelectric transducer driving circuit has a main oscillator stage, a buffer circuit, and a voltage-doubling circuit. The main oscillator stage includes a frequency-swept signal generator that can be configured to provide different outputs to the buffers, which in turn provide the output to the voltage-doubling circuit, which supplies the piezoelectric transducer, causing it to mechanically deform and produce audible sounds of different types.

Abstract: A piezoelectric transducer driving circuit has a main oscillator stage, a buffer circuit, and a voltage-doubling circuit. The main oscillator stage includes a frequency-swept signal generator that can be configured to provide different outputs to the buffers, which in turn provide the output to the voltage-doubling circuit, which supplies the piezoelectric transducer, causing it to mechanically deform and produce audible sounds of different types.

Abstract: A tension-actuated submerged dispenser for discharging a liquid of one composition into liquid surroundings constituted by a liquid of a different constitution is useful for unattended employment to maintain a certain quality of composition in the surroundings. On the other hand, the quality of composition of liquid in the dispenser can be jeopardized if liquid from outside the container is allowed in, as has been the case with some earlier known submerged dispensers which employed a displacement liquid. In order to develop the necessary pressure to express a liquid through an orifice in a submerged container into which no such displacement liquid is allowed entry, a system of actuating a reduction of enclosed volume by means of tensing a container between opposed end-effectors has been developed. The source of pulling force can be either an externally attached weight or float, or a dispensed liquid which is differentiated as to specific gravity from that of the liquid surroundings.