Abstract: A method and system for beamforming a multi-element array using time delays is provided. The array includes transmit array elements and receive array elements. Each of the array elements includes a processor. Modulation and demodulation functions are performed at the processors of each array element. The modulation and demodulation functions utilize receive time offsets and phase shifts, and transmit time offsets and phase shifts, respectively. The receive time offsets and phase shifts, and the transmit time offsets and phase shifts are determined by a central processing unit in order to beamform received signals and transmitted signals, respectively. The array elements are arranged in a daisy chain fashion in order to facilitate communication of control parameters, communication of bits to be transmitted and distributed combining of demodulated baseband samples from one array element to another and communicating the combined samples to the central processing unit.

Abstract: Shaped Offset Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) can be implemented within a communication system. A train or sequence of orthogonal sinc pulses can be generated for each of the in-phase and quadrature signal paths. The sinc pulses in the quadrature signal path can have a predetermined time offset relative to the pulses in the in-phase signal path. An in-phase or quadrature antipodal data signal can be used to modulate the respective sinc pulse train. Each of the in-phase and quadrature pulses can be shaped using a time domain windowing function, such as a Kaiser-Bessel window, to adjust the spectral width and spectral sidelobe level of the signal. The beta parameter of the window can be adjusted to achieve the desired signal response. The timing of the sinc pulses may need to be adjusted following the window function in order to maintain orthogonality of the pulses.

Abstract: Exhaust pressure from at least one actuator (34,36) which can tilt joint 6 of a bottom hole assembly 4 can be utilized to determine the direction 26 tiltable joint 6 is pointing (e.g., orientation, angular displacement, and/or inclination and azimuth). In one embodiment, a known exhaust pressure can be correlated to a known orientation and/or angular displacement, and the measured exhaust pressure can be compared to the known exhaust pressure to determine the orientation and/or angular displacement. In another embodiment, the flow rate of fluid exhausted from an actuator (34,36) can be derived from the exhaust pressure. The exhaust flow rate can then be used to calculate the state of actuation, which can allow determination of the angular displacement of the tiltable joint 6. Orientation and/or angular displacement with respect to the bottom hole assembly 4 can be resolved into an inclination and azimuth with respect to a formation 14.

Abstract: A linear actuation apparatus for controlling fluid flow in a wellbore comprises a tubular manifold for conducting fluid through a portion thereof when disposed in the wellbore, and a shaft supported for reciprocal axial movement within the manifold. A valve seat is supported within the manifold in substantial alignment with the shaft, and a valve closure element is carried by the shaft for reciprocal axial movement therewith between a closed position preventing fluid flow across the valve seat and an opened position permitting fluid flow across the valve seat. A magnetic element is also carried by the shaft for reciprocal axial movement therewith. A pair of springs are each carried on opposing sides of the magnetic element such that one of the springs is compressed by and applies an axial force to the shaft under the movement of the shaft from a neutral position.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing composition contains 1) water, 2) optionally an abrasive material, 3) an oxidizer, preferably a per-type oxidizer, 4) a small amount of soluble metal-ion oxidizer/polishing accelerator, a metal-ion polishing accelerator bound to particles such as to abrasive particles, or both; and 5) at least one of the group selected from a) a small amount of a chelator, b) a small amount of a dihydroxy enolic compound, and c) a small amount of an organic accelerator. Ascorbic acid in an amount less than 800 ppm, preferably between about 100 ppm and 500 ppm, is the preferred dihydroxy enolic compound. The polishing compositions and processes are useful for substantially all metals and metallic compounds found in integrated circuits, but is particularly useful for tungsten.

Abstract: A method of polishing a substrate with a polishing composition comprising an oxidizing agent and abrasive particles having a surface, said surface of the abrasive particles being at least partially modified with 1) at least one stabilizer compound comprising aluminum, boron, tungsten, or both, said stabilizer compound being bound via a covalent bond to said abrasive particles, and 2) an organic chelating compound, said chelating compound being bound via a covalent bond to said stabilizer compound. The organic chelating compounds include one or more of 1) a nitrogen-containing moiety and between one and five other polar groups; 2) a sulfur-containing moiety and between one and five other polar groups; and 3) between two and five polar groups selected from carboxylic acid groups or salts thereof and hydroxyl groups.

Abstract: A bi-stable actuator comprises a chamber 40 having a fluid inlet 34 and first and second fluid outlets 36, 38, a valve member 42 movable between a first position in which it co-operates with a first seat to close the first outlet 36 and a second position in which it co-operates with a second seat to close the second outlet 38, and an electromagnetic actuator 48 operable to drive the valve member 42 between its first and second positions, wherein the valve member 42 has a first surface 44 against which the fluid pressure within the chamber 40 acts when the valve member 42 is in its first position to resist movement of the valve member 42, and a second surface 46 against which the fluid pressure within the chamber 40 acts when the valve member 42 is in its second position to resist movement of the valve member 42.

Abstract: A low solids-content slurry for polishing (e.g., chemical mechanical planarization) of substrates comprising a dielectric and an associated method using the slurry are described. The slurry and associated method afford high removal rates of dielectric during polishing even though the slurry has low solids-content. The slurry comprises a bicarbonate salt, which acts as a catalyst for increasing removal rates of dielectric films during polishing of these substrates.

Abstract: An actuator to direct a downhole drilling tool includes a stator and an armature configured to be electromagnetically displaced into one of three stable positions. A cavity within the stator is in communication with a high-pressure fluid and hydraulic ports in the stator allow the high-pressure fluid to communicate with low-pressure regions. Plungers on the armature selectively block either or none of the hydraulic ports, allowing for three control options from the actuator to the downhole drilling tool.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a spray coating process for a robotic spray gun assembly comprising importing a discretized model of an object geometry to be coated; importing a numerically characterized spray pattern file; importing a robot motion file comprising a plurality of motion positions, dwell times and orientations defining a spray direction of the robotic spray gun; reading each motion position within the motion file; determining which portions of the object geometry are visible at each motion position; computing a void volume fraction at each visible portion of the object geometry based on the core compression, the incident angle of the robotic spray gun and the ricocheting of the spray for each motion position; and calculating total coating thickness on portions of the object geometry for the complete motion step.

Abstract: A modular patient care system having a central management unit module and one or more detachable functional units is described. Using unique mechanical and electrical features, the modular patient care system is capable of flexibly, bilaterally, and safely providing electrical power from the central management unit to the attached functional units, with exposed power leads of end units being electrically isolated for safety and security. Functional units are capable of detecting the presence of other functional units more distant from the central management unit for passing power to those units, and for otherwise electrically isolating exposed power leads when no further units are attached.

Abstract: A composition and associated method for chemical mechanical planarization (or other polishing) are described which afford high tantalum to copper selectivity in copper CMP and which are tunable (in relation to polishing performance). The composition comprises an abrasive and an N-acyl-N-hydrocarbonoxyalkyl aspartic acid compound and/or a tolyltriazole derivative.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a sensor for facilitating detection of a physiological characteristic of a patient. Specifically, one embodiment includes a detector configured to obtain signals from the patient, the signals being indicative of the physiological characteristic and to send the signals to a monitor, and a sensor memory coupled with the sensor and separate from the monitor, the sensor memory storing patient physiological data derived by the monitor from the signals, the patient physiological data being indicative of the physiological characteristic.

Abstract: A steerable drilling system comprises a bias unit 10, the bias unit 10 having at least one actuator 14 operable by pressurised drilling fluid or mud, in use, and a separator 20 arranged to remove particulate matter from the supply of pressurised drilling fluid or mud to the or each actuator 14, the separator 20 comprising a hydrocyclone 20.

Abstract: A method and a device for determining the quality of signal used for measuring a physiological parameter. One embodiment of the present invention is directed towards a pulse oximeter, where the measured physiological parameter includes a patient's pulse rate and blood oxygen saturation. The signal quality, which is indicative of the accuracy and reliability of the measured physiological parameter, is calculated by combining a plurality of signal quality indicators, each of which is an indicator of a quality of the measured signal. The value of the signal quality metric is compared to a threshold and based on this comparison various decisions are made by the medical device. One decision is directed towards deciding whether or not to display the measured physiological parameter, to ensure that only accurate measured values are displayed. Another decision is directed towards providing feedback to guide the clinician to adjust the location of the sensor to a more suitable tissue location.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of particulate materials as contrast agents in in vivo light imaging.

Abstract: A low defectivity colloidal silica-based product slurry for use in chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) and an associated production method are described. The product slurry is produced using centrifugation of and optionally with addition of a surfactant to a starting colloidal silica (which can be a commercially available colloidal silica). The product slurry has substantially lower levels of soluble polymeric silicates than does the starting colloidal silica and affords lower defectivity levels when used in a slurry for CMP processing than does the starting colloidal silica.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of maintaining spacing between tension mask strands in a tension mask. The method includes providing a tension mask with strands connecting therebetween and attaching a set of barrier ridge elements to a first side of the strands. Next, the tension mask is tensioned and affixed to a mask frame to form a mask frame assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions of matter represented by the general formula LnxLn′x′AyTizCe1−x−x′−y−zO2−&dgr; wherein Ln is selected from the group consisting of Sm, Gd, Y, Ln′ is selected from the group consisting of La, Pr, Nd, Pm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu; A is selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba, 0.05≦x≦0.25, 0≦x′≦0.25, 0≦y≦0.03, 0.001≦z≦0.03, 0.05≦x+x′≦0.25, 0.001≦y+z≦0.03, wherein &dgr; is a number which renders the composition of matter charge neutral. The compositions can be formed into sintered bodies suitable for use as solid electrolytes in devices including solid-state oxygen generators. Such sintered bodies have greater than 95% theoretical density at temperatures at or below 1600° C., and can be produced by a solid-state method.

Abstract: A color picture tube having a tensioned mask supported by a frame mounted within the tube. The frame is constructed of a carbon steel material, and the mask is constructed of a nickel alloy material that expands substantially less per unit length than does the frame in the normal operating temperature range of the tube, and expands substantially the same per unit length as the frame in the higher thermal cycling temperature range used during tube processing.