Abstract: A metal guitar slide ring, for playing a stringed musical instrument such as a guitar in a slide style, is configured to accept insertion of a musician's finger and still allow the fingertips to remain flexible and free to play instrument strings. The ring is configured with non-parallel ends so that the effective slide bar length that contacts the strings can be varied by the musician by rotating the ring about the finger. The range of adjustment along with the capability of wearing a plurality of rings simultaneously enable a musician to play up to 12 possible intervals on a guitar without retuning compared to 4 intervals with a conventional guitar slide. At least a portion of the ring may be coated with a hard smooth slide surface for substantially improved playing qualities, aesthetically appealing appearance, and superior comfort.

Abstract: A method and system for adaptively controlling a hybrid vehicle comprises a recorder for recording a historical load or duty cycle of vehicle during or after operation of the vehicle. A classifier classifies the historical load in accordance with a load category. A controller assigns at least one of a current control curve and a slew rate control curve associated with the load category for a defined time period after the recording of the historical load or if the vehicle is presently operating generally consistent with the load category. At least one of the current control curve and the slew rate control curve, or data representative thereof, are used to control an operation of an electric drive motor of the vehicle for the defined time period.

Abstract: A method and system for adaptively controlling a hybrid vehicle comprises a recorder for recording a historical load or duty cycle of vehicle during or after operation of the vehicle. A classifier classifies the historical load in accordance with a load category. A controller assigns at least one of a current control curve and a slew rate control curve associated with the load category for a defined time period after the recording of the historical load or if the vehicle is presently operating generally consistent with the load category. At least one of the current control curve and the slew rate control curve, or data representative thereof, are used to control an operation of an electric drive motor of the vehicle for the defined time period.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a vehicle for regenerative braking facilitates decreasing the warm-up time of the fuel cell stack from start-up to full electrical power generation capacity. A controller detects a starting time of a fuel cell stack associated with a vehicle. A drive motor generates electrical energy during braking or deceleration of the vehicle, where the drive motor is mechanically coupled to at least one wheel of the vehicle. A controller refers to or determines a time window following the starting time. The switching unit routes the electrical energy to a resistive load associated with a heat exchanger thermally coupled to a fuel cell stack of the vehicle if the electrical energy is generated during the time window.

Abstract: A method for processing data from dual sensor receivers to produce a combined seismic trace. A first seismic trace is received from a geophone and second seismic trance from a hydrophone in a dual sensor receiver. This first and second seismic traces are transformed into a first and second seismic spectrum. The seismic spectrums are deghosted to obtain deghosted spectrums. The seismic spectra may be added to obtain a deghosted third spectrum. An inverse power is computed for each of the deghosted spectra. The inverse powers for each deghosted spectra are divided by sums of the deghosted spectra to obtain diversity filters. The first and third diversity filters are applied to the first seismic spectrum to obtain a scaled first seismic spectrum. The other scaled spectra are formed in a like manner. The diversity scaled seismic spectrum is inversely transformed to obtain the combined seismic trace.

Abstract: A method for processing data from dual sensor receivers to produce a combined seismic trace. A first seismic trace is received from a geophone and second seismic trance from a hydrophone in a dual sensor receiver. This first and second seismic traces are transformed into a first and second seismic spectrum. The seismic spectrums are deghosted to obtain deghosted spectrums. The seismic spectra may be added to obtain a deghosted third spectrum. An inverse power is computed for each of the deghosted spectra. The inverse powers for each deghosted spectra are divided by sums of the deghosted spectra to obtain diversity filters. The first and third diversity filters are applied to the first seismic spectrum to obtain a scaled first seismic spectrum. The other scaled spectra are formed in a like manner. The diversity scaled seismic spectrum is inversely transformed to obtain the combined seismic trace.

Abstract: A method of performing a marine seismic survey is disclosed Seismic receivers, either hydrophones or geophones, are deployed in a set of parallel lines in the survey area. The acoustic energy is generated from a conventional marine seismic source towed by a vessel traveling in paths which are substantially perpendicular to the lines of receiver stations. The paths may pass over the lines of receiver stations, and may also pass outside of the receiver area. Alternative embodiments are disclosed which include sequencing of multiple sets of receiver station lines with one another, so that shots fired along different segments of the path correspond to the different sets of receiver stations. In addition, multiple sources may be towed and alternatively fired, to improve the survey efficiency.

Abstract: A method for conducting a three-dimensional subsurface seismic survey utilizing a plurality of seismic receivers arranged in an orthogonally uniform pattern is disclosed. A predetermined pattern of shotpoints is arranged such that every point in the surface area of interest is sampled over a desired range of offsets and a full range of azimuths. The utilization of shotpoints outside the pattern of receivers allows examination of a subsurface area which is greater than the area of the pattern itself. The output of each receiver in the pattern is simultaneously recorded for seismic energy applied to the surface of the earth. Where the area of interest is quite large, a multitude of patterns of seismic receivers may be utilized to ensure coverage of the entire area. In a marine application of the present invention a plurality of seismic receivers are arranged in an orthogonally uniform pattern under a body of water or by utilizing multiple parallel marine streamers towed by one or more tow boats.

Abstract: A method for conducting a three-dimensional subsurface seismic survey utilizing a plurality of seismic receivers arranged in an orthogonally uniform pattern is disclosed. A predetermined pattern of shotpoints is arranged such that every point in the surface area of interest is sampled over a desired range of offsets and a full range of azimuths. The utilization of shotpoints outside the pattern of receivers allows examination of a subsurface area which is greater than the area of the pattern itself. The output of each receiver in the pattern is simultaneously recorded for seismic energy applied to the surface of the earth. Where the area of interest is quite large, a multitude of patterns of seismic receivers may be utilized to ensure coverage of the entire area.