Abstract: A parking meter assembly (10) including a base (11) that is to be fixed to or embedded in a ground surface, typically adjacent the curb that which a car is to be parked. The assembly (10) also includes a parking meter (13) having a front face (17) that includes a coin slot (25) a card slot (20) and a control panel (21). The parking meter (13) further includes a rear face (27) having a window aperture (28) that provides for the transmission of light to a solar panel (29) behind the aperture (28).

Abstract: A technique facilitates pressure containment with a retrievable cement bushing. The retrievable cement bushing comprises a body having an internal longitudinal passage. Additionally, the retrievable cement bushing comprises an engagement lug which cooperates with a sleeve. The engagement lug is mounted on the body and is movable to a radially outward position for engagement with a corresponding portion of a surrounding wall, e.g an internal packer wall. The sleeve is sized to receive a slick joint therethrough and is movable to a radially inward position relative to the engagement lug so as to hold the engagement lug in the radially outward position. The sleeve protects the slick joint from inwardly directed loading via the engagement lug when the retrievable cement bushing is subjected to differential pressures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to decorative coatings for plastic substrates, the decorative coatings ideally being stable and durable coatings that are spectrally tuneable to permit the selection of a variety of appearances, and ideally providing a decorative metal finish. More particularly the present invention provides for a plastic substrate having a decorative coating including a spectrally controlling system and a stress controlling system. The spectrally controlling system includes alternating absorbing layers and transparent layers, and the stress controlling system controls the overall residual stress of the decorative coating to within a desired range. Further provided are methods for applying to a plastic substrate a decorative coating having a spectrally controlling system and a stress controlling system.

Abstract: A technique facilitates downhole service operations including cementing operations. A retrievable cementing bushing is designed to facilitate the service operation and includes a body on which is mounted an engagement lug. The engagement lug is mounted for movement in a radial direction and includes an outer engagement feature and an inner engagement feature. The inner engagement feature is oriented for cooperation with a slick joint. The engagement lug is biased in a radially outward direction for engagement with corresponding features of a surrounding wall.

Abstract: A method can include pumping cement to a bore of a shifting sleeve disposed in a ported component seated in a cased bore above a liner; flowing the cement from the bore of the shifting sleeve through radial passages of the shifting sleeve and radial Rock passages of the ported component; and flowing the cement to an annulus between a casing of the cased bore and the liner.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing NOx sensors in an exhaust aftertreatment system includes suspending reductant dosing in an exhaust aftertreatment system; purging a reductant deposit in a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system of the exhaust aftertreatment system; adjusting at least one of an ignition timing and an engine speed for an engine to adjust an engine out nitrogen oxide (NOx) amount; receiving measured SCR inlet NOx data from a SCR inlet NOx sensor and measured SCR outlet NOx data from a SCR outlet NOx sensor; determining a phase shift between the measured SCR inlet and SCR outlet NOx data; applying the determined phase shift to the SCR outlet NOx data; and determining a diagnostic feature based on the SCR inlet NOx data and the phase shifted SCR outlet NOx data regarding a state of the SCR inlet and outlet NOx sensors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymeric substrate being coated with a reflective coating, particularly a chromium-based reflective coating.

Abstract: Fuse driver circuits, fuse driver testing circuitry, and methods for testing the fuse driver circuits using the testing circuitry are described. In some embodiments, the fuse driver circuit can be made using a fuse, a NMOS transistor, and a PMOS transistor. The drain of the NMOS transistor can be connected to the negative end of the fuse. The source of the NMOS transistor can be connected to ground. The drain of the PMOS transistor can be connected to a positive end of the fuse. The NMOS and PMOS transistors provide enhanced robustness to the fuse driver circuit in both undervoltage and overvoltage conditions. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A dual wiper plug system having a first wiper including a first body having a first bore therethrough, and at least one wiper fin disposed around the body, a second wiper disposed axially above the first wiper, the second wiper including a second body having a second bore therethrough and a first shoulder formed on the inner surface of the second body, and at least one wiper fin disposed around the body, and a first collet ring coupled to the first wiper and including at least one collet finger extending axially upward, and a collet head disposed on an upper end of the collet finger and configured to engage the first shoulder of the second body.

Abstract: A chromium-based reflective coating for a polymeric substrate, wherein the coating has a thickness of 200 nm or less and is an alloy of chromium and a dopant material, the dopant material being selected from the hexagonally close-packed transition metals, the alloy having a crystal structure of a primary body-centered cubic phase in coexistence with a secondary omega hexagonally close-packed phase.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an engine output module that determines an engine output power parameter for an engine. The apparatus includes an output power threshold module that determines if the engine output power parameter is below an output power threshold. The apparatus includes a NOx module that determines a nitrogen oxide (“NOx”) efficiency of a selective catalytic reduction (“SCR”) system in response to the output power threshold module determining that the determined engine output power parameter is below the output power threshold. The SCR system is in exhaust receiving communication with the engine. The apparatus includes a NOx threshold module that determines if the NOx efficiency is below a NOx efficiency threshold, and a NOx warning module that sends a NOx alarm signal in response to the NOx threshold module determining that the NOx efficiency is below the NOx efficiency threshold.

Abstract: A plastic mirror that includes a plastic substrate having a front surface, a hardcoating on the front surface, a reflective layer, and an intermediate zone between the hardcoating and the reflective layer, the intermediate zone including at least one layer formed from a material selected from the group consisting of metals and metalloids, oxides and nitrides of metals and metalloids, and carbon.

Abstract: A system and method for deploying a heat harvesting system and for harvesting heat from a geothermal well using one or more heat pipes. A heat exchanger may receive heat from one or more heat pipes for transfer to a heat receiving component. The heat pipes may be thermally coupled to the heat exchanger via a thermal gap material having a relatively low thermal conductivity. A mounting component may engage heat pipes and define a thermal gap between the heat pipes and heat exchanger. A heat spreader, having a relatively high thermal conductivity, may be used to transfer heat from the heat pipes to the thermal gap material and help define a working temperature for the heat pipes. A heat pipe deployment system may include anti-buckling supports and/or a guide to help keep the heat pipes from buckling and to guide the heat pipes into corresponding well bores during deployment.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate generally to electrical and electronic hardware, computer software, wired and wireless network communications, and audio and speaker systems. More specifically, disclosed are an apparatus and a method for processing signals for optimizing audio, such as 3D audio, by adjusting the filtering for cross-talk cancellation based on listener position and/or orientation. In one embodiment, an apparatus is configured to include a plurality of transducers, a memory, and a processor configured to execute instructions to determine a physical characteristic of a listener relative to the origination of the multiple channels of audio, to cancel crosstalk in a spatial region coincident with the listener at a first location, to detect a change in the physical characteristic of the listener, and to adjust the cancellation of crosstalk responsive to detecting the change in the physical characteristic to establish another spatial region at a second location.

Abstract: A technique facilitates downhole service operations including cementing operations. A retrievable cementing bushing is designed to facilitate the service operation and includes a body on which is mounted an engagement lug. The engagement lug is mounted for movement in a radial direction and includes an outer engagement feature and an inner engagement feature. The inner engagement feature is oriented for cooperation with a slick joint. The engagement lug is biased in a radially outward direction for engagement with corresponding features of a surrounding wall.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a method can include implanting a first dopant, simultaneously, in a portion of a laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) device and in a portion of a resistor device included in a semiconductor device. The method can also include implanting a second dopant, simultaneously, in a portion of the LDMOS device and in a portion of a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) device in the semiconductor device.

Abstract: A parking meter assembly (10) including a base (11) that is to be fixed to or embedded in a ground surface, typically adjacent the curb that which a car is to be parked. The assembly (10) also includes a parking meter (13) having a front face (17) that includes a coin slot (25) a card slot (20) and a control panel (21). The parking meter (13) further includes a rear face (27) having a window aperture (28) that provides for the transmission of light to a solar panel (29) behind the aperture (28).

Abstract: An apparatus includes an engine output module that determines an engine output power parameter for an engine. The apparatus includes an output power threshold module that determines if the engine output power parameter is below an output power threshold. The apparatus includes a NOx module that determines a nitrogen oxide (“NOx”) efficiency of a selective catalytic reduction (“SCR”) system in response to the output power threshold module determining that the determined engine output power parameter is below the output power threshold. The SCR system is in exhaust receiving communication with the engine. The apparatus includes a NOx threshold module that determines if the NOx efficiency is below a NOx efficiency threshold, and a NOx warning module that sends a NOx alarm signal in response to the NOx threshold module determining that the NOx efficiency is below the NOx efficiency threshold.

Abstract: A technique facilitates downhole service operations including cementing operations. A retrievable cementing bushing is designed to facilitate the service operation and includes a body on which is mounted an engagement lug. The engagement lug is mounted for movement in a radial direction and includes an outer engagement feature and an inner engagement feature. The inner engagement feature is oriented for cooperation with a slick joint. The engagement lug is biased in a radially outward direction for engagement with corresponding features of a surrounding wall.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a semiconductor processing method can include forming an N-type silicon region disposed within a P-type silicon substrate. The method can also include forming a field oxide (FOX) layer in the P-type silicon substrate where the FOX layer includes an opening exposing at least a portion of the N-type silicon region. The method can further include forming a reduced surface field (RESURF) oxide (ROX) layer having a first portion disposed on the exposed N-type silicon region and a second portion disposed on the FOX layer where the ROX layer includes a first dielectric layer in contact with the exposed N-type silicon region and a second dielectric layer disposed on the first dielectric layer. The method can further include forming a doped polysilicon layer having a first portion disposed on the first portion of the ROX layer and a second portion disposed on the second portion of the ROX layer.