Abstract: This application relates to a cell (1200) or sub-module for a voltage source converter (1201). The cell includes an energy storage apparatus (101; 101a, 101b) and a plurality of dual-switch semiconductor packages (201), each having first and second semiconductor switches (202, 203) connected in series. The cell is operable in an active state in which an energy storage apparatus (101; 101a, 101b) is electrically connected in series between cell terminals (102a, 102b) and a bypass state in the cell terminals (102a, 102b) are electrically connected via a path that bypasses the first energy storage apparatus.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide an animal acoustic augmentor (AAA) for an animal acoustic augmentation system. The AAA includes an audio system configured to generate audio proximal and/or for delivery to an ear of an animal and a logic device configured to communicate with and control operation of the audio system. The logic device is configured to detect an AAA trigger associated with operation of the AAA and/or the audio system and generate an animal-audible trigger response via the audio system of the AAA based, at least in part, on the detected AAA trigger, where the animal-audible trigger response includes a preprogrammed AAA trigger response stored within a memory of the AAA and/or a live AAA trigger response based, at least in part, on a control sequence and/or an owner command provided by a personal electronic device associated with the AAA and/or an acoustic environment of the animal.

Abstract: A switching apparatus (20) comprises first and second current paths, each current path configured to be capable of conducting an electrical current, the first current path including a first switching element (28) connected in parallel with a first passive current check element (30), the switching apparatus (20) further including a switching controller configured to selectively control the switching of the first switching element (28), wherein the switching controller is configured to selectively switch the first switching element (28) at a first intra-current path switching speed to commutate the electrical current between the first switching element (30) and the first passive current check element (32), the switching controller is configured to selectively switch the first switching element (28) at a first inter-current path switching speed to commutate the electrical current between the first and second current paths, and the first intra-current path switching speed is faster or slower than the first inter-

Abstract: In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, systems and methods for sequencing portable containers of bulk material to provide continuous bulk material usage at an outlet are provided. The disclosed sequencing techniques may involve identifying a sequence for opening different portable containers of bulk material (or identifying the “next” portable container to open) and automatically actuating the discharge gates of the portable containers in the desired sequence to provide a continuous flow of bulk material to the outlet (e.g., blender unit). The identified sequence may be executed through a control system communicatively coupled to actuators used to open/close the discharge gates of the portable bulk material containers. A GUI may be communicatively coupled to the control system to allow an operator to select the desired sequence for execution by the control system and to display information regarding the portable bulk material containers.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods of optically analyzing fluid within a pipette are described herein. In an embodiment, an optical reader subassembly includes a pipette configured to aspirate and hold a fluid sample within its tip, a housing configured to receive at least the tip of the pipette through a reentrant seal so that the tip of the pipette is located in a light tight manner within an internal area, a light source positioned to be in proximity to the tip of the pipette when the tip of the pipette is received by the housing, the light source configured to project light through the tip of the pipette and onto the fluid sample held within the tip, and an optical sensor configured to take a reading of the fluid sample held within the tip of the pipette without any of the fluid sample being injected from the pipette.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing bulk material efficiently at a well site are provided. The disclosure is directed to a container support frame that is integrated into a blender unit. The support frame is used to receive one or more portable containers of bulk material, and the blender unit may include a gravity feed outlet for outputting bulk material from the containers directly into a mixer of the blender unit. The blender unit with integrated support frame may eliminate the need for any subsequent mechanical conveyance of the bulk material (e.g., via a separate mechanical conveying system or on-blender sand screws) from the containers to the mixer. As such, the integrated blender unit may be lighter weight, take up less space, and have a lower cost and complexity than existing blenders.

Abstract: In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, systems and methods for efficiently managing bulk material are provided. The disclosure is directed to systems and methods for efficiently combining additives into bulk material being transferred about a job site. The systems may include a support structure used to receive one or more portable containers of bulk material, and a mulling device disposed beneath the support structure to provide bulk material treatment capabilities. Specifically, the mulling device may facilitate mixing of coatings or other additives with bulk material that is released from the portable containers, as well as transfer of the mixture to an outlet location.

Abstract: In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, systems and methods for using one or more pre-filled, portable containers, instead of pneumatic transfer, to move bulk material from a transportation unit to a blender receptacle of a blender are provided. A transportation unit may deliver one or more containers of bulk material to the well site, where the containers may be disposed in an elevated position around the blender receptacle. A gravity feed outlet may extend from one or more containers to route bulk material from the one or more containers directly into the blender receptacle. Since the transportation unit is able to unload the portable containers of bulk material without pneumatic transfer, the stackable containers may enable a cleaner and more efficient bulk material transfer at the site.

Abstract: In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, systems and methods for sequencing portable containers of bulk material to provide continuous bulk material usage at an outlet are provided. The disclosed sequencing techniques may involve identifying a sequence for opening different portable containers of bulk material (or identifying the “next” portable container to open) and automatically actuating the discharge gates of the portable containers in the desired sequence to provide a continuous flow of bulk material to the outlet (e.g., blender unit). The identified sequence may be executed through a control system communicatively coupled to actuators used to open/close the discharge gates of the portable bulk material containers. A GUI may be communicatively coupled to the control system to allow an operator to select the desired sequence for execution by the control system and to display information regarding the portable bulk material containers.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to Superconducting Quantum Interference Apparatuses, such as SQUID arrays and SQUIFs. A superconducting quantum interference apparatus comprises an array of loops each loop constituting a superconducting quantum interference device. The array comprises multiple columns, each of the columns comprises multiple rows connected in series, each of the multiple rows comprises a number of loops connected in parallel, and the number of loops connected in parallel in each row is more than two and less than 20 to improve a performance of the apparatus. It is an advantage that keeping the number of loops in parallel below 20 improves the performance of the apparatus. This is contrary to existing knowledge where it is commonly assumed that a larger number of parallel loops would increase performance.

Abstract: A storage controller provides a visual indication of a physical location of an item arranged at a temporary storage location in a logistics center. The storage controller receives the item and associates the item with the particular temporary storage location. When a controller determines that the item is needed for an upcoming shipment, a signal is transmitted to the storage controller to active an indicator. Operations personnel may quickly identify the indicator to retrieve the item. Once the item is retrieved, it may be scanned to deactivate the indicator.

Abstract: Systems and methods for using one or more pre-filled, portable containers, instead of pneumatic transfer, to move bulk material from a transportation unit to a blender receptacle of a blender are provided. A transportation unit may deliver one or more containers of bulk material to the well site, where the containers may be disposed in an elevated position around the blender receptacle. A gravity feed outlet may extend from one or more containers to route bulk material from the one or more containers directly into the blender receptacle. Since the transportation unit is able to unload the portable containers of bulk material without pneumatic transfer, the stackable containers may enable a cleaner and more efficient bulk material transfer at the site.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods that utilize a combination of immunoassay and magnetic immunoassay techniques to detect an analyte within an extended range of specified concentrations. In particular, a device includes a housing, a heterogeneous surface capture immunosensor within the housing and configured to generate a first signal indicative of the concentration of the analyte in an upper concentration range, and a homogeneous magnetic bead capture immunosensor within the housing and configured to generate a second signal indicative of the concentration of the analyte in a lower concentration range.

Abstract: A turbomachine control system that includes signal monitoring features is provided. Particularly, the control system proactively isolates or discards unresponsive sensed signals to prevent them from being used to control the turbomachine. The control system can detect and discard unresponsive signals and can utilize a healthier signal or a model of the expected sensor response instead to avert undesirable events, such as e.g., a loss of thrust control event. In one example aspect, the control system includes one or more computing devices that receive a sensed signal. The variance of the sensed signal is determined and then compared to an expected variance of the signal. The expected variance can be output by a sensor model of the one or more computing devices. A variance ratio is determined and the output is compared to a predefined threshold. If the output of the variance threshold exceeds the predefined threshold, then the signal is classified as unresponsive.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electronic valve apparatus for a high voltage direct current, HVDC, power transmission system. The electronic valve apparatus comprises a first device chain (301) including a plurality of first devices (302, 303) connected in series between an input node (330) and an output node (332) of the electronic valve apparatus (300, 400, 500). Each of the plurality of first devices (302, 303) has an asymmetric transfer function configured substantially to block current flow through the device in a first direction, and the plurality of first devices (302, 303) are connected such that they all block current flow in the same direction. The electronic valve apparatus also includes a second device chain (311) including a plurality of second devices (312, 313) connected in series between the input node (330) and the output node (332).

Abstract: A three dimensional printing system for manufacturing a three dimensional article includes a movement mechanism, a support tray, a resin vessel, a light engine, a sensor, and a controller. The support tray is mounted to the movement mechanism and has a lower surface for supporting the three dimensional article. The resin vessel includes a transparent sheet defining a lower bound for resin contained therein. The light engine projects pixelated light through the transparent sheet and to a build plane. The controller is configured to (a) receive a start indication for a build process, (b) operate the sensor, (c) determine if polymerized build material is in a flag region from the sensor signal, and (d) if polymerized build material is determined to be in the flag region, halt the build process.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods of optically analyzing fluid within a pipette are described herein. In an embodiment, an optical reader subassembly includes a housing including an internal area, a container configured to hold a fluid sample at a sample position in a light tight manner within the internal area of the housing, a light source configured to project light onto the fluid sample within the container, and an optical sensor configured to move between different sensor positions while the fluid sample remains stationary at the sample position, the different sensor positions including at least two of: (i) a first sensor position for taking a luminescence reading of the fluid sample; (ii) a second sensor position for taking a dark current or other background measurement; and (iii) a third sensor position for taking a fluorescence reading of the fluid sample.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel compositions for the production of granule products, and uses of the same. Said granule products may comprise one or more of an input material, fibers, a binder, moisture, and an additive. Also disclosed are processes and systems for making the same and methods of using the same. A process for manufacturing granules may include mixing and granulating input material, fibers, a binder, and water using a mixer to produce wet granules, drying and cooling the wet granules, and separating at least one of dry overs and dry fines from the dried, cooled granules using a classifier.

Abstract: A method of controlling a voltage source converter including at least one converter limb, each converter limb including limb portions, at least one limb portion including a chain-link converter having modules, each module including at least one switching element and at least one energy storage device, which combine to selectively provide a voltage source, comprising the steps of: establishing during an operating cycle of the chain-link converter a utilization peak based on the actual peak number of modules providing a voltage source; establishing a target utilization based on a desired number of modules providing a voltage source during the operating cycle; and determining a control function based on a difference between the established utilization peak and the target utilization which alters the peak number of modules providing a voltage source during a subsequent operating cycle of the chain-link converter so as to drive the utilization peak towards the target utilization.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide an animal acoustic augmentor (AAA) for an animal acoustic augmentation system. The AAA includes an audio system configured to generate audio proximal and/or for delivery to an ear of an animal and a logic device configured to communicate with and control operation of the audio system. The logic device is configured to detect an AAA trigger associated with operation of the AAA and/or the audio system and generate an animal-audible trigger response via the audio system of the AAA based, at least in part, on the detected AAA trigger, where the animal-audible trigger response includes a preprogrammed AAA trigger response stored within a memory of the AAA and/or a live AAA trigger response based, at least in part, on a control sequence and/or an owner command provided by a personal electronic device associated with the AAA and/or an acoustic environment of the animal.