Abstract: An improved ESD protection device, integrated circuit and method for programmably altering a sensitivity of the ESD protection device is provided herein. More specifically, an active shunt ESD protection device is provided with an improved trigger circuit design. The improved trigger circuit design enables the sensitivity of the ESD protection device to be altered by providing a variety of programmable elements for adjusting an RC time constant of a slew rate detector contained therein. The programmable elements allow the RC time constant to be altered at the wafer or package level, and avoid the significant time and cost typically associated with conventional trial-and-error adjustment procedures.

Abstract: A non-planar frame base for an image sensor.

Abstract: The invention provides carpet fibers prepared from a blend of polymeric components, said fiber exhibiting improved properties, such as improved spinnability and improved fire resistance. The carpet fibers particularly comprise a majority of polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT) and a minority of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The invention further provides yarns and carpets prepared from the inventive fibers, said yarns and carpets likewise exhibiting improved properties. The invention also provides methods of improving various physical properties (such as fire resistance, spinnability, and elongation) of a polymeric composition.

Abstract: A downhole tool for use in a well bore comprises an onboard navigation system for determining the location of the tool within the well bore, wherein the tool is moved along at least a partial length of the well bore via an external force. A method of locating a downhole tool in a well bore comprises deploying the tool along at least a partial length of the well bore via an external force, and self-determining the location of the tool without receiving communications from the surface. In an embodiment, the tool is a well bore zonal isolation device.

Abstract: A method of servicing a well bore comprises deploying into the well bore a zonal isolation device operable to self-set at a sensed location, and self-setting the zonal isolation device to hold at the sensed location without receiving command communications from the surface, wherein the zonal isolation device is deployed along at least a partial length of the well bore via an external force. Another method of servicing comprises deploying into the well bore a tool operable to self-activate at one or more locations, and self-navigating the tool to determine the one or more locations without receiving communications from the surface, wherein the tool is moved along at least a partial length of the well bore via an external force.

Abstract: An improved ESD protection device, integrated circuit and method for programmably altering a sensitivity of the ESD protection device is provided herein. More specifically, an active shunt ESD protection device is provided with an improved trigger circuit design. The improved trigger circuit design enables the sensitivity of the ESD protection device to be altered by providing a variety of programmable elements for adjusting an RC time constant of a slew rate detector contained therein. The programmable elements allow the RC time constant to be altered at the wafer or package level, and avoid the significant time and cost typically associated with conventional trial-and-error adjustment procedures.

Abstract: Thin flexible piezoelectric transducers are bonded to or imbedded into oilfield tubular members or structural members. The transducers may be used to telemeter data as acoustic waves through the members. By proper spacing of transducers and phasing of driving signals, the transmitted signals can be directionally enhanced or encoded to improve transmission efficiency. The transducers may be used for health monitoring of the tubular or structural members to detect cracks, delaminations, or other defects. The flexible transducers are very thin so that overall dimensions of tubular or structural members are essentially unchanged by incorporation of the transducers.

Abstract: An enhanced electrical power generating system. In a described embodiment, an electrical power generating system for use in a subterranean well includes a flow passage formed through a tubular string in the well, a flow region in communication with, and laterally offset relative to, the flow passage, an electrical power generator operative in response to flow of fluid through the flow region and multiple flow restrictors in the flow passage. The flow restrictors are operative to influence at least a portion of the fluid to flow from the flow passage through the flow region.

Abstract: A method and system for producing an item comparison may initially include obtaining data based on user activity that is indicative of an item and other items likely to be comparable to the item, and recording the data for later access. An item comparison may thereafter present an item of interest to the user along with other items identified based on the recorded data. Prior to producing the item comparison, the user may be provided at least one list of potentially comparable items that can be selected for the item comparison, the list including items in the recorded data that are likely to be comparable to the item of interest. The recorded data may be specific to the user or may include data obtained from other users. Data reflecting user activity with an item comparison may be recorded as additional data indicative of comparable items.

Abstract: A method for making a tapered opening. The defined tapered opening is useful for the fabrication of programmable resistance memory elements. The programmable resistance memory material may be a chalcogenide.

Abstract: An apparatus and corresponding method for automatically changing out a filter cartridge in a continuous air monitor. The apparatus includes: a first container sized to hold filter cartridge replacements; a second container sized to hold used filter cartridges; a transport insert connectively attached to the first and second containers; a shuttle block, sized to hold the filter cartridges that is located within the transport insert; a transport driver mechanism means used to supply a motive force to move the shuttle block within the transport insert; and, a control means for operating the transport driver mechanism.

Abstract: A cadmium tin oxide (Cd1-xSnxO) multi-layer laminate is disclosed. The laminate comprises: a substrate; and a layer of Cd1-xSnxO which is not an epitaxial structure; wherein, the composition of Sn/(Cd+Sn) is 1˜20%. The method for producing the Cd1-xSnxO multi-layer laminate is also described here. The method comprises steps of: (a) providing metal or oxide targets for sputtering films of Cd1-xSnxO; and (b) sputtering films of Cd1-xSnxO from the targets onto the substrate; wherein the composition of Sn/(Cd+Sn) is 1˜20%.

Abstract: A method for making a tapered opening. The defined tapered opening is useful for the fabrication of programmable resistance memory elements. The programmable resistance memory material may be a chalcogenide.

Abstract: An inlet for an environmental air monitor is described wherein a pre-separator interfaces with ambient environment air and removes debris and insects commonly associated with high wind outdoors and a deflector plate in communication with incoming air from the pre-separator stage, that directs the air radially and downward uniformly into a plurality of accelerator jets located in a manifold of a virtual impactor, the manifold being cylindrical and having a top, a base, and a wall, with the plurality of accelerator jets being located in the top of the manifold and receiving the directed air and accelerating directed air, thereby creating jets of air penetrating into the manifold, where a major flow is deflected to the walls of the manifold and extracted through ports in the walls.

Abstract: Laser beam machining is applied to form arbitrarily shaped electroactive ceramics for transducers (e.g., electromechanical sensors and actuators). One particularly preferred embodiment of the invention comprises machining parallel grooves in a ceramic plate to improve flexibility. The grooves provide strain relief in bending by relieving Poisson strains transverse to the direction of bending. This embodiment offers the further benefit that planar anisotropy or directionality is introduced in the transducer. The machining process of the invention further enables the production of more complex geometries than those currently known in the art. Because of the flexibility of the machining process, virtually any desired transducer shape may be produced.

Abstract: A navigation system for a downhole tool comprises a first sensor operable within a well bore to sense a parameter, at least one additional sensor, each of the at least one additional sensors being operable within the well bore to sense a parameter, and a locator component operable to determine a location of the downhole tool within the well bore based on the sensed parameters. A method for determining a location of a downhole tool within a well bore comprises deploying the downhole tool into the well bore, sensing a first parameter within the well bore via the tool, sensing at least a second parameter within the well bore via the tool, and self-determining the location of the tool based on the sensed parameters without receiving communications from the surface.

Abstract: A downhole tool for use in a well bore comprises an onboard navigation system for determining the location of the tool within the well bore, wherein the tool is moved along at least a partial length of the well bore via an external force. A method of locating a downhole tool in a well bore comprises deploying the tool along at least a partial length of the well bore via an external force, and self-determining the location of the tool without receiving communications from the surface. In an embodiment, the tool is a well bore zonal isolation device.

Abstract: An autonomous downhole tool for use in a well bore is moved along at least a partial length of the well bore via an external force, and the tool is self-operable to perform one or more functions at one or more locations within the well bore.. A method for operating a downhole tool within a well bore comprises deploying the tool along at least a partial length of the well bore via an external force, and self-activating one or more functions of the tool, wherein the tool does not receive command communications from the surface.

Abstract: A method of servicing a well bore comprises deploying into the well bore a zonal isolation device operable to self-set at a sensed location, and self-setting the zonal isolation device to hold at the sensed location without receiving command communications from the surface, wherein the zonal isolation device is deployed along at least a partial length of the well bore via an external force. Another method of servicing comprises deploying into the well bore a tool operable to self-activate at one or more locations, and self-navigating the tool to determine the one or more locations without receiving communications from the surface, wherein the tool is moved along at least a partial length of the well bore via an external force.

Abstract: The invention provides an entangled continuous filament yarn comprising at least two bicomponent filaments each comprising poly(trimethylene terephthalate) and poly(ethylene terephthalate), wherein the entangled yarn has a node frequency of about 40 to 50 nodes/m, a Crimp Potential of at least about 40%, substantially no twist, and a standard deviation of intervals between nodes of no more than about 1.1 cm. The invention further provides a process for making such an entangled yarn.