Abstract: A system and method for building and handling oilfield tubular stands while drilling operations are simultaneously and independently occurring with one drilling deck, one derrick, and one rotary system. An offline guided path horizontal to vertical arm lifts and moves in the same plane tubulars stored horizontally on the catwalk and positions the tubulars vertically directly into a preparation hole for assembling and disassembling tubular stands while online drilling operations are simultaneously being conducted. A stand arm lifts and lowers the tubulars into and out of the adjustable preparation hole, and transports the tubulars for storage to an auxiliary tubular racking station in the upper part of the derrick. A bridge racker crane moves tubular stands from the auxiliary tubular racking station to the top drive or another tubular racking station.

Abstract: A bit synchronizer (16) that includes a tapped delay line (38) connected to a plurality of timing hypothesis circuits. A control and adjudication circuit (50) is connected to the timing hypothesis circuits, and compares outputs of the timing hypothesis circuits and selects one. Each of the timing hypothesis circuits includes a sum-and-dump summer (112) that is connected to outputs of the tapped delay line (38). The timing hypothesis circuits further include an absolute value circuit (46) and an averaging circuit (48). A select switch (60) is connected to the summers (112) and receives a switch control signal from the control and adjudication circuit (50). A threshold test circuit (62) compares the selected output signal to a threshold value and outputs a mark or space symbol.

Abstract: A hub assembly is described. The hub assembly includes a roll formed hub connected to the hub assembly, at least one bearing enabling rotation of the hub assembly, and an inner ring in communication with at least one bearing and the roll formed hub. The hub assembly further includes a locking device adapted to lock the inner ring to the roll formed hub by a fusion weld.

Abstract: Network channel access protocol is disclosed. More particularly, a distributed, locally determined, channel access protocol that adapts to load, avoids interference and controls access by a group of nodes to a set of shared channels is disclosed. Shared channel space is divided into a number of communication slots that are repeated at a predetermined interval. Permission to use a slot to communicate between any two nodes is dynamically adjusted by the channel access protocol, which locally: (i) estimates load to neighboring nodes; (ii) allocates or deallocates slot usage to adapt to load and avoid interference; and (iii) asserts and advertises slot usage within an interference area about itself.

Abstract: A wireless communications system connecting multiple senders and multiple receivers through multi-access method utilizing orthogonal frequency division multiplexing techniques. A method of expanding the services provided by delivering asymmetrically higher bandwidth per channel and more channels through orthogonal frequency division multiplexed access methods and quadrature amplitude modulation.

Abstract: An electro-optic device is disclosed which has a plurality of independently-gatable portions. One example is an image intensifier having a number of segmented photocathode areas (GP). The corresponding portions of the intensifier can be energized independently via contact strips (CS). Used in conjunction with an appropriate trigger signal generator, imaging device and beam splitter, the device may be used to capture a series of images at very high speed. An electrical device having a reflective tunnel for generating a plurality of input images is also disclosed.

Abstract: A bit synchronizer (16) that includes a tapped delay line (38) connected to a plurality of timing hypothesis circuits. A control and adjudication circuit (50) is connected to the timing hypothesis circuits, and compares outputs of the timing hypothesis circuits and selects one. Each of the timing hypothesis circuits includes a sum-and-dump summer (112) that is connected to outputs of the tapped delay line (38). The timing hypothesis circuits further include an absolute value circuit (46) and an averaging circuit (48). A select switch (60) is connected to the summers (112) and receives a switch control signal from the control and adjudication circuit (50). A threshold test circuit (62) compares the selected output signal to a threshold value and outputs a mark or space symbol.

Abstract: A wireless mesh communication protocol that dynamically assigns communication time-slots and frequencies to mesh nodes. A first node is established as a PC that sequentially polls other nodes. A second node responds at a predetermined time with information that includes database records, and then a third node responds similarly. The second node is then established as the PC and the first node is polled during dynamically allocated time-slots and on a frequency that depend on the second node's database records. The third node is then established as a PC and acts similarly. In both cases the first node responds by sending information and data records. The first node is then re-established as the PC. The first node then polls the second and third nodes at times and frequencies that depend on the first node's database records.

Abstract: A layer based paint system permits painting of an image raster of a composite image while viewing subsequent processing on the image raster. The composite image is mapped to an image processing tree. Each of the elements in the image processing tree are defined by an associated data structure that identifies their parent and children elements in the tree. Each of the elements may be, for example, an image element or a process element. Associated with each image element is an image raster and a transform. Viewing and painting of an image element may be done at any level in the image processing tree. Painting of the element directly modifies the pixels in the image raster. The pixel coordinates of brush strokes in the viewed image are transformed into pixel coordinates of the image raster material by applying the inverse transform of the viewed layer, the image element layer and all of the intermediate layers to the pixel coordinates of the brush strokes.

Abstract: A surgical needle holder is provided in which the handle members are arranged in a plane at right angles to associated jaws which are operated by the handles. A camming arrangement is coupled between the handles and jaws to convert the movement of the handles in one plane to movement of the jaws in a second perpendicularly arranged plane. The needle holder is employed for suturing in surgical procedures and facilitates placement of the hand of the operator as well as the application of force in a rotary sense thereby.