Abstract: A fully rotating bias unit for directional drilling rotates at bit speed while providing proportional control of directional response and steering force. The unit also provides added reliability by having increased redundancy (multiple independently controlled actuators). The unit disposed on a drillstring transfers rotation to a drill bit and has a bore communicating fluid from the drillstring to the drill bit. Directors are disposed on the unit to rotate with it. Each of the directors is independently movable between extended and retracted conditions relative to the unit's housing. Actuators of the unit are in fluid communication between the bore and the borehole or some other low pressure. Each actuator is independently operable to direct communicated fluid from the bore to extend a respective one of the directors toward the extended condition.

Abstract: A fully rotating bias unit for directional drilling rotates at bit speed while providing proportional control of directional response and steering force. The unit also provides added reliability by having increased redundancy (multiple independently controlled actuators). The unit disposed on a drillstring transfers rotation to a drill bit and has a bore communicating fluid from the drillstring to the drill bit. Directors are disposed on the unit to rotate with it. Each of the directors is independently movable between extended and retracted conditions relative to the unit's housing. Actuators of the unit are in fluid communication between the bore and the borehole or some other low pressure. Each actuator is independently operable to direct communicated fluid from the bore to extend a respective one of the directors toward the extended condition.

Abstract: A fully rotating bias unit for directional drilling rotates at bit speed while providing proportional control of directional response and steering force. The unit also provides added reliability by having increased redundancy (multiple independently controlled actuators). The unit disposed on a drillstring transfers rotation to a drill bit and has a bore communicating fluid from the drillstring to the drill bit. Directors are disposed on the unit to rotate with it. Each of the directors is independently movable between extended and retracted conditions relative to the unit's housing. Actuators of the unit are in fluid communication between the bore and the borehole or some other low pressure. Each actuator is independently operable to direct communicated fluid from the bore to extend a respective one of the directors toward the extended condition.

Abstract: A waste water separation vessel is provided having a wedge shaped body with an internal water containing volume. The body is configured to trap FOG and wastes within the body allowing water to pass through the body. At least one top facing access port to allow access to the internal volume of the body is provided and the wedge shaped body tapers outwardly from top to bottom to define a larger bottom area than a top area. The side walls include vertically oriented strengthening ribs which define intervening indentations, and each lower end of the vertically oriented ribs is connected to a generally horizontal beam which defines closed bottom ends on the indentations. When the vessel is buried in the ground the wedge shaped body and the closed bottom indentations interact with the ground to help oppose any buoyancy forces acting on the buried body.

Abstract: A fully rotating bias unit for directional drilling rotates at bit speed while providing proportional control of directional response and steering force. The unit also provides added reliability by having increased redundancy (multiple independently controlled actuators). The unit disposed on a drillstring transfers rotation to a drill bit and has a bore communicating fluid from the drillstring to the drill bit. Directors are disposed on the unit to rotate with it. Each of the directors is independently movable between extended and retracted conditions relative to the unit's housing. Actuators of the unit are in fluid communication between the bore and the borehole or some other low pressure. Each actuator is independently operable to direct communicated fluid from the bore to extend a respective one of the directors toward the extended condition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for introducing droplets of liquid sample into an analysis device using a gas stream, the droplets being produced by the application of acoustic energy to a quantity of liquid sample. Acoustic energy may be applied to a quantity of liquid sample located on a solid surface of a sample support so as to eject a droplet of sample from the quantity of sample; the droplet of sample may be entrained in a gas stream; and the droplet of sample may be transported into the analysis device using the gas stream.

Abstract: A waste water separation vessel is provided having a wedge shaped body with an internal water containing volume. The body is configured to trap FOG and wastes within the body allowing water to pass through the body. At least one top facing access port to allow access to the internal volume of the body is provided and the wedge shaped body tapers outwardly from top to bottom to define a larger bottom area than a top area. The side walls include vertically oriented strengthening ribs which define intervening indentations, and each lower end of the vertically oriented ribs is connected to a generally horizontal beam which defines closed bottom ends on the indentations. When the vessel is buried in the ground the wedge shaped body and the closed bottom indentations interact with the ground to help oppose any buoyancy forces acting on the buried body.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mixing droplets of liquid sample and droplets of a diluent and/or a standard produced by droplet-on-demand generators for use with an analysis device. Two different liquids may be introduced to an analysis device for simultaneous analysis. The method preferably comprises using a first droplet-on-demand generator to provide a first stream of droplets of a first liquid; using a second droplet-on-demand generator to provide a second stream of droplets of a second liquid; and combining the first and second streams of droplets before they enter the analysis device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mixing droplets of liquid sample and droplets of a diluent and/or a standard produced by droplet-on-demand generators for use with an analysis device. Two different liquids may be introduced to an analysis device for simultaneous analysis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for introducing droplets of liquid sample into an analysis device using a gas stream, the droplets being produced by the application of acoustic energy to a quantity of liquid sample. Acoustic energy may be applied to a quantity of liquid sample located on a solid surface of a sample support so as to eject a droplet of sample from the quantity of sample; the droplet of sample may be entrained in a gas stream; and the droplet of sample may be transported into the analysis device using the gas stream.

Abstract: Receivers (5) for simultaneously receiving different radio frequency signals according to different standards are provided with first frequency translating stages (1) for converting the radio frequency signals into first intermediate frequency signals and second frequency translating stages (2) for converting the first intermediate frequency signals into second intermediate frequency signals and processing stages (3) for retrieving first information from the first intermediate frequency signals and second information from the second intermediate signals. As a result, such receivers (5) have relatively low power consumption. The first frequency translating stages (1) comprise first oscillators (19) and first mixers (11) and further first mixers (12). The second frequency translating stages (2) comprise second oscillators (29) and second mixers (21) and further second mixers (22) and third mixers (23) and further third mixers (24).

Abstract: Receivers (5) for simultaneously receiving different radio frequency signals according to different standards are provided with first frequency translating stages (1) for converting the radio frequency signals into first intermediate frequency signals and second frequency translating stages (2) for converting the first intermediate frequency signals into second intermediate frequency signals and processing stages (3) for retrieving first information from the first intermediate frequency signals and second information from the second intermediate signals. As a result, such receivers (5) have relatively low power consumption. The first frequency translating stages (1) comprise first oscillators (19) and first mixers (11) and further first mixers (12). The second frequency translating stages (2) comprise second oscillators (29) and second mixers (21) and further second mixers (22) and third mixers (23) and further third mixers (24).

Abstract: A network for locating a wireless tag comprises a plurality of wireless nodes. The nodes are not connected together by a wired network. Each node is included in a floor tile for installation inside a building and configured to be wirelessly connectable to at least one other node. When the floor tiles are installed, the plurality of nodes form a mesh or grid and provide overlapping wireless coverage for locating the tag by reference to mesh.

Abstract: A wireless network comprising nodes uses measurement or prediction of interference at the nodes to select a route for a message through the network that results in acceptable amounts of interference. The interference may be caused to the message by other traffic carried by the network or by other networks, in which case the amount of interference to the nodes on the selected route must be acceptable, or may be caused to the other traffic by the message being routed, in which case, the amount of interference to the nodes outside of the selected route must be acceptable.

Abstract: method of indicating the location of a relatively mobile object, comprising the steps of.

Abstract: A system comprising radio devices (10a, 10b), and methods of configuring radio links between said devices, is described. The devices are physically attachable/detachable from a host apparatus (12a, 12b). The device provides a host apparatus with a radio link (20) to another host apparatus also containing an appropriately configured device. To configure the links, a consumer merely brings the devices into close proximity for a few seconds. Proximity detection means (38) in the devices detect said proximity and begin an automatic registration process to a configure a link therebetween. Links may be cancelled by repeating the process. Hence a consumer friendly, flexible radio configuration scheme is provided enabling simple configuration of one-to-one or one-to-many links, with the e-buttons offering a physical reminder to the user of which apparatus has wireless capability.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electronic product comprising modules (14, 16, 18) having a radio communication protocol and communication means (20) is described. The modules comprise description data (40) which, when matched with product blueprint data (50) enable factory selection of the modules for a product. The interconnections between the modules within the product are partially replaced by a radio intranet (100) established by a primary module (16) of the product. The range of the intranet (60) may be constrained substantially within the housing (10, 12) of the product. The modules which may for example be separate display and keypad modules can, at the end of life of the product, be selected for reuse in other products according to respective product blueprint data (50) and their description data (40).

Abstract: The present invention provides a wireless communication system capable of managing multi-hop communications. In one embodiment, upon receiving a request from a mobile terminal for initiating a call, the system determines whether the mobile terminal can use multi-hop communication services and its operating mode for multi-hop communication. The system also determines whether relaying can be provided by other mobile terminals. Then, the system will establish multi-hop communication between the mobile terminal and the system based on the operating mode of the mobile terminal. In a default mode, multi-hop communication can be established without the user's knowledge. In a prompt mode, however, the system sends a prompt to the mobile terminal for selection of the multi-hop communication services, along with information about incentives for using the services.