Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to methods and systems for logging through a drillstring. In one embodiment, a method of logging an exposed formation includes drilling a wellbore by rotating a cutting tool disposed on an end of a drillstring and injecting drilling fluid through the drillstring; deploying a BHA through the drillstring, the BHA including a logging tool; forming a bore through the cutting tool; inserting the logging tool through the bore; longitudinally connecting the BHA to the drillstring; and logging the exposed formation using the logging tool while tripping the drillstring into or from the wellbore.

Abstract: There is provided a reaching device particularly suitable for rural mail delivery. In one embodiment, the reaching device comprises an elongated member, a jaw, and an actuator for opening and closing the jaw. The jaw includes a pair of holding members, one of which has a tapered lateral side edge. In an illustrated embodiment, a reaching device is provided that allows a rural mail carrier to remain seated in the driver's side of a conventional (North American) vehicle, reach through the passenger's window, and perform the following tasks: open a mail box, retrieve mail from the mail box, place mail into the mail box, close the mail box, and raise or lower the indicator flag on the side of the mail box.

Abstract: A safe and arm system includes an operator control subsystem including a first arm switch, a second arm switch, and a fire switch. A fire control subsystem is responsive to the operator control subsystem and includes at least a pair of terminals for connection to a munition. The terminals are initially shorted together and without a ground. A power supply control circuit is configured to supply power to the terminals. A ground supply circuit is configured to ground one said terminal. A terminal shorting circuit is configured to remove the short across the pair of terminals. The power supply control circuit, the ground supply circuit, and the terminal shorting circuit are configured to ground one terminal, remove the short across the pair of terminals, and to supply power to the terminals only if the first and second arm switches and the fire switch are all activated in a predetermined sequence.

Abstract: Drill bits enable the use of tools in a wellbore when it is undesirable or impossible to remove the drill bit. Drill bits include a drill bit insert, a latch assembly, a housing, a running tool, and a shaft trigger to operate the latch assembly.

Abstract: Drill bits are enable the use of tools in a wellbore when it is undesirable or impossible to remove the drill bit. Drill bits include a drill bit insert, a latch assembly, a housing, a running tool, and a shaft trigger to operate the latch assembly.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to methods and systems for logging through a drillstring. In one embodiment, a method of logging an exposed formation includes drilling a wellbore by rotating a cutting tool disposed on an end of a drillstring and injecting drilling fluid through the drillstring; deploying a BHA through the drillstring, the BHA including a logging tool; forming a bore through the cutting tool; inserting the logging tool through the bore; longitudinally connecting the BHA to the drillstring; and logging the exposed formation using the logging tool while tripping the drillstring into or from the wellbore.

Abstract: Drill bits are enable the use of tools in a wellbore when it is undesirable or impossible to remove the drill bit. Drill bits include a drill bit insert, a latch assembly, a housing, a running tool, and a shaft trigger to operate the latch assembly.

Abstract: A safe and arm system includes an operator subsystem including a first arm switch, a second arm switch, and a fire switch. A fire control subsystem is responsive to the control subsystem and includes at least a pair of terminals for connection to a munition. The terminals are initially shorted together and without a ground. A power supply control circuit is configured to supply power to the terminals. A ground supply circuit is configured to ground one said terminal. A terminal shorting circuit is configured to remove the short across the pair of terminals. The power supply control circuit, the ground supply circuit, and the terminal shorting circuit are configured to ground one terminal, remove the short across the pair of terminals, and to supply power to the terminals only if the first and second arm switches and the fire switch are all activated in a predetermined sequence.

Abstract: This patent concerns a method of enhancing the security of the check cashing operation at locations remote from the issuing bank. A key suitable for cryptographic purposes is encoded onto the check stock in the form of a graphic where the style of the graphic and its means of interpretation are customisable. This permits the decryption of data without the need for online key retrieval. Typical usage occurs when a check is issued and the payee and amount at least are hashed or encrypted using the key decoded from the graphic, the hashed value being added to the check, possibly on the MICR line. At POS or a bank teller the key is decoded from the graphic, the check data is rehashed and compared with the hash value on the MICR line. The key encoded within the graphic may also be a PIN.

Abstract: Disclosed is a scanner for the scanning of articles comprising a scanning apparatus (10) having a scanning device (18) and a rotatable sample mount (14,420) whereby, the scanning device and mount are relatively displaceable along the rotary axis (48) of the mount, a receptacle (40,140,240,400) mounted on the sample mount, the receptacle being capable of securely accommodating an article (30), and an actuator (146,246) for linearly displacing the receptacle whereby, actuation of the actuator displaces the receptacle and any article secured thereto, with respect to the sample mount. The article may be elongate and the displacement by the actuator is along an axis defined by the elongate axis of the elongate article. Also disclosed is a method of scanning.

Abstract: The invention recognises that both human readable data printed on a check and machine readable data added to the check at the time of check printing to graphically encode the human readable data are subject to errors and artefacts during the initial printing and subsequent scanning processes: if, after scanning, there is a less than perfect match in the two forms of data, that does not therefore necessarily imply fraudulent alteration of the human readable data. The present invention enables a quantitative, probability-based interpretation of the degree and the kind of mismatch to verify authenticity.

Abstract: A document is printed with graphical symbols which encode information but are not human readable; the graphical symbols are formed into some or all of visible element printed on the document. The outline of this element is used for synchronising an automated process for scanning the document to extract the encoded information from the element. In prior art systems, synchronising an automated process for scanning the document to extract the encoded information from the element requires large scale arrangement of the graphical symbols (e.g. a horizontal line of glyphs which are all forward facing and which intersect a vertical line of glyphs which are all rearward facing). This considerably mars the appearance of a printed document. This negative impact on appearance has been one of the major causes inhibiting the uptake of graphical symbol technology for encoding information.

Abstract: A device for the axial and rotational movement of a sample is disclosed comprising a mount member for mounting the sample, which is rotatable about and movable along an axis, characterised in that the mount member has a helical screw thread which produces the movement along said axis simultaneously with the rotation. A sample may be scanned or machined whilst being axially and rotationally moved. The screw thread may be disengageable perphaps by relative movement of co-operating screw threads into and out of engagement with each other by a lever to allow movement of the mount member along the axis without rotation when desired. The screw thread on one of the members may be formed from a piece or layer of a deformable material, which deforms to form a mating screw thread upon being brought into engagement with the screw thread on the other member. Also desclosed is a method of scanning a sample.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for detecting RNA polymerase activity in a continuous-read manner. Specifically, the invention provides a method for detecting the de novo polymerase activity of the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) polymerase, NS5B, in a continuous-read manner. The invention also provides a method of screening for modulators of RNA polymerase activity. More specifically, the invention provides a method of screening for modulators of HCV NS5B activity.

Abstract: A document is printed with graphical symbols which encode information but are not human readable; the graphical symbols are formed into some or all of a visible element and the shapes of the external borders of several graphical symbols differ from each other in order to achieve a desired appearance for the element. Typically, one or both of the linear dimensions of a graphical symbol can be altered for the appropriate aesthetic effect. Prior art graphical symbols (e.g. glyphs etc.) are generally fixed in shape and hence cannot be modified for aesthetic effect. Instead, they have generally been large and obtrusive blocks which considerably mar the appearance of a printed document. This negative impact on appearance has been one of the major causes inhabiting the uptake of graphical symbol technology for encoding information.

Abstract: A document is printed with graphical symbols which encode information but are not human readable; a graphical symbol has been selected from a set of visually distinct graphical symbols, which each code for the same bit or character, and a visible element printed on the document includes multiple such graphical symbols. Prior art graphical symbols (e.g. glyphs etc.) use a limited character set—e.g. just a single type of glyph for a type of bit or character (e.g. forward slash for bit ‘0’ and back slash for bit ‘1’). Hence, it is not possible to automatically select a particular glyph for use in one region of a visible element (e.g. a picture of a face) because it has an internal pixel arrangement that makes it best suited for that particular region for aesthetic reasons.

Abstract: A document is printed with graphical symbols which encode information but are not human readable; the graphical symbols are formed into some or all of visible element printed on the document. The outline of this element is used for synchronising an automated process for scanning the document to extract the encoded information from the element. In prior art systems, synchronising an automated process for scanning the document to extract the encoded information from the element requires large scale arrangement of the graphical symbols (e.g. a horizontal line of glyphs which are all forward facing and which intersect a vertical line of glyphs which are all rearward facing). This considerably mars the appearance of a printed document. This negative impact on appearance has been one of the major causes inhibiting the uptake of graphical symbol technology for encoding information.

Abstract: A document is printed with graphical symbols which encode information but are not human readable; the graphical symbols are formed into some or all of an element which is human readable. Prior art graphical symbols have not been assembly into any kind of human readable element, such as a picture, logo, word, signature or sea. Instead, they have generally been large and obtrusive blocks which considerably mar the appearance of a printed document. This negative impact on appearance has been one of the major causes inhibiting the uptake of graphical symbol technology (e.g. glyphs) for encoding information.

Abstract: A document is printed with graphical symbols which encode information but are not human readable; the graphical symbols are formed into some or all of a visible, decorative element printed onto the document. Prior art graphical symbols have not been assembled into any kind of visible decorative element, such as a picture, logo, word, signature or seal. Instead, they have generally been large and obtrusive blocks which considerably mar the appearance of a printed document. This negative impact on appearance has been one of the major causes inhibiting the uptake of graphical symbol technology (e.g. glyphs) for encoding information.

Abstract: Food packaging for packaging a food item in separate layers. The package includes a retaining member with openings to receive separating sheets between layers of food Separating sheets are removed while retaining layers of the food item from moving, just prior to consumption. The food is retained in layers in a box like enclosure integrally including the container.