Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for welding together two metal pieces, comprising buttering a surface of a first metal piece with a first nickel-based filler metal at a thickness sufficient to isolate a heat-affected zone in the first metal piece from subsequent welding; heat-treating at least the heat-affected zone in the first metal piece; buttering a surface of a second metal piece with a second nickel-based filler metal having the same composition as the first nickel-based filler metal and at a thickness sufficient to isolate a heat-affected zone in the second metal piece from subsequent welding; heat-treating at least the heat-affected zone in the second metal piece; and welding the heat-treated first buttered surface to the heat-treated second buttered surface with a third nickel-based filler metal having the same composition as the first and second nickel-based filler metals.

Abstract: Accordingly, the present invention provides a weld filler composition for joining different alloy steel pieces with substantially different chromium content, such as joining low alloy ferritic steel to high alloy ferritic steel, low alloy ferritic steel to austenitic stainless steel, or high alloy ferritic steel to austenitic stainless steel, and a method using the same. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a composition for a weld filler comprising nickel, iron, and chromium, which collectively comprise at least 50% by weight of the weld filler; niobium, carbon, manganese, molybdenum, and silicon, which collectively comprise no more than 50% by weight of the weld filler, and a niobium to carbon ratio of approximately 20 or less.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for welding together two metal pieces, comprising buttering a surface of a first metal piece with a first nickel-based filler metal at a thickness sufficient to isolate a heat-affected zone in the first metal piece from subsequent welding; heat-treating at least the heat-affected zone in the first metal piece; buttering a surface of a second metal piece with a second nickel-based filler metal having the same composition as the first nickel-based filler metal and at a thickness sufficient to isolate a heat-affected zone in the second metal piece from subsequent welding; heat-treating at least the heat-affected zone in the second metal piece; and welding the heat-treated first buttered surface to the heat-treated second buttered surface with a third nickel-based filler metal having the same composition as the first and second nickel-based filler metals.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for welding together two metal pieces, comprising buttering a surface of a first metal piece with a first nickel-based filler metal at a thickness sufficient to isolate a heat-affected zone in the first metal piece from subsequent welding; heat-treating at least the heat-affected zone in the first metal piece; buttering a surface of a second metal piece with a second nickel-based filler metal having the same composition as the first nickel-based filler metal and at a thickness sufficient to isolate a heat-affected zone in the second metal piece from subsequent welding; heat-treating at least the heat-affected zone in the second metal piece; and welding the heat-treated first buttered surface to the heat-treated second buttered surface with a third nickel-based filler metal having the same composition as the first and second nickel-based filler metals.

Abstract: A method of repairing a metallic component, such as a superalloy turbine blade or turbine nozzle, includes the step of preparing the component by stripping the protective coatings from the component. The component is then pre-conditioned for welding by a first hot isostatic process. Once the conditioning sequence is complete, the component is welded using any of a number of welding techniques and by adding weld fillers to the weld area. After the welding step, the component is sealed by a second hot isostatic process treatment performed at conditions similar to the first hot isostatic process. The component is finally prepared for re-entry into service.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for welding together two metal pieces, comprising buttering a surface of a first metal piece with a first nickel-based filler metal at a thickness sufficient to isolate a heat-affected zone in the first metal piece from subsequent welding; heat-treating at least the heat-affected zone in the first metal piece; buttering a surface of a second metal piece with a second nickel-based filler metal having the same composition as the first nickel-based filler metal and at a thickness sufficient to isolate a heat-affected zone in the second metal piece from subsequent welding; heat-treating at least the heat-affected zone in the second metal piece; and welding the heat-treated first buttered surface to the heat-treated second buttered surface with a third nickel-based filler metal having the same composition as the first and second nickel-based filler metals.

Abstract: A wireless communications apparatus and corresponding system having an improved DAC operable at higher speed than heretofore achievable which exploits the sigma-delta principle in a different way. More particularly, the invention comprises a wireless user terminal (302) and corresponding system (300) that implement a digital-to-analog conversion circuit (105) including a storage means (110), such as a read only memory, for storing delta-sigma analog sequences corresponding to all possible values of a digital input (106) coupled to a plurality of one-bit digital to analog converters (120, 122, 124, 126). Each of the digital-to-analog converters (120, 122, 124, 126) are clocked by multi-phase clocks, such that each phase applied to each one of the digital-to-analog converters (120, 122, 124, 126) is delayed with respect to one another by the oversampling period.

Abstract: Accordingly, the present invention provides a weld filler composition for joining different alloy steel pieces with substantially different chromium content, such as joining low alloy ferritic steel to high alloy ferritic steel, low alloy ferritic steel to austenitic stainless steel, or high alloy ferritic steel to austenitic stainless steel, and a method using the same. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a composition for a weld filler comprising nickel, iron, and chromium, which collectively comprise at least 50% by weight of the weld filler; niobium, carbon, manganese, molybdenum, and silicon, which collectively comprise no more than 50% by weight of the weld filler, and a niobium to carbon ratio of approximately 20 or less.

Abstract: Processing signals to record media information includes receiving an analog signal at an analog-to-digital converter, where the analog signal includes media information. The analog-to-digital converter converts the analog signal to a corresponding digital signal, where the digital signal includes a first sequence having a first number of bits. A sigma-delta converter processes the digital signal according to a sigma-delta conversion, where the processed digital signal includes a second sequence having a second number of bits, and where the second number of bits is lower than the first number of bits. The processed digital signal is stored in a digital format in a medium in order to record the media information.

Abstract: A method of repairing a metallic component, such as a superalloy turbine blade or turbine nozzle, includes the step of preparing the component by stripping the protective coatings from the component. The component is then pre-conditioned for welding by a first hot isostatic process. Once the conditioning sequence is complete, the component is welded using any of a number of welding techniques and by adding weld fillers to the weld area. After the welding step, the component is sealed by a second hot isostatic process treatment performed at conditions similar to the first hot isostatic process. The component is finally prepared for re-entry into service.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling the composition of a weld. More particularly it relates to welding using an electric circuit, thereby creating a weld puddle, and adding at least one filler that is electrically independent from the electric circuit to the weld puddle at a controllable rate to obtain a target weld composition. The filler can be added to the extent limited by practical weld puddle geometry and, thus, the method and apparatus also facilitate increased weld deposition rates.

Abstract: Processing signals to record media information includes receiving an analog signal at an analog-to-digital converter, where the analog signal includes media information. The analog-to-digital converter converts the analog signal to a corresponding digital signal, where the digital signal includes a first sequence having a first number of bits. A sigma-delta converter processes the digital signal according to a sigma-delta conversion, where the processed digital signal includes a second sequence having a second number of bits, and where the second number of bits is lower than the first number of bits. The processed digital signal is stored in a digital format in a medium in order to record the media information.

Abstract: A method of repairing a metallic component, such as a superalloy turbine blade or turbine nozzle, includes the step of preparing the component by stripping the protective coatings from the component. The component is then pre-conditioned for welding by a first hot isostatic process. Once the conditioning sequence is complete, the component is welded using any of a number of welding techniques and by adding weld fillers to the weld area. After the welding step, the component is sealed by a second hot isostatic process treatment performed at conditions similar to the first hot isostatic process. The component is finally prepared for re-entry into service.

Abstract: A wireless local loop apparatus and corresponding system having an improved DAC operable at higher speed than heretofore achievable which exploits the sigma-delta principle in a different way. More particularly, the invention comprises a wireless local loop terminal (302) and corresponding system (300) that implement a digital-to-analog conversion circuit (105) including a storage means (110), such as a read only memory, for storing delta-sigma analog sequences corresponding to all possible values of a digital input (106) coupled to a plurality of one-bit digital to analog converters (120, 122, 124, 126). Each of the digital-to-analog converters (120, 122, 124, 126) are clocked by multi-phase clocks, such that each phase applied to each one of the digital-to-analog converters (120, 122, 124, 126) is delayed with respect to one another by the oversampling period.

Abstract: A method of repairing a metallic member, such as a superalloy turbine blade, includes the step of preparing the blade by stripping the protective coatings from the blade. The blade is then pre-conditioned for welding by a first hot isostatic process. Once the blade conditioning sequence is complete, the blade is welded using a laser welding technique and by adding weld fillers to the weld area. After the welding step, the blade is sealed by a second hot isostatic process treatment performed at conditions similar to the first hot isostatic process. The blade is finally prepared for re-entry into service.

Abstract: A method for repairing a shrink-fitted turbine disc without removing the disc from the shaft. The method is composed of two basic steps: (1) depositing one or more weld layers in a vicinity of a defective region of the disc using a temperbead welding process and (2) heat treating the disc using an induction heating process. In a first embodiment of the method, the heat treating step includes heating a heat-affected zone of the disc in a vicinity of the one or more weld layers to a temperature T.sub.h, heating a rim region of the disc to a temperature T.sub.r and heating a bore region of the disc to a temperature T.sub.b, where T.sub.h, T.sub.r >T.sub.b. In a second embodiment of the method, the heat treating step includes heating a region of the disc in a vicinity of the one or more weld layers using the induction heating process and concurrently cooling a bore region of the disc.

Abstract: There is disclosed an integrated circuit including a resistor string comprising a plurality of resistors. The resistor string includes a first array of resistors for determining a predetermined number, M, of most significant bits, and a second array of resistors for determining a predetermined number, L, of least significant bits. Each of the first and second arrays of resistors define intermediate taps. First and second arrays of switching transistors are coupled to the respective taps in respective first and second arrays of resistors. Switches in the first array of switching transistors are coupled between a respective intermediate tap in the first array of resistors and a first output node. Transistors in a second array of switching transistors are coupled between a respective intermediate tap in the second array of resistors and a second output node.

Abstract: There is disclosed an integrated circuit in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, method of operating a digital converter includes a capacitor on which a sampled analog signal is stored. The capacitor has a first element and a second element. The second element is capable of being referenced to more than one potential. The analog-to-digital converter includes a voltage gradient and a comparator for comparing the sampled analog signal to selected voltages of the voltage gradient to indicate which is larger. Each of the voltages developed along the voltage gradient corresponds to a digital code representative of the voltage.

Abstract: An integrated circuit for converting an analog signal to a digital signal includes a resistor string comprised of a plurality of serially coupled resistors coupled between a high voltage reference and a low voltage reference. Intermediate taps are defined at the junctions of the resistors in the resistor string. At least one comparator has first and second inputs and an output. The first input of the comparator is capable of being selectively coupled to preselected ones of the intermediate taps. The second input is capable of being switched between an unknown analog input in conversion mode and a predetermined tap that provides a nominal voltage at the second input in calibration mode. A selection circuit for sequencing through the preselected ones of the intermediate taps selects one of the preselected ones of the intermediate taps as a selected tap for compensating for the offset of the at least one comparator. The selection circuit stores the selected tap for subsequent use during operation of the circuit.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter includes first current sources, second current sources, current regulators, and conductive channels, with each conductive channel coupled to a respective first current source, second current source, and current regulator. An analog input is split into the first current sources. Each second current source is associated with a unique reference current. At each channel where the first current source couples a larger current than the reference current, the current regulator couples a difference current to allow the second current source to couple the reference current. Alternatively, at each channel where the first current source couples a smaller current than the reference current, the current regulator does not couple a difference current, and the second current source couples the same current as the first current source.