Abstract: A method tests at least three devices, each device including a test chain having a plurality of positions storing test data. The testing includes comparing test data in a last position of the test chain of each of the devices, and shifting test data in the test chains of each of the devices and storing a result of the comparison in a first position of the test chains of each of the devices. The comparing and the shifting and storing are repeated until all the stored test data has been compared. The at least three devices may have a same functionality and a same structure.

Abstract: A method tests a plurality of devices, each device including a test chain having a plurality of positions storing test data. The testing includes comparing test data in a last position of the test chain of each of the devices. The test data in the test chains of the devices is shifted forward by one position. The shifting includes writing test data in the last position of a test chain to a first position in the test chain. The comparing and the shifting are repeated until the test data in the last position of each test chain when the testing is started is shifted back into the last position of the respective test chain. The plurality of devices may have a same structure and a same functionality.

Abstract: A handheld advancer is provided for advancing an elongate device through a pathway defined in an advancer body and include a rotatable manual control partially embedded in the body to receive a user-exerted manual control movement from a thumb of a single hand that can hold and control the advancer and advancement. The advancer can include a manual drive arranged to convert torque applied by the thumb for a rotation arc distance into a translation drive force applied for translating the elongate device an advancement distance scaled at force factor and distance factor. The distance factor can be one or greater than one and translate the elongate device an amplified advancement distance compared with manual input. The advancer can include a nip having a pair of rollers extending into the pathway providing constant control and amplified translation via concave compressible surfaces forming continuous contact regions with the elongate device.

Abstract: A ring oscillator includes a chain of logic components. A storage element is associated with each logic component and configured to store a state of an output of the logic component to which the storage element is associated. A first circuit counts state transitions of an output of a given logic component of the chain. A second circuit synchronizes each storage with a clock signal. A third circuit determines a number of logic components crossed by a state transition between two edges of the clock signal. This determination is made based on the counted number of state transitions and on the stored states of the outputs.

Abstract: A method tests a plurality of devices, each device including a test chain having a plurality of positions storing test data. The testing includes comparing test data in a last position of the test chain of each of the devices. The test data in the test chains of the devices is shifted forward by one position. The shifting includes writing test data in the last position of a test chain to a first position in the test chain. The comparing and the shifting are repeated until the test data in the last position of each test chain when the testing is started is shifted back into the last position of the respective test chain. The plurality of devices may have a same structure and a same functionality.

Abstract: A method tests at least three devices, each device including a test chain having a plurality of positions storing test data. The testing includes comparing test data in a last position of the test chain of each of the devices, and shifting test data in the test chains of each of the devices and storing a result of the comparison in a first position of the test chains of each of the devices. The comparing and the shifting and storing are repeated until all the stored test data has been compared. The at least three devices may have a same functionality and a same structure.

Abstract: A medical cleaning system is used for cleaning at least a portion of a surgical instrument. The system may include a tray, a heating pack, and a non-abrasive cleaning pouch. The tray may include a basin area used as a reservoir for maintaining, e.g., antifogging fluid, and a sloped ramp to allow liquids to flow down into its basin area. The system may also include a heating pack enclosing a heating pack solution. The heating pack solution may be a solution having nucleating properties. The heating pack solution may be activated by a mechanical activator to generate heat to the antifogging fluid. The generated heat may be transferred to the antifogging fluid residing on the non-abrasive cleaning pouch. The surgical instrument may be cleaned by wiping a portion of the surgical instrument, e.g., a lens, over the non-abrasive cleaning pouch.

Abstract: An antifogging shield prevents fogging and condensation during surgery at a junction of surgical devices. The antifogging shield includes an antifogging shield body forming an interior chamber for accommodating a surgical tool therein and an insulation material disposed within the interior chamber to minimize temperature change.

Abstract: A technique facilitates sand control in a wellbore. A lower completion and an upper completion are run downhole into the wellbore and deployed. The lower completion assembly employs a plurality of packers to isolate well zones. The lower completion assembly also has gravel pack ports which are independently opened to enable gravel packing of each individual zone via a tool run downhole. Additionally, the lower completion assembly has a production port in each zone. A shifting tool is employed to open the production ports and to enable production from the well zones.

Abstract: The present embodiments relate to a shutter slat for a rolling shutter system that has a one piece integral construction with a first end and a second end that pivotally interlock with each other.

Abstract: A stimulation system configured for use in open-hole wells. The system may alternatively or additionally be configured for multi-zone stimulation applications. The system includes assemblies which employ techniques and configurations for isolating recovery screens downhole even without the presence of well casing. In this manner protection may be provided from dowhnole contaminants such as water which might otherwise leak in from adjacent formation layers.

Abstract: Techniques, systems and methods for designing, implementing, and operating model predictive controllers that can deliver perfect tracking of set points and that can reject the effect of disturbances when steady-state operation is reached are disclosed. High performance is achieved through the incorporation of set-point tracking costs, integral costs, and velocity costs, as well as the adoption of incremental model systems for prediction purposes. Embodiments can deliver offset-free performance for tracking set points with constant final values, set points of a ramp type, and set points of a parabolic form, while rejecting disturbances that have a constant final value. The approach reduces the complexity of model predictive control design, delivers improved performance, and requires modest computational power.

Abstract: A stimulation technique is provided for use in an open hole well. The stimulation technique utilizes a system which comprises one or more isolation devices positioned to isolate desired regions of the open hole well. At least one release mechanism is used to provide controlled release of stimulation material to a desired wellbore region of the open hole well. Additionally, a protection mechanism cooperates with each release mechanism to prevent undesirable contact between stimulation material and the surrounding wellbore wall of the open hole well. In many applications, the entire system is deployed and operated during a single trip downhole into the well.

Abstract: A stimulation technique is provided for use in an open hole well. The stimulation technique utilizes a system which comprises one or more isolation devices positioned to isolate desired regions of the open hole well. At least one release mechanism is used to provide controlled release of stimulation material to a desired wellbore region of the open hole well. Additionally, a protection mechanism cooperates with each release mechanism to prevent undesirable contact between stimulation material and the surrounding wellbore wall of the open hole well. In many applications, the entire system is deployed and operated during a single trip downhole into the well.

Abstract: A stimulation system configured for use in open-hole wells. The system may alternatively or additionally be configured for multi-zone stimulation applications. The system includes assemblies which employ techniques and configurations for isolating recovery screens downhole even without the presence of well casing. In this manner protection may be provided from dowhnole contaminants such as water which might otherwise leak in from adjacent formation layers.

Abstract: A technique facilitates sand control in a wellbore. A lower completion and an upper completion are run downhole into the wellbore and deployed. The lower completion assembly employs a plurality of packers to isolate well zones. The lower completion assembly also has gravel pack ports which are independently opened to enable gravel packing of each individual zone via a tool run downhole. Additionally, the lower completion assembly has a production port in each zone. A shifting tool is employed to open the production ports and to enable production from the well zones.

Abstract: Techniques, systems and methods for designing, implementing, and operating model predictive controllers that can deliver perfect tracking of set points and that can reject the effect of disturbances when steady-state operation is reached are disclosed. High performance is achieved through the incorporation of set-point tracking costs, integral costs, and velocity costs, as well as the adoption of incremental model systems for prediction purposes. Embodiments can deliver offset-free performance for tracking set points with constant final values, set points of a ramp type, and set points of a parabolic form, while rejecting disturbances that have a constant final value. The approach reduces the complexity of model predictive control design, delivers improved performance, and requires modest computational power.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for filling ink-jet cartridges with ink. Ink-jet cartridges are commonly refilled with ink while under a vacuum, to facilitate completely filling a reservoir or foam insert within the cartridge. However, when the cartridge is subsequently submitted to atmospheric pressure, a significant amount of ink is suctioned out of the cartridge, creating a mess and leaving the cartridge less than full. The instant invention results in a fully refilled ink cartridge, without leaking ink, by timed release of the vacuum during the ink filling process.