Abstract: A microelectromechanical device and method of fabricating the same, including a layer of patterned and deposited metal or mechanical-quality, doped polysilicon inserted between the appropriate device element layers, which provides a conductive layer to prevent the microelectromechanical device's output from drifting. The conductive layer may encapsulate of the device's sensing or active elements, or may selectively cover only certain of the device's elements. Further, coupling the metal or mechanical-quality, doped polysilicon to the same voltage source as the device's substrate contact may place the conductive layer at the voltage of the substrate, which may function as a Faraday shield, attracting undesired, migrating ions from interfering with the output of the device.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical device and method of fabricating the same, including a layer of patterned and deposited metal or mechanical-quality, doped polysilicon inserted between the appropriate device element layers, which provides a conductive layer to prevent the microelectromechanical device's output from drifting. The conductive layer may encapsulate of the device's sensing or active elements, or may selectively cover only certain of the device's elements. Further, coupling the metal or mechanical-quality, doped polysilicon to the same voltage source as the device's substrate contact may place the conductive layer at the voltage of the substrate, which may function as a Faraday shield, attracting undesired, migrating ions from interfering with the output of the device.

Abstract: A method and system of providing power to a pressure and temperature sensing element is provided. Polarity switching is added to a current source for a sensor, which includes one piezo-resistive sensing element configured as a single implant square located at an edge of a diaphragm of the element, and which produces pressure and temperature outputs. The piezo-sensing element operates as a piezo-resistive radial element when current is conducted through the element radially with respect to the diaphragm. Conversely, the piezo-sensing element operates as a piezo-resistive tangential element when current is conducted through the element tangentially to the edge of the diaphragm. A difference in the radial and tangential resistances is proportional to an applied pressure, while a sum of the resistances is a function of temperature. By alternating the polarity of power applied to the sensor, a build up of ions resulting from PUD is minimized.

Abstract: The invention is a motorcycle transporting device that is designed to be connected to a vehicle through a standard trailer hitch receiver and consists of one main component and several sub-components, specifically, a wheel support member, referred to as wheel cup, that is rigidly affixed to a hinged shaft assembly that has a lifting mechanism allowing the wheel cup to be raised and lowered and when in the raised position would carry a motorcycle by its front wheel.

Abstract: A communication device associated with a well has a transducer and a controller. The transducer is part of a first communication device and converts a signal between an electrical form and an acoustic form. The controller controls the transducer so that the transducer has a preferred directionality with respect to an acoustic signal transmitted between the first communication device and a second communication device. The transducer includes a plurality of electrical/acoustic converters, such as piezoelectric devices, and one or more of the electrical/acoustic converters are controlled so that the transducer has the preferred directionality.

Abstract: A communication device is located within a well and includes a transducer that converts a first electrical signal into a first acoustic signal for transmission through the well and that converts second acoustic signal received from the well to a second electrical signal. The transducer is at least partially coated with an anechoic material in order to reduce the effects of acoustic signal impairments, such as echoes, flow and machine noise, and reverberations. The anechoic material has a thickness that is a fraction of a wavelength of the acoustic signals.

Abstract: A remote control center controls and monitors a plurality of wells. A surface control and monitoring system is located at each of the wells, and each of the surface control and monitoring systems is in communication with a remote control center. Also, a down hole monitoring and control system is provided within each of the wells, and each of the down hole monitoring and control systems is in communication with at least one of the surface control and monitoring systems. Each of the down hole monitoring and control systems comprises non-cooled, high temperature electronic equipment that can withstand the high temperature environment within the corresponding well.

Abstract: Process for activating a getter composed of a porous barium pellet comprising maintaining a barium pellet in an inert atmosphere, placing the pellet in an enclosed chamber, evacuating the chamber and heating the evacuated chamber containing the pellet to about 800.degree.F for about two hours to activate same by removing gases from the surfaces of the pellet and an activated barium getter comprising a perforated metal or alloy can preferably composed of tantalum containing a barium pellet which has been heated in a vacuum to about 800.degree.F for about two hours.

Abstract: Thermopile mounting comprising elongated thermoelectric elements with insulation therebetween arrayed into a thermopile block, electrical interconnections for said elements, a hot plate and a cold plate at each end of the thermopile and a plurality of tensioned wires extending from the hot plate to the cold plate in a manner to transfer the stress of the wires to the thermopile to place same under compression, said wires having a strength to thermal conductivity ratio of greater than 250,000.