Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080270817 | PRECISION OSCILLATOR FOR AN ASYNCHRONOUS TRANSMISSION SYSTEM - A precision oscillator for an asynchronous transmission system. An integrated system on a chip with serial asynchronous communication capabilities includes processing circuitry for performing predefined digital processing functions on the chip and having an associated on chip free running clock circuit for generating a temperature compensated clock. An on-chip UART is provided for digitally communicating with an off-chip UART, which off-chip UART has an independent time reference, which communication between the on-chip UART and the off-chip UART is effected without clock recovery. The on-chip UART has a time-base derived from the temperature compensated clock. The temperature compensated clock provides a time reference for both the processing circuitry and the on-chip UART. | 10-30-2008 |
20100013307 | Active Droop Current Sharing - Point-of-load (POL) regulators may be configured as multiphase POL DC-to-DC (direct current to direct current) converters, operating in a multiphase configuration in order to boost the total current available to a system. Current balancing may be performed by utilizing an active low bandwidth current sharing algorithm that uses matched artificial line resistance (droop resistance) while maintaining multi-loop stability during both steady-state and dynamic transient states. The current sharing algorithm may be facilitated through digital communication between the devices, where the digital bus may be a single wire bus, a parallel bus or a clock-and-data bus. | 01-21-2010 |
20100213914 | CORRECTING PRE-BIAS DURING TURN-ON OF SWITCHING POWER REGULATORS - Rather than operating in asynchronous mode during turn-on ramps, a switching power regulator system may be configured to synthesize a digital waveform, which may protect against a pre-bias condition and maintain the desired ramp-up time and rate. The desired turn-on ramp may be generated digitally by counter logic, beginning with an initial value and incrementing at a programmed rate until a digital value equivalent to the desired output voltage is reached. When a pre-bias condition is not present, the output of the digital ramp generator may control a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), which may be configured to generate the reference voltage for the power regulator. To correct for a pre-bias condition, the pre-bias output of the power regulator may be measured prior to turn-on, using an analog-to-digital converter. The digital pre-bias value may be used to control the DAC until the value of the digital waveform generated by the ramp generator reaches the pre-bias value. | 08-26-2010 |
20100325325 | Integrated Multi-Function Point-Of-Load Regulator Circuit - A power management system may comprise two or more POL regulators configured to transmit and receive data over a shared bus according to either a proprietary or a common bus protocol. Each POL regulator may be identified by a unique address that is part of an address group, and may be configured via pin strapping to be able to perform a variety of power management functions. Any one of the POL regulators within the address group may become a bus master and transmit information to the shared bus by addressing itself The other POL regulators in the address group may monitor the shared bus for events, and may respond to the transmitted information according to their address, their configuration, and the transmitted information. The response may include the POL regulators performing one or more power management functions, including adjusting their respective output voltages. The POL regulators may respond to each event according to the requirements corresponding to the event, thereby performing the necessary tasks to enable power management functions without the need for interconnecting analog signal lines and without being explicitly controlled. | 12-23-2010 |
20120036389 | Precision Oscillator for an Asynchronous Transmission System - A precision oscillator for an asynchronous transmission system. An integrated system on a chip with serial asynchronous communication capabilities includes processing circuitry for performing predefined digital processing functions on the chip and having an associated on chip free running clock circuit for generating a temperature compensated clock. An on-chip UART is provided for digitally communicating with an off-chip UART, which off-chip UART has an independent time reference, which communication between the on-chip UART and the off-chip UART is effected without clock recovery. The on-chip UART has a time-base derived from the temperature compensated clock. The temperature compensated clock provides a time reference for both the processing circuitry and the on-chip UART. | 02-09-2012 |
20120161829 | FREQUENCY LOCKED LOOP - A locked loop circuit includes an oscillator and an extrapolator. The oscillator generates an output signal in response to a control value. The extrapolator determines, based on a first state of the oscillator and a transfer function of the oscillator the control value for the oscillator to transition the oscillator to a second operating state. | 06-28-2012 |
20120161835 | CONTROLLING A FREQUENCY LOCKED LOOP - An apparatus includes a frequency locked loop and a controller. The controller stores a state of the frequency locked loop at which an output signal of the frequency locked loop is locked onto a reference signal and subsequently initializes the frequency locked loop with the stored state to cause the frequency locked loop to relock the output signal to the reference signal. | 06-28-2012 |
20120166778 | CHANGING THE RESET STATE OF A PROCESSOR - An apparatus includes a memory, a processor and a controller. The processor is adapted to begin executing instructions based on content stored starting at a predetermined address in the memory upon reset of the processor. The controller is adapted to, in response to the reset of the processor, provide to the processor content for the predetermined address other than the content that is stored starting at the predetermined address. | 06-28-2012 |
20120166859 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING A SYSTEM CLOCK SIGNAL - An apparatus includes a processor, a clock recovery circuit and a frequency locked loop. The processor receives a system clock signal to clock operations of the processor; and the clock recovery circuit recovers a clock signal from data communication occurring over a bus. The frequency locked loop receives the clock signal from the clock recovery circuit as a reference clock signal, and the frequency locked loop is adapted to lock onto the clock signal provided by the clock recovery circuit to provide the system clock signal. | 06-28-2012 |
20120262141 | Active Droop Current Sharing - Point-of-load (POL) regulators may be configured as multiphase POL DC-to-DC (direct current to direct current) converters, operating in a multiphase configuration in order to boost the total current available to a system. Current balancing may be performed by utilizing an active low bandwidth current sharing algorithm that uses matched artificial line resistance (droop resistance) while maintaining multi-loop stability during both steady-state and dynamic transient states. The current sharing algorithm may be facilitated through digital communication between the devices, where the digital bus may be a single wire bus, a parallel bus or a clock-and-data bus. | 10-18-2012 |
20130167652 | Integrated Circuit and Apparatus for Detecting Oscillations - An integrated circuit includes a pulse generator to provide an excitation pulse to an output terminal and a comparator to receive a signal in response to the excitation pulse and for comparing the signal to a threshold to produce a comparator output signal corresponding to oscillations in the signal. The integrated circuit further includes a counter to count pulses in the comparator output signal and a discriminator circuit to compare a count value of the counter to a damping threshold and for providing an output signal having a first value when the count value is equal to or exceeds the damping threshold and otherwise having a second value. | 07-04-2013 |
20130207467 | POWER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - An apparatus is disclosed, which includes a system that includes loads, linear regulators, switches and a controller. The linear regulators supply power to the loads, and the controller is adapted to use the switches to selectively couple power sources to the linear regulators to regulate a collective power dissipation of linear regulators. | 08-15-2013 |
20130212408 | REGULATING A CLOCK FREQUENCY OF A PERIPHERAL - A method of communicating in an electronic system or apparatus is disclosed. The method includes using a processor to communicate with a peripheral. The processor has a power state. The method also includes regulating a clock frequency of the peripheral, where this regulation is based at least in part on the power state of the processor. | 08-15-2013 |
20130321183 | CODER WITH SNOOP MODE - Techniques are disclosed relating to coding data in an apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a coder circuit coupled to a data bus, where the coder circuit is configured to receive an indication that data is being transmitted over the data bus from a first circuit to a second circuit. The coder circuit is configured to perform a coding operation on the data in response to receiving the indication. In some embodiments, the coder circuit is configured to operate in a mode in which the coder circuit captures data of a data transmission via the data bus without being specified as a participant of the data transmission. When the coder circuit is not operating in the mode, the coder circuit is not configured to capture data of a data transmission without being specified as a participant of the data transmission. | 12-05-2013 |
20140040512 | DATA TRANSFER MANAGER - Techniques are disclosed relating to a system that implements direct memory access (DMA). In one embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed that includes a dedicated data transfer management (DTM) circuit. The DTM circuit is configured to provide commands to a direct memory access (DMA) controller coupled to a bus to facilitate the DMA controller retrieving portions of a data object to be transmitted to a peripheral circuit via the bus. In some embodiments, the DTM is configured to assemble a data packet having a payload supplied by a processor, where the DTM circuit is configured to assemble the data packet by generating direct memory access (DMA) requests for the DMA controller. In such an embodiment, the DMA requests cause a plurality of peripheral circuits coupled to the bus to transfer portions of the data packet over the bus. | 02-06-2014 |
20140167509 | CHARGE PUMP FOR LOW POWER CONSUMPTION APPARATUS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - An apparatus includes a first set of circuits adapted to operate in a first mode of operation of the apparatus. The apparatus further includes a second set of circuits adapted to operate in a second mode of operation of the apparatus, where a power consumption of the apparatus is lower in the second mode of operation of the apparatus than in the first mode of operation of the apparatus. The apparatus also includes a charge pump adapted to convert a first supply voltage of the apparatus to a second supply voltage, and the second supply voltage powers the second set of circuits. | 06-19-2014 |
20140168551 | CONTROLLER AND DISPLAY APPARATUS WITH IMPROVED PERFORMANCE AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - An apparatus includes a multiplexed liquid crystal display (LCD) controller. The LCD controller is adapted to operate in at least first and second phases of operation. The LCD controller is adapted to drive a plurality of signal lines to a first set of voltages during the first phase of operation and to a second set of voltages during the second phase of operation. The LCD controller is further adapted to couple to a node at least some of the plurality of signal lines between the first and second phases of operation. | 06-19-2014 |
20140184116 | APPARATUS FOR MOTOR CONTROL SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A motor control apparatus to control a motor external to the motor control apparatus includes a microcontroller unit (MCU). The MCU includes mixed signal motor control circuitry adapted to perform back electromotive force (EMF) motor control in a first mode of operation. The mixed signal motor control circuitry is further adapted to perform field oriented control (FOC) in a second mode of operation. | 07-03-2014 |
20140312820 | Apparatus for Differencing Comparator and Associated Methods - An apparatus includes an integrated circuit (IC). The IC includes a differencing comparator. The differencing comparator receives a differential input signal. The differencing comparator compares the differential input signal to a threshold value. The differencing comparator includes a transconductance circuit coupled to receive the differential input signal and to provide a differential output signal. | 10-23-2014 |
20150154897 | Controller and Display Apparatus with Improved Performance and Associated Methods - An apparatus includes a multiplexed liquid crystal display (LCD) controller. The LCD controller operates in at least first and second phases of operation. The LCD controller drives a first plurality of signal lines to a first set of voltages during the first phase of operation and to a second set of voltages during the second phase of operation. The LCD controller selectively couples to a node at least some of the plurality of signal lines between the first and second phases of operation depending on data provided to the LCD controller. | 06-04-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100138170 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING A PARAMETER OF A FLUID FLOWING WITHIN A PIPE - A method and apparatus for determining at least one characteristic of a fluid flowing within a pipe is provided and includes at least one sensing device. The at least one sensing device includes a first sensor segment having a first segment polarity and being associated with a first outer portion of the pipe and a second sensor segment having a second segment polarity and being associated with a second outer portion of the pipe, wherein the first sensor segment and the second sensor segment generate sensor data responsive to the fluid flowing within the pipe. The apparatus further includes a processing device communicated with the at least one sensing device, wherein the processing device receives the sensor data and processes the sensor data to determine the at least one characteristic of the fluid. | 06-03-2010 |
20110056298 | FLOW AND PIPE MANAGEMENT USING VELOCITY PROFILE MEASUREMENT AND/OR PIPE WALL THICKNESS AND WEAR MONITORING - The present invention provides new techniques for non-invasive and real-time measurement of the velocity profile of slurry flow in horizontal pipes, as well as the measurement and trending of pipe wear on slurry lines. In the first case, this information can be used to determine the approach and onset of solid deposition on the bottom of the pipe. Having this information in real time can enable operation at lower velocities or higher solids concentration or both while avoiding solids deposition or plugging and their associated operational costs. In the second case, the present invention uses a permanently or semi-permanently installed ring of conformable ultrasonic transducers clamped onto the outside of the pipe. These transducers are used to measure the thickness of the pipe under their respective locations. | 03-10-2011 |
20110118998 | APPLICATIONS OF PUMP PERFORMANCE MONITORING - The present invention provides a processor or signal processing module that features one or more modules configured to receive an input signal containing information about the unsteady pressures or acoustic emissions caused by a medium flowing through a pump, and also configured to provide of an output signal containing information about the performance of the pump. The information about the performance of the pump may include information about pump performance monitoring by a slip flow measurement, about predicting impeller wear, about pump impeller cavitation monitoring, about pump monitoring through acoustic emissions, about pump leak detection, about pump efficiency monitoring and about positive displacement pump monitoring. | 05-19-2011 |
20110203387 | Method and Apparatus for Measuring Parameters of a Fluid Flowing within a Pipe Using a Configurable Array of Sensors - An apparatus for measuring at least one parameter associated with a fluid flowing within a pipe includes a single sheet of piezoelectric film material wrapped around at least a portion of the pipe and an array of sensors disposed at different locations on the film material. Each of the sensors provides a signal indicative of pressure within the pipe at a corresponding axial and/or circumferential location of the pipe. The sensors are selectively configurable to provide the pressure signals. The signals are processed to determine the parameter. The array of sensors is configurable in response to different criteria. The criteria includes at least one of the parameter of the fluid to be output, an input signal specifying sensors to be selected, a predetermined configuration based on the parameter to be determined, and in response to a previously determined parameter of the fluid. | 08-25-2011 |
20110208447 | Method and Apparatus for Measuring Parameters of a Fluid Flowing within a Pipe Using a Configurable Array of Sensors - An apparatus for measuring at least one parameter associated with a fluid flowing within a pipe includes a single sheet of piezoelectric film material wrapped around at least a portion of the pipe and an array of sensors disposed at different locations on the film material. Each of the sensors provides a signal indicative of pressure within the pipe at a corresponding axial and/or circumferential location of the pipe. The sensors are selectively configurable to provide the pressure signals. The signals are processed to determine the parameter. The array of sensors is configurable in response to different criteria. The criteria includes at least one of the parameter of the fluid to be output, an input signal specifying sensors to be selected, a predetermined configuration based on the parameter to be determined, and in response to a previously determined parameter of the fluid. | 08-25-2011 |
20120073329 | LARGE DIAMETER OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE SPLICE - Techniques and systems suitable for performing low-loss fusion splicing of optical waveguide sections are provided. According to some embodiments, multiple laser beams (from one or more laser) may be utilized to uniformly heat a splice region including portions of the optical waveguide sections to be spliced, which may have different cross-sectional dimensions. According to some embodiments, the relative distance of the optical waveguide sections and/or the power of the multiple laser beams may be varied during splicing operations. | 03-29-2012 |
20130068027 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING OF COMPONENT HOUSING WALL THICKNESS AND WEAR MONITORING - A method for monitoring wall thickness of an industrial piping component or pump/fluid machinery, including a pump casing for a pump used for pumping an abrasive fluid or slurry, comprising providing a signal containing information about a ultrasonic-based transducer pulse from a discrete ultrasonic-based transducer attached directly on an industrial piping component or pump/fluid machinery at a local point of interest and configured to inject the ultrasonic-based transducer pulse into the industrial piping component or pump/fluid machinery at the local point of interest and sense the ultrasonic-based transducer pulse reflected off a wall of the industrial piping component or pump/fluid machinery at the local point of interest; and determining with an electronic monitoring system the thickness of the wall of the industrial piping component or pump/fluid machinery at the local point of interest based at least partly on the signal received containing information about the discrete ultrasonic-based transducer pulse sensed. The discrete ultrasonic-based transducer may include a discrete ultrasonic-based piezoelectric transducer. | 03-21-2013 |
20130133553 | NON-CHEMICAL AIR ENTRAINED ADMIX - An improved concrete is provided having a concrete formed from a wet concrete mixture; and a non-chemical admix added to the wet concrete mixture and configured to contain bubbles in order to control the amount of entrained air formed in the concrete when the wet concrete mixture cures into the improved concrete. The non-chemical admix includes a multiplicity of hollow objects, bodies, elements or structures, each configured with a respective cavity, unfilled space, or hole to trap and maintain a bubble inside. The hollow objects, bodies, elements or structures include hollow cylinders, or spheres, or capillary tubes, or some combination thereof. Each hollow object, body, element or structure is configured with a dimension so as not to absorb liquid, including water, including where the dimension is in a range of about 20-30 microns, and is made of glass or a glass-like material. | 05-30-2013 |
20130192351 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING GVF (GAS VOLUME FRACTION) FOR AERATED FLUIDS AND LIQUIDS IN FLOTATION TANKS, COLUMNS, DRUMS, TUBES, VATS - The invention provides a signal processor that receives a signal containing information about an acoustic signal that is generated by at least one acoustic transmitter, that travels through an aerated fluid in a container, and that is received by at least one acoustic receiver arranged in relation to the container, including inside the container; and determines the gas volume fraction of the aerated fluid based at least partly on the speed of sound measurement of the acoustic signal that travels through the aerated fluid in the container. The signal processor also sends an output signal containing information about the gas volume fraction of the aerated fluid. The signal processor may be configured together with at least one acoustic transmitter, the at least one acoustic receiver, or both. | 08-01-2013 |
20130199305 | Single Wrapped Sensor Flow Meter - A signal processor receives a signal containing information about a sensor that is spirally wrapped at a known pitch or separation down a pipe having a flow; and determines a flow velocity based at least partly on the information contained in the signal received by applying an autocorrelation function that depends on a relationship between the time between a repeating pattern and the known pitch or separation of the spirally wrapped sensor. The signal processor provides a corresponding signal containing information about the flow velocity. The sensor includes a strain sensor, including a piezo-electric polymer strain sensor fabricated from PVDF, and/or two or more equally spaced spirally wound sensors. The determining includes correlating output signals of two or more equally spaced spirally wound sensors to determine a time delay, and determining the flow velocity based on the time delay and the known pitch or separation. | 08-08-2013 |
20140026666 | WEAR MONITORING WITH ROTATIONAL SENSOR AND SENSOR THICKNESS - Apparatus for determining a thickness of a wall of a pipe, featuring a signal processing module configured to respond to signaling containing information about traveling stress waves transmitted to and reflected back from a wall of a pipe by a sensor band that includes a series, ring or array having multiple transducers circumferentially arranged and mounted around, and attached to or clamped onto, an outside wall of the pipe; and determine a profile of a thickness of the wall of the pipe corresponding to circumferential locations of the multiple transducers based on the signaling received from the sensor band; and one or more orientation or rotation sensors, each responding to its orientation in relation to its displacement on the pipe and to provide an orientation signal containing information about the same. | 01-30-2014 |
20140026667 | GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE RE WEAR MONITORING - Apparatus for determining a thickness of a wall of a pipe, featuring a signal processing module configured to respond to signaling containing information about traveling stress waves transmitted to and reflected back from a wall of a pipe by a sensor band that includes a series, ring or array having multiple transducers circumferentially arranged and mounted around, and attached to or clamped onto, an outside wall of the pipe; determine a profile of a thickness of the wall of the pipe corresponding to circumferential locations of the multiple transducers based on the signaling received from the sensor band, and the provides corresponding signaling containing information about the profile of the thickness of the wall of the pipe; and another module configured to receive the corresponding signaling and provide a visual indication of either data or a graph of the thickness of the wall of the pipe. | 01-30-2014 |
20140047909 | SONIC FILTER FOR MEASURING AND CAPTURING PARTICLES HAVING A PARTICULAR PARTICLE SIZE IN A FLUID, MIXTURE OR PROCESS FLOW - Apparatus is provided featuring an acoustic driver and a transducer. The acoustic driver is configured to provide an acoustic driver signal having a frequency that can be adjusted to yield a given wavelength, which in turn, will selectively capture a particular particle size of particles in a fluid, mixture or process flow. The transducer is configured to respond to the acoustic driver signal and provide an acoustic signal having a standing wave at the frequency in order to yield the given wavelength that will selectively capture the particular particle size of the particles in the fluid, mixture or process flow, in order to determine the mass of the particles having the particular particle size in the fluid, mixture or process flow. | 02-20-2014 |
20140138324 | MINERAL SEPARATION USING FUNCTIONALIZED MEMBRANES - A machine or apparatus featuring a first processor and a second processor. The first processor is configured to receive a mixture of fluid, valuable material and unwanted material and a functionalized polymer coated member configured to attach to the valuable material in an attachment rich environment, and provide an enriched functionalized polymer coated member having the valuable material attached thereto. The second processor is configured to receive a fluid and the enriched functionalized polymer coated member in a release rich environment to release the valuable material, and provide the valuable material released from the enriched functionalized polymer coated member. | 05-22-2014 |
20140166585 | Flotation Separation Using Lightweight Synthetic Beads or Bubbles - Apparatus, such as a flotation separation device, features a flotation cell or column configured to receive a mixture of water, valuable material and unwanted material; receive polymer-based materials, including polymer bubbles or beads, configured to attach to the valuable material in the mixture; and provide enriched polymer-based materials, including enriched polymer bubbles or beads, having the valuable material attached thereon. | 06-19-2014 |
20140183104 | MINERAL SEPARATION USING SIZED-, WEIGHT- OR MAGNETIC-BASED POLYMER BUBBLES OR BEADS - Apparatus for use in, or forming part of, a separation process to be implemented in separation processor technology, the apparatus comprising synthetic bubbles or beads configured with a polymer or polymer-based material functionalized to attach to a valuable material in a mixture so as to form an enriched synthetic bubbles or beads having the valuable material attached thereto, and also configured to be separated from the mixture based at least partly on a difference in a physical property between the enriched synthetic bubbles or beads having the valuable material attached thereto and the mixture. | 07-03-2014 |
20140190873 | TECHNIQUES FOR TRANSPORTING SYNTHETIC BEADS OR BUBBLES IN A FLOTATION CELL OR COLUMN - Apparatus featuring synthetic bubbles or beads and a flotation stage. The synthetic bubbles or beads are configured with a polymer or polymer-based material functionalized to attach to the valuable material in a mixture to form at least some enriched synthetic bubbles or beads having the valuable material attached thereto, and also configured to be transported through the mixture based at least partly on a characteristic of the synthetic bubbles or beads. The flotation stage has the mixture containing valuable material, and is configured to receive the synthetic bubbles or beads and to provide the at least some enriched synthetic bubbles or beads having the valuable material attached thereto based at least partly the characteristic of the synthetic bubbles or beads. | 07-10-2014 |
20140197077 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RELEASING MINERAL FROM SYNTHETIC BUBBLES AND BEADS - A synthetic bead for use in mineral separation is described. The synthetic bead has a surface made of a synthetic material such as polymer and the synthetic material is functionalized with molecules having a functional group for attaching mineral particles to the surface in a separation process. The synthetic beads can be placed in flotation cell containing a mixture of water, valuable material and unwanted material or in a pipeline where the mixture is transported from one location to another. The enriched synthetic beads carrying the mineral particles are separated from the unwanted materials in the mixture. The mineral particles are then released from the synthetic beads by means of low pH treatment, ultrasonic agitation, thermal or electromagnetic treatment. | 07-17-2014 |
20140199217 | MINERAL SEPARATION USING FUNCTIONALIZED FILTERS AND MEMBRANES - An apparatus for collecting mineral particles in a slurry or the tailings is disclosed. The apparatus may take the form of a filter, a conveyor belt or an impeller to be used in a processor to collect mineral particles in the slurry, or in a tailings pond to collect mineral particles in the tailings. The filter, conveyor belt or impeller has a collection area made of or coated with a synthetic material having a functional group, either anionic or cationic to attach to the mineral particles. Alternatively, the synthetic material has hydrophobic molecules to render the collection area hydrophobic. When the mineral particles in the slurry or tailings are combined with collector molecules, the mineral particles also become hydrophobic. The hydrophobic mineral particles are attracted to the hydrophobic collection area. The filter, conveyor belt and impeller may have a plurality of passage ways in order to increase the contacting surfaces. | 07-17-2014 |
20140202959 | SYNTHETIC BUBBLES OR BEADS HAVING HYDROPHOBIC SURFACE - A synthetic bead for use in mineral separation is described. The synthetic bead has a surface made of or coated with a synthetic material such as a polymer that is naturally hydrophobic or a polymer that is hydrophobically modified. The synthetic bead can be made of glass having a coating or polysiloxane. The synthetic beads can be placed in flotation cell containing a mixture of water, collector molecules, valuable material and unwanted material or in a pipeline where the mixture is transported from one location to another. The collector chemical can be xanthates. The enriched synthetic beads carrying the mineral particles are separated from the unwanted materials in the mixture. The mineral particles are then released from the synthetic beads by means of low pH treatment, ultrasonic agitation, thermal or electromagnetic treatment. | 07-24-2014 |
20140301902 | OPTIMIZING ACOUSTIC EFFICIENCY OF A SONIC FILTER OR SEPARATOR - Apparatus features a container and a transducer. The container is made of a selected material and has a container wall with a selected thickness, and configured to hold a fluid therein. The transducer is configured on the outside of the container wall, and is also configured to provide a standing wave into the fluid. The selected thickness and material of the container wall is chosen to ensure about a ½ wavelength of a desired frequency exists within the container wall, so as to substantially reduce back reflections toward the transducer due to any mismatch in acoustic impedance at the interface between the container wall and the fluid, and so as to substantially maximize the amount of energy delivered to the fluid, thus improving the operating efficiency of the apparatus. | 10-09-2014 |
20140326885 | LASER BASED SYSTEM FOR BITUMEN CONTENT DETERMINATION, E.G., USING DISCRETE WAVELENGTH SPECTROSCOPIC ANALYSIS - The present invention provides a technique that uses discrete wavelengths of illumination of an ore sample, and through the use of optical filters and laser illumination the signal-to-noise ratio of the measurement can be greatly improved, and may take the form of apparatus featuring a signal processor configured to: receive signaling containing information about a spectral reflectance caused by discrete wavelengths illuminating an ore sample; and determine information about a bitumen content of the ore sample based at least partly on the signaling. The signal processor may provide corresponding signaling containing information about the bitumen content of the ore sample, including for further processing, printing or displaying. | 11-06-2014 |
20140347472 | SPECTROSCOPIC ANALYSIS OF OIL SANDS ORE FACE FOR REAL TIME ORE BLEND MANAGEMENT - Apparatus is provided featuring a signal processor or signal processing module configured to receive signaling containing information about images of an ore sample; and determine information about a Bitumen Content of the ore sample based at least partly on the signaling, including for use in real time ore blend management in a bitumen recovery process related to mined oil sands. The ore sample may be an ore face, and the signaling may contain information about the images of the ore face. The signal processor or signal processing module may be configured to determine a real time ore face ore grade visualization based at least partly on the signaling, and provide corresponding signaling containing information about the real time ore face ore grade visualization, including a composite overlay image. | 11-27-2014 |
20150083646 | DIMENSIONALLY CONTROLLED 'ENGINEERED POLYMER BUBBLE' FOR FLOTATION SEPARATION - Apparatus is provided featuring a first and second cells. The first cell receives an ore slurry having mineral particles of interest, receives unexpanded polymer microspheres comprising a surface having mineral collector chemistry attached thereto with molecules for attaching the mineral particles of interest, causes the unexpanded polymer microspheres to expand substantially in volume into expanded polymer microspheres having a substantially increased sphere surface area, and provides an expanded polymer microsphere foam layer comprising the expanded polymer microspheres with attached mineral particles of interest. The second cell receives the expanded polymer microsphere foam layer, and causes the expanded polymer microspheres to collapse substantially in volume into collapsed polymer microspheres having a substantially reduced sphere surface area that results in a mechanical shearing off of the attached mineral particles of interest. The second cell may also provide a mineral concentrate output having the mineral particles of interest. | 03-26-2015 |
20150140228 | RE-LINED PIPE TECHNIQUE FOR WEAR MITIGATION IN SLURRY TRANSPORT PIPELINE - The present invention provides apparatus, including a pigging tool, that comprises a spraying mechanism configured to move along an inner surface of a pipeline, including a slurry transport pipeline in a minable oilsands facility or plant, and to spray a coating on the inner surface of the pipeline; and a curing source, including an ultraviolet (UV) light source, a microwave source or an RF source, configured to cure the coating sprayed on the inner surface of the pipeline in situ as the spray mechanism moves along the inner surface of the pipeline. | 05-21-2015 |
20150145532 | TOMOGRAPHIC DETERMINATION OF SCALE BUILD-UP IN PIPES AND OTHER TANKS, CELLS, VESSELS OR CONTAINERS - Apparatus is provided featuring a signal processor or processing module configured at least to: receive signaling containing information about the conductivity of a fluid contained, processed or flowing in a pipe, tank, cell or vessel having electrodes around the circumference of the pipe, tank, cell or vessel in an irregular configuration; and determine a scale build-up in the pipe, tank, cell or vessel using a tomographic processing technique, based at least partly on the signaling received. The signal processor module may be configured to provide corresponding signaling containing information about the scale build-up in the pipe, tank, cell or vessel using the tomographic processing technique, e.g., including where the corresponding signaling contains information about a chemical to be injected to control the scale build-up, including in a closed loop manner. | 05-28-2015 |