A switching converter includes a main transistor, an inductor coupled to the main transistor, a feedback circuit configured to generate a feedback signal indicative of the output voltage and a controller configured to generate a control signal to control the main transistor. In one embodiment, the bi-modal bleed valve assembly includes a housing assembly having a bleed inlet, a bleed outlet, a control servo port, and a control chamber therein. Time slicing parameters specifying a minimum time between bursts and bit rate output of a receiving device time slicing buffer can be used to help improve power saving and improve quality of service. Finally, a formation porosity is determined based at least in part on the measured complex dielectric constant and the derived dielectric constant formation water. The sounding process is controlled such that the position of a sounding event corresponding to at least one of the operating elements as a slave never goes beyond the position of a sounding event corresponding to one of the operating elements as a master, which is to be processed next.