Abstract: An imaging system for effecting electrostatic printing of an image, wherein the imaging system includes at least one contact electrostatic printing engine operable in a novel fashion upon a copy substrate, for imaging and development of a latent image representative of the image, and subsequent transfer of the developed image to the copy substrate. The developed image is created by separating and selectively transferring portions of a high solids content toner cake layer in correspondence with the image and non-image regions of the latent image. A toner cake layer delivery apparatus draws from a supply of low solids content liquid developing material to apply a layer of the liquid developing material onto a carrier fluid separation (CFS) surface of a coating member. Rapid migration of the carrier fluid into the CFS surface causes a substantial reduction of the ratio of carrier fluid to toner solids, thus providing the desired high solids content toner cake layer.

Abstract: A method detects if an image is compressed. The method determines a block grid within the image and establishes blocks from the determined grid. The method then computes differences between samples inside the established blocks and differences between samples across the established blocks. The method determines that the image is compressed based on characteristics derived from statistics of the computed differences.

Abstract: An imaging system for effecting electrostatic printing of an image, wherein the imaging system includes at least one contact electrostatic printing engine operable in a novel fashion upon a copy substrate, for imaging and development of a latent image representative of the image, and subsequent transfer of the developed image to the copy substrate. The developed image is created by separating and selectively transferring portions of a high solids content secondary toner cake layer in correspondence with the image and non-image regions of the latent image. A toner cake layer delivery apparatus draws from a supply of high solids content liquid developing material to form a primary toner cake layer on a movable donor member. The primary toner cake layer is subject to uniform charging to a first polarity followed by an induced charge of a second, opposing polarity to a selectable depth.

Abstract: A multilayer integrated assembly for effecting fluid handling functions includes complementary microstructures formed by an etching or similar process in a planar foldable substrate. The complementary microstructures may be superimposed in a controlled manner by operation of micro-alignment means also formed in the foldable substrate by an etching or similar process. Microstructures are contemplated as including channels (that may be superimposed to form fluid conduits), apertures, conduit apertures, sample processing compartments, and the like. An intermediary substrate may optionally be incorporated in the integrated assembly so as to provide a material having a thickness or composition that may differ in a useful characteristic from the material used to provide the foldable substrate and accordingly expand the functionality of the integrated assembly.

Abstract: A fluid connector system for connecting a conduit having a fluid-bearing capability to a channel having a fluid-bearing capability in a planar manifold assembly, thereby providing a substantially leak-free fluid communication between the conduit and the channel. A preferred embodiment of the fluid connector system is effective for connecting a conduitto a planar manifold situated in a sample analysis system. The conduit is located in a fluid-handling functional device and communicates with a device port located in a port surface region on the fluid handling functional device. Located within the port surface region, and encircling the first port, is a weld projection. The channel is located in a receiver portion of a planar assembly and communicates with a manifold port. A port surface region on the exterior of the planar assembly encompasses the manifold port. The port surface regions are complementary in that they may be superimposed so as to co-locate the device port and the manifold port.

Abstract: A microminiature valve having an actuator member that includes a central body suspended on radially spaced legs, with each leg having first and second layers of materials having substantially different coefficients of thermal expansion. The legs include heating elements and are fixed at one end to allow radial compliance as selected heating of the legs causes flexure. An actuator member includes a boss having an actuator face. A seat substrate having a flow via defined by a valve seat is aligned with the actuator face. Asymmetrical thermal actuation of the actuator member moves the actuator face from the valve seat in a rotational displacement relative to the flow orifice, thereby offering improved control of the fluid flow through the orifice.

Abstract: A sample inlet liner includes an internal surface barrier wherein the surface barrier is situated so as to circumvent undesirable reactions between the sample and the liner. The barrier surface composition includes PTFE to an extent sufficient to reduce or eliminate such undesirable reactions, and the surface barrier is situated so as to receive substantially all of the wetting of the liner by an injected sample, such that little or no contact is made by the sample with a surface that lacks sufficient PTFE. As a result, decomposition or adsorption of the sample is reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides propylene-bridged bidentate silane reagents for modifying the surface of liquid chromatography supports, these supports and methods of making and using the same. When bonded to the surface of a support material, the resulting modified support material provides improved properties, such as better separations and more stable support materials, especially when used in liquid chromatography. These bidentate silanes have the general structure: RSiMe(NMe.sub.2)--(CH.sub.2).sub.3 --SiMeR--NMe.sub.2. R is an n-octadecyl group or an n-tetradecyl group, and Me is a methyl group. When reacted with a silica surface, the resulting modified surface has a structure: PSiO--?RSiMe--(CH.sub.2).sub.3 --SiMeR!--OSiP. PSiO is surface-reacted silica.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for purification of a discharge gas, wherein the discharge gas is selected from a group of noble gases, and most preferably is helium or argon. The purification of the discharge gas is achieved by attraction and removal of at least one ionized contaminant in the discharge gas, wherein the contaminant exhibits an ionization potential that is less than the excitation potential of the discharge gas. A discharge gas purification system may be constructed to include a discharge chamber, an inlet for supplying a pressurized flow of discharge gas into the discharge chamber, a discharge device for effecting a discharge in the discharge chamber to effect ionization of a contaminant in the discharge gas, and a bleed flow device located with respect to the discharge and to the discharge cathode for electrically attracting and removing a bleed flow of the discharge gas in the discharge chamber. A disproportionate amount of the ionized contaminants thus created are captured in the bleed flow.

Abstract: Energy efficiency of a thermal zone in an analytical instrument is improved by use of an oven cavity insert that may be removably positioned in an insulated enclosure in an oven cavity housing, whereby the combination of the oven cavity insert and one or more of the enclosure walls completely encloses a first space suitable for effecting the thermal zone. The oven cavity insert is positionable so as to separate the first space from at least a portion of the unused volume of the oven cavity, thus reducing the volume of the thermal zone, so as to reduce the amount of heating or cooling required for temperature control of a component positioned therein. When present in the oven cavity, the contemplated oven cavity insert effectively conceals a portion of the housing from the thermal zone, thus reducing the effective thermal mass of the oven cavity housing.

Abstract: A miniaturized planar device formed of first and second planar substrates that may be superimposed and diffusion bonded to form a single, planar integrated assembly. Each of the first and second planar substrates include respective component sections having respective first and second interior surfaces. One or more surface features in at least one of the first and second interior surfaces are thereby enclosed during assembly so as to form at least one corresponding internal fluid-handling feature, such as a conduit having a rectilinear, semicircular, or circular cross section. The perimeter of a surface feature is generally defined by a perimeter land which separates the surface feature from an adjacent moat. The superimposition of the first and second component sections establishes an interface between the abutted portions of the first and second interior surfaces; this interface is then subject to diffusion bonding.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging system may include a transducer array having a novel distribution of transducer elements. Preferred embodiments of the system include a transducer having a linear, curved linear, or matrixed array of piezoelectric transducer elements. The transducer may include a novel distribution of transducer elements applied to the elevation elements, wherein the elevation aperture is divided into three sections, that is, a central section having an array of fine-pitched elements, and upper and lower sections. The novel distribution of transducer elements may be applied to the elevation elements wherein the system is adapted for a first mode of operation characterized as a near-field mode (e.g., at shallow depths), such that the transducer elements in the central section are activated to effect various purposes, e.g., beam steering and electronic focusing, and the transducer elements in the outer sections are generally not activated.

Abstract: An ionization detector having an upper ionization chamber, a lower ionization chamber, and a radioactive source located in the upper ionization chamber but shielded from the lower ionization chamber by a barrier. A substantially constant fluid stream of detector gas is supplied to the upper ionization chamber so as to fill the upper ionization. The radioactive particle emitter is disposed on the periphery of the interior of the upper ionization chamber so as to generate a constant supply of alpha particles into the internal volume defined by the upper ionization chamber. The interaction of the alpha particles and the detector gas generates metastables and photons as the alpha particles traverse a portion of the volume in the upper ionization chamber. The lower ionization chamber is coupled to the upper ionization chamber so as to receive the detector gas flow and the metastables.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for peak identification of sample peaks in a chromatogram, wherein at least one group of standard peaks in standard peak series is matched to at least one group of sample peaks in a sample peak series so as to perform proper identification of the sample peaks in the sample peak group. In a preferred method, a succession of retention time windows are determined according to the characteristic retention times of the standard peaks and according to steps for determining shift, stretch, and distort parameters. The retention time windows are located with respect to the sample peak series and in accordance with the shift, stretch, and distort parameters so as to capture only certain ones of the sample peaks in the sample peak series. The shift, stretch, and distort parameters are used to position the retention time windows for improved matching of the standard peaks in the standard peak group to the captured sample peaks.

Abstract: A flow conditioning system includes a flow randomizing section for receiving an input fluid stream and for increasing the uniformity of the streamwise velocity components of the input fluid stream while randomizing the non-streamwise velocity components, so as to provide a randomized fluid stream; a flow expansion section for receiving the randomized fluid stream and damping the non-streamwise velocity components therein, so as to provide a damped fluid stream; and a flow straightening section for receiving the damped fluid stream and for dividing the damped fluid stream into multiple, parallel output substreams so as to provide a laminar flow profile in an output fluid stream.

Abstract: A multilayer integrated assembly for effecting fluid handling functions includes complementary microstructures formed by an etching or similar process in a planar foldable substrate. The complementary microstructures may be superimposed in a controlled manner by operation of micro-alignment means also formed in the foldable substrate by an etching or similar process. Microstructures are contemplated as including channels (that may be superimposed to form fluid conduits), apertures, conduit apertures, sample processing compartments, and the like. The resulting integrated assembly may be bonded and subsequently operated to implement one or more fluid-handling functions.

Abstract: In a discharge ionization detector, a method and apparatus are disclosed for increasing the transfer of photons and metastables from a discharge chamber to a ionization chamber, while effecting ion discrimination of the ionic current with respect to a signal cathode, thereby reducing the effect of ionic current in the signal output. Preferred embodiments of the invention include a discharge source located in a discharge chamber, means for introducing discharge gas flow into the discharge chamber, a flow guide that directs discharge gas flow between the discharge chamber and an adjacent ionization chamber, and inlet port for introducing a flow of sample gas containing an analyte into the ionization chamber and an outlet port for exhausting the sample gas and the discharge gas. A plurality of apertures in the flow guide are situated proximate the discharge source so as to promote the rapid and efficient transfer of photons and metastables from the discharge source into the ionization chamber.

Abstract: Method for the analysis of one or more analytes present in a sample carried in a first fluid. The first fluid is combined with a first detector fluid and a second detector fluid to provide a fluid mixture which flows across the surface of an igniter. The analytes are ionized by means of an ionization process. The ion current is collected and measured at a collector electrode adjacent to the igniter. The flow of at least one of the first detector fluid and second detector fluid is modulated during an ignition sequence according to predetermined criteria so as to facilitate flame ignition.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes an array of ultrasound transducer elements, wherein the transducer array is divided into plural transducer elements arranged in the direction of a scan plane and each transducer element is divided into three or more segments in the direction of an elevation plane. Also included are a transmitter for transmitting ultrasound energy into a region of interest from the array, a receiver for receiving signals generated by the array in response to the ultrasound echoes, a signal processing section including a signal processing circuit, a beam former, and a controller. The signal processing section is operable for effecting system control and for effecting signal processing and image display, and in particular, for allocating the channels with respect to the segments to vary the arrangement of signal processing channels applied to selected segments wherein the allocation is performed according to beam focal length.

Abstract: An oven for a chromatograph is shown in which an oven vent is located with respect to an oven fan assembly and an oven vent assembly. In certain operating conditions, the oven fan assembly and the oven vent assembly are controlled by a computer to cause an exchange of cavity air and ambient air to decrease the level of concentration of combustible gases present in the oven.