Abstract: A pick up and delivery system for use with mobile robots which have a body with a horizontal upper surface and at least one vertical side. The robot has at least one shelf, each of which contains a stop bar containing a retaining device. The system further uses multiple stations, each of which contain at least one pallet retaining surface to contain at least two pallets. The pallet retaining surfaces are provided with a holding device at the pick up area and a holding device at the delivery area. Pallets are used to retain the items being transferred with each of the pallets having a securing device that interacts with the holding device and retaining device. The strength of the holding device at the pick up area is less than the holding device at the delivery area, with the robot's retaining device having a strength between the strength of the holding devices. The mobile robot picks up a pallet from a first station, and delivers the pallet to a second station.

Abstract: A method of producing a multilayer structure that has reduced interfacial roughness and interlayer mixing by using a physical-vapor deposition apparatus. In general the method includes forming a bottom layer having a first material wherein a first plurality of monolayers of the first material is deposited on an underlayer using a low incident adatom energy. Next, a second plurality of monolayers of the first material is deposited on top of the first plurality of monolayers of the first material using a high incident adatom energy. Thereafter, the method further includes forming a second layer having a second material wherein a first plurality of monolayers of the second material is deposited on the second plurality of monolayers of the first material using a low incident adatom energy. Next, a second plurality of monolayers of the second material is deposited on the first plurality of monolayers of the second material using a high incident adatom energy.

Abstract: An automated cold storage apparatus, and related method thereof, provides a sample process management system that is a revolutionary approach to the storage and retrieval regarding critical samples. The system—a significant technological breakthrough in laboratory automation—is the first ultra low temperature robotic system capable of being validated. Samples in containers are stored and retrieved robotically through an airlock climate-control chamber that is automatically dehumidified by a dry gas purge, such as a carbon dioxide or nitrogen purge or the like. This purge rapidly reduces ambient humidity to a desirable relative humidity (RH), e.g., less than about 15% RH, virtually eliminating the accumulation of frost. Microplates are systematically identified using barcode technology, for example. Once through the climate-controlled chamber, the containers (i.e., samples) are robotically transferred to the rotary mechanism.

Abstract: In a method of identifying gaseous bubbles in a liquid, an ultrasound contrast agent is introduced into the liquid so as to form gaseous bubbles in the liquid. A first ultrasound pulse centered at a first frequency is directed onto the bubbles so as to cause the bubbles to undergo a first oscillating size change and produce a first oscillating echo signal corresponding thereto. The first oscillating echo signal produced by the bubbles is detected, and the bubbles are identified based upon the detected first echo signal.

Abstract: A system allows routine coupling of HPLC separations to sheathless &mgr;-ESI sources for MS analysis. Characteristics of this system include stable electrospray throughout the HPLC gradient at low and high flow rates, lower background than conventional sources, and control over the width of eluting HPLC peaks without degradation of HPLC performance. This system includes a pre-column solvent flow splitter, a metal union in the split waste line for application of &mgr;-ESI voltage, a divert valve containing two different size restrictors for control of flow, and pulled fused silica capillaries as &mgr;-ESI emitters. The pulled tips allowed stable operation of the system with column flow rates ranging from ca. 5→250 nL/min.

Abstract: A radiographic marker is disclosed to indicate a biopsy site and entry path. The marker has an arrow shape configuration with a shaft and a pair of limbs extending from the shaft at an angle of less than about 90°. The tip of the arrow indicates the biopsy site and the shaft indicates the said entry path. The marker preferable is a single piece of wire, having a diameter of less than 0.010 inches, folded to four sections, to form the limbs and shaft of the arrow. Fibers can be affixed to the shaft to cause the marker to fibrose within the tissue. An introducing device, having a body and a hub, is used to insert the marker. The introducing device body has an interior diameter dimensioned to hold the shaft of the marker. A marker pusher is dimensioned to fit within the introducing device and is used to deploy the marker into the tissue.

Abstract: In order to prevent or minimize blocking artifacts from appearing in an image due to independent processing of each overlapped block of an image by one of many different filters, true pixel correction values are calculated, then added to each pixel of the image so that the transition between adjacent blocks of pixels will be smooth.

Abstract: Device profiles conventionally describe properties of a device or element within a digital image processing system that capture, transform or render color components of an image. An improved device profile includes both chromatic characteristic information and spatial characteristic information. The device profile is generated by use of both chromatic and spatial characteristic functions within a model based image processing system to predict both color and spatial characteristics of a processed image. The device profile generally includes: first data for describing a device dependent transformation of color information content of the image; and second data for describing a device dependent transformation of spatial information content of the image. In a special case, the device profile could contain only spatial characteristic information.

Abstract: A system and method can generate a singular solution where a color is represented by an unique set of values in a first color space corresponding to more than one set of values which represent the same color in a second color space. One preferred method determines a singular set of colorant values from an N dimensional system for a given set of values from an N minus M dimensional system, 1.ltoreq.

Abstract: A method and system for facilitating image transfer between transform spaces by establishing a configurable, extensible, integrated profile generation and maintenance environment in a computer system includes the steps of providing a profile generation environment, a profile viewing environment, a profile editing environment, and a profile validation environment. The software for implementing the profile generation integrates each of the available environments, is configured to cause a desired sequence of steps to take place, and is extensible by allowing the addition or modification of capabilities without the need to update the main software program in terms of recompilation or relinking.

Abstract: A system and method for calibrating a printer includes the steps or functions of: printing a predetermined color test pattern with the printer by transforming data, representing said predetermined color test pattern, from a device-independent color space to a device-dependent color space associated with the printer by use of a color transform, said predetermined color test pattern including a set of color patches with one of said color patches representing a preferred mid-gray hue; providing a predetermined reference gray surface; comparing said reference gray surface to said set of colored patches of the printed test pattern to find a closest matching one of said patches, if the closest matching one of said patches is the patch representing the preferred mid-gray hue, then ending the method; otherwise determining, for each color channel of the printer, a solution set of correction values as a function of believed gray versus actual gray, said solution set derived from and including a white point, a black poi

Abstract: An illumination device configured so as to produce a uniform illumination distribution incorporating one or more LEDs fabricated such that the top surface emitting the colored light is not obstructed by an electrode or by contacts connecting the LED to a current source. Such a configuration is accomplished by providing a substantially transparent attachment layer that may include an opaque conductive material, but preferably includes transparent conductive particles that, in combination, attach and electrically connect the LED to an electrode disposed upon a substrate.

Abstract: A light source is disclosed for use an optical printer illuminating a spatial light modulator to efficiently and uniformly project light onto a photosensitive medium while providing a simpler design of the spatial light modulator in the optical printer. The light source uses light emitting diodes opposed across a light pipe. The light from the light emitting diodes propagates in the light pipe until striking a redirection structure which redirects the light out of lateral surface of the light pipe.

Abstract: A multiple focal length folding imaging device includes a first and second housing which are operably joined together for movement relative to one another so that the second housing is movable relative to the first housing between at least a first position and a second position. The first housing is formed to at least partially receive therein the second housing, such that when the second housing is in the first position, the second housing is at least partially received within the first housing. The second housing includes an exiting aperture for allowing exiting of at least one image recordable unit therefrom when in the second position, and when the second housing is in the first position, the exiting aperture is at least partially disposed within the first housing so that the at least one image recordable unit cannot exit from the exiting aperture.