Abstract: The invention provides an ink jet device and method for producing a biological assay substrate (41) by releasing a plurality of substances onto the substrate (41) The device comprises at least a print head and a plurality of substance containers (60, 61, 62) connectable thereto, and mounting means (55) for the containers, whereby at least part of the containers (60, 61, 62) is provided with identification means (63) The device further comprises reading means to read information contained in the identification means (63).

Abstract: The invention relates to an electromagnetic system for biosensors, in which the system can switch quickly between high magnetic gradients, without the need of movement of mechanical elements. This is realized by two independent electromagnetic units (1,1? 2, 2?) which are separated in the region of the pole shoes over a gap, in which a sample volume is arranged by a cartridge (3), and in which the sensor surfaces of the biosensor are located at one or more inner surfaces of the cartridge (3).

Abstract: In an optical scanning device (10) capable of scanning an information plane of an optical record carrier (5) of different types such as BD, DVD and CD, the diameter of the radiation spot on the detector (7) is dependent on the numerical aperture of the objective system (4) that is used for scanning the record carrier An optimal design of the optical detection system for scanning a BD, result in a small radiation spot for the other types such as DVD and CD.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microelectronic sensor device for the detection of target components that comprise label particles, for example magnetic particles (1). The sensor device comprises a carrier (11) with a binding surface (12) at which target components can collect and optionally bind to specific capture elements. An input light beam (L1) is transmitted into the carrier and totally internally reflected at the binding surface (12). The amount of light in the output light beam (L2) and optionally also of fluorescence light emitted by target components at the binding surface is then detected by a light detector (31). Evanescent light generated during the total internal reflection is affected (absorbed, scattered) by target components and/or label particles (1) at the binding surface (12) and will therefore be missing in the output light beam (L2). This can be used to determine the amount of target components at the binding surface (12) from the amount of light in the output light beam (L2, L2a, L2b).

Abstract: The invention relates to an electron bombarded image sensor array device comprising a vacuum chamber having a photocathode capable of releasing electrons into said vacuum chamber when exposed to light impinging on said photocathode, a photocathode capable of releasing electrons into said vacuum chamber when exposed to light impinging on said photocathode, electric field means for accelerating said released electrons from said photocathode towards an anode spaced apart from said photocathode in a facing relationship to receive an electron image from said photocathode, said anode being constructed as a back-thinned image sensor array having electric connecting pads distributed according to a pattern along the surface area of said sensor facing away from said photocathode, a carrier on which said image sensor array is mounted, said carrier having electric connecting pads distributed according to a pattern to feed electric signals from said image sensor array outside said vacuum chamber and electric connecting me

Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic system for biosensors and in particular to a magnetic system which can switch between attraction force and repulsion force near the sensor surface with more easy but also more effective means. This is realised with at least one coil (2) and at least two ferromagnetic cores (3) which are arranged in a concentric multilayered package, and a sensor or a sensor surface exposed to or covered with the biomaterial, which is arranged near to the magnetic system.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining the concentration of target in a fluid sample using a magnetic label and a magnetic sensor for detection. It was surprisingly found that efficient and accurate measurements can be carried out by determination of a signal as soon as the signal has reached a specified threshold level. In an alternative embodiment, a displacement step is used as soon as the signal has reached a pre-defined threshold level.

Abstract: An optical disc drive apparatus includes a laser device for generating a light beam for optically reading data from a disc. The laser device is electrically incorporated in a resonant circuit which includes an inductance coupled to the laser device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic sensor device comprising excitation wires (11, 13) for generating a magnetic excitation field and a magnetic sensor element, particularly a GMR sensor (12), for sensing magnetic fields generated by labeling particles in reaction to the excitation field. The magnetic excitation fields are generated with non-sinusoidal forms, particularly as square-waves, such that their spectral range comprises a plurality of frequency components. Magnetic particles with different magnetic response characteristics can then be differentiated according to their reactions to the different frequency components of the excitation fields. The magnetic excitation field and the sensing current driving the GMR sensor (12) are preferably generated with the help of ring modulators (22, 24). Moreover, ring modulators (27, 29) may be used for the demodulation of the sensor signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electron bombarded image sensor array device comprising a vacuum chamber having a photocathode capable of releasing electrons into said vacuum chamber when exposed to electromagnetic radiation impinging on said photocathode, electric field means for accelerating said released electrons from said photocathode towards an anode spaced apart from said photocathode in a facing relationship to receive an electron image from said photocathode, said anode being constructed as an back thinned image sensor array having electric connecting pads and being mounted to a carrier using mounting means, said carrier having electric connecting pads to feed electric signals from said image sensor array finally outside said vacuum chamber. The invention also relates to an image sensor array to be used in such a device.

Abstract: A sensing device is provided which has a universal sensor surface. This allows easy modification of the detection properties without the need for investigation of the binding properties of a new target to the sensor surface. The device comprises a sensor surface, which has attached thereto a primary capture molecule. The invention further relates to a method for measurement of a target wherein this device is used.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microelectronic device (200), particularly a magnetic biosensor, comprising B/E-electrodes (21) that can generate a magnetic field (B) in a sample chamber (10). The device further comprises E-electrodes (23, 24) that can generate an electrical field (E) in the sample chamber (10) in cooperation with the B/E-electrodes (21). Thus the B/E-electrodes are used for two purposes. Electrical fields (E) in the sample chamber (10) may particularly be used for pumping and/or mixing of a fluid sample or for a stringency test of particle bindings.

Abstract: The invention provides an ink jet device (10) for producing a biological assay-substrate by releasing a plurality of substances onto the substrate, the device comprising printing means (20), detection means (30,32,45,45?), filling means and cleaning means (120), and wherein the ink jet device further comprises control means for an automated production such that the production of the biological assay substrate is error tolerant for a multitude of error sources.

Abstract: Method for equalizer adaptation and/or target adaptation in a receiver for a transmission channel. The method provides for detecting data in the received signal, deriving an error sequence representing potential errors in the data detection, deriving a first value representing the likelihood of an error in the data detection, the first value based on the error sequence and the received signal, and enabling and disabling adaptation of the equalizer and/or the target response depending on the first value being below or above a predefined threshold value.

Abstract: A device (1) for testing a fluid comprises an elongated carrier (3); two foam members (5a, 5b) for absorbing the fluid, which are arranged at an end (4) of the carrier (3); a positioning member (6) comprising a sleeve (7) which is slidably arranged on the carrier (3); and a diagnostic device (2), which is arranged in the positioning member (6), and which comprises a sensor die (40) adapted to detecting at least one property of the fluid and means for supplying the fluid to a sensitive surface of the sensor die (40). After the fluid has been supplied to the foam members (5a, 5b), the positioning member (6) is moved towards the end (4) of the carrier (3) where the foam members (5a, 5b) are located. When the diagnostic device (2) comes into contact with one of the foam members (5a, 5b), the fluid is squeezed from the foam member (5a) and supplied to the sensitive surface of the sensor die (40), through the fluid supplying means of the diagnostic device (2).

Abstract: On existing DVD and CD players a control loop is required for the adaptation and timing recovery. For Two-Dimensional Optical Storage such a control loop has drawbacks because PRML detection in the form of a stripe-wise Viterbi detector is used. Such a detector introduces an increasing detection delay when going from the outer rows towards the center of the broad spiral. A feedback loop is arranged to determining an error signal from a first area of the data block where the first area is that area where the error signal can be determined within the shortest period of time. This reduces the duration of the detection step and thus increases the stability of the control loop.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flexible display device (10) comprising a flexible substrate (12), and a plurality of electro-optical switching elements (14) accommodated on the substrate. The device is characterized in that the substrate has a plurality of through openings (16) being arranged in a repetitive pattern so that the electro-optical switching elements are located in areas of the substrate adjacent to the openings. The through openings allow for bending the display device in two directions simultaneously, with reduced tensile or compressive stress in the plane of the substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microsensor device like a magnetic biosensor (100). The microsensor device comprises an array of probe-sensors (10.1, 10.2, 10.3) for the measurement of a physical quantity, for example the concentration of molecules labeled with magnetic beads in a sample chamber. The array further comprises a reference-sensor (10.4) that is disposed close to the probe-sensors (10.1, 10.2, 10.3) but shielded from the physical quantity to be measured. The measuring signal of the reference-sensor (10.4) reflects the influence of environmental conditions like temperature and can therefore be used to correct the measuring signals of the probe-sensors (10.1, 10.2, 10.3). The sensors (10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4) are connected via a multiplexer to the same detector unit for further processing in order to minimize variations and to reduce hardware complexity.

Abstract: A communication system includes a communication channel (110) for time-synchronous transfer of data symbols a1, . . . , aN to a receiver (130). A sampling unit (132) is used for time-sequential sampling the channel under control of a sampling clock signal that is synchronous with transmittal of the data symbols. Each sample includes a representation of a data symbol and noise. A data-aided timing error detector (133) receives a representation of the samples. The detector includes a data-dependent noise predictor (310) for generating a predicted noise sequence ñ1, . . . , ñN where each predicted noise value nk for the k-th sample of the sequence depends on a cluster of a plurality of sampled data symbols and a noise whitening unit (320) for whitening of noise in the sample sequence by removing the predicted noise value ñk. The detector is arranged to provide a signal for correcting the sampling clock signal in dependence on the whitened sample sequence.

Abstract: The invention provides a method, a device and a system for determining the concentration of at least one sort of targets in a fluid containing at least one sort of polarizable of polarized magnetic labels in a fluid, the sensing surface comprising at least one sort of binding sites capable to specifically attach to at least one sort of biological entities linked to the magnetic labels, the sensing device further comprising at least one magnetic sensor element, the sensing device further comprising distinction means for time-resolved distinguishing between magnetic labels specifically attached to the binding sites versus labels non-specifically attached. The method and device according to the present invention may be applied to biomolecular diagnostics.