Abstract: A system, various methods, and various apparatuses are provided for the purpose of supplying and including in an electronic message or multimedia session signalling unit a valid cryptographic authentication token, verifying said token's validity upon arrival of said message or signalling unit, and thereby providing message recipients or session parties with the assurance that said message or signalling unit is from a valid sender. A system, apparatus, and various methods are further provided for the purpose of protecting legitimate application traffic and the network elements exchanging it from intrusion by wild packets attempting to consume application resources and thereby deny service to legitimate users or network elements.

Abstract: Adapters for retrofitting lamps which were originally designed to function with conventional incandescent light bulbs with arc-discharge lamps are provided. Use of an adapter according to the invention provides a system by which a lamp may employ an arc discharge lamp for illuminative purposes, which lamp does not receive its electrical energy through the threads of the socket on the lamp, as in conventional incandescent lighting, but rather receives its energy from a source external to the lamp. The original wiring which came with the lamp may be eliminated by use of a system according to the present invention.

Abstract: A transport system is provided for a sample testing machine. The transport system includes a carrier holding a set of test sample devices and a drive subsystem for moving the carrier through the sample testing machine. The drive subsystem includes a reciprocating motor-driven block engaging the carrier and moving the carrier back and forth in a predetermined longitudinal path extending along a longitudinal axis from an entrance station to a plurality of processing stations in the sample testing machine. The processing stations are accessed as the carrier is moved along the path. The carrier includes features in the form of slots that are detected by strategically placed optical interrupt sensors. As the carrier moves, the slots are detected by the sensors to thereby continuously track the position of the carrier and the test devices as they are moved through the instrument.

Abstract: A carrier for holding up to N test sample devices as they are moved through a sample testing instrument. Each of the test sample devices are held in a receiving structure such as a slot in the carrier. The carrier also includes N optical interrupt positioning features, each placed in registry with one of the receiving structures (and thereby in registry with the test sample device). The instrument includes fixed optical interrupt sensors for detecting the position of the positioning feature as the carrier is moved through the instrument. In the illustrated embodiment, the position features comprise voids formed in a rib on the lower surface of the carrier. The optical interrupt sensors are positioned below the path the carrier travels over, whereby as the carrier moves past the sensor the voids, and hence position of the test sample devices, are detected.

Abstract: A sealer for a sample testing instrument is disclosed that cuts and seals a fluid conduit that connects a test sample device with a fluid receptacle containing a fluid sample. The sealer includes an enclosure and a protective shield to protect a user or technician from contact with the cutting element assembly in the sealer. The cutting element assembly includes a spring-loaded element that engages the test sample device and holds it in a fixed position while a cutting element (e.g., hot wire) cuts the fluid conduit. A motor driving the cutting element assembly is positioned at an angle having both vertical and horizontal components, whereby adjustment of the motor firmware allows for adjustment of the position of the cutting element relative to the instrument in both horizontal and vertical directions.

Abstract: An integrated instrument processes fluid test samples using disposable test devices. The test devices are carried in a carrier. The instrument includes a vacuum station receiving the carrier for batch loading of the test devices with fluid samples to be tested. The user removes the carrier from the vacuum station and inserts it into a loading station of a separate carrier and test device processing subsystem. This subsystem includes a transport system moving the carrier through the instrument where various modules perform operations on the test devices, including sealing the test devices, loading the test devices into an incubation station, incubation of the test devices, test device reading, and test device disposal.

Abstract: A private messaging system including multiple interoperating, yet potentially competing, trusted couriers. A method and apparatus are provided for the purpose of distributing a trusted courier such that foreground and background messages are handled independently by separate components.

Abstract: An electronic learning/teaching device operates with and without a printed sheet element having an arrangement of selectable content by means of a user responsive sensor array beneath a surface configured to receive the element. The sensor array is formed by cross-points of two sets of crossing conductive lines, one set being driven sequentially with a radio frequency square wave and the other set being sampled sequentially though a high impedance amplifier connection with an asynchronous detection circuit. Where more than one cross-point location is user activated, algorithms are used to identify one cross-point sensor location as the user activated selection.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus of acquiring and processing seismic data. One or more controllers are each coupled to seismic sensors and to each other to form a line of data acquisition units. A main controller is coupled to a crossover line unit and to a power supply. Power and data control is distributed among the main controller, the crossover line unit, and each of the plurality of data acquisition units.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus of acquiring and processing seismic data. One or more controllers are each coupled to seismic sensors at to each other to form a line of data acquisition units. A main controller is coupled to a crossover line unit and to a power supply. Power and data control is distributed among the main controller, the crossover line controller, and each of the plurality of data acquisition units.

Abstract: The inventors herein disclose new heterobifunctional chromophores that are capable of coupling with two distinct moieties. One moiety may be either a signal-enhancing agent or a blocking agent. The second moiety may be one member of a specific binding pair. The invention is based in part on the surprising result that when a chromophore is used as a “cross-linker” between a signal-enhancing agent and a member of a binding pair (essentially being buried between the two), the signal of the chromophore is not quenched. This arrangement, wherein the chromophore acts simultaneously as a cross-linker and a detectable compound, provides significant advantages over previously known compounds since the chromophore is sterically hindered from interacting non-specifically with substances present in the test systems. Moreover, the chromophore can be used as a cross-linker with little or no loss of detectable signal.

Abstract: A restraining assembly for use in conjunction with a linear transducer. The restraining assembly comprises a plurality of spaced apart magnets positioned on a stationary frame, where the magnets provide a reverse torque and restrict excessive rotational speed on a spool when a copper disc or equivalent magnetic flux medium is rotated at a close proximity to the face of the magnets. When a cable is suddenly released and allowed to freely return on the rotating spool, the restraining assembly restrains the high rotational speed at which the cable can accelerate when returning or retracting to the spool, such that the restraining assembly prevents the cable from self-destruction and/or damage to the linear transducer.

Abstract: A remotely-controlled crib toy generates audio and/or video sensible output in response to user commands received by a remote control system. The nature and duration of the sensible output can be selected by the user. The sensible output is selected to be soothing to an infant.