Abstract: Thermal control devices adapted to provide improved control and efficiency in temperature cycling are provided herein. Such thermal control device can include a thermoelectric cooler controlled in coordination with another thermal manipulation device to control an opposing face of the thermoelectric cooler and/or a microenvironment. Some such thermal control devices include a first and second thermoelectric cooler separated by a thermal capacitor. The thermal control devices can be configured in a planar configuration with a means for thermally coupling with a planar reaction vessel of a sample analyzer for use in thermal cycling in a polymerase chain reaction of the fluid sample in the reaction vessel. Methods of thermal cycling using such a thermal control devices are also provided.

Abstract: A method of improving at least one of quality and yield of a physical process comprises: obtaining values, from respective performances of the physical process, for a plurality of variables associated with the physical process; determining at least one Gaussian mixture model (GMM) representing the values for the variables for the performances of the physical process; based at least in part on the at least one GMM, computing at least one anomaly score for at least one of the variables for at least one of the performances of the physical process; based on the at least one anomaly score, identifying the at least one of the performances of the physical process as an outlier; and, based at least in part on the outlier identification, modifying the at least one of the variables for one or more subsequent performances of the physical process.

Abstract: A method for process control using predictive long short term memory includes obtaining historical post-process measurements taken on prior products of the manufacturing process; obtaining historical in-process measurements taken on prior workpieces during the manufacturing process; training a neural network to predict each of the historical post-process measurements, in response to the corresponding historical in-process measurements and preceding historical post-process measurements; obtaining present in-process measurements on a present workpiece during the manufacturing process; predicting a future post-process measurement for the present workpiece, by providing the present in-process measurements and the historical post-process measurements as inputs to the neural network; and adjusting at least one controllable variable of the manufacturing process in response to the prediction of the future post-process measurement.

Abstract: A DC electric motor having a stator mounted to a substrate, the stator having a coil assembly having a magnetic core, a rotor mounted to the stator with permanent magnets distributed radially about the rotor, the permanent magnets extending beyond the magnetic core, and sensors mounted to the substrate adjacent the permanent magnets. During operation of the motor passage of the permanent magnets over the sensors produces a substantially sinusoidal signal of varying voltage substantially without noise and/or saturation, allowing an angular position of the rotor relative the substrate to be determined from linear portions of the sinusoidal signal without requiring use of an encoder or position sensors and without requiring noise-reduction or filtering of the signal.

Abstract: Improved sub-assemblies and methods of control for use in a diagnostic assay system adapted to receive an assay cartridge are provided herein. Such sub-assemblies include: a brushless DC motor, a door opening/closing mechanism and cartridge loading mechanism, a syringe and valve drive mechanism assembly, a sonication horn, a thermal control device and optical detection/excitation device. Such systems can further include a communications unit configured to wirelessly communicate with a mobile device of a user so as to receive a user input relating to functionality of the system with respect to an assay cartridge received therein and relaying a diagnostic result relating to the assay cartridge to the mobile device.

Abstract: Thermal control devices adapted to provide improved control and efficiency in temperature cycling are provided herein. Such thermal control device can include a thermoelectric cooler controlled in coordination with another thermal manipulation device to control an opposing face of the thermoelectric cooler and/or a microenvironment. Some such thermal control devices include a first and second thermoelectric cooler separated by a thermal capacitor. The thermal control devices can be configured in a planar configuration with a means for thermally coupling with a planar reaction vessel of a sample analyzer for use in thermal cycling in a polymerase chain reaction of the fluid sample in the reaction vessel. Methods of thermal cycling using such a thermal control devices are also provided.

Abstract: Improved sub-assemblies and methods of control for use in a diagnostic assay system adapted to receive an assay cartridge are provided herein. Such sub-assemblies include: a brushless DC motor, a door opening/closing mechanism and cartridge loading mechanism, a syringe and valve drive mechanism assembly, a sonication horn, a thermal control device and optical detection/excitation device. Such systems can further include a communications unit configured to wirelessly communicate with a mobile device of a user so as to receive a user input relating to functionality of the system with respect to an assay cartridge received therein and relaying a diagnostic result relating to the assay cartridge to the mobile device.

Abstract: Thermal control devices adapted to provide improved control and efficiency in temperature cycling are provided herein. Such thermal control device can include a thermoelectric cooler controlled in coordination with another thermal manipulation device to control an opposing face of the thermoelectric cooler and/or a microenvironment. Some such thermal control devices include a first and second thermoelectric cooler separated by a thermal capacitor. The thermal control devices can be configured in a planar configuration with a means for thermally coupling with a planar reaction vessel of a sample analyzer for use in thermal cycling in a polymerase chain reaction of the fluid sample in the reaction vessel. Methods of thermal cycling using such a thermal control devices are also provided.

Abstract: A system is provided that controls an offline haptic conversion. The system receives an input from a source. The system further converts the input into haptic signals. The system further encodes the haptic signals. The system further stores the haptic signals within the source, where the haptic signals are combined with the input within the source. Alternately, rather than encoding the haptic signals and storing the haptic signals within the source, the system handles the haptic signals separately, independent of the source.

Abstract: A DC electric motor having a stator mounted to a substrate, the stator having a coil assembly having a magnetic core, a rotor mounted to the stator with permanent magnets distributed radially about the rotor, the permanent magnets extending beyond the magnetic core, and sensors mounted to the substrate adjacent the permanent magnets. During operation of the motor passage of the permanent magnets over the sensors produces a substantially sinusoidal signal of varying voltage substantially without noise and/or saturation, allowing an angular position of the rotor relative the substrate to be determined from linear portions of the sinusoidal signal without requiring use of an encoder or position sensors and without requiring noise-reduction or filtering of the signal.

Abstract: A method for dynamically converting an input signal into a haptic signal that causes a haptic output device to output one or more haptic effects is provided. The method includes generating a plurality of effect objects that are orderable in any order at runtime, receiving an input signal including a data signal and metadata defining an order that the effect objects are applied to the data signal at runtime, applying the effect objects to the data signal based on the order, and sending the haptic signal to the haptic output device. The effect objects applied to the data signal include an effect object that determines a threshold magnitude value by mapping the data signal to one of a plurality of bins, and an effect object that applies a dynamic range compression algorithm to the data signal based on the threshold magnitude value.

Abstract: A DC electric motor having a stator mounted to a substrate, the stator having a coil assembly having a magnetic core, a rotor mounted to the stator with permanent magnets distributed radially about the rotor, the permanent magnets extending beyond the magnetic core, and sensors mounted to the substrate adjacent the permanent magnets. During operation of the motor passage of the permanent magnets over the sensors produces a substantially sinusoidal signal of varying voltage substantially without noise and/or saturation, allowing an angular position of the rotor relative the substrate to be determined from linear portions of the sinusoidal signal without requiring use of an encoder or position sensors and without requiring noise-reduction or filtering of the signal.

Abstract: A method for dynamically converting an input signal into a haptic signal that causes a haptic output device to output one or more haptic effects is provided. The method includes generating a plurality of effect objects that are orderable in any order at runtime, receiving an input signal including a data signal and metadata defining an order that the effect objects are applied to the data signal at runtime, applying the effect objects to the data signal based on the order, and sending the haptic signal to the haptic output device. The effect objects applied to the data signal include an effect object that determines a threshold magnitude value by mapping the data signal to one of a plurality of bins, and an effect object that applies a dynamic range compression algorithm to the data signal based on the threshold magnitude value.

Abstract: A system is provided that dynamically converts an input signal into a haptic signal. The system generates effect objects, where an effect object includes an instruction to perform a haptic conversion algorithm on the input signal to convert the input signal into an output signal, and where an order of the effect objects is defined. The system further receives the input signal. The system further applies the effect objects to the input signal in the defined order, where the output signal of an effect object forms the haptic signal. The system further sends the haptic signal to a haptic output device, where the haptic signal causes the haptic output device to output haptic effects.

Abstract: A system is provided that controls an offline haptic conversion. The system receives an input from a source. The system further converts the input into haptic signals. The system further encodes the haptic signals. The system further stores the haptic signals within the source, where the haptic signals are combined with the input within the source. Alternately, rather than encoding the haptic signals and storing the haptic signals within the source, the system handles the haptic signals separately, independent of the source.

Abstract: A system is provided that controls an offline haptic conversion. The system receives an input from a source. The system further converts the input into haptic signals. The system further encodes the haptic signals. The system further stores the haptic signals within the source, where the haptic signals are combined with the input within the source. Alternately, rather than encoding the haptic signals and storing the haptic signals within the source, the system handles the haptic signals separately, independent of the source.

Abstract: Improved sub-assemblies and methods of control for use in a diagnostic assay system adapted to receive an assay cartridge are provided herein. Such sub-assemblies include: a brushless DC motor, a door opening/closing mechanism and cartridge loading mechanism, a syringe and valve drive mechanism assembly, a sonication horn, a thermal control device and optical detection/excitation device. Such systems can further include a communications unit configured to wirelessly communicate with a mobile device of a user so as to receive a user input relating to functionality of the system with respect to an assay cartridge received therein and relaying a diagnostic result relating to the assay cartridge to the mobile device.

Abstract: Thermal control devices adapted to provide improved control and efficiency in temperature cycling are provided herein. Such thermal control device can include a thermoelectric cooler controlled in coordination with another thermal manipulation device to control an opposing face of the thermoelectric cooler and/or a microenvironment. Some such thermal control devices include a first and second thermoelectric cooler separated by a thermal capacitor. The thermal control devices can be configured in a planar configuration with a means for thermally coupling with a planar reaction vessel of a sample analyzer for use in thermal cycling in a polymerase chain reaction of the fluid sample in the reaction vessel. Methods of thermal cycling using such a thermal control devices are also provided.

Abstract: A DC electric motor having a stator mounted to a substrate, the stator having a coil assembly having a magnetic core, a rotor mounted to the stator with permanent magnets distributed radially about the rotor, the permanent magnets extending beyond the magnetic core, and sensors mounted to the substrate adjacent the permanent magnets. During operation of the motor passage of the permanent magnets over the sensors produces a substantially sinusoidal signal of varying voltage substantially without noise and/or saturation, allowing an angular position of the rotor relative the substrate to be determined from linear portions of the sinusoidal signal without requiring use of an encoder or position sensors and without requiring noise-reduction or filtering of the signal.

Abstract: A system is provided that dynamically converts an input signal into a haptic signal. The system generates effect objects, where an effect object includes an instruction to perform a haptic conversion algorithm on the input signal to convert the input signal into an output signal, and where an order of the effect objects is defined. The system further receives the input signal. The system further applies the effect objects to the input signal in the defined order, where the output signal of an effect object forms the haptic signal. The system further sends the haptic signal to a haptic output device, where the haptic signal causes the haptic output device to output haptic effects.