Abstract: A system for controlling a motor driven stage of a microscope (10) includes video camera (22) for creating a video image of a sample on the stage. A computer (12) and associated display are used to create an image of the sample on the display. Graphical markers are superimposed on the image and facilitate the identification of and subsequent acquisition of data from points at which IR data is to be obtained. Also disclosed is a method of creating a display of an area of the sample greater than that which can be viewed by the area.

Abstract: An electrically heatable hollow-body furnace with a secondary surface on which an analyte of a sample can be condensed prior to being atomized. The furnace is constructed in two sections which are capable of being electrically heated independently of one another. The secondary surface is defined by a surface of one of the sections. A process for atomizing an analyte of a sample to be examined, utilizing the device according to the following steps: introducing the sample into a hollow-body furnace having a secondary surface, condensing the analyte on the secondary surface and atomizing the analyte.

Abstract: A primary chromatographic system is operated with a standard sample at several temperatures to generate primary retention times which are fitted to a function to determine thermodynamic constants to relate the times to temperature. A target chromatographic system is operated with the standard sample to generate secondary retention times. The function is used with these times to determine and an effective column parameter for the target system. The function then is used with this parameter and the primary times to determine a pressure program. Further operation of the target system with a application sample and the pressure program effects standardized retention times. A particular searching technique is utilized to apply the function. A temperature calibration technique with a selected sample measures column temperature for the target system, and a validation is done on the target system.

Abstract: A system for acquiring IR-data including a microscope with a motor drive stage (48) and a video camera (40) for creating a video image of a sample on the stage. A computer (12) and an associated display (16) are used to create an image of the sample on the display. Graphical markers are superimposed on the image and facilitate the identification of subsequent acquisition of data from points at which data is to be obtained. The markers include representations of the required aperture size and the microscope including an automatically adjustable aperture (26) which can be set under computer control to a required size at each data acquisition point.

Abstract: The elimination of crosstalk between data lines and pixel cells in a thin film transistor/liquid crystal display is accomplished by applying a precharge voltage level for a given data signal level which also provides an equivalent to a compensation voltage for a prior scan line to a given data line for a time period less than the standard scan line period of the display, and applying the data signal to the given data line for the remainder of the scan line period.

Abstract: A method where the relationship between the observed retention time and the applied carrier gas pressure can be fitted to an expected theoretical relationship and thus enable the retention time on just the precolumn to be precisely derived. This method, used in conjunction with a dual column gas chromatography system having a precolumn, a separation column and programmable pneumatic controls to enable the inlet and midpoint pressures of the system to be independently adjusted, facilitates the use of dual-column backflush techniques without the need for a second detector or for any replumbing in order to connect the first column directly to the detector.

Abstract: In a mounting apparatus for an induction coupled plasma generator, a housing assembly has a receptacle with a central opening aligned over a housing wall opening, electrical contact rings in the receptacle, and a gas block with a central aperture aligned with the openings. An outer passage in the gas block receives a plasma forming gas and extends to the central aperture. A mounting assembly has a mounting member with an annular contact ring, a second gas block, and a gas tube and a sample tube extending from the second gas block. The second gas block has an inner passage extending into the gas tube. The mounting assembly removably engages to the housing assembly, with the mounting member on the receptacle, the second gas block in the first gas block, and the rings in contact. The tubes extend to a load coil for the plasma, and the passages align to convey the plasma forming gas into the gas tube.

Abstract: Interferograms produced by a Michelson type interferometer used in Fourier Transform spectroscopy are processed by an arrangement which includes an analogue-to-digital converter (12) which is sampled by a fixed frequency clock signal to provide a digital representation of the interferogram. This signal is processed by a digital data processor (18) which also receives a digital representation of the reference fringe waveform to provide a digital output representing the interferogram. The digital representation of the reference fringe waveform may be produced by a second analogue-to-digital converter or by a timer. The analogue-to-digital converter may be arranged to produce oversampled representations of the interferogram or reference fringe waveforms. In one form of the invention the analogue-to-digital converter or converters include a delta sigma modulator.

Abstract: In a gas chromatograph system having a column with a stationary phase and a carrier gas moving through the column to contact the stationary phase, the system being useful for detecting analytes in a sample, a method and apparatus for predicting the retention times for the analytes under various conditions, the method utilizing the steps of:a) detecting the analytes under a number of sets of given conditions;b) calculating values for various parameters characteristic of the system based on a mathematical model that includes a correction to compensate for the permeability of said column to said carrier gas;c) entering into the model the values for the characteristic parameters and at least one further set of conditions; andd) using the model to predict retention times for conditions other than those of step a;the apparatus composed of a data handling system including a model for predicting retention times at a variety of conditions of operation of the system, the model having a first set of inputs including ret

Abstract: In a method of determining concentrations by means of atomic absorption spectrometry, the absorption of structured background is determined in a graphite furnace.

Abstract: A carrier for use in the preparation of samples for spectroscopic analysis comprises a rod-like element 10 housing a domed end 11. The dome end 11 is coated with abrasive material. To prepare a sample the abrasive material is rubbed by linear movement or rotation against the material to be analysed. That material becomes abraded and attaches to the end 11. The carrier can be formed from a commercially available dowel and is therefore easy to make and use.

Abstract: A calorimeter apparatus includes a facility for rapid cooling of a heating vessel therein. A jacket surrounds the vessel wall. A partition member between the jacket and the vessel wall defines an inlet plenum adjacent the jacket and a spatial gap adjacent the vessel wall. Pressurized cooling gas is conveyed into the inlet plenum after termination of heating the vessel. The partition member has a distributed plurality of orifices such that the gas is jetted through the orifices to impingement cool the vessel wall. The gas is discharged from the spatial gap through an outlet plenum at an end wall of the vessel. The plurality of orifices are distributed in a pattern of varying density across the partition member such that uniform cooling of the vessel wall by the jetted gas is effected.

Abstract: An electrically heatable hollow-body furnace with a secondary surface on which an analyte of a sample can be condensed prior to being atomized. The furnace is constructed in two sections which are capable of being electrically heated independently of one another. The secondary surface is defined by a surface of one of the sections. A process for atomizing an analyte of a sample to be examined, utilizing the device according to the following steps: introducing the sample into a hollow-body furnace having a secondary surface, condensing the analyte on the secondary surface and atomizing the analyte.

Abstract: The invention relates to optical instrment engineering. It is suggested that a linear solid state detector (photodiode array detector, charge coupled device, charge transfer device) that is positioned along the image of entrance slit of the monochrometer be used in an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. This will improve the analytical performance of an atomic absorption spectrophotometer--lower the detection limits, extend the range of concentrations to be measured, increase the reproducibility of measurements by taking into account the temporal and spatial non-uniformities of the analyte distribution over the atomizer volume and will simultaneously provide atomizer walls and of the platform temperatures.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction and preferably a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in a reaction mixture in at least one capillary tube. Several different embodiments are disclosed. One embodiment cycles a sample through a capillary tube loop passing through two thermostatted fluid baths. Another embodiment has the capillary tube routed alternatingly between two heat exchangers to that the sample makes only one pass through the tube. Other embodiments maintain the heat exchangers stationary and translate the samples between them. Still further embodiments maintain the samples stationary and either automatically translate or rotate the heat exchangers past the samples contained within the capillary tubes to perform the thermal cycles necessary for the amplification reaction.

Abstract: An interferometer comprises a source of radiation (10) and a beam splitter (12) for forming two beams. The beams travel along different optical paths and the optical path difference of the paths can be varies by rotatable mirror pairs M2/M3 and M4/M5. One of the paths includes an adjustable mirror M6 which is tiltable in orthogonal directions. A control unit (18) can be automatically initiate periodically an alignment procedure for aligning the interferometer.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to the technical field of devices using the effect to emit electrons out of a solid into vacuum due to high electric field strength. Such devices are usually called field emission devices. The invention relates more specifically to the structure of a field emission device, to the method of fabricating a field emission device, and to the use of a multitude of field emission devices in the technical field of flat panel displays. The inventive structure of a field emission device (15) comprises an individual series resistor for each electron emitting tip (1), wherein the series resistor is formed by the tip (1) itself. The tip (1) comprises a body (9) of a first material with high resistivity and an at least partial coating (7) of a second material with low work function, wherein the body (9) of the first material forms the series resistor and the coating (7) of the second material provides for electron emission.

Abstract: A Michelson-type interferometer which includes apparatus for producing a suitable collimated interferometer input beam; a beam splitter and recombiner for first splitting the input beam into two beams which have components arranged to travel along parallel forward paths and then to recombine them into a single output beam as they are returned along reverse paths to the beam splitter and recombiner; an OPD scanner for scanning the optical path difference between the two split beams travelling along said paths while substantially maintaining the parallelism between the components, and a beam reverser common to the parallel beam components for reversing their direction of travel along the reverse paths and returning them for recombination into the single output beam at the beam splitter and recombiner.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to the technical field of devices using the effect to emit electrons out of a solid into vacuum due to high electric field strength. Such devices are usually called field emission devices. The invention relates more specifically to the structure of a field emission device, to the method of fabricating a field emission device, and to the use of a multitude of field emission devices in the technical field of flat panel displays. The inventive structure of a field emission device (15) comprises an individual series resistor for each electron emitting tip (1), wherein the series resistor is formed by the tip (1) itself. The tip (1) comprises a body (9) of a first material with high resistivity and an at least partial coating (7) of a second material with low work function, wherein the body (9) of the first material forms the series resistor and the coating (7) of the second material provides for electron emission.