Abstract: An amplifier has an input responsive to an optical detector. An analog-to-digital converter is responsive to an output of the amplifier. A processor activates an optical emitter, and reads a first sample from the analog-to-digital converter. Upon determining that the first sample is less than a first threshold, the processor applies a first signal to a control input of the amplifier for a first duration. The processor reads a second sample from the analog-to-digital converter. Upon determining that the second sample is greater than a second threshold, the processor applies a second signal to the control input for a second duration less than the first duration.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a disk-shaped support member (20) supporting a first sample-processing device (28) and a second sample-processing device (30). The first sample-processing device (28) has an elongate portion oriented along a first radial axis (32) of the support member (20). The second sample-processing device (30) has an elongate portion oriented along a second radial axis (34) transverse to the first radial axis (32). A sample-processing device can comprise a plurality of conduits (150) interconnected in a tree topology to couple an inlet (152) with a plurality of outlets (154). The inlet (152) is located at a root vertex and each of the outlets (154) is located at a corresponding leaf vertex of the tree topology. Each of a plurality of molecular detection chambers (156) is coupled to a respective one of the outlets (154). A method of using the apparatus is disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing an optical code reading mode and a data communication mode comprises an optical detector, a variable-gain amplifier having an input and an output, an optical code reader circuit and a data communication circuit. The input of the variable-gain amplifier is responsive to the optical detector. The optical code reader circuit and the data communication circuit are responsive to the output of the amplifier. The variable-gain amplifier provides a first gain during the optical code reading mode, and a second gain during at least a portion of the data communication mode, wherein the second gain is less than the first gain.

Abstract: A method of interactively viewing the Earth including the steps of: selecting satellite viewpoint of a region of the Earth; reading prestored image of the region of the Earth from the satellite viewpoint; displaying the prestored image; selecting prestored wide-angle images of the region from a lower-altitude viewpoint in comparison to the satellite viewpoint; selecting and displaying portions of the prestored wide-angle images; reading and displaying prestored textual data associated with the region of the Earth; and selecting and displaying prestored terrestrial images of the region of the Earth from a terrestrial viewpoint.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect, a binding assay comprises a machine-readable storage medium which supports a molecular receptor (22). In accordance with a second aspect, a support member (50) supports first (22) and second (24) molecular receptors and first (26) and second (28) data identifying the molecular receptors (22,24). In accordance with a third aspect, a support member has a first annular portion (106) to support molecular receptors and a second annular portion (108) to support machine-readable data identifying the plurality of molecular receptors.

Abstract: A plurality of oligonucleotides are synthesized at a plurality of locations on a substrate using a plurality of dispensing bars. Each of the plurality of dispensing bars has a respective plurality of dispensing heads arranged along a respective axis. Each of the plurality of dispensing bars is operative to selectively deposit a volume of a respective one of a plurality of nucleotide bases in any of a row of locations. A positioning mechanism positions the substrate with respect to the plurality of dispensing bars. A controller controls the plurality of dispensing bars and the positioning mechanism so that, at each of the plurality of locations, a respective sequence of nucleotide bases is deposited to form a respective oligonucleotide.

Abstract: A method and system for an IIR filter are provided. A sequence of input signals is converted to a first sequence of log signals, while a sequence of feedback signals is converted to a second sequence of log signals. IIR filtering coefficients are then added to each sequence of log signals to generate a plurality of term signals. The term signals are then converted to inverse-log signals which are summed to produce an output signal. The log/inverse-log conversions of signals are based on estimating a log/inverse-log function using a second-order polynomial.

Abstract: A network navigation method includes steps of reading machine-readable data (14) associated with an article of mail (12), and determining an electronic address (20) based upon the machine-readable data (14). A network navigation system is provided to perform the aforementioned steps.

Abstract: A system and method of using a computer processor (34) to generate a solution to a linear system of equations is provided. The computer processor (34) executes a Jacobi iterative technique to produce outputs representing the solution. Multiplication operations required by the iterative technique are performed using logarithmic arithmetic. With logarithmic arithmetic, a multiplication operation is accomplished using addition. For a given n.times.n matrix A, the computer processor (34) can compute an inverse matrix A.sup.-1 by repeatedly executing the iterative technique to solve n linear systems.

Abstract: A digital log converter is provided which includes a comparator (10) and a log signal generator (20). Upon receiving a digital input signal (12), the comparator (10) determines whether an upper bit-slice of the input signal (12) equals zero. If the upper bit-slice is zero, the log signal generator (20) subtracts an offset from at least one parameter to generate a log signal (16); otherwise, the log signal generator (20) interpolates the at least one parameter and a lower bit-slice of the input signal (12) to generate the log signal (16).

Abstract: A molecular sensing apparatus comprises a first electrode (10), a second electrode (12), a first molecule (20), a second molecule (22), and a third molecule (34). The first molecule (20) has a first chain of nucleic bases (30) and a first group (24). The first group (24) is bound to the first electrode (10). The second molecule (22) has a second chain of nucleic bases (32) and a second group (26). The second group (26) is bound to the second electrode (12). The third molecule (34) is bound to the first molecule (20) and the second molecule (22). A method which uses the molecular sensing apparatus is disclosed.

Abstract: A binding of a molecule with a molecular receptor at a binding site is sensed using a magnetoresistive member proximate to the binding site. A magnetic field associated with the molecule acts to modify an electrical characteristic of the magnetoresistive member when the molecule binds with the molecular receptor. The magnetic field is produced by a magnetic member, such as a magnetic bead, attached to the molecule. Preferably, the magnetoresistive member is integrated with a substrate which supports the binding site. A readout device, such as a thin-film transistor, can also be integrated on the substrate to provide a signal indicative of a binding event.

Abstract: A system (400) alternatively performs real matrix operation in a first mode or performs complex matrix multiplication in a second mode. One input matrix (e.g., {B}) stays in a plurality of memory fields (430-k), while the other input matrix (e.g., {A}) is loaded into a plurality of registers (410-k). Parallel operating groups (405-k, 409-(k+1)) combine elements of {A} with elements of {B}. The groups (405-k, 409-(k+1)) comprise the memory fields (430-k), the registers (410-k) as well as computational units (440-k), switches (420-k) and adder units (460-k). The adder units (460-k) are configured by the switches (420-k) to operate as adders or to operate as accumulators, depending on the mode. Adders provide intermediate results and accumulators accumulate these intermediate results (e.g., Sum) to elements of the resulting matrix {C}. For complex multiplication, real (Re) and imaginary (Im) parts of matrix elements are in processed in adjacent groups.

Abstract: A first sensor (18) for electrically sensing a molecular binding event includes a receptor-supporting element (20) into which a reagent is diffusable, at least one molecular receptor (22) supported by the receptor-supporting element (20), and a first electrode (24) embedded in the receptor-supporting element (20). A second sensor for electrically sensing a molecular binding event includes a receptor-supporting element (130), at least one molecular receptor (132) supported by the receptor-supporting element (130), an electrode (134) coupled to the receptor-supporting element (130), and a porous electrode (136) coupled to the receptor-supporting element (130).

Abstract: A method of performing a binding assay which comprises the steps of separating a plurality of sample fragments into a plurality of subsamples and applying each of the plurality of subsamples to a respective one of a plurality of binding assays. A system which performs the aforementioned steps is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing and disinfecting a fluid includes a container (12) for containing the fluid and a cap member (16). The container (12) defines an opening (14) through which the fluid is dispensed therein and is removed therefrom. The cap member (16) removably seals the opening of the container (12). An ultraviolet source (24) is mounted to the cap member (16). The ultraviolet source (24) emits ultraviolet radiation to disinfect the fluid contained in the container (12).

Abstract: An electronic apparatus that includes a digital processor (12), a first digital pulse width modulator (304), a second digital pulse width modulator (306), a combining circuit (308), and a load (310). The digital processor (12) produces a first digital signal (314) and a second digital signal (316). The first digital pulse width modulator (304) is responsive to the first digital signal (314), and the second digital pulse width modulator (306) is responsive to the second digital signal (316). The combining circuit (308) is responsive to the first digital pulse width modulator (304) and the second digital pulse width modulator (306). The load (310) is responsive to the combining circuit (308).

Abstract: A foldable apparatus includes a first housing (20), a second housing (22), and an interface (24). The second housing (22) is pivotally connected to the first housing (20). The interface (24) has a first portion (26) associated with the first housing (20) and a second portion (28) associated with the second housing (22).

Abstract: In a parallel computer system having N parallel computing units a data pipeline connects all the computing units. In addition the computing units are coupled to a random access memory so that each computing unit is assigned to one column of the memory array. To perform a digital signal processing filter operation the required coefficients are stored in the memory so that one or more different filter operations can be carried out in an interleaved way.

Abstract: A method comprises steps of reading (80) an optical code (14) associated with a destination (20) of an electronic network (10), retrieving (92) task information associated with the destination (20) based upon the optical code (14), linking (94) to the destination (20) based upon the optical code (14), and performing (96) a task with the destination (20) using the task information. A system and an article are provided to perform the aforementioned steps.