Abstract: A slide switch is provided wherein the slider can be universally slid smoothly with a small force and with high precision and accuracy. In the slide switch, to form a sliding bridge, two upper strips in parallel and two lower strips in parallel are integrally framed in a cross, square, or rectangular shape. The slider is mounted on the base in such a way that it can be slid freely and relatively in desired directions. Plural stationary contacts on the base are arranged oppositely to plural contacts of the movable contact spring piece of the slider. When the slider moves in a desired direction from its center and returns toward the center, the contacts of the movable contact spring piece are connected or disconnected to/from the stationary contacts of the base.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting and identifying biological pathogens in a sample includes exposing the sample to an excitation radiation and thereby generating an emission radiation, synchronously scanning the wavelength of the excitation radiation and the wavelength of the emission radiation to produce a spectrum, and correlating the spectrum to a biological pathogen in the sample. In another aspect, a method and apparatus for imaging chemical and biological agents in a sample includes exposing the sample to an excitation radiation and thereby generating an emission radiation and synchronously imaging the wavelength of the excitation radiation and the wavelength of the emission radiation to produce an imaged spectrum.