Abstract: An automated apparatus is provided which implements a new method of extracting and purifying nucleic acids from cells without the use of centrifugation. In the method, a lysate is created by treating the cells with proteinase K in the presence of a lysis buffer having a high concentration of a salt. The lysate is mixed with a phenol-based solvent system, thereby creating an emulsion. The emulsion is heated to promote phase separation. Similarly, the rate of phase separation is also enhanced by increasing the surface area of the emulsion. Once the phase separation is complete, the lower organic phase is removed and the upper aqueous phase is repeatedly extracted with the phenol-based solvent a preselected number of times, and is finally extracted using chloroform. The remaining aqueous phase is then dialyzed to further purify and concentrate the nucleic acid solution. Two preferred embodiments of apparatus are presented to accomplish this extraction.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for providing capillary electrophoresis, which includes an electronically controlled valve system for automatically introducing a sample into the capillary by means of a vacuum at the end of the capillary tube. This approach of sucking in the sample is extremely accurate and reproducible, and results in a minimum of band broadening. Furthermore, it enables the entire capillary electrophoresis system to be easily automated. An automated temperature control system is provided which enables the temperature of the capillary tube (and hence the solvent/solute system) to be controlled during electrophoresis, thereby very directly controlling pH and electrophoretic mobility. In another embodiment, the capillary is prewashed and equilibrated to achieve substantially zero charge on the capillary wall, thereby essentially eliminating electroosmotic flow and substantially improving resolution.

Abstract: A filter system for separating and binding biomolecules contained in a solution includes a first filter means for selectively passing components of the solution that are smaller than the biomolecules, thereby concentrating the biomolecules in the solution. Also included is a binding membrane means having an affinity for the biomolecules for binding the biomolecules to the binding membrane means, with the binding membrane means being located where the biomolecules are concentrated by the first filter means. In the preferred mode, the binding membrane means is chosen to selectively bind the biomolecule of interest. According to a preferred method of the invention, biomolecules from a sample volume are bound to a binding membrane by urging the sample volume against a biomolecule-binding support membrane that is in contact with a cut-off filter membrane such that the sample volume will pass through the biomolecule-binding support membrane before passing through the cut-off filter membrane.

Abstract: A solenoid operated pinch valve has a flexible conductor with extensions on each side of the fluid passage for connecting to the valve frame and to a solenoid plunger. In a preferred mode the valve is normally closed by a spring and actuated open. In a preferred embodiment, the flexible fluid conductor is held in the frame at the ends to prevent transferral of stress from connectors and tubings to the pinch area of the valve. A portion of the fluid passage at the pinch area is especially shaped to reduce stress and fatigue on the flexible material. In other embodiments, valves may be normally open or actuated in both directions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for dispensing degradable beverages, such as wine, from a pressure-intolerant container such as a glass bottle, while insuring that gaseous contaminants such as oxygen cannot enter the bottle. In the system provided, a pressure-limiting gas container admits a non-degrading gas into the bottle under a safe dispensing pressure to dispense the beverage. The apparatus is configured (and the method steps are arranged) to insure that no pressure substantially higher than the dispensing pressure can ever be present in the bottle, even upon failure of any or all pressure-limiting elements in the system. Between dispensing episodes, air and other contaminants are excluded from the bottle by means of structure, including suitably arranged, quick-acting, self-closing valves.

Abstract: A reflecting telescope is provided in which a meniscus lens corrects for coma of the primary parabolic reflecting mirror, and also for coma and spherical aberration of an eyepiece, when an eyepiece is used. The meniscus lens may be formed from a plano-concave lens and a plano-convex lens positioned with their planar sides mutually parallel.

Abstract: A gauge for use in measuring the protrusion of a head from the surface of a video recorder is disclosed. The gauge is a universal gauge which can accurately and reproducibly measure head protrusion on any video recorder without the need of precision aligned mounting holes. The necessary accuracy is achieved by a unique double pivot design along with a universal mounting scheme. A novel mechanism is also provided to aid in visual alignment of the gauge and to provide a positive indication of misalignment by the user.

Abstract: A solar collector is provided in which a focussing element precisely focusses solar radiation upon a collecting region of a collecting element during all times of the day, without necessitating daily motion of the focussing element. The collecting region is constructed to be more highly absorbing of the solar radiation than any other region of the collector which might be in thermal contact with the collecting region.In some embodiments, the collecting region is a self-defined portion of the collecting element upon which the solar radiation is focussed at any given time. This is achieved by utilizing a collecting element which locally converts incident solar energy to another form of energy in a non-linear manner as a function of incident solar intensity. For example, the collecting element may be fabricated from a photochromic glass which darkens when impinged upon by the focussed radiation of the sun.

Abstract: A photometric skin condition analyzer is provided which exploits the light refraction and Rayleigh scattering from small particles, such as droplets of oil, deposited on optically smooth sampling surfaces of a sampling pellet. Light emitted from an optical source is passed through the sampling surface and focused onto an optical detector. The output signal of the detector is displayed to give an indication of the degree of oiliness of the skin.

Abstract: A reflecting telescope is provided in which a meniscus lens corrects for coma of the primary parabolic reflecting mirror, and also for coma and spherical aberration of an eyepiece, when an eyepiece is used. The meniscus lens may be formed from a plano-concave lens and a plano-convex lens positioned with their planar sides mutually parallel.

Abstract: A solar collector is provided in which a focussing element precisely focusses solar radiation upon a collecting region of a collecting element during all times of the day, without necessitating daily motion of the focussing element. The collecting region is constructed to be more highly absorbing of the solar radiation than any other region of the collector which might be in thermal contact with the collecting region.In some embodiments, the collecting region is a self-defined portion of the collecting element upon which the solar radiation is focussed at any given time. This is achieved by utilizing a collecting element which locally converts incident solar energy to another form of energy in a non-linear manner as a function of incident solar intensity. For example, the collecting element may be fabricated from a photochromic glass which darkens when impinged upon by the focussed radiation of the sun.

Abstract: A film magazine for a motion picture camera contains apparatus for maintaining the tension in the film strip from the supply reel and in the film strip to the takeup reel, within predetermined limits, to permit start-and-stop operations of the camera while minimizing danger of damage to the film. The supply reel is connected to an eddy current brake, and a takeup reel is powered by a motor responsive to a tension control device. The eddy current brake on the supply reel provides braking torque of relatively high magnitude when the supply reel is large in diameter, and the braking torque reduces gradually to a minimum as the diameter reduces.Tension in the film strip leading to the takeup reel is controlled by a tension measuring device which acts to vary the power delivered to the motor driving the takeup reel, to obtain uniform winding tightness.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for analyzing liquid samples by a mass spectrometer. A stream of liquid droplets of the sample is formed by a probe which expels the droplets into a desolvation chamber. The droplets are evaporated in the desolvation chamber and the evaporated materials injected into the source region of the mass spectrometer. In some preferred embodiments, the system is configured so that no solvent or solute is pumped out of the desolvation chamber during transit; discrimination against highly volatile materials is thereby prevented. The apparatus may be used as an interface between a liquid chromatograph and the mass spectrometer.

Abstract: A method for local oxideation of a semiconductor using only conventional large scale integration (LSI) fabrication techniques is provided which results in an oxide layer without the formation of the so-called "bird's beak" structure and no process or structure induced defects. On a semiconductor substrate a mold for oxide is made by forming on the substrate, a trench with sidewalls extending upward to a localized mesa region of the substrate. The sidewalls of the mesa, the localized plateau and a distance out from the sidewalls of the mesa to a desired distance out from the sidewalls are covered by a masking layer capable of preventing oxideation of the underlying substrate. The unmasked portion of the mold is oxidized to produce a localized oxide layer which is substantially free of any "bird's beak" structure.

Abstract: An optical erasable thermally addressed, liquid crystal information storage and retrieval system is disclosed having an information density and the order of 10.sup.7 bits/cm.sup.2 while using liquid crystal cell thickness of relatively standard dimensions (.about.10 .mu.m). The system includes two substrates containing a smectic-A phase liquid crystal medium, and several thin filing attached to the substrates for establishing the proper conditions within the liquid crystal medium for creating a radiation scattering defect which is small in size (<1.0 .mu.m), and for performing erase functions in conjunction with an optical beam. A device according to the invention has an array of such defects in the liquid crystal medium representing information bits, with the array having a ratio of the shortest distance between individual defects to the thickness of the liquid crystal medium of less than 0.4, for a liquid crystal medium having thickness larger than 5 microns.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device which takes the place of the microprocessor in a microprocessor-based system, and which provides the user with manual control and monitoring of the logic level of each separate input or output pin corresponding to the same pin of the single chip microprocessor of the system under test.

Abstract: An optical disc reader is provided in which automatic focussing is achieved by movements of elements completely removed from the moving head which travels across the optical disc.

Abstract: The present invention provides a silicon gate FET and associated integrated circuit structure in which a second level of polysilicon is selectively oxidized to provide insulating regions where desired. Regions of the polysilicon which were not oxidized are suitably doped to function as electrical interconnects to the source and drain regions in the substrate and to the gate. In the preferred embodiment, a metallic interconnection is made between the gate and drain or source region with the second level of polysilicon.

Abstract: A spindle-height gage is provided for measuring the height of one or more spindles in a tape recorder. The gage includes a pair of indicators rigidly mounted to a stable base configured for insertion into the tape recorder in lieu of a cassette. Upon insertion of the base plate into the recorder, the spindle under test comes into contact with a "foot" extending from a shaft of one of the indicators, which then provides indication of the spindle height. The gage is calibrated by inserting into the gage a calibrating disc having two shoulders, each of a height corresponding to the specified height of one of the spindles.

Abstract: Useful semiconductor materials in which a p-n junction may be formed are made from compositions of the quaternary Ga.sub.y In.sub.1-y As.sub.1-x P.sub.x compound alloy system having values of x and y greater than 0.005 and less than 0.995 or having a value of x equal to 1.0 and a value of y from 0.45 to 0.80. In making these semiconductor materials a layer of selected composition of this compound alloy system is epitaxially grown on a substrate having a lattice constant substantially equal to that of the selected composition by substantially following an isolattice constant contour to the region of selected composition in the alloy system. Injection electroluminescent diodes are fabricated from these semiconductor materials by forming a p-n junction in the layer of selected composition and by forming electrical terminals in contact with the substrate and the layer of selected composition on opposite sides of the p-n junction.