Abstract: An optical scanning system under specialized feedback control is disclosed. The scanner is adapted for microarray scanning. The control algorithm accounts for tilt in successive scans in opposite directions across a microarray slide or substrate. The feedback approach may involve PI or a PID terms. In either type of control approach, the integral term controlling focusing is artificially set to the negative of its value at the end of a preceding line scan at the start of the next line scan. Depending on the physical configuration of the system, it may be feasible to simply take the negative of the integral term measured by the system. In variations of the invention, integral terms accounting for other focus system variables are taken into account. In practice, marked improvement in scanner focus has been observed by the subject system and included methodology.

Abstract: An automated method and system for determining an optimal focus distance for scanning a molecular array scanner. Blocks of rows of a reference array are automatically scanned at successively greater distances of the stage from a light gathering medium, such as an optical fiber, or z-positions, to produce data providing a functional relationship between z-position and measured signal intensities. The data is then processed by a peak-height-based, or window-based, focus-finding routine that selects an optimal focus-distance for data scans.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a data recording system and, in particular, an electronic digitizing clipboard and a remote computer. A stylus of the clipboard is used to write on pages, with a digitizer underneath the pages generating an electronic record of entered marks for storage and later recreation of the pages. The electronic record represents both stylus spatial coordinates, normally sampled every ten milliseconds, certain user commands such as page identification, inserted at significant locations within the aggregate data stream, or other data, for example, audio data from a built-in microphone. Data in the stream is associated with prior page identification commands, such that subsequent data may be cut or sorted based upon timing of that data relative to the page identification commands. In this manner, data may be distinguished and moved by a "splicing" mechanism, notwithstanding any spatial overlap with previous stylus data.

Abstract: A low-cost and rugged electronic apparatus to store and to transfer written information. The apparatus includes a pen and a board, which has a sensing mechanism, a memory device and a communication link. When the pen imprints symbols to the board, the symbols are not concurrently electronically displayed. But the symbols are detected by the sensing mechanism, stored in the memory device, and can later be transferred to an electronic device through the communication link.

Abstract: A neural network for converting pixels represented in one color representation to pixels of a second color representation. One realization of the neural network utilizes an input layer that includes either a summing node or a product generating node. The neural network may be implemented in analog circuitry or as a simulation on a general purpose data processor. The analog circuit implementation requires a relatively small number of nodes and is less expensive than implementations based on general purpose data processors.

Abstract: In a correlated two-dimensional gas chromatography system, it is necessary to "pair" peaks from one chromatogram with respective peaks of another chromatogram. Both peaks of a pair should correspond to the same sample component. The present invention provides for confirmation/disconfirmation of pairs that may be speculative or arbitrary. A hybrid chromatographic column is designed so that the retention time of a sample component is the average of the retention times of that component in the two independent columns. Thus, a peak location in the hybrid chromatogram can be calculated for each pair of peaks. The absence of a peak at that location or the inconsistency of the area of a peak at that location disconfirms the pairing. The invention also provides for higher dimensional systems and for other separation technologies.