Abstract: A portable power unit includes a base module, a pair of wheels coupled to the base module, and a main core battery disposed in the base module. A portable charger is removably coupled to the base module and includes a charger core battery, a battery receptacle electrically coupled to the charger core battery and configured to mechanically and electrically couple to a battery pack, and a cover movable to selectively allow access to the battery receptacle. The main core battery is electrically couplable with the charger core battery or the battery receptacle.

Abstract: An analysis for determining a characteristic cycle time of a sample. Active elements in the sample are excited with sufficient intensity and duration larger than the characteristic cycle time that at least some of the active elements are re-excited to an excited state substantially immediately following relaxation to a ground state, detecting quanta emitted by the active elements in the sample to obtain a detected signal, and analyzing the detected signal to derive the characteristic cycle time. The number of active elements in the sample and the intensity of the excitation are such that quanta are detected in a stream in which individual quanta are distinguishable from each other.

Abstract: A characteristic response of a medium to an excitation transient of predetermined duration which causes the medium to emit a series of signals over a period of time which is long relative to the duration of the excitation transient is assessed. The signals are detected and the duration of each interval between successive signals is measured. A relationship relating the interval between the excitation transient and the emission of each signal to the interval between each signal and the preceding signal in the series is derived to represent the characteristic response.

Abstract: A method of detecting an object located within a dynamic scattering media, includes i) directing a continuous coherent light wave of predetermined wavelength into the media; ii) detecting dynamically scattered light emerging from the media; iii) correlating the detected light photons in the time or frequency domain; iv) determining the presence of an object from analysis of differences between the correlation and a correlation which would arise from photons scattered by the media only; and v) determining the approximate position of the object within the media from the analysis of the correlation and knowledge of the mean transport path of the light wave of predetermined wavelength within the media.

Abstract: A process for detecting an analyte which process comprises (a) contacting a sample suspected of containing said analyte with a containment means comprising a barrier which separates signal generating reagents from said sample, in the presence of an element which interacts specifically with said analyte, under conditions whereby interaction between the analyte and the said element results in activation of the signal generating reagents within the containment means on the side of the barrier opposite to the sample, and (b) detecting any signal generated and retained within the containment means from the sample side of the barrier. The process of the invention provides for sensitive detection of very small numbers of analyte materials using measurement techniques which include counting methods such as flow cytometry.

Abstract: A timing circuit records the duration of intervals between a plurality of events in a data stream. The circuit includes at least two timing channels, each arranged to generate a signal representing time elapsed between events. The rate of change of the signal generated by each timing channel varies with increasing interval duration, and the timing channels are arranged such that each event terminates the operation of one timing channel and initiates operation of another timing channel.