Abstract: Voltage pullup or pulldown devices of general purpose input/output pads of integrated circuit chips are controlled by signals derived from a core of the chip and which indicate (1) if the pad is to be enabled to output a value and (2) the value of the signal to be outputted. Such devices are controlled to supply different current levels to the input/output terminals as a function of whether the chip is operating in "sleep" and interrupt modes. The device of each pad is disabled when signals or commands are supplied via the pad from the chip to circuitry external to the chip and vice versa.

Abstract: A sealable container for holding an analytical sample for processing is disclosed. The container includes a body with a dispensing port and an insert member with an outlet port slidably received in the body. The insert member and the body are movable relative to each other between a first position, in which the outlet port is substantially aligned with the dispensing port, and a second position, in which the outlet port is substantially out of alignment with the dispensing port. Sealing between the insert member and the body, which may take the form of O-rings, provide a substantially airtight, hermetic seal between a reaction chamber formed in the insert member and the body so that the reaction chamber can be sealed or isolated from the outside environment. The container is particularly adapted to contain the processes of nucleic acid amplification and to thereby reduce the problems of sample cross-contamination encountered in such processes.

Abstract: A multi-layer blood culture sensor includes two matrices. The first matrix is a polymer that is permeable to carbon dioxide and water, but impermeable to protons. A pH sensitive absorbance based dye is encapsulated or isolated in the polymer. The second matrix is a polymer with a pH insensitive fluorescent dye encapsulated or isolated in the polymer. The matrices are spectrally coupled and are useful for the determination of microorganisms in a blood culture bottle.

Abstract: A memory cell and array of memory cells specially adapted for support of bit serial math for low cost CAD workstations. The memory cell is comprised of a multiplexer which selects between several inputs for application of data to a bit storage cell of a dynamic RAM nature. Each cell multiplexer has a serial data input, a parallel data input, a parallel format pipeline data input and a recirculation data input. Each cell also has a first output which serves both as a serial data output and a pipeline data output, and a second data output which is tri-state and which is coupled to a parallel format data bus which runs through the array. A plurality of such cells are arranged in rows and columns where rows of such cells are coupled so that data may passed between the rows in either parallel format or serial format for pipeline operations and such each row can independently load data in either serial or parallel format and output data in either parallel or serial format.