Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, devices and systems for associating consumable data with an assay consumable used in a biological assay. Provided are assay systems and associated consumables, wherein the assay system adjusts one or more steps of an assay protocol based on consumable data specific for that consumable. Various types of consumable data are described, as well as methods of using such data in the conduct of an assay by an assay system. The present invention also relates to consumables (e.g., kits and reagent containers), software, data deployable bundles, computer-readable media, loading carts, instruments, systems, and methods, for performing automated biological assays.

Abstract: Arc lamps, including low-pressure arc lamps, are coupled to drive circuitry operable to provide drive signals that reduce or eliminate excess current when the lamp arc is struck. The drive circuitry controls the rate at which a lamp can fire by actively controlling the rate the voltage pulse increases. Prior to enabling the drive pulse burst, the frequency is shifted only part of the way towards the normal operating frequency in a single step, then allowed to approach the normal operating frequency in a fashion that is selected based at least in part upon the specific type of lamp being used. Typically, the rate of change of the frequency is linear.

Abstract: Circuitry, which is compatible with incandescent light dimmers, is disposed within the screwbase of a compact fluorescent light, and sets driving frequencies for a mercury plasma, based, at least in part, on sensing the duty cycle of the incoming AC supply waveform. In this way, existing lighting infrastructure, including phase-cut dimmer circuits for incandescent light bulbs, may be preserved, and incandescent bulbs can be replaced with compact fluorescent lights equipped with circuitry in accordance with the present invention. In a further aspect, the circuitry synchronizes the bulb drive signals with the AC power line frequency.

Abstract: Circuitry, which is compatible with incandescent light dimmers, is disposed within the screwbase of a compact fluorescent light, and sets driving frequencies for a mercury plasma, based, at least in part, on sensing the duty cycle of the incoming AC supply waveform. In this way, existing lighting infrastructure, including phase-cut dimmer circuits for incandescent light bulbs, may be preserved, and incandescent bulbs can be replaced with compact fluorescent lights equipped with circuitry in accordance with the present invention. In a further aspect, the circuitry synchronizes the bulb drive signals with the AC power line frequency.

Abstract: A bus device of a first type uses a first arbitration protocol. The first-type device is designed for use in a computer system having a communications bus, and one or more other bus devices connected to the bus, including possible first-type bus devices which also use the first arbitration protocol and one or more second-type bus devices which use a second, different, arbitration protocol. The first-type bus device includes a protocol specific memory for storing information; means for monitoring the bus to determine whether the current bus master of the bus arbitrated in the manner of the first or second arbitration protocols; and means for denying the current bus master the ability to access information stored in the protocol specific memory if the means for monitoring determines the bus master arbitrated according to the second arbitration protocol.

Abstract: A first-type bus device is designed for use in a computer system having one or more second-type bus devices. The second-type devices practice a round robin arbitration scheme, but the first type devices do not. According to the round-robin scheme, a second-type device which wins an arbitration asserts its ID on the system bus, each second-type device seeking to arbitrate compares its ID with that asserted by the current bus master, and uses that comparison to determine whether to assert its ID during arbitration in a high or low priority manner. The first-type bus device includes means for assuring that first-type and second-type devices never arbitrate at the same time. During arbitration, first-type devices only assert their ID number in one priority. Unlike second-type devices, they cannot assert their ID either in a high or low priority manner.

Abstract: A bus device of a first type is designed to work with a bus devices of a second type. A bus device of the second type, when it is a slave in a bus transaction, issues an ACK if it can respond to the command on time, a NO ACK if it can't respond at all, a STALL if it expects to be able to respond with only a short delay, and a RETRY if it expects to be able to respond, but only after a long delay. Slave Bus devices of the second type also monitor the length of time that they assert the STALL signal, and if they assert if for more than a predetermined period, they replace the STALL signal with a RETRY. Bus devices of the second type, when they are master in a bus transaction, respond to a NO ACK by terminating a transaction in one way and to a RETRY by terminating the transaction in a different way.