Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, method, reagents, and kits for conducting assays as well as process for their preparation are described. They are particularly well suited for conducting automated analysis in a multi-well plate assay format.

Abstract: A system for detecting human entry into a container using electromagnetic imaging to generate image maps of the container. The system includes a door monitor configured to detect an entry door open event associated with the container. The system uses one or more processors and a memory with instructions to generate a baseline image map of the container, detect an entry door open event with the door monitor associated with the container, generate a post entry door open event image map of the container, and compare the baseline image map generated before the entry door open event with image map generated after the entry door open event.

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: The invention provides a method to compute the mixed potential contributions to electric and magnetic field in multilayered media, which can be applied in microwave engineering, integrated circuit analysis, and remote sensing. The Spectral Differential Equation Approximation Method (SDEAM) for solving Michalski-Zheng's mixed-potential Green's functions in fully shielded, partially open, and fully open multilayered media are described. The main advantage of SDEAM over other methods is that for a fixed location of the source elevation z?, it does not require fitting from scratch for every z, z?, and ? combination. Because of this advantage, SDEAM can be superior in both performance and accuracy to other existing methods. The well-established boundary value problem numerical solvers also provide SDEAM with robustness for miscellaneous planar multilayered structures.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system, comprising: one or more processors; and a memory comprising instructions, wherein the one or more processors are configured by the instructions to: receive first electromagnetic data at a plurality of frequencies; process the first electromagnetic data; and generate prediction parameters by passing the processed first electromagnetic data through a neural network trained on data corresponding to a synthetic training set, the prediction parameters corresponding to a container and contents located within the container.

Abstract: A method for electromagnetic imaging of containers receives uncalibrated first data corresponding to signals of a first plurality of different frequencies associated with an antenna array residing in a container having contents. The method estimates of a second data based on a computer model and simulation of signals of a second plurality of different frequencies associated with the antenna array, the second plurality of different frequencies including a subset of the first plurality of different frequencies. The method compares magnitudes, without corresponding phase comparisons, of the first and second data at each frequency of the second plurality of different frequencies. The method updates the second data based on the comparing. The method provides information about the contents within the container based on the updated second data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for computer-implemented pre-optimization of input data before further processing thereof by a computer-implemented analyzation process, such as optical character recognition (OCR). A cooperative model is employed that combines one or more supervised-learning based inspector sub-models, and one or more filter sub-models that operating in series with the inspector sub-model(s). The inspectors first receive the input data and calculate one predicted transformation parameters then used to perform transformations on the input data. The inspector-transformed data is then passed to the filters, which derive respective convolution kernels and apply same to the inspector-transformed data before passing same to the OCR or other analyzation process. The inspectors may be pretrained with different training data.

Abstract: A method for electromagnetic imaging of containers receives uncalibrated first data corresponding to signals of a first plurality of different frequencies associated with an antenna array residing in a container having contents. The method estimates of a second data based on a computer model and simulation of signals of a second plurality of different frequencies associated with the antenna array, the second plurality of different frequencies including a subset of the first plurality of different frequencies. The method compares magnitudes, without corresponding phase comparisons, of the first and second data at each frequency of the second plurality of different frequencies. The method updates the second data based on the comparing. The method provides information about the contents within the container based on the updated second data.

Abstract: A method for electromagnetic imaging of containers receives uncalibrated first data corresponding to signals of a first plurality of different frequencies associated with an antenna array residing in a container having contents. The method estimates of a second data based on a computer model and simulation of signals of a second plurality of different frequencies associated with the antenna array, the second plurality of different frequencies including a subset of the first plurality of different frequencies. The method compares magnitudes, without corresponding phase comparisons, of the first and second data at each frequency of the second plurality of different frequencies. The method updates the second data based on the comparing. The method provides information about the contents within the container based on the updated second data.

Abstract: A printer driver receives printing data (e.g., data to be printed on a surface of the smart card) and encoding data from an application. The application may expose a device-independent printing interface with one or more escape functions for sending device-specific data (e.g., smart card encoding data). The printer driver generates integrated data comprising the printing data and the encoding data. A command coordinator (e.g., a language monitor) extracts printing commands and encoding commands from integrated data, sends printing commands to a printer device, and sends encoding commands to an encoder. The encoder can be recognized as a device that is separate from the printer device, even where the encoder and the printer device are housed in the same physical device. Described aspects can be used in a network environment with multiple client devices that share printing and encoding devices.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has a main body, a motor-driven fan unit, a printed circuit board for controlling the motor-driven fan unit and a housing encasing a portion of the printed circuit board. A heat sink of the printed circuit board extends through the housing from an interior of the housing to an exterior of the housing. The printed circuit board is disposed within the main body such that the heat sink is located in an air-flow path through the main body.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of and system for dynamically loading an executable composite software application, for use on a user device. An enterprise universe including multiple application modules is maintained, with each application module being configured to perform a particular functionality within the software application. This universe is filtered in terms of a particular environment definition to result in an environment subset of application modules, wherein the environment definition defines criteria according to which application modules exist in the environment. In response to receiving a container launch request from a user device, one or more application modules from the environment subset is launched as the executable composite software application on the user device through a container module associated with the user device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of and system for dynamically loading an executable composite software application, for use on a user device (12; 14). An enterprise universe including multiple application modules (30) is maintained, with each application module being configured to perform a particular functionality within the software application. This universe is filtered in terms of a particular environment definition to result in an environment subset of application modules, wherein the environment definition defines criteria according to which application modules exist in the environment. In response to receiving a container launch request from a user device, one or more application modules from the environment subset is launched as the executable composite software application on the user device through a container module (28) associated with the user device.

Abstract: A printer driver receives printing data (e.g., data to be printed on a surface of the smart card) and encoding data from an application. The application may expose a device-independent printing interface with one or more escape functions for sending device-specific data (e.g., smart card encoding data). The printer driver generates integrated data comprising the printing data and the encoding data. A command coordinator (e.g., a language monitor) extracts printing commands and encoding commands from integrated data, sends printing commands to a printer device, and sends encoding commands to an encoder. The encoder can be recognized as a device that is separate from the printer device, even where the encoder and the printer device are housed in the same physical device. Described aspects can be used in a network environment with multiple client devices that share printing and encoding devices.

Abstract: An ophthalmic camera (10) comprising a camera (12) having a lens (18) aligned with a second lens (16) and at least one illumination means (14). The illumination means (14) is capable of movement relative to the camera lens (18) so that the beam of light emitted by the illumination means (14) is able to be focused by the second lens (16) through the pupil onto the fundus. In another embodiment, the ophthalmic camera comprises a camera (52), an illumination means (54) and a beamsplitter (58). The camera (52) and the beamsplitter (58) from an alignment axis X and the illumination means (54) together with the beam splitter (58) form an illumination axis Y perpendicular to the alignment axis X.

Abstract: A process for recovering metals involving ion exchange comprising the step of recovering metal species from an ion exchange resin by elution of the resin with an eluent system containing (i) a first sulphite component comprising at least one of sulphite and bisulphite ion; and (ii) a second eluting component comprising any species which favours the ion exchange or desorption of a metal species from the resin during elution wherein the presence of the sulphite component (i) increases metal elution efficiency relative to the situation where an eluent comprises the second eluting component alone.

Abstract: An antenna installation for cellular radio has four antennas ANT 1A, ANT 1B, ANT 2 and ANT 3 mounted on respective sides of a rectangular support 48 and giving rise to four antenna coverage sectors 1A and 1B and sectors 2 and 3. A splitter/combiner unit (SCU) receives three signals (1, 2 and 3) from a base station, and splits signal 1 into two signals 1A and 1B of equal power. The splitter/combiner 5C1 acts as a splitter in transmit mode and a combiner in receive mode. The signals 1A, 1B, 2 and 3 are connected to antennas ANT 1A, ANT 1B ANT 2 and ANT 3 respectively. Split signal antennas ANT 1A, ANT 1B carrying the same transmit signal are not adjacent to one another: they are separated from one another by another sector associated with a different signal, and therefore do not overlap sufficiently to affect communications significantly. This avoids creation of signal interference regions in antenna coverage areas which would lead to signals being partially unobtainable there.

Abstract: A self-service display unit (100) for the merchandising of eyewear (102) is taught. The display unit (100) is made up of a horizontal bottom panel (120), a vertical left panel (150), a vertical right panel (160), and an oblique top panel (110) divided by a plurality of divider strips (170). The display unit (100) encompasses an interior space (103) configured to contain a plurality of inventory boxes (105). A display system (200) containing a plurality of the display units (100) between a left frame (202) and a right frame (204) is also taught. The display system (200) may face in a single direction or in two opposing directions. The display system (200) has a mirror (208) and signage (206) between the left frame (202) and the right frame (204).

Abstract: A portable slit-lamp apparatus, including a body (11) able to be held in the hand of an operator and a solid state lamp means (55) and associated optics (52) carried by the body for generating a narrow beam of light and projecting the beam onto the cornea of a patient s eye for reflection by structures of the eye, when the body is held at a suitable position in front of the eye. Means (22) is mounted in cooperation with the body and the solid state lamp means to detect a reflection of the narrow beam of light by structures of the eye and to make an image thereof, which image is, or is processable to provide, a digital record of the reflection.

Abstract: A system (10) for ocular ultramicrosurgery a ring (12) for immobilising eye (14) of a patient. The incision point (P) on the eye (14) for surgical tools is marked by a marker (16) that is generated by intersecting tire beams of lasers (104 and 106). The intersection point of the laser beams is fixed in space. In order to move the patient's eye (14) so that point (P) coincides with that fixed point in space, the patient's head (52) is fixed to a head positioner (24). The head positioner is operated by a surgeon (26) through joystick (34) and computer (32) to ensure registration of point (P) and the point designated by the intersecting laser beams. All surgical tools used in the system (10) are supported, positioned and operated or worked by a tool support and positioning system (18). The system (18) comprises a stereotactic manipulator (20) and a tool translation table (22) which is supported on the manipulator (20).