Abstract: Apparatus and methods for high performance liquid chromatography. The apparatus includes a preparation loop comprising two linear stepping pumps, a sample loop comprising a sample injector, a chromatography column, and a detector device. The detector device can include a flash lamp, a flow cell, and a light sensor comprising an entrance slit, a grating; and a charge-coupled device array.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for creating a pulsed ion beam. The pulsed ion beam can be used for performing mass spectrometry. A pulsed solenoid valve can provide a pulsed ion beam from an electrospray in a pre-vacuum chamber. The pulsed ion beam can enter a high vacuum region and a mass analyzer for mass spectrometry.

Abstract: The configurations of an electronic ballast are provided in the present invention. The proposed electronic ballast includes a filter circuit having a first and a second output terminals, a rectifier circuit having a first input terminal, a second input terminal coupled to the second output terminal of the filter circuit, and a first output terminal, and a continuous-conduction-mode charge pump PFC circuit including a first inductor having a first terminal coupled to the first input terminal and a second terminal coupled to the first output terminal of the filter circuit, a second inductor having a first terminal and a first capacitor having a first terminal coupled to the first terminal of the first inductor and a second terminal coupled to the first terminal of the second inductor.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for performing mass spectrometry of a nanoparticle or virus analyte. Apparatus may include a laser desorption plate, a mass analyzer configured to measure mass over the range of m/z from 105 to 1010, an electrical shield surrounding the mass analyzer, and a charge sensitive detector, wherein the laser firing is phase lock synchronized with the applied radiofrequency voltages.

Abstract: An AC/DC conversion circuit of a power conversion apparatus receives an AC signal and has a switching element. A voltage sensing circuit generates a voltage reference signal according to an AC voltage signal. A harmonic generation circuit generates a harmonic injection signal according to the voltage reference signal. A subtraction circuit of a maximum power tracking circuit outputs a first DC signal and a second DC signal according to the voltage reference signal. An arithmetic circuit outputs a reference signal. A current sensing circuit outputs a feedforward signal according to one phase of an AC current signal. A current control circuit outputs an error signal according to the reference signal and the feedforward signal. A pulse width modulation circuit outputs a control signal to control the switching element according to the error signal and the harmonic injection signal, so that an aerogenerator operates at the maximum power approximation line.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for performing mass spectrometry of a nanoparticle or virus analyte. Apparatus may include a laser desorption plate, a mass analyzer configured to measure mass over the range of m/z from 105 to 1010, an electrical shield surrounding the mass analyzer, and a charge sensitive detector, wherein the laser firing is phase lock synchronized with the applied radiofrequency voltages.

Abstract: A stability analyzing apparatus is in cooperation with a DC power system having a bus terminal connected to at least a load, and comprises a perturbation signal generating module, a signal processing module and a determining module. The perturbation signal generating module generates a perturbation signal injected into the bus terminal to obtain a transfer function of the bus terminal impedance. The signal processing module is electrically connected to the perturbation signal generating module and calculates the slope of the transfer function of the bus terminal impedance to obtain a transfer function of the bus terminal impedance slope. The determining module is electrically connected to the signal processing module and determines the stability tendency of the DC power system according to the transfer function of the bus terminal impedance slope. A stability analyzing method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A control circuit controls a power output module and drives a load device. The control circuit includes a conversion unit, a feed-forward unit, a feedback unit and a control unit. The conversion unit generates a driving signal according to an output signal of the power output module for driving the load device. The feed-forward unit generates a duty cycle reference signal according to the output signal. The feedback unit generates a feedback signal according to the driving signal. The control unit outputs a control signal to control the conversion unit according to the duty cycle reference signal and feedback signal, thereby limiting the output power of the power output module within the maximum power region. A tracking method of the maximum power is also disclosed.

Abstract: A retractable safety syringe includes a retractable needle hub holding a needle and having a first guiding means; and a hollow barrel having a second guiding means set correspondingly to the first guiding means; and a collapsible plunger comprising of a first plunger element having a protrusion releasably coupled with a second plunger element having a longitudinal slot with a pinched zone to curb the movement of said protrusion; and a spring disposed between the needle hub and hollow barrel and acts between the needle hub and the hollow barrel. The uncoupling of the collapsible plunger triggers the retraction mechanism to enable the needle hub to retract into the barrel by the decompression force of a spring. The reliability of retraction is further improved by a longitudinal slot and a protrusion to facilitate the retreating of the collapsible plunger in an orderly way.

Abstract: A magnetic navigation control apparatus includes a sensing unit, a control unit and a magnetic field generating unit. The sensing unit generates a sensing signal according to the position of a magnetic element. The control unit is electrically connected with the sensing unit and generates a first control signal and a second control signal according to the sensing signal. The magnetic field generating unit is electrically connected with the control unit and has a housing, a plurality of interpoles, and a plurality of short poles. The interpoles are disposed in the housing. The short poles are disposed between the interpoles evenly. The magnetic field generating unit generates a navigation signal according to the first control signal, thereby controlling the magnetic element to move in at least one direction within a target region. The magnetic navigation control apparatus has greater magnetic navigation effects, and can thus reduce the cost.

Abstract: A discontinuous conduction current mode maximum power limitation photovoltaic converter connects to a ground and a solar cell having a temperature compensation signal and an output power and being solarized and includes a direct current/direct current voltage converter and a maximum power control circuit. The direct current/direct current voltage converter connects to the solar cell, includes an input terminal and an output terminal, offers a stable voltage and has an output voltage signal and an inner current. The maximum power control circuit connects to the direct current/direct current voltage converter and the solar cell, controls the direct current/direct current voltage converter to limit the output power of the solar cell to maximum and includes a temperature compensation feedback circuit, an output voltage feedback circuit, a current detection circuit and a main control circuit.

Abstract: A novel system and methods for accelerating analytes including, without limitation, molecular ions, biomolecules, polymers, nano- and microparticles, is provided. The invention can be useful for increasing detection sensitivity in applications such as mass spectrometry, performing collision-induced dissociation molecular structure analysis, and probing surfaces and samples using accelerated analyte.

Abstract: A magnetization apparatus includes a power supply unit, an energy storage element and a voltage clamp unit. The power supply unit generates at least one exciting signal to excite at least a coil of a magnetic field generating apparatus. The voltage clamp unit has a clamping voltage. The voltage level of the clamp voltage is higher than the voltage level of the exciting signal, and lower than the rated voltage of the energy storage element. When the exciting signal turns to a low voltage level, the voltage clamp unit controls the voltage level of the energy storage element to be less than or equal to the voltage level of the clamp voltage. This configuration with the voltage clamp unit can extend the lifetime of the energy storage element and reduce the energy loss to enhance the efficiency.

Abstract: A magnetic field generating module includes a housing, a plurality of interpoles, a plurality of short poles and a plurality of windings. The housing has an annular section and an inner side. The interpoles disposed on the inner side in the housing are arranged around an inner periphery of the annular section with the same intervals. The short poles are disposed on the inner side in the housing and distributed between the interpoles evenly. A first interval is formed between the adjacent short poles, and a second interval equal to the first interval is formed between each of the interpoles and the adjacent short pole. The windings are respectively disposed corresponding to the interpoles and located between the interpoles and the short poles. The magnetic field generating module of the invention has more concentrated magnetic lines so as to prompt the magnetic flux density and the magnetic force.

Abstract: An ion trap mass spectrometer and methods for obtaining a mass spectrum of ions by step scanning the driving frequency in frequency increments over a bandwidth, wherein for each step a specific frequency is held for a fixed number of complete cycles, wherein each specific frequency is changed continuously to the frequency in the next step, and wherein each specific frequency in each step starts at phase zero position.

Abstract: A medically safety injector comprises a needle hub attached by a needle, a hollow barrel for engaging with the needle hub and guiding the needle hub to retract into the hollow barrel, and a plunger combination settled in the hollow barrel. The plunger combination comprises a retractable plunger and a hollow shank partially telescoped with the retractable plunger, wherein at least one raised portion is formed on an outer wall of the retractable plunger and at a telescoping portion for engaging at least one depression formed on an inner wall of the hollow shank so that when the plunger combination continuously receives a pushing force after the medically safety injector is used to perform the injection operation, the retractable plunger can smoothly retract into the hollow shank. Consequently, space in the hollow barrel originally occupied by the retractable plunger or hollow shank is freed for accommodating the retracted needle hub.

Abstract: An ion trap mass spectrometer and methods for obtaining a mass spectrum of ions by step scanning the driving frequency in frequency increments over a bandwidth, wherein for each step a specific frequency is held for a fixed number of complete cycles, wherein each specific frequency is changed continuously to the frequency in the next step, and wherein each specific frequency in each step starts at phase zero position.

Abstract: A novel system and methods for accelerating analytes including, without limitation, molecular ions, biomolecules, polymers, nano- and microparticles, is provided. The invention can be useful for increasing detection sensitivity in applications such as mass spectrometry, performing collision-induced dissociation molecular structure analysis, and probing surfaces and samples using accelerated analyte.

Abstract: A magnetization apparatus includes a power supply unit, an energy storage element and a voltage clamp unit. The power supply unit generates at least one exciting signal to excite at least a coil of a magnetic field generating apparatus. The voltage clamp unit has a clamping voltage. The voltage level of the clamp voltage is higher than the voltage level of the exciting signal, and lower than the rated voltage of the energy storage element. When the exciting signal turns to a low voltage level, the voltage clamp unit controls the voltage level of the energy storage element to be less than or equal to the voltage level of the clamp voltage. This configuration with the voltage clamp unit can extend the lifetime of the energy storage element and reduce the energy loss to enhance the efficiency.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer and methods for obtaining the mass spectrum of a single macromolecular or biomolecular ion in a mass spectrometer. The methods include creating single macromolecular or biomolecular primary ions in an ion trap by ionization of a macromolecule or biomolecule; ejecting half of the primary ions for detection with a first charge detector; ejecting half of the primary ions to impact upon a conversion dynode, thereby creating secondary ions for detection with charge amplification detector such as a channeltron or an electromultiplier or an MCP.