Abstract: Described embodiments relate to a chemical processing instrument configured to receive one or more sample cartridges, to process one or more corresponding fluid samples. The chemical processing instrument comprises: a reagent dispenser configured to dispense one or more fluid reagents into a reagent vessel via an open top of the reagent vessel; and a pneumatic module configured to connect to a primary pneumatic port of a primary reaction vessel and selectively adjust a pressure within the primary reaction vessel when the lid is closed to draw fluid from the reagent vessel through a primary reagent channel into the primary reaction vessel.

Abstract: A communication procedure suitable for a cordless telephone system involves time division duplex radio communication between a handset 11 and a base station 3 using alternating bursts of transmission over a single radio channel. Once a radio link has been set up, initial transmissions carry a synchronisation logical channel S and a signalling logical channel D multiplexed together, but the link may switch to bursts carrying a communications logical channel B for the speech data and the signalling logical channel D. Burst synchronisation is achieved by the asynchronous detection of words in a synchronisation channel S. These words have bit patterns reducing the probability of incorrect asynchronous detection of them. If one part ceases to receive handset signals from the other, it transmits a special signal, informing the other part. This enables both parts to detect the failure of a link at substantially the same time, so that their actions to re-establish the link are synchronised.

Abstract: A communication procedure suitable for a cordless telephone system involves time division duplex radio communication between a handset 11 and a base station using alternating bursts of transmission over a single radio channel. Once a radio link has been set up, initial transmissions carry a synchronization logical channel S and a signalling logical channel D multiplexed together, but the link may switch to bursts carrying a communications logical channel B for the speech data and the signalling logical channel D. Burst synchronization is achieved by the asynchronous detection of words in a synchronization channel S. These words have bit patterns reducing the probability of incorrect asynchronous detection of them. If one part ceases to receive handset signals from the other, it transmits a special signal, informing the other part. This enables both parts to detect the failure of a link at substantially the same time, so that their actions to re-establish the link are synchronized.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coin validator for use in a micro-processor controlled call coin box telephone instrument. The validator comprises first and second coil sets driven by square wave interrogation pulses. The arrangement of the coils is such that when a coin is in the coin-runway of the call coin box, one coil pair is used to interrogate the coin in the runway while the other coil pair provides environmental conditions apertaining to the runway. The information generated by both coil sets is combined thereby compensating for environmental changes and drift. Information pertaining to the relative response times of the secondary coils is then used to determine coin validity.