Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for running reactions, in particular, biological reactions and assays, in a Rayleigh-Bénard convection cell. The utilization of Rayleigh-Bénard convection principles for conducting biological or biochemical reactions is a novel application. In order to use Rayleigh-Bénard convection for conducting biological or biochemical reactions it is necessary to create a temperature differential in a solution of reactants.

Abstract: The movement and mixing of microdroplets through microchannels is described employing silicon-based microscale devices, comprising microdroplet transport channels, reaction regions, electrophoresis modules, and radiation detectors. The discrete droplets are differentially heated and propelled through etched channels. Electronic components are fabricated on the same substrate material, allowing sensors and controlling circuitry to be incorporated in the same device.

Abstract: A high capacity, continuous production blast freezer includes an insulated enclosure and a plurality of adjustable product-carrying trolleys, individually moveable with the enclosure from an entrance location to an exit location. A heat exchanger in the form of an evaporator is provided in the enclosure. The mechanical equipment for the refrigeration system can be placed within the enclosure and separated from the freezing cell by a bulkhead. In one embodiment the enclosure is in the form of a container adapted to be transportable by ship, rail or truck. The arrangement of the heat exchanger or evaporator relative to the product carrying devices and the enclosure is designed to maximize the capacity of the heat exchanger and minimize frost formation, while providing for a maximum amount of product space within the enclosure to maximize throughput of the system.

Abstract: A clipping circuit (20) for clipping an input signal to a level corresponding to a regulated power supply voltage (AVDD). The clipping circuit (20) includes a current mirror-like arrangement having a reference transistor (30) and a mirror transistor (32) The input signal (BDATA) is received at the drain of the mirror transistor (32), with the source of the mirror transistor (32) producing the output signal (CLPBDATA). The reference transistor (30) receives a bias current (IBIAS) that is mirrored by the mirror transistor (32) to limit the pull-up drive of the mirror transistor (32) in pulling up the output (CLPBDATA). Disclosed embodiments of the clipping circuit (20; 20′, 20″) include a current source (29) for producing a DC bias current (IBIAS), and a charge pump (34) for producing a transient bias current (IPUMP).

Abstract: A technique for translating design test bench generated signals into an Automated-Test-Equipment compatible format using existing digital pattern conversion tools. The technique uses sigma-delta modulation technology to allow conversion of analog and mixed signal stimuli into digital representations that can be converted for use in the target tester using existing digital pattern conversion tools.

Abstract: The present invention relates to microfabrication and utilization of microscale electrophoresis devices as well as the separation and detection of biomolecules in microscale electrophoresis devices. The device of the present invention utilizes novel fabrication and detection methods.

Abstract: A test apparatus (400) comprising a single handler (404) is coupled to a first tester (436) and second tester (408), wherein the first (436) and second (408) testers are coupled together. A first test procedure is performed on a set of second IC's using the first tester (436), simultaneously while a second test procedure is performed on a first set of IC's using the second tester (408). Sets of IC's may be tested in parallel by a plurality of testers (436/408) within a single handler (404). The first (436) and second (408) testers may be coupled to a multiplexer (460) to allow the use of a single test head (478), which avoids having to make contact to the integrated circuit more than once, which is particularly advantageous in wafer probe testing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel, small-scale, electrophoretic separation system based on photodefined polymers and electrode-defined sample injection. Diffusion and displacement coefficients may be modified by varying the gel concentration, the intensity of the incident UV radiation and the temperature at which the gel is run. The device is an major advance over current technology since it provides for a significant reduction in size of the micro-electrophoresis apparatus and a significant cost savings.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method (30) of testing analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) (12) that shortens the test time required to measure INL and DNL by advantageously converting the ADC (12) into a digital to analog converter (DAC) (10). The conversion from ADC to DAC is accomplished using a DfT test mode, which reconfigures the ADC into a DAC using a delta modulation circuit. Since DACs can be tested much more efficiently than ADCs, the ADC test time is substantially reduced by the invention.

Abstract: The movement and mixing of microdroplets through microchannels is described employing microscale devices, comprising microdroplet transport channels, reaction regions, electrophoresis modules, and radiation detectors. Microdroplets are metered into defined volumes and are subsequently incorporated into a variety of biological assays. Electronic components are fabricated on the same substrate material, allowing sensors and controlling circuitry to be incorporated in the same device.

Abstract: A high capacity, continuous production blast freezer includes an insulated enclosure and a plurality of adjustable product-carrying trolleys, individually moveable with the enclosure from an entrance location to an exit location. A heat exchanger in the form of an evaporator is provided in the enclosure. The mechanical equipment for the refrigeration system can be placed within the enclosure and separated from the freezing cell by a bulkhead. In one embodiment the enclosure is in the form of a container adapted to be transportable by ship, rail or truck. The arrangement of the heat exchanger or evaporator relative to the product carrying devices and the enclosure is designed to maximize the capacity of the heat exchanger and minimize frost formation, while providing for a maximum amount of product space within the enclosure to maximize throughput of the system.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and compositions for isothermal amplification of nucleic acids in a microfabricated substrate. Methods and compositions for the analysis of isothermally amplified nucleic acids in a microfabricated substrate are disclosed as well. The microfabricated substrates and isothermal amplification and detection methods provided are envisioned for use in various diagnostic methods, particularly those connected with diseases characterized by altered gene sequences or gene expression.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and compositions for isothermal amplification of nucleic acids in a microfabricated substrate. Methods and compositions for the analysis of isothermally amplified nucleic acids in a microfabricated substrate are disclosed as well. The microfabricated substrates and isothermal amplification and detection methods provided are envisioned for use in various diagnostic methods, particularly those connected with diseases characterized by altered gene sequences or gene expression.

Abstract: A digital to analog converter includes a network of impedance components having a plurality of nodes having associated voltages. A tap is coupled to one or more associated one of the plurality of nodes to source or sink electrical current relative to the associated node(s). A switching system is operative to couple a selected one of the nodes to an output according to a digital input word and thereby provide an analog voltage corresponding to the digital input.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and compositions for isothermal amplification of nucleic acids in a microfabricated substrate. Methods and compositions for the analysis of isothermally amplified nucleic acids in a microfabricated substrate are disclosed as well. The microfabricated substrates and isothermal amplification and detection methods provided are envisioned for use in various diagnostic methods, particularly those connected with diseases characterized by altered gene sequences or gene expression.

Abstract: The movement and mixing of microdroplets through microchannels is described employing silicon-based microscale devices, comprising microdroplet transport channels, reaction regions, electrophoresis modules, and radiation detectors. The discrete droplets are differentially heated and propelled through etched channels. Electronic components are fabricated on the same substrate material, allowing sensors and controlling circuitry to be incorporated in the same device.

Abstract: A method of measuring non-coherent electrical signals using either windowed or non-windowed digital signal processing. The method includes the steps of providing a digitized version of the non-coherent electrical signal; generating a matrix A of correlations between sine and cosine components of known correlation frequencies and sine and cosine components of signal frequencies; generating an inverse matrix A−1 of the correlation matrix; generating a second matrix B of correlations between sine and cosine components of the correlation frequencies and the digitized non-coherent electrical signal; and generation of a third matrix C which represents the measured amplitudes of the sine and cosine components of the non-coherent electrical signal.

Abstract: The movement and mixing of microdroplets through microchannels is described employing silicon-based microscale devices, comprising microdroplet transport channels, reaction regions, electrophoresis modules, and radiation detectors. The discrete droplets are differentially heated and propelled through etched channels. Electronic components are fabricated on the same substrate material, allowing sensors and controlling circuitry to be incorporated in the same device.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring jitter. One class of embodiments is particularly useful for testing the aperture jitter of a high speed Analog to Digital (A/D) converter. Aperture jitter in a Sample and Hold circuit (S/H) or in an A/D converter introduces noise into the sampled signal, which is more extreme in areas of the input waveform that have a steep positive or negative slope. The preferred embodiment allows an easy and inexpensive way to measure aperture jitter in S/H and A/D circuits. The technique can also be adapted for measuring edge jitter in digital clock signals or in analog sine wave signals.

Abstract: A signal generation circuit comprises a memory operable to store a digital signal comprising a stream of one-bit samples that were generated using sigma delta modulation. The signal generation circuit further comprises a signal modification circuit coupled to the memory and operable to receive the digital signal from the memory and to introduce a DC level shift to the digital signal, wherein the output of the signal modification circuit can be filtered to produce an analog signal.