Abstract: The invention is an improved multiplex capillary electrophoresis instrument or module with at least four and preferably six user-accessible vertically stacked drawers. An x-z stage moves samples from the user accessible drawers to the capillary array for analysis. A computer program allows users to add capillary electrophoresis jobs to a queue corresponding to the analysis of rows or plates of samples without stopping or interrupting runs in progress.

Abstract: The invention is an improved multiplex capillary electrophoresis instrument or module with at least four and preferably six user-accessible vertically stacked drawers. An x-z stage moves samples from the user accessible drawers to the capillary array for analysis. A computer program allows users to add capillary electrophoresis jobs to a queue corresponding to the analysis of rows or plates of samples without stopping or interrupting runs in progress.

Abstract: A system for the rapid detection of microbial contamination in a fluid sample such as water, involving the use of a filter material having a surface adapted to receive the sample in order to retain substantially all microbes from the sample on the filter surface under conditions that minimize the potential for contamination from sources other than the sample itself, and in a manner that permits the filter surface to be incubated in order to grow viable microbes contained thereon, in combination with a growth medium and an analytic instrument to permit analysis of the filter surface, within a predetermined incubation period, in order to determine whether the growth onset of viable microbes that may be present on the surface has begun.

Abstract: A semiconductor bridge igniter device (10) having integral voltage anti-fuse protection provides an electric circuit including a first firing leg and, optionally, a monitor leg. The first firing leg includes a first semiconductor bridge having semiconductor pads (14a, 14b) separated and connected by a bridge (14c) and having metallized lands (16a, 16b) disposed over the pads (14a, 14b) so that an electrical potential applied across the metallized lands (16a, 16b) will cause sufficient current to flow through the firing leg of the electric circuit to release energy at the bridge (14c). A dielectric layer (15) is interposed within the first firing leg and has a breakdown voltage equal to a selected threshold voltage (Vth) and therefore provides protection against the device functioning at voltages below the threshold voltage (Vth). A continuity monitor leg of the electric circuit is comprised of either a fusible link (34) or a resistor (36) disposed in parallel to the first firing leg.

Abstract: A semiconductor bridge igniter device (10) having integral voltage anti-fuse protection provides an electric circuit including a firing leg and, optionally, a monitor leg. The firing leg comprises semiconductor pads (14a, 14b) separated and connected by a bridge (14c) and having metallized lands (16a, 16b) disposed over the pads (14a, 14b) so that an electrical potential applied across the metallized lands (16a, 16b) will cause sufficient current to flow through the firing leg of the electric circuit to release energy at the bridge (14c). A dielectric layer (15) is interposed within the firing leg and has a breakdown voltage equal to a selected threshold voltage (V.sub.th) and therefore provides protection against the device functioning at voltages below the threshold voltage (V.sub.th). A continuity monitor leg of the electric circuit is comprised of either a fusible link (34) or a resistor (36) disposed in parallel to the firing leg.

Abstract: An optical gauging system comprises a fixture for rotating a workpiece to provide registration of the workpiece surfaces with a measurement optical path and optical interference apparatus for reflecting a measurement optical beam off said surfaces to provide an optical interference signal indicative of the distance between successive surfaces.

Abstract: A sensor employs a laser to obtain a collimated light beam for transmission across the gas effluent of a catalytic cracking process. Particulate matter entrained in the gas flow forward scatters light energy to a collecting aperture which, in turn focuses the scattered light on a first photodetector. A second photodetector receives directly transmitted light energy. A ratio between the output signals of the two photodetectors is derived and presented to a threshold level detector. If the magnitude of the scatter exceeds a predetermined level it is concluded that a catalyst load dump has occurred. The optical system is carefully selected to ensure that only light energy scattered from a sample volume within the entrained gas flow reaches the first photodetector. This is important because it prevents particulate matter on the surfaces of the transparent windows from affecting the operating of the sensor.