Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for ionizing a surface. In one implementation, an ionization source may include a microhollow cathode plasma or micro cavity plasma (MCP)-based ion source having a cavity and generating a plasma. A gas stream may pass through the cavity and transport the plasma. The source may further include one or more conductive electrodes located downstream from the MCP and configured to have a potential relative to the MCP such that positive and negative ions included in the plasma are carried through the electrodes by the gas stream. In another implementation, a mixer may mix a dopant (e.g. water) with the gas stream (e.g. air) entering the discharge. The disclosure also relates to a surface ionization probe.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for transferring ions to a mass spectrometer. In one implementation, the system includes an ion source; a device for generating a solvent vapor; a unit for mixing the ions and the vapor; and a transfer tube coupled to the mass spectrometer. The mixing may cause solvent clusters to nucleate on the ions, and the transfer tube may couple the ion source and the mass spectrometer. Furthermore, the transfer tube may be configured to transfer the ions by using a gas flow and prevent the solvent clusters from contacting the tube wall by using thermophoresis.

Abstract: A system and method include a swab, configured to collect particles for detection by a particle detection system, that includes integral, machine-readable identification data that identifies the swab and is used by the particle detection system to at least activate one or more functions of the particle detection system associated with an efficacy of the swab for use by the particle detection system.

Abstract: A stylus input device, a stylus input device with display, and a method for entering input into a computer system are provided. The stylus is preferably used as a pointer that points to a particular region on an electronic display, and one or more buttons on the stylus can be used to scroll, modify or select that region. The buttons can be programmed in various ways to perform different functions, or one button can be programmed to perform a sequence of functions. The tip of the stylus need not contact the display surface to either render the stylus position or to select the region of the display shown by the stylus curser. The input device and system thereby operates in a contactless and wireless environment to leave the display area unencumbered to viewers of the display screen, and to allow more than one stylus to concurrently operate upon the display.

Abstract: A stylus input device, a stylus input device with display, and a method for entering input into a computer system are provided. The stylus is preferably used as a pointer that points to a particular region on an electronic display, and one or more buttons on the stylus can be used to scroll, modify or select that region. The buttons can be programmed in various ways to perform different functions, or one button can be programmed to perform a sequence of functions. The tip of the stylus need not contact the display surface to either render the stylus position or to select the region of the display shown by the stylus cursor. The input device and system thereby operates in a contactless and wireless environment to leave the display area unencumbered to viewers of the display screen, and to allow more than one stylus to concurrently operate upon the display.

Abstract: A hand-held battery powered device for transferring data between one or more flash memory modules and a mass storage device. The device includes one or more slots to accept a flash memory module into a housing which includes fixed or removable mass storage device and logic circuitry disposed within the housing for transferring data between the flash memory module and mass storage device. Ports are disclosed for transferring data from the resident mass storage device to the user's computer.

Abstract: A hand-held battery powered device for transferring data between one or more flash memory modules and a mass storage device. The device includes one or more slots to accept a flash memory module into a housing which includes fixed or removable mass storage device and logic circuitry disposed within the housing for transferring data between the flash memory module and mass storage device. Ports are disclosed for transferring data from the resident mass storage device to the user's computer.

Abstract: A hand-held battery powered device for transferring data between one or more flash memory modules and a mass storage device. The device includes one or more slots to accept a flash memory module into a housing which includes fixed or removable mass storage device and logic circuitry disposed within the housing for transferring data between the flash memory module and mass storage device. Ports are disclosed for transferring data from the resident mass storage device to the user's computer.

Abstract: A hand-held battery powered device for transferring data between one or more flash memory modules and a mass storage device. The device includes one or more slots to accept a flash memory module into a housing which includes fixed or removable mass storage device and logic circuitry disposed within the housing for transferring data between the flash memory module and mass storage device. Ports are disclosed for transferring data from the resident mass storage device to the user's computer.