Abstract: Described herein are optical proximity detectors, methods for use therewith, and systems including an optical proximity detector. Such optical proximity detectors include an analog front-end and a digital back-end. In certain embodiments, the digital back-end includes a dynamic gain and phase offset corrector, a cross-talk corrector, a phase and magnitude calculator, and a static phase offset corrector. The dynamic gain and phase offset corrector corrects for dynamic variations in gain and phase offset of the analog front-end due to changes in temperature and/or operating voltage levels. The crosstalk corrector corrects for electrical and/or optical crosstalk associated with the analog front-end. The phase and magnitude calculator calculates phase and magnitude values in dependence on the corrected versions of digital in-phase and quadrature-phase signals received from the analog front-end. The static phase offset corrector corrects for a static phase offset of the optical proximity detector.

Abstract: Described herein are optical proximity detectors, methods for use therewith, and systems including an optical proximity detector. Such optical proximity detectors include an analog front-end and a digital back-end. In certain embodiments, the digital back-end includes a dynamic gain and phase offset corrector, a cross-talk corrector, a phase and magnitude calculator, and a static phase offset corrector. The dynamic gain and phase offset corrector corrects for dynamic variations in gain and phase offset of the analog front-end due to changes in temperature and/or operating voltage levels. The crosstalk corrector corrects for electrical and/or optical crosstalk associated with the analog front-end. The phase and magnitude calculator calculates phase and magnitude values in dependence on the corrected versions of digital in-phase and quadrature-phase signals received from the analog front-end. The static phase offset corrector corrects for a static phase offset of the optical proximity detector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for rapid isolation of RNA. More particularly, it relates to a method for isolation of RNA using two-solution system. The present invention also relates to a RNA isolation kit.

Abstract: Inertial rate sensor and method in which in which a single output terminal is utilized for delivering a rate output signal during normal operation, interfacing with an external computer during a programming mode, and for providing a warning in the event of a failure. Access to the programming mode is permitted only when a predetermined sequence of conditions is met, and accidental initiation of the programming mode is virtually impossible. Compensation data is stored redundantly at two locations in an internal memory, and the data is read from both locations and compared to verify its validity. Signals are monitored at different points to detect the occurrence of failures.

Abstract: Ratiometric transducer and method in which the outputsnal is linearly proportional to the supply voltage or level of excitation. A drive circuit applies a drive signal to an element which undergoes a change in accordance with a condition to be monitored (e.g., rotation or acceleration), and a pickup circuit receives signals from the element and provides an output signal corresponding to the condition to be monitored. Operating voltage is supplied to the drive circuit from a power supply, and the gain of the drive circuit is adjusted in accordance with variations in the operating voltage to make the drive signal and the output signal proportional to the operating voltage.

Abstract: Crystal oscillator and method which in one embodiment have a crystal element connected in a positive feedback loop with a charge amplifier and an integrator, with the gain of the loop being maintained at a level of unity. Compensation is provided to offset the effects of shunt capacitance in the crystal element, and precise phase control is maintained around the loop. In other embodiments, a crystal element is connected in a series feedback loop with a buffer amplifier, and operation is provided by maintaining the oscillation signal at level at which distortion, clipping, and saturation do not occur. Compensation for shunt capacitance across the crystal element is provided by applying a compensation signal which is equal in amplitude but opposite in phase to the signal passing through the shunt capacitance to the input terminal of the buffer amplifier to cancel the effect of the shunt capacitance.

Abstract: A voltage-to-frequency converter provides an output signal, the frequency of which is proportional to the instantaneous level of a reference-frequency signal, which is proportional to the output signal of a parameter-sensing circuit. An up-down frequency counter counts the output pulses of the voltage-to-frequency converter. An up-down control terminal coupled to the reference-frequency signal switches the counting direction of the up-down counter to demodulate the output signal of the voltage-to-frequency converter and to provide a digital output signal representative of the time integral of the amplitude of the parameter being sensed.An undersired input signal is reduced by subtracting a cancellation signal having the format of the undesired signal from the undesired input signal. The filter includes a subtractor, or difference circuit, the output of which is coupled to a voltage-to-frequency converter.

Abstract: A series-feedback crystal oscillator has a crystal element in series with a buffer amplifier. The oscillator maintains a linear oscillation signal by using an amplitude control circuit to hold the oscillation signal to a certain level at which distortion, clipping, or saturation does not occur. A control signal indicative of the amplitude of the oscillation signal linearly multiplies the oscillation signal to control the amplitude of the oscillation signal. Shunt capacitance across the crystal is compensated for by connecting a compensating capacitor to the same input terminal of the buffer amplifier as is connected the crystal. A compensating signal, which is equal in amplitude but opposite in phase to the signal passing through the shunt capacitance of the crystal is fed to the input terminal of the buffer amplifier to cancel the effect of the shunt capacitance. A noninverted tracer signal is injected in the feedback loop and passes through the shunt capacitance.

Abstract: An analog baseband signal modulates a reference-frequency carrier signal to provide a double-sideband, suppressed-carrier DSB-SC signal. The DSB-SC signal is converted in a voltage-to-frequency converter to a series of pulses, which are demodulated to produce a digitally formatted version of the baseband signal. A notch filter for rejecting an undesired analog signal includes a voltage-to-frequency converter and a selective feedback path which demodulates the undesired signal from a frequency-encoded domain back to the analog domain for a cancellation in a summer preceding the voltage-to-frequency converter.