Abstract: Cell deposition and staining apparatuses and methods are disclosed herein. In particular, the deposition and staining apparatuses disclosed herein provide low-volume, automated bench top systems for depositing and staining cellular samples on a cytological slide. An example deposition and staining apparatus includes a housing having an access door; a substrate processing holder located within the housing configured to hold one or more substrates and/or one or more substrate cartridges, wherein the substrate processing holder is accessible when the access door is in an open configuration; at least one opening located at least partially above at least a portion of the substrate processing holder; a spray nozzle configured to dispense a gaseous substance into the substrate processing area; a user interface configured receive an input from a user, and in response to receiving the input, cause execution of a pre-programmed protocol; and a waste and/or reagent holder element.

Abstract: A millimeter wave microstrip shunt-mounted PIN diode switch having its DC ground separate from RF ground is created by utilizing a fan structure (radial stub) having a radius of approximately one-quarter wavelength to provide an RF ground at that location and then coupling the DC bias supplies to that RF ground location. By doing so and by proper attention to known design practices for laying out microstrip circuitry, the need for blocking capacitors required by prior art arrangements is eliminated.

Abstract: A voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) especially designed for use in the millimeter wave frequency band (Ka-band) and which exhibits an adjustable tuning sensitivity. A low tuning sensitivity is easily obtained, making it suitable for narrow-band FMCW applications. It comprises a Gunn diode as a negative resistance device and a voltage variable capacitance diode (varactor) as a tuning element. A fixed capacitance element is coupled in RF series with the varactor and microstrip transmission lines are configured to function as impedance matching, resonating and filtering elements. By incorporating the fixed capacitance in RF series with the varactor, the tuning sensitivity, measured in volts/Hz is markedly reduced. The VCO uses a novel RF structure which puts the fixed capacitance in RF series with the varactor, without introducing the fixed capacitance element in the varactor bias circuitry.

Abstract: A side-launch transition for efficiently joining a coaxial transmission line or coaxial connector to a microstrip transmission line for operation at millimeter wave frequencies. The microstrip transmission line comprises a conductive microstrip pattern on one side of a dielectric substrate and a ground plane on the other. The conductive microstrip pattern includes a rectangular terminal pad area of a predetermined length designed to be approximately equal to the wavelength of the signal being transmitted. This pad area is integrally joined to the microstrip line. A circular iris or aperture, is formed through the ground plane and is in a centered alignment with the terminal pad on the opposite side of the substrate. A small hole extends through the center of the iris and penetrates the substrate as well as the conductive pad area.

Abstract: A microwave and millimeter wave hybrid or monolithic microstrip test probe assembly provides a noninvasive radio frequency test point in a microstrip circuit. The probe assembly comprises a microstrip coupler. (12) adjacent a microstrip line (10) in the circuit for sampling a small amount of microwave energy propagating along said microstrip line. A stripline circuit (20, 22 and 24) is connected to the microstrip coupler. The stripline circuit includes a pad area (24) and a probe (26) moveable to overlay the pad area. The probe forms a ground plane with respect to the pad area, and a coaxial line (34) has an outer conductor connected to the probe and an inner conductor projecting through a hole in the probe. The probe assembly provides an RF test point within a microstrip circuit which allows an accurate, calibrated and repeatable means of sampling a microstrip signal while not affecting the normal performance of the hybrid or monolithic circuit.

Abstract: In combination: apparatus isolating the chroma information from a quadrature modulated color subcarrier video signal; and apparatus transforming said chroma information into an analog voltage having distinguishable levels uniquely representative of distinguishable hues of the composite signal.