Abstract: A device for detecting nucleic acids in a biological sample has a sample port, a lysis station and a sample conduit configured to mix a sample and lysis agent to form a sample-lysis mixture, pass the sample-lysis mixture across a solid-state membrane to capture nucleic acids in the biological sample therein, and receive the remainder of the sample-lysis mixture in a waste chamber. The wash station is configured to introduce the wash solution following the sample-lysis mixture, pass the wash solution across the solid-state membrane to purify nucleic acids captured therein, and receive the wash solution from the solid-state membrane in the waste chamber. The elution station is configured to pass the eluent across the solid-state membrane, elute captured nucleic acids from the solid-state membrane, and pass the captured nucleic acids into one or more reaction chambers for amplifying and detecting the captured nucleic acids.

Abstract: A liquid drop ejector is provided. The ejector includes a liquid chamber and a liquid supply. Portions of the liquid chamber define a nozzle bore. A liquid supply passageway is positioned between the liquid chamber and the liquid supply. The liquid supply passageway is in fluid communication with the liquid chamber and the liquid supply. A plurality of pillars is suspended in the liquid supply passageway. A wall of the liquid chamber can extend to the liquid supply passageway. A center pillar can also be included with a portion of the center pillar being positioned in the liquid chamber and another portion of the center pillar being positioned in the liquid supply passageway.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are providing for controlling the drop volume of a thermal fluid jet fluid ejecting head. The fluid ejecting head has a plurality of drop ejectors, each of the plurality of drop ejectors has a heating element activated in response to input signals to eject an ink droplet from the fluid ejecting head. The method includes the steps of applying a plurality of print signals to the fluid ejecting head, the plurality of print signals corresponding to an image for the fluid jet assembly to create, applying at least two pre-pulse signals of different duration to the fluid ejecting head, and using the at least two pre-pulse signals and the plurality of print signals to activate the heating elements so that a desired drop volume results.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for automatic fluid ejector alignment and performance evaluation and modification in one or multiple planes. A fluid ejector fires a drop through a drop detection module. A signal indicating drop presence or absence is sent to a computer. The computer analyzes the data, and makes a compensation determination of a preferred method of using the fluid ejector. The compensation determination may include electronically modifying the image data to be printed, physically manipulating the fluid ejector, completely skipping the fluid ejector during printing operations, or in some other way modifying the fluid ejector or image data such that apparent printed image error due to fluid ejector alignment or performance error is reduced.

Abstract: A thermally-conductive fluid ejector carriage device is used to dissipate heat from a thermal fluid ejector module in a fluid ejection device. The thermally-conductive fluid ejector carriage device is molded from a polymer, or a polymer material including at least one thermally-conductive filler material. The thermal fluid ejector module is brought into contact with the thermally-conducting polymer carriage to dissipate heat. The polymer can be a highly thermally-conductive polymer. A method of manufacturing the thermally-conductive polymer carriage includes molding the carriage at least partially from a polymer that includes thermally-conductive filler materials, and contacting the thermally-conducting polymer carriage with the fluid ejector module. A method for use of the thermally-conductive fluid ejector carriage device includes establishing a heat flow path from the fluid ejector module to ambient air through the thermally-conductive fluid ejector carriage device.

Abstract: A system, method and structures for dissipating heat away from a thermal fluid ejector modules through a thermally-conductive carriage molded from a polymer to the ambient air surrounding the structure upon which the thermally-conductive fluid ejector carriage translates. The heat is transferred via conduction and convection from the thermally-conductive fluid ejector carriage across a thin volume of air trapped between a thermally-conductive carriage rod guide, enclosed on each end by thermally-conductive carriage rod guide bearings, and the thermal contact of the thermally-conductive carriage rod guide bearings with the surface of at least one thermally-conductive carriage guide rod which the thermally-conductive fluid ejector carriage translates.

Abstract: A method of italicizing a font includes the steps of slanting a symbol stored in a generic font format as an arrangement of pixel locations by offsetting the arrangement of pixel locations at a predetermined slope to create a staircase edge; and inserting additional pixels at predetermined locations by a predetermined transformation of the generic font format to conceal the staircase. The method does not require the storage of additional pixel information relating to the symbol. In addition, the predetermined transformation eliminates complex pixel positioning programming requiring an analysis of the symbol pattern and recognition of the location in the pattern where a staircase concealing pixel should be located.