Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for the real time processing of nucleic acid during polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and thermal melt applications. According to an aspect of the invention, a system for the rapid serial processing of multiple nucleic acid assays is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes, but is not limited to: a microfluidic cartridge having microfluidic (flow-through) channels, a fluorescence imaging system, a temperature measurement and control system; a pressure measurement and control system for applying variable pneumatic pressures to the microfluidic cartridge; a storage device for holding multiple reagents (e.g., a well-plate); a liquid handling system comprising at least one robotic pipettor for aspirating, mixing, and dispensing reagent mixtures to the microfluidic cartridge; systems for data storage, processing, and output; and a system controller to coordinate the various devices and functions.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices for control of an integrated thin-film device with a plurality of microfluidic channels. In one embodiment, a microfluidic device is provided that includes a microfluidic chip having a plurality of microfluidic channels and a plurality of multiplexed heater electrodes, wherein the heater electrodes are part of a multiplex circuit including a common lead connecting the heater electrodes to a power supply, each of the heater electrodes being associated with one of the microfluidic channels. The microfluidic device also includes a control system configured to regulate power applied to each heater electrode by varying a duty cycle, the control system being further configured to determine the temperature each heater electrode by determining the resistance of each heater electrode.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices for control of an integrated thin-film device with a plurality of microfluidic channels. In one embodiment, the microfluidic device includes a microfluidic chip comprising a first zone having a plurality of microfluidic channels and a second zone having a plurality of microfluidic channels, wherein the microfluidic channels in the first and second zones are in fluid communication. The microfluidic device further comprising a thin-film heater in thermal communication with each of the microfluidic channels in the first and second zones. The microfluidic device also includes a control system configured to independently control the temperature of each of the thin-film heaters using pulse width modulation (PWM) control signals that are optimized for each of the thin-film heaters.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for the real time processing of nucleic acid during polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and thermal melt applications. According to an aspect of the invention, a system for the rapid serial processing of multiple nucleic acid assays is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes, but is not limited to: a microfluidic cartridge having microfluidic (flow-through) channels, a fluorescence imaging system, a temperature measurement and control system; a pressure measurement and control system for applying variable pneumatic pressures to the microfluidic cartridge; a storage device for holding multiple reagents (e.g., a well-plate); a liquid handling system comprising at least one robotic pipettor for aspirating, mixing, and dispensing reagent mixtures to the microfluidic cartridge; systems for data storage, processing, and output; and a system controller to coordinate the various devices and functions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for the real time processing of nucleic acid during polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and thermal melt applications. According to an aspect of the invention, a system for the rapid serial processing of multiple nucleic acid assays is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes, but is not limited to: a microfluidic cartridge having microfluidic (flow-through) channels, a fluorescence imaging system, a temperature measurement and control system; a pressure measurement and control system for applying variable pneumatic pressures to the microfluidic cartridge; a storage device for holding multiple reagents (e.g., a well-plate); a liquid handling system comprising at least one robotic pipettor for aspirating, mixing, and dispensing reagent mixtures to the microfluidic cartridge; systems for data storage, processing, and output; and a system controller to coordinate the various devices and functions.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for the rapid serial processing of multiple nucleic acid assays. More particularly, the present invention provides for the real time processing of nucleic acid during polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and thermal melt applications. According to an aspect of the invention, a system for the rapid serial processing of multiple nucleic acid assays is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes, but is not limited to: a microfluidic cartridge having microfluidic (flow-through) channels, a fluorescence imaging system, a temperature measurement and control system; a pressure measurement and control system for applying variable pneumatic pressures to the microfluidic cartridge; a storage device for holding multiple reagents (e.g.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices for control of an integrated thin-film device with a plurality of microfluidic channels. In one embodiment, the microfluidic device includes a microfluidic chip comprising a first zone having a plurality of microfluidic channels and a second zone having a plurality of microfluidic channels, wherein the microfluidic channels in the first and second zones are in fluid communication. The microfluidic device further comprising a thin-film heater in thermal communication with each of the microfluidic channels in the first and second zones. The microfluidic device also includes a control system configured to independently control the temperature of each of the thin-film heaters using pulse width modulation (PWM) control signals that are optimized for each of the thin-film heaters.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording method employs a light-tonable recording liquid capable of being toned by light radiation, the liquid preferably containing a recording agent having an absorption peak within a certain wavelength range, an ammonium salt of an organic boron, and a liquid medium. The hue or the density of a desired portion of the light-tonable recording liquid on a recording member is changed by radiating toning light onto that portion. The recording member may have colored portions of an image previously recorded with a light-tonable recording liquid or colored portions just formed in the current recording. Toning light is radiated onto a desired position of the recording region of the member while varying the intensity and/or the period of light radiation in accordance with an information signal. Thus, toning may provide various half-tones or may render the toned portion of the recording liquid colorless, thereby erasing the relevant colored portions.

Abstract: In a recorder, at least one set of marks spaced by a predetermined distance in a feed direction of a record paper are recorded on the record paper, the marks are detected by a detector while the record paper is fed, a time interval between detections of the marks is compared with a reference number of pulses applied to paper feed motors to detect a deviation, and rotations of the left and right paper feed motors are controlled to control the feed of record medium.

Abstract: An ink jet recorder having an ink container and a recording head, to which ink in the ink container is supplied, is mounted on a carriage moving along a recording plane of a recording medium from a stand-by position to a print position. The recording head is driven in accordance with a recording signal to discharge ink toward the recording medium. A vent path is formed in the ink container to communicate with atmosphere, and a vent blocking device for blocking the vent path from the atmosphere is provided on the recorder body, wherein the vent path is blocked from atmosphere when the recording head is in the stand-by position.

Abstract: A dot matrix printer provided with a printing head having vertically aligned plural printing elements and displaced in the transversal direction of the printing sheet by a stepping motor, in which printing pulses of at least two dots are generated during a same magnetizing phase of the stepping motor and are supplied to the printing head.

Abstract: A thermal head driving device is provided with a safety circuit for preventing the heating resistors of a thermal head from being burnt or reduced in life by an abnormal printing pulse signal being applied to the heating resistors. The device is also provided with a temperature correcting circuit for controlling the heating temperature of the heating resistors to prevent the printing density of the thermal head from being varied under the influence of the ambient temperature. The device is further provided with a compensation circuit for varying the printing conditions graded for each range of resistance values of the heating resistors in a plurality of thermal heads to prevent a difference in printing density from being caused by the difference between said resistance values. At least two of the safety circuit, the temperature correcting circuit and the compensation circuit are combined.

Abstract: A desk-top calculator wherein a printer of the type having a movable character wheel is designed so as to effect printing on paper on a desk and when the calculator is moved, the character wheel is returned to its initial position.

Abstract: A printing device to perform character printing by urging a print head onto recording paper, the device being provided with a print head urging mechanism and paper forwarding mechanism. The paper forwarding mechanism has both the functions of automatic paper forwarding and manual paper forwarding, and, when paper is forwarded by manual operation, a force exerted from the manual operation acts on the abovementioned print head urging mechanism to cause the print head to separate from the recording paper.

Abstract: A printing head for use in a thermal printer or a discharge type printer has a groove formed in the side thereof, and balls or rollers are resiliently projected therewithin. When mounted on a connector resting on the carriage of the printer, the printing head is positively held at a regular mounting position.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the pulse period of pulses applied to a pulse motor in a printer is disclosed. The pulse motor is accelerated by gradually reducing the pulse period of pulses applied to the pulse motor. After the detection of return of the printing head to a certain predetermined position, the speed of pulse motor is gradually decreased down by gradually extending the pulse period of pulses applied to the motor. At the start of returning movement of the printing head, the first pulse of pulses applied to the motor has a pulse period larger than that of self-start pulse of the motor. The pulse period of the subsequent pulses is gradually reduced. At the time of stopping the pulse motor, the pulse period of pulses applied to the motor is gradually extended to decrease the speed of the pulse motor. At the moment when the pulse period is extended to a value larger than the pulse period of self-start pulse of the motor, application of pulse to the pulse motor is stopped.