Lexmark International, Inc.

Luna Innovations Inc.

K2 Biomicrosystems, LLC

Daniel Richard Klemer

Eric Wayne Westerfield

Martin Christopher Klement

David John Mickan

Roger Steven Cannon

Philip Jerome Heink

Wilson Morgan Routt, Jr

Craig Palmer Bush

Stanley Coy Tungate, Jr

Christopher Dane Jones

Mark E Jones

Danny Wayne Peters

Steven A Stevenson

Charles Boyd Gause

David P Klemer

Joshua P Averett

Donald S Chen

Matthew S Hull

Jennifer S Ito

Roof constructed of triangular panels

The present invention relates generally to monitoring of biochemical amplification reactions using electromagnetic radiation, and more particularly to an apparatus for optical monitoring of isothermal and thermally-cycled amplification reactions using radiation ranging from the ultraviolet region through the infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Moreover, the method discussed herein could be similarly applied to any process that results in biochemical amplification, regardless of the specific technique employed.

Nucleic acid amplification and monitoring apparatus

Methods and apparatus include improving print quality of a bi-directionally scanning electrophotographic (EP) device, such as a laser printer or copy machine, according to ambient pressure in which operated. A moving galvanometer or oscillator reflects a laser beam to create scan lines of a latent image in opposite directions. A damping of the motion occurs per air density implicated by temperature and pressure, where the pressure changes occurring especially from altitude changes. During use, a drive signal, such as a pulse train, moves the galvanometer or oscillator at or near its resonant frequency. Based on a parameter of the drive signal, such as pulse width, the ambient pressure can be made known. In general, a high-pressure environment requires a relatively longer pulse width to resonate the galvanometer or oscillator in comparison to a shorter pulse width for a low-pressure environment. Corrections to print quality stem from the determined ambient pressure.

Obtaining pressure of an operating environment of a bi-directionally scanning electrophotographic device for implementing corrections per pressure

Obtaining pressure of an operating environment of a bi-directionally scanning electrographic device for implementing corrections per pressure

Methods and apparatus include aligning printing of a bi-directionally scanning electrophotographic (EP) device, such as a laser printer or copy machine. At least first and second scan lines formed in opposite directions define a calibration page for manufacturing, servicing or end-user operation. The page includes pluralities of objects with one formed from either the first or second scan lines, but not both, and another of the objects formed from the other of the first or second scan lines, but not both. In this manner, corrections can be implemented by simply observing misalignments between the objects. Printed calibration pages also include visually or mechanically read objects for implementing corrections. In this regard, calibrating devices external to the EP device are contemplated. Objects include lines, squares or other shapes and their arrangement on a page varies. Fiducials for macro-scale observations are also contemplated.

Calibrating a bi-directionally scanning electrophotographic device

Methods and apparatus include aligning printing of a bi-directionally scanning electrophotographic (EP) device, such as a laser printer or copy machine. At least first and second scan lines formed in opposite directions define a calibration page for manufacturing, servicing or end-user operating. The page includes pluralities of diagnostic patterns repeatedly tiled together in various formats. In one instance, a first pattern defines a substantially rectangular cell of pixels (pels) for at least a first and second scan line of opposite directions. A second pattern defines the first pattern except at least one of the pels of either the first and second scan lines is intentionally displaced at least one pel width in the scan direction. Upon repeatedly tiling groups of either the first or second patterns together, multiple bars of the calibration page are formed. A darkest of the bars represents a preferred calibration setting of the EP device.

Print alignment for bi-directionally scanning electrophotographic device

A scanning apparatus for a printer or similar instrument. A multiharmonic oscillator is used to provide a composite motion of a laser beam or other light beam to scan an imaging surface. The multiharmonic oscillator may have multiple sections each having a different resonant frequency. One section includes a reflector that intercepts the light beam, and drive electronics move the reflector so the light beam scans the imaging surface. Linear and complex non-linear motions of the light beam may be achieved. Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology may be used to fabricate the oscillator.

Multiharmonic galvonometric scanning device

A laser driver comprises a plurality of current sources, including at least one bias current source and at least two drive current sources. To control the laser driver, a set of operating states is defined where each operating state corresponds to a desired laser output power level and a ratio is defined that establishes a relationship between a first desired laser output and a second desired laser output. A calibration operation samples laser output power of the laser source for less than all of the operating states, computes adjustments to the current levels of the current sources based at least in part upon the ratio such that sampled laser power levels converge towards their corresponding desired laser output level. The current sources are adjusted to their corresponding computed current levels.

Current driver and power control for electrophotographic devices

Multiharmonic galvanometric scanning device

An exemplary optical limiter device () has an optically transmissive substrate () and a layer () on a first surface () of the substrate, the layer having a trimetallic nitride endohedral metallofullerene. The layer can be a thin film of the trimetallic nitride endohedral metallofullerene, a layer material with a cavity containing a solution with the trimetallic nitride endohedral metallofullerene, a sol-gel with a trimetallic nitride endohedral metallofullerene, and a self assembled monolayer with a trimetallic nitride endohedral metallofullerene. The layers of trimetallic nitride endohedral metallofullerenes can be vapor deposited, solution deposited and/or self assembled onto optical components. The third-order nonlinear properties of these films provide desired transmission characteristics.

Optical limiter having trimetallic nitride endohedral metallofullerence films

The positioning of image data written along a laser beam scan path in the scan direction, e.g., the margin and/or line length is adjusted in a manner that compensates for changes in the laser beam scan path as a result of one or more operating conditions, such as changes in temperature. Further, the positioning of image data in the process direction may be adjusted in a manner that compensates for changes in the laser beam scan path as a result of the one or more operating conditions.

Systems and methods that compensate for scan path errors in a multi-beam electrophotographic imaging apparatus

Laser driver systems and methods are provided for controlling a laser driver coupled to a suitable laser source. The laser driver comprises a plurality of current sources, including at least one bias current source and at least two switched current sources. To control the laser driver, a laser power control signal is provided for each switched current source that corresponds to a desired laser output power. An output power error measure is defined based upon an error between a measured laser output power and the desired laser output power for each switched current source and a control system is characterized in which the output power error measures combine to change a magnitude of each of the switched current sources and the bias current source(s) such that the output power error measures converge over time.

Threshold current may be determined and one or more bias sources may be programmed in a laser drive circuit. For example, a laser diode emits light along first and second optical paths. A polarizer is positioned in the first optical path between the laser diode and a first detector, which outputs a first detector signal corresponding to the measured optical power of polarized light. A second detector monitors light along the second optical path and provides a second detector signal. A bias compensation circuit receives the first and second detector signals and provides a bias current control signal, which is utilized to program a bias current source supplied to the laser diode. Additionally, multiple polarizer devices may be utilized e.g., a first polarizer in a first optical path aligned with the laser beam and a second polarizer in a second optical path aligned substantially orthogonal to the polarization of the laser beam.

Automatic setting of laser diode bias current

A device and method for measuring optical properties of a sample are provided. The device comprises a housing surrounding a flow-through flow-cell having a sample inlet positioned proximate to a first end of the flow-cell and a sample outlet positioned proximate to a second end of the flow-cell and a sample chamber positioned between the sample inlet and the sample outlet. A plurality of excitation sources are positioned on the housing and are incident on a sample in the flow-cell. At least one excitation source has a wavelength that is different from the other excitation sources. At least one fluorescence emission detector, which detects a continuous broadband spectrum of emission wavelengths, is positioned in an operable relationship to the flow-cell. At least one signal interrogation system, which interprets a continuous fluorescence emission spectrum, is positioned in an operable relationship with each detector.

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Lexington, KY, United States of America

Daniel Richard Klemer