Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Trw Limited

Energy Innovations, Inc.

Pasadena Power

Denes L Zsolnay

Brian M Sullivan

William Tod Gross

Shi-Ping Hsu

Gregg Luconi

Bruce W Evans

Russell H Lambert

Peter J Hadinger

Gerard Roccanova

Arthur F Messenger

Kurt E Jechel

William T Gross

Robert D MacPhee, Jr

Richard K McHugh

Mixing of a sample containing a suspect bioagent or antigen with 1&#xb0; recognition molecule coated magnetic beads in the preliminary stage of an enzyme linked immunoassay ('ELISA') procedure is emulated by first inserting the coated magnetic beads into a non-magnetic confinement region, generating a magnetic field B along the axis of said non-magnetic confinement region to agglomerate the coated magnetic beads into a porous mass; then percolating or otherwise forcing the sample solution through said porous mass; and withdrawing the magnetic field to de-agglomerate said coated magnetic beads. In seeping or otherwise flowing through the magnetic beads the molecules of the sample link to respective magnetic beads that are coated with recognition molecules.

Magnetic bead agglomerator for automated ELISA process

A ground-based tracking heliostat array comprises a first plurality of elongate row mounts. The elongate row mounts are positioned at least partially between, and are supported by, a first side bracket and a second side bracket. The row mounts are rotatable in a first axis. The array further comprises a plurality of optical elements that are mounted to one or more of the elongate row mounts. The array further comprises a linkage that is mechanically coupled to a first plurality of elongate row mounts. Movement of the linkage causes the first plurality of elongate row mounts to simultaneously rotate in the first axis. The array further comprises a motor configured to move the linkage.

Solar concentrator array with grouped adjustable elements

A primary antibody bead suspension for an enzyme-linked immunoassay ('ELISA') procedure is formed of a quantity of primary antibody coated magnetic beads () uniformly dispersed and held in suspension () by a thixotropic non-Newtonian fluid (). To remove the thixotropic non-Newtonian fluid prior to application in the ELISA procedure, a magnet () is placed against the side of the non-magnetic vessel () holding the suspension to draw the magnetic beads against the side while the thixotropic fluid is washed away by pumping (&) and replaced by a saline buffer solution.

Uniform bead dosing from a stable dispersion

A tracking heliostat array comprises a plurality of optical elements. The tracking heliostat array further comprises a frame separated from the optical elements. Each of the optical elements has an orientation with respect to the frame. The tracking heliostat array further comprises a plurality of supports coupled to at least one of the optical elements. The tracking heliostat array further comprises a turnbuckle coupled to at least one of the supports and to the frame. Rotation of the turnbuckle causes the corresponding support to be displaced relative to the frame. The orientation of the optical element relative to the frame is adjustable. The tracking heliostat array further comprises a traveling actuator configured to rotate at least one of the turnbuckles. The tracking heliostat array further comprises a positioning mechanism supporting the traveling actuator. The positioning mechanism is configured to move the traveling actuator from a first selected turnbuckle to a second selected turnbuckle.

Solar concentrator array with individually adjustable elements

An electronic controller, such as a programmed microcontroller, controls a series of pumps to automatically sequence the pumping of the individual fluids required by the ELISA procedure into a cell (or cells) necessary to produce a reporter, including the addition of o-nitrophenyl beta-D galactopyranoside substrate of the enzyme ('ONP-GP'), control the positioning of the carrier of the reporter adjacent the reporter sensor, analyze the data obtained from the reporter sensor and display the concentration of the bioagent determined from the analysis of the foregoing data. Once started, the apparatus, governed by the program, conducts the test automatically in the shortest time known to date, without the necessity for human intervention.

Automated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay device with ONP-GP

The existence of any one of a plurality of 2 &minus;1 bioagents in a sample (1) may be determined by dividing the sample into N parts and performing separate ELISA processes (TEST 1 & TEST 2) on each of the N parts concurrently, where N is an integer greater than 1, each of the separate ELISA processes possessing the capability to identify a bioagent from a combination of possible bioagents (3), and in which the combination of possible bioagents of any one of the separate ELISA processes is different (7) from the combination of possible bioagents of any other of the separate ELISA processes.

Combinational strategy for identification of biological agents

A Stirling cycle engine comprises a substantially sealed engine block that defines a working fluid space, a hot path and a cold path. A heat source and a heat sink are configured to keep the hot path and the cold path at different temperatures. The engine includes a valve chamber that is communication with the working fluid space, the hot path and the cold path. A valve is moveably positioned within the valve chamber between at least a first position and a second position. The valve defines a passage that, in the first position, places the working fluid space in communication with the hot path and, in the second position, places the working fluid space in communication with the cold path. A regenerator positioned within the passage.

Moveable regenerator for stirling engines

A method ( ) and apparatus ( ) for encoding and decoding data in a signal using notch depth modulation. The method ( ) of data to be encoded in the signal. The method then notch filters ( ) the signal according to the frequency notch representation of the data. The apparatus ( ) for encoding data comprises an digitizer ( ) to digitize the signal. A code former ( ) provides the data to be encoded in the signal. A notch filter ( ) notch filters the signal according to the data. Decoding the data converts the signal into a frequency domain representation ( ) and determines the notch spectral content ( ) of the signal at selected notch frequencies. The method ( ) establishes notch thresholds ( ) at each of the selected notch frequencies, then decodes the data ( ) from the signal by comparing the notch spectral content to the notch thresholds.

Code modulation using narrow spectral notching

An electronic controller, such as a programmed microcontroller ( ), controls a series of pumps (P -P ) to automatically sequence the pumping of the individual fluids required by the ELISA procedure into a cell (or cells) necessary to produce a reporter, control the positioning of the carrier of the reporter ( ) adjacent the reporter sensor ( ), analyze the data obtained from the reporter sensor and display ( ) the concentration of the bioagent determined from the analysis of the foregoing data. The foregoing elements automate the ELISA procedure. Once started, the apparatus, governed by the program, conducts the test automatically without the necessity for human intervention. In accordance with a specific aspect, the foregoing components may be housed in a single package for easy portability; may be battery powered or line powered.

Automated computer controlled reporter device for conducting imunnoassay and molecular biology procedures

Apparatus, and a corresponding method for its use, for gaining access to and operating a vehicle, such as a car (10), by means of at least one fingerprint sensor (16) installed inside the vehicle at a convenient location and, optionally, outside the vehicle (at 14), in or near a door handle (12). Once an authorized user's identify has been verified in a fingerprint matching device (30), various vehicle subsystems are automatically adjusted to the identified user's preferred settings, which are stored in a memory (98). In addition, starting the vehicle engine is enabled if an interior fingerprint sensor has been used, or the vehicle is unlocked if an exterior fingerprint sensor has been used. Vehicle subsystems that are automatically adjusted to the user preferences include seats (38), mirrors (40), steering wheel (42), climate control (44), airbag (52), telephone (46), radio (50) and onboard computer (54), as well as performance control features (48) such as suspension and transmission adjustment. Door locks (34) and security system features (36) are also automatically controlled, as is a radio transmitter (56) that is automatically customized to open the user's home garage door or office parking entry gate. Features of a number of different fingerprints are stored in the device to allow for operation of the vehicle (10) by different family members, as authorized by a primary user.

Fingerprint actuation of customized vehicle features

A circuit board construction including a circuit board with circuit modules installed on at least one face of the board, and at least one baffle plate connected rigidly to the board. The baffle plate is of approximately the same dimensions as the circuit board and is rigidly connected to it in a parallel, spaced-apart relationship. The baffle plate has openings at selected locations to direct air onto board-mounted circuit modules, and forms one face of an inlet air plenum, the other face of which is one surface of the circuit board to which the baffle plate is attached, or one face of an adjacent surface. The construction thereby provides impingement cooling of its components, and greatly improved structural rigidity of the circuit boards. One of the forms of the device illustrated has a single baffle plate associated with each circuit board, with circuit modules located on either the inner surface or the outer surface of the board. An alternative form of the invention includes a circuit board with circuit modules on both faces, and two baffle plates, one on each side of the circuit board, such that an intake air plenum is formed between each baffle plate and the surface of an adjacent circuit board or baffle plate.

Growing community of inventors

Rolling Hills Estates, CA, United States of America

Denes L Zsolnay