Hewlett-packard Company

John S Poole

Mark A Nickerson

Lenore G Frank

Gary B Gordon

L Thompson Staats, Iii

Philip B Fuhrman

Arthur Schleifer

Joseph Charles Roark

Frank J DeMonte

Gilbert Segal

Douglas H Smith

Lennart Bilen

H Blair Muhlestein

Raymond J Bell

Dennis R Gere

A method for sample preparation in which a sample matrix is formed into a thin film prior to being brought into contact with an extraction solvent such that the surface area contact between the sample matrix and the solvent is maximized and the cross section of the sample matrix and corresponding diffusion path of components of interest is minimized.

Thin film sample preparation

Methods of programming mechanical manipulators are disclosed that permit a mechanical manipulator to be programmed to perform coordinated motions between one or more modules comprised of equipment with which the manipulator will interact by defining an origin point and one or more frame points related to each of the modules relative to the origin point. Each of the modules associated with a frame point is then identified and a module program describing pre-programmed manipulator motions related to each of the modules is accessed. Finally, a sequence of motions between the origin and each of the frame points of the modules is defined. The step of locating frame points can be carried out in several different ways, using a teach pendant or by automatically locating the module frame points using an infrared sensor, electric field sensor, acoustic sensor, or force sensor. Methods of programming a mechanical manipulator to move between an origin point and one or more modules are also disclosed which comprise the steps of creating a programming element representative of each module and its corresponding module program. An origin frame point is again defined and the programming elements are assembled to correspond to one or more modules that represent the desired manipulator motion. Finally, the frame point of each of the selected modules is defined relative to the origin point. The programming elements can be comprised of commands, portions of a computer program or icons that represent the module and module program. In a preferred embodiment, each of the module programs begins and ends with the manipulator at a safe point defined as a point from which the manipulator may move in at least one direction without encountering an obstruction. Methods of controlling a manipulator after it has encountered an obstruction are also disclosed.

Methods for automatically programming spatial information in robotic

A pre-injection sample sequencing subsystem for laboratory apparatus which includes a chromatograph with a column includes a circular tray with a plurality of concentric arrays of physical locations for storing sample vials in radially extending linear arrays, and a plurality of virtual locations that are extensions of the linear arrays. Each of the physical and virtual locations are individually addressable by a controller for a robot on the tray such that pre-injection sample processing modules may be attached to the tray, located at one or more of the virtual locations. A sequencing method optimizes transfer of samples contained in the vials between their respective physical storage location and the pre-injection processing modules.

Pre-injection chromatographic sample sequencer

A solenoid driven valve is disclosed which is adaptable for controlling the introduction of a high pressure fluid into a fluid trapping assembly having an absorption column topped with an annular orifice expansion nozzle. The valve has an inlet port to introduce high pressure fluid, an axially moving solenoid driven pin which engages means to restrict fluid flow into said column. A diaphragm is located within the valve to direct fluid into the column and which separates the fluid in a region of high pressure from ambient pressures.

Axially-driven valve controlled trapping assembly

Axially-driven valve controlled fluid trapping assembly

Concentration of the solutes contained in a liquid solvent is effected by passing the solvent through a first trapping means that adsorbs them, flushing the first trapping means with supercritical fluid and reducing its solubility parameter in a second trapping means so that the latter can adsorb desired solutes.

Automated sample concentrator for trace components

A gas chromatograph system includes a central processor (CPU) and a printer-plotter. The printer-plotter prints characters and plots data using a single 1 by 7 array of thermal resistors to perform both the printing and plotting operations in real time. The system provides continuous and uniform traces despite changes in the plotting rate. Data from the chromatograph is temporarily stored by the CPU, then forwarded upon programmed command through a print-plot controller to the printer-plotter. Data is plotted as it is received from the CPU. As peaks in the data are detected, plotting is suspended temporarily without loss of data, and characters are printed adjacent to the peaks, thus annotating the peaks with digital data.

Growing community of inventors

Landenberg, PA, United States of America

John S Poole