Science Spectrum, Inc.

Other

William L Proctor

Philip J Wyatt

John L Richardson

Lawrence V Maldarelli

Glen J Culler

Vincent R Stull

Michael McCammon

Robert B Pearson

Irving L Miller

David T Phillips

Thomas C Urquhart

An instruction sequencer for programming parallel operations of functional units in response to an instruction stream is shown. The instruction sequencer includes a random access memory for storing instruction segments which program the operations of the functional units. An instruction address register contains instruction addresses for selected locations in the memory having instruction segments stored therein. A memory address circuit reads out an instruction stream comprising instruction segments from the memory in response to the stored instruction address and stores the same in an instruction buffer register. A rotating network, which is operatively coupled to the instruction buffer register, rotates the instruction stream so as to position a selected instruction segment at a predetermined location in a rotating network. A control circuit determines whether the rotating network is required to rotate the instruction stream and, if so, directs the rotating network to position the selected instruction segment at the predetermined location in the rotating network. A first decoding circuit receives and decodes the selected instruction segment to produce a first control signal. A shifting circuit receives the rotated instruction stream and shifts the same an amount equal to at least the width of the selected instruction segment and then applies the same to a second decoding circuit which produces a second control signal. The first and second control signals are adapted to be applied to and commence operation of the functional units in parallel.

Instruction sequencer for parallel operation of functional units

A programmable action sampler system (PASS) is described which holds a large number of discrete samples in a matrix of separate sample cups. The system is capable of dispensing a sample from a sample line into any one of the sample cups. At a pre-determined later time, using a cannula, the system addresses the sample from the cup for further measurement or analysis. In the preferred system, the samples flow sequentially through a tube, the liquid intermediate the samples being dispensed into a liquid waste line. The cannula between samples is bathed constantly in a wash tube, even while moving from one sample location to another. Further, in the preferred application, bacterial samples are employed, the sample cups being immersed in a constant temperature liquid bath to hold the bacterial samples at a constant incubation temperature. Among the various novel features employed in the system is a blade brake structure that accurately locates the sample head and cannula over any selected sample cup.

Programmable action sampler system

A differential light scattering photometer is disclosed for testing samples of bacteria in suspension. A plurality of cuvettes containing the samples are placed in a cuvette holder or carousel which rotatably places each cuvette in position to interrupt a laser beam. A detector rotates in an arc about each sample to produce output signals representing the scattered light intensity as a function of angular location, relative to the incident laser beam, about the sample. A control differential scattering pattern is produced and compared with test differential scattering patterns derived from test samples having added antibiotics. The patterns are compared by data processing to produce an output punched card indicative of bacterial sensitivity to each antibiotic. The data processor is responsive, through pattern comparison, to various responses of the bacteria, i.e., whether the antibiotic is bactericidal, bacteriostatic or the bacteria actually metabolize the antibiotic. An appropriate protocol and process is disclosed.

Process for testing microparticle response to its environment

Growing community of inventors

Goleta, CA, United States of America

William L Proctor