1. An apparatus comprising:
a substrate;
a heat generator provided directly or via a spacer on a first major surface of the substrate;
a plurality of switches that are provided on a second major surface of the substrate and that serve as connecting a contact point when pressed;
a key mat that is located on the side of the second major surface of the substrate and made of an elastic member;
a plurality of pressure conveying portions that are provided at positions corresponding to each of the plurality of switches, and are provided between the second major surface of the substrate and one of the major surfaces of the key mat, the one of major surfaces facing the second major surface of the substrate; and
a key that is provided on the other major surface of the key mat and that can be pressed down to the key mat, wherein a contact face between the pressure conveying portion corresponding to a particular switch located within a certain range of the distance from the heat generator directly fixed to the substrate or from the spacer, in the planar direction of the substrate, and the particular switch, has a smaller area as compared to that of a contact face between the pressure conveying portion corresponding to a non-particular switch, which is a switch other than the particular switch, and the non-particular switch; or wherein a contact face between the pressure conveying portion corresponding to the particular switch and the key mat, has a smaller area as compared to that of a contact face between the pressure conveying portion corresponding to the non-particular switch and the key mat.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pressure conveying portions are a plurality of projected portions protruding from one of the major surfaces of the key mat, the one of the major surface facing the second major surface of the substrate, toward each of the plurality of switches; and wherein a contact face between the particular switch located within a certain range of the distance from the heat generator directly fixed to the substrate or from the spacer, in the planar direction of the substrate, and a projected portion protruding toward the particular switch, has a smaller area as compared to that of a contact face between the non-particular switch, which is a switch other than the particular switch, and the projected portion protruding toward the non-particular switch.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pressure conveying portions are a plurality of projected portions protruding from each of the plurality of switches toward one of the major surfaces of the key mat, the one of the major surfaces facing the second major surface of the substrate; and wherein a contact face between the projected portion protruding from the particular switch located within a certain range of the distance from the heat generator directly fixed to the substrate or from the space, in the planar direction of the substrate, and the key mat, has a smaller area as compared to that of a contact face between the projected portion protruding from the non-particular switch, which is a switch other than the particular switch, and the key mat.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat generator is an exothermic semiconductor device.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat generator is a power source.
6. An apparatus comprising:
a substrate;
a heat generator provided directly or via a spacer on a first major surface of the substrate;
a plurality of switches that are provided on a second major surface of the substrate, and that serve as connecting a contact point when pressed;
a key mat that is located on the side of the second major surface of the substrate and made of an elastic member;
a plurality of pressure conveying portions that are provided at positions corresponding to each of the plurality of switches, and are provided between the second major surface of the substrate and one of the major surfaces of the key mat, the one of the major surfaces facing the second major surface of the substrate; and
a key that is provided on the other side of the major surface of the key mat, and that can be pressed down to the key mat, wherein a gap is provided between the pressure conveying portion corresponding to the particular switch located within a certain range of the distance from the generator directly fixed to the substrate or from the spacer, in the planar direction of the substrate, and the particular switch or the key mat; and wherein the pressure conveying portion corresponding to the non-particular switch, which is a switch other than the particular switch, is in contact with the non-particular switch and the key mat.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of pressure conveying portions are a plurality of projected portions protruding from the one of the major surfaces of the key mat, the one of the major surfaces facing the second major surface of the substrate, toward each of the plurality of switches; and wherein a gap is provided between the particular switch located within a certain range of the distance from the heat generator directly fixed to the substrate or from the space, in the planar direction of the substrate, and the projected portion protruding toward the particular switch, and wherein the non-particular switch, which is a switch other than the particular switch, and the projected portion protruding toward the non-particular switch are in contact with each other.
8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of pressure conveying portions are a plurality of projected portions protruding from each of the plurality of switches toward one of the major surfaces of the key mat, the one of the major surfaces facing the second major surface of the substrate; and wherein a gap is provided between the projected portion protruding from the particular switch located within a certain distance from the heat generator directly fixed to the substrate or from the spacer, in the planar direction of the substrate, and the key mat, and wherein the projected portion protruding from the non-particular switch, which is a switch other than the particular switch, and the key mat are in contact with each other.
9. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the heat generator is an exothermic semiconductor device.
10. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the heat generator is a power source.
11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the particular switch located within a certain range is a switch that is located at the smallest distance from the heat generator directly fixed to the substrate or from the spacer, in the planar direction of the substrate.
12. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the particular switch located within a certain range is a switch that is located at the smallest distance from the heat generator directly fixed to the substrate or from the spacer, in the planar direction of the substrate.
13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a contact face between the pressure conveying portion corresponding to the non-particular switch that is adjacent to the particular switch, and the non-particular switch, has a larger area as compared to that of a contact face between the pressure conveying portion corresponding to other switch, and the other switch; or wherein a contact face between the pressure conveying portion corresponding the non-particular switch, and the key mat, has a larger area as compared to that of a contact face between the pressure conveying portion corresponding to other switch and the key mat.
14. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a contact face between the pressure conveying portion corresponding to the non-particular switch that is adjacent to the particular switch, and the non-particular switch, has a larger area as compared to that of a contact face between the pressure conveying portion corresponding to other switch, and the other switch; or wherein a contact face between the pressure conveying portion corresponding to the non-particular switch and the key mat, has a larger area as compared to that of a contact face between the pressure conveying portion corresponding to other switch and the key mat.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus for sealingly enclosing a first aspect of a substrate member in a reaction chamber, the apparatus comprising:
a) a baseplate member having a first surface, wherein said first surface comprises a platform medially disposed thereon, said platform having a top surface dimensioned for contactingly receiving the first aspect of the substrate member in juxtaposition with said top surface thereof, and outside edges and outside lateral wall surfaces therearound, wherein said top surface is interrupted by a recess defined by interior walls having a height ranging from 5 to 100 micrometers, a recessed slab connecting the bottom edges of the interior walls, and a boundary ledge connecting the top edges of the interior walls and the outside edges of the platform, said ledge for supporting the first aspect of the substrate member thereon, whereby a reaction chamber with headspace volume is formed between the recessed slab and the first aspect of the substrate member when sealed to said boundary ledge;
b) a gasket member fitted to the outside edges of said platform, and
c) a first bellows pump and a second bellows pump located on the first surface, said first bellows pump having a first fluidic connection to said reaction chamber and said second bellows pump having a second fluidic connection to said reaction chamber, at least one of said first and second bellows pumps having one or more fluidic connections to one or more reagent reservoirs or vents disposed outside the reaction chamber, wherein said first fluidic connection and said second fluidic connection pass through the baseplate member.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bellows pumps are pneumatically driven and have a positive stroke and a negative suction stroke.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a reciprocating flow between said first fluidic connection and said second fluidic connection to said reaction chamber is driven by repetitively actuating said first and second bellows pumps by applying a positive pressure pulse to each said bellows pumps in alternation.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a reciprocating flow between said first fluidic connection and said second fluidic connection to said reaction chamber is driven by actuating said first and second bellows pumps by applying a positive pressure pulse to said first bellows pump and a suction pressure pulse to said second bellows pump, and then reversing the pressure of the pulses applied to each bellows pump.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bellows pumps are magnetically driven and have a positive pump stroke and a negative pump stroke, and further wherein a reciprocating flow between said first fluidic connection and said second fluidic connection to said reaction chamber is enabled by inverting the polarity of a first pump stroke of said first bellows pump and a second pump stroke of said second bellows pump in alternation.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a plurality of pairs of bellows pumps, each bellows pump of said pair having a fluidic connection to said reaction chamber, wherein said pairs are disposed to drive fluid flow across and through said reaction chamber.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises an observation window for accessing a viewing area on the substrate member.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the observation window for accessing a viewing area on the substrate member is formed in said gasket.
9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said observation window is proportioned for enabling a bar code label to be applied to the substrate member outside of the viewing area.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an observation window for accessing a viewing area on the substrate member is formed in said baseplate and extends through said raised platform.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a waste outlet in fluid communication with at least one of said bellows pumps.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substrate member is a glass slide having a first face on which organic matter is bound.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first bellows pump and second bellows pump are disposed proximate to the platform.
14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the platform is raised.
15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said gasket member is formed of an elastomer, a vinyl rubber, or a silicone.
16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said gasket member comprises a stretchable web member for coveringly and sealingly enclosing the substrate member on top of the boundary ledge and a peripheral skirt member for sealingly engaging said outside edges and outside lateral wall surfaces therearound.
17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a cutout is formed on a lateral aspect of the gasket member, said cutout for sealedly enclosing the first aspect of the substrate member inside the reaction chamber and a projecting segment of the substrate member outside the reaction chamber.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said cutout is adapted for receiving a substrate member or glass slide having an electrical junction mounted on the projecting segment of the substrate member or glass slide, said electrical junction connecting to a circuit within said reaction chamber.