1. A hydraulic hybrid valve system to enable transfer of a liquid sample slug from a reservoir to a test site on a substrate surface comprising:
a valve assembly movable between an aspiration condition and a dispensing condition;
a communication structure having a dispensing orifice;
an aspiration actuator;
a dispensing actuator; and
a distribution manifold device providing a liquid aspiration conduit containing a driving liquid and having a first aspiration port for liquid communication with the aspiration actuator, and a second aspiration port in selective liquid communication with the valve assembly to selectively aspirate a liquid sample slug from the reservoir through said dispensing orifice of said communication structure defining a discrete sample path containing said driving liquid and extending from the dispensing orifice and through at least a portion of said manifold device for liquid communication with said valve assembly, when the valve assembly is in the aspiration condition, said manifold device further providing a liquid dispensing conduit containing a driving liquid and having a first dispensing port for liquid communication with the dispensing actuator, and a second dispensing port in selective liquid communication with the valve assembly to selectively dispense at least one droplet of the liquid sample slug from said dispensing orifice of said communication structure when the valve assembly is in the dispensing condition,
wherein, in the aspiration condition, said sample path is out of liquid communication with the dispensing actuator and, in the dispensing condition, said sample path is out of liquid communication with the aspiration actuator.
2. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 1, wherein
said through at least a portion of said manifold includes a primary passage portion of the sample path.
3. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 2, wherein
said communication structure includes a nozzle member terminating at a said dispensing orifice configured to aspirate said sample slug and dispense said droplet.
4. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 3, wherein
said primary passage portion is of a transverse cross-sectional area from about 0.2 mm2 to about 0.8 mm2.
5. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 2, wherein
said manifold device includes a stator face containing the second aspiration port and the second dispensing port, and said valve assembly includes a valve body having a contact face slideably contacting the stator face at a stator-contact interface for sliding sealed contact between
the aspiration condition, fluidly coupling the second aspiration port to the primary passage portion of the sample path, and
the dispensing condition, fluidly coupling the second dispensing port to the primary passage portion of the sample path.
6. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 5, wherein
said contact face of the valve body includes
an aspiration channel, fluidly coupling the second aspiration port to the primary passage portion of the sample path through the aspiration channel, in the aspiration condition, and
a dispensing channel, fluidly coupling the second dispensing port to the primary passage portion of the sample path through the dispensing channel, in the dispensing condition.
7. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 6, wherein
said primary passage portion of the sample path includes an upper communication port terminating at the stator face for liquid communication with the aspiration channel in the aspiration condition, and for liquid communication with the dispensing channel in the dispensing condition.
8. The hybrid valve apparatus system as defined by claim 7, wherein
said communication structure includes a nozzle member terminating at said dispensing orifice to aspirate said sample slug and dispense said droplet.
9. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 6, wherein
at least one of said valve body and said manifold device is rotatable about a rotation axis extending substantially perpendicular to the stator-contact interface to rotate said contact face, said aspiration channel and said dispensing channel relative to the stator face between the aspiration condition and the dispensing condition.
10. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 9, wherein
said dispensing channel and said aspiration channel extend in a direction substantially radially about said rotational axis.
11. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 1, further including:
a digitally regulated hydraulic pressure system for liquid communication with the dispensing actuator for precision operation thereof.
12. The hybrid valve assembly as defined by claim 3, wherein
said nozzle member having one end mounted to said manifold device and fluidly coupled to said primary passage portion.
13. The hybrid valve assembly as defined by claim 1, wherein
said manifold device includes a first connection region configured to enable connection of the aspiration actuator directly to the manifold device at the first aspiration port.
14. The hybrid valve assembly as defined by claim 13, wherein
said manifold device includes a second connection region configured to enable connection of the dispensing actuator directly to the manifold device at the first dispensing port.
15. A method of transferring a liquid sample from a liquid sample reservoir to a test site on a target substrate comprising:
providing a liquid distribution manifold device defining a liquid aspiration conduit containing a driving liquid and having a first aspiration port for liquid communication with an aspiration actuator and a second aspiration port in liquid communication with a valve assembly, said manifold device further defining a liquid dispensing conduit containing a driving liquid and having a first dispensing port for liquid communication with a dispensing actuator and a second dispensing port in liquid communication with the valve assembly;
positioning the valve assembly in an aspiration condition, fluidly coupling the aspiration actuator to a discrete sample path extending from a dispensing orifice and through at least a primary passage portion of said manifold device for liquid communication with said valve assembly, and fluidly decoupling the dispensing actuator from the sample path;
in said aspiration condition, actuating the aspiration actuator to aspirate a liquid sample slug from a said sample reservoir into the sample path through said dispensing orifice;
positioning the valve assembly in a dispensing condition, fluidly coupling the dispensing actuator to the sample path, and fluidly decoupling the aspiration actuator from the same path; and
in said dispensing condition, actuating the dispensing actuator to dispense at least one droplet of the liquid sample slug out of said sample path through said dispensing orifice.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein
said primary passage portion of said manifold device having a upper communication port terminating at a stator face of the manifold, said stator face further containing the second aspiration port and the second dispensing port.
17. The method according to claim 16, wherein
said positioning the valve assembly to the aspiration condition or the dispensing condition includes slideably engaging a contact face of the valve assembly against the stator face of the manifold device at a stator-contact interface, to fluidly couple the aspiration actuator to the primary passage portion of the sample path or fluidly couple the dispensing actuator to the primary passage portion of the sample path, respectively.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein
said slideably engaging includes rotating an aspiration channel and a dispensing channel in the contact face of the valve assembly about a rotation axis thereof, relative the stator face, to
fluidly couple the upper communication port with the second aspiration port, through the aspiration channel, in the aspiration condition, and
fluidly couple the upper communication port with the second dispensing port, through the dispensing channel, in the dispensing condition.
19. The method according to claim 15, wherein
said primary passage portion having a transverse cross-sectional area from about 0.2 mm2 to about 0.8 mm2.
20. The method according to claim 15, further including:
digitally regulated the hydraulic pressure of the dispensing actuator for precision operation thereof.
21. A hybrid valve system to enable transfer of a liquid sample slug from a reservoir to a test site on a substrate surface comprising:
a valve assembly movable between an aspiration condition and a dispensing condition;
an aspiration actuator;
a dispensing actuator; and
a manifold providing a fluid aspiration conduit having a first aspiration port for fluid communication with the aspiration actuator, and a second aspiration port in selective fluid communication with the valve assembly to selectively aspirate the liquid sample slug from the reservoir into a discrete sample path, a primary passage portion thereof that extends through at least a portion of said manifold for fluid communication with said valve assembly, when the valve assembly is in the aspiration condition, said primary passage portion having a transverse cross-sectional area from about 0.2 mm2 to about 0.8 mm2, said manifold further providing a fluid dispensing conduit having a first dispensing port for fluid communication with the dispensing actuator, and a second dispensing port in selective fluid communication with the valve assembly to selectively dispense at least one droplet of the liquid sample slug from the sample path when the valve assembly is in the dispensing condition,
wherein, in the aspiration condition, said sample path is out of fluid communication with the dispensing actuator and, in the dispensing condition, said sample path is out of fluid communication with the aspiration actuator.
22. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 21, further including:
a nozzle member having one end fluidly coupled to said primary passage portion and an opposite end terminating at a dispensing orifice configured to dispense said droplet.
23. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 22, wherein
the one end of said nozzle member being mounted to said manifold and fluidly coupled to said primary passage portion.
24. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 21, wherein
said manifold includes a first connection region configured to enable connection of the aspiration actuator directly to the manifold at the first aspiration port.
25. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 21, wherein
said manifold includes a second connection region configured to enable connection of the dispensing actuator directly to the manifold at the first dispensing port.
26. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 21, wherein
said manifold includes a stator face containing the second aspiration port and the second dispensing port, and said valve assembly includes a valve body having a contact face slideably contacting the stator face at a stator-contact interface for sliding sealed contact between
the aspiration condition, fluidly coupling the second aspiration port to the primary passage portion of the sample path, and
the dispensing condition, fluidly coupling the second dispensing port to the primary passage portion of the sample path.
27. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 26, wherein
said contact face of the valve body includes
an aspiration channel, fluidly coupling the second aspiration port to the primary passage portion of the sample path through the aspiration channel, in the aspiration condition, and
a dispensing channel, fluidly coupling the second dispensing port to the primary passage portion of the sample path through the dispensing channel, in the dispensing condition.
28. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 27, wherein
said manifold includes a primary passage defining at least a portion of the sample path, and having an upper communication port terminating at the stator face for fluid communication with the aspiration channel in the aspiration condition, and for fluid communication with the dispensing channel in the dispensing condition.
29. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 28, further including:
a nozzle member having one end fluidly coupled to said primary passage and an opposite end terminating at a dispensing orifice configured to dispense said droplet.
30. The hybrid valve apparatus as defined by claim 27, wherein
at least one of said valve body and said manifold is rotatable about a rotation axis extending substantially perpendicular to the stator-contact interface to rotate said contact face, said aspiration channel and said dispensing channel relative to the stator face between the aspiration condition and the dispensing condition.
31. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 30, wherein
said dispensing channel and said aspiration channel extend in a direction substantially radially about said rotational axis.
32. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 21, further including:
a digitally regulated hydraulic pressure system for fluid communication with the dispensing actuator for precision operation thereof.
33. A hybrid valve system to enable transfer of a liquid sample slug from a reservoir to a test site on a substrate surface comprising:
an aspiration actuator;
a dispensing actuator; and
a digitally regulated hydraulic pressure system in fluid communication with the dispensing actuator for precision operation thereof;
a valve assembly movable between an aspiration condition and a dispensing condition;
a manifold providing a fluid aspiration conduit having a first aspiration port for fluid communication with the aspiration actuator, and a second aspiration port in selective fluid communication with the valve assembly to selectively aspirate the liquid sample slug from the reservoir into a discrete sample path, a primary passage portion thereof that extends through at least a portion of said manifold for fluid communication with said valve assembly, when the valve assembly is in the aspiration condition, said manifold device further providing a fluid dispensing conduit having a first dispensing port for fluid communication with the dispensing actuator, and a second dispensing port in selective fluid communication with the valve assembly to selectively dispense at least one droplet of the liquid sample slug from the sample path when the valve assembly is in the dispensing condition,
wherein, in the aspiration condition, said sample path is out of fluid communication with the dispensing actuator and, in the dispensing condition, said sample path is out of fluid communication with the aspiration actuator.
34. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 33, further including:
a nozzle member having one end fluidly coupled to said primary passage portion and an opposite end terminating at a dispensing orifice configured to dispense said droplet.
35. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 34, wherein
the one end of said nozzle member being mounted to said manifold and fluidly coupled to said primary passage portion.
36. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 33, wherein
said manifold includes a first connection region configured to enable connection of the aspiration actuator directly to the manifold at the first aspiration port.
37. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 33, wherein
said manifold includes a second connection region configured to enable connection of the dispensing actuator directly to the manifold at the first dispensing port.
38. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 33, wherein
said manifold includes a stator face containing the second aspiration port and the second dispensing port, and said valve system includes a valve body having a contact face slideably contacting the stator face at a stator-contact interface for sliding sealed contact between
the aspiration condition, fluidly coupling the second aspiration port to the primary passage portion of the sample path, and
the dispensing condition, fluidly coupling the second dispensing port to the primary passage portion of the sample path.
39. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 38, wherein
said contact face of the valve body includes
an aspiration channel, fluidly coupling the second aspiration port to the primary passage portion of the sample path through the aspiration channel, in the aspiration condition, and
a dispensing channel, fluidly coupling the second dispensing port to the primary passage portion of the sample path through the dispensing channel, in the dispensing condition.
40. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 39, wherein
said manifold includes a primary passage defining at least a portion of the sample path, and having an upper communication port terminating at the stator face for fluid communication with the aspiration channel in the aspiration condition, and for fluid communication with the dispensing channel in the dispensing condition.
41. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 40, further including:
a nozzle member having one end fluidly coupled to said primary passage and an opposite end terminating at a dispensing orifice configured to dispense said droplet.
42. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 39, wherein
at least one of said valve body and said manifold is rotatable about a rotation axis extending substantially perpendicular to the stator-contact interface to rotate said contact face, said aspiration channel and said dispensing channel relative to the stator face between the aspiration condition and the dispensing condition.
43. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 42, wherein
said dispensing channel and said aspiration channel extend in a direction substantially radially about said rotational axis.
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. A custom ringtone provisioning device comprising:
an identification element configured to determine user selectable audio options available for generating a digital audio recording based on ringtone capabilities of a mobile communication device of a user;
a user interface configured to display the available user selectable audio options for the user to select;
a digital audio generator configured to generate the digital audio recording using the user selectable audio options selected by the user; and
a communication feature configured to transmit the generated digital audio recording to a server for the server to convert the generated digital audio recording into a customized ringtone for use by the mobile communication device in alerting the user of incoming communications.
2. The custom ringtone provisioning device of claim 1 wherein:
the identification element is further configured to receive a phone number of the mobile communication device;
wherein the communication feature is further configured to transmit the phone number to the server for the server to use in order to download the customized ringtone to the mobile communication device.
3. The custom ringtone provisioning device of claim 1 further comprising:
a speaker for playing the generated digital audio recording to the user.
4. The custom ringtone provisioning device of claim 1 wherein:
the identification element is further configured to identify the user, wherein the identification element is further configured to determine the ringtone capabilities of the mobile communication device as a function of the identified user.
5. The custom ringtone provisioning device of claim 1 wherein:
the identification element is further configured to identify the user, wherein the digital audio generator is further configured to generate the digital audio recording as a function of the identified user.
6. The custom ringtone provisioning device of claim 1 wherein:
the mobile communication device is a phone.
7. A method comprising:
determining at a custom ringtone provisioning device user selectable audio options available for generating a digital audio recording based on ringtone capabilities of a mobile communication device of a user;
displaying at the custom ringtone provisioning device a user interface having the available user selectable audio options for the user to select;
generating at the custom ringtone provisioning device the digital audio recording using the user selectable audio options selected by the user; and
transmitting the generated digital audio recording from the custom ringtone provisioning device to a server for the server to convert the generated digital audio recording into a customized ringtone for use by the mobile communication device in alerting the user of incoming communications.
8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:
receiving at the custom ringtone provisioning device a phone number of the mobile communication device; and
transmitting the phone number from the custom ringtone provisioning device to the server for the server to use in order to download the customized ringtone to the mobile communication device.
9. The method of claim 7 further comprising:
playing at the custom ringtone provisioning device the generated digital audio recording to the user.
10. The method of claim 7 further comprising:
identifying at the custom ringtone provisioning device the user; and
determining at the custom ringtone provisioning device the ringtone capabilities of the mobile communication device as a function of the identified user.
11. The method of claim 7 further comprising:
identifying at the custom ringtone provisioning device the user;
wherein generating the digital audio recording further includes generating the digital audio recording as a function of the identified user.
12. The method of claim 7 wherein:
the mobile communication device is a phone.
13. A custom ringtone provisioning device comprising:
an identification element configured to identify information associated with a user and to determine user selectable audio options available for generating a digital audio recording based on the information associated with the user;
a user interface configured to display the available user selectable audio options for the user to select;
a digital audio generator configured to generate the digital audio recording using the user selectable audio options selected by the user; and
a communication feature configured to transmit the generated digital audio recording to a server for the server to convert the generated digital audio recording into a customized ringtone for use by the mobile communication device in alerting the user of incoming communications.
14. The custom ringtone provisioning device of claim 13 wherein:
the identification element is further configured to receive a phone number of the mobile communication device;
wherein the communication feature is further configured to transmit the phone number to the server for the server to use in order to download the customized ringtone to the mobile communication device.
15. The custom ringtone provisioning device of claim 13 further comprising:
a speaker for playing the generated digital audio recording to the user.
16. The custom ringtone provisioning device of claim 13 wherein:
the digital audio generator is further configured to generate the digital audio recording as a function of the information associated with the user.
17. The custom ringtone provisioning device of claim 13 wherein:
the mobile communication device is a phone.