Author: claimsbot

1. A polynucleotide thermal melt calibrator having a stem-loop configuration, comprising:
a first stem region having a first nucleotide sequence;
a second stem region having a second nucleotide sequence, wherein the second nucleotide sequence is sufficiently complimentary to the first nucleotide sequence to at least substantially hybridize and at least substantially denature across a temperature range of about 10\xb0 C. or less;
a loop region joining the first stem region and the second stem region, the loop region having a loop sequence and a loop length to allow hybridization of the first stem region and the second stem region;
a hybridization indicator associated with at least one of the first stem region, the second stem region, or the loop region.
2. The calibrator of claim 1, wherein the second nucleotide sequence is sufficiently complimentary to the first nucleotide sequence to substantially hybridize and substantially denature across a temperature range of about 5\xb0 C. or less.
3. The calibrator of claim 1, wherein the first nucleotide sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID 001, SEQ ID 002, SEQ ID 005, SEQ ID 006, SEQ ID 009, SEQ ID 010, SEQ ID 012, and SEQ ID 013.
4. The calibrator of claim 1, wherein the calibrator has a melt profile with a peak at a temperature of from about 60\xb0 C. to about 75\xb0 C.
5. The calibrator of claim 4, wherein the calibrator has a melt profile with a peak at a temperature of from about 64\xb0 C. to about 70\xb0 C.
6. The calibrator of claim 4, wherein the first nucleotide sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID 001, SEQ ID 002, SEQ ID 009, and SEQ ID 010.
7. The calibrator of claim 6, wherein the loop sequence is SEQ ID 003.
8. The calibrator of claim 4, wherein the first nucleotide sequence is SEQ ID 001, the second nucleotide sequence is SEQ ID 002, and the loop sequence is SEQ ID 003.
9. The calibrator of claim 1, wherein the calibrator has a melt profile with a peak at a temperature of from about 85\xb0 C. to about 105\xb0 C.
10. The calibrator of claim 9, wherein the calibrator has a melt profile with a peak at a temperature of from about 90\xb0 C. to about 98\xb0 C.
11. The calibrator of claim 9, wherein the first nucleotide sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID 005 and SEQ ID 006.
12. The calibrator of claim 11, wherein the loop sequence is SEQ ID 007.
13. The calibrator of claim 9, wherein the first nucleotide sequence is SEQ ID 005, the second nucleotide sequence is SEQ ID 006, and the loop sequence is SEQ ID 007.
14. An assay composition, comprising:
a sample of genomic DNA;
at least one pair of primers specific to a DNA sequence of interest; and
a polynucleotide thermal melt calibrator as in claim 1.
15. The composition of claim 14, wherein the polynucleotide thermal melt calibrator is SEQ ID 004.
16. The composition of claim 14, wherein the polynucleotide thermal melt calibrator is SEQ ID 008.
17. The composition of claim 14, wherein the polynucleotide thermal melt calibrator is SEQ ID 011.
18. The composition of claim 14, wherein the polynucleotide thermal melt calibrator is SEQ ID 014.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1. A straddle-type four wheeled all terrain vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body;
a straddle-type seat provided on an upper portion of the vehicle body;
a bar-type handle having a steering shaft and provided forward of the seat;
a vehicle body cover covering a portion of the vehicle body including the steering shaft from above, the steering shaft penetrating through the vehicle body cover; and
a belt converter, wherein
an opening of the vehicle body cover through which the steering shaft passes is an intake port of a cooling air into the belt converter.
2. The straddle-type four wheeled all terrain vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a relay chamber is formed inside of the vehicle body cover such that the relay chamber communicates with the opening, and
a cooling air intake port of the belt converter is opened in the relay chamber.
3. The straddle-type four wheeled all terrain vehicle according to claim 2, wherein a portion of the vehicle body cover around the opening is raised to be formed into a swelled portion, and
the relay chamber is structured to have a chamber wall including one part constituted by a portion of the swelled portion including the opening and the other part through which the steering shaft and a cooling air intake duct having the cooling air intake port of the belt converter penetrate.
4. The straddle-type four wheeled all terrain vehicle according to claim 3, wherein a portion of the other part of the chamber wall through which at least the steering shaft and the cooling air intake duct of the belt converter penetrate is comprised of a flexible plate member.
5. The straddle-type four wheeled all terrain vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the swelled portion is configured such that front and side portions around the opening is raised and the swelled portion extends rearwardly,
the relay chamber is structured such that a portion of the swelled portion defines one part of the chamber wall of the relay chamber,
a front wall member, a pair of side wall members, a flexible plate member, and a seal structure define the other part of the chamber wall,
the front wall member and the pair of side wall members are downwardly protruded at a front end portion and side end portions of the swelled portion that is located forward and side of the opening in an inner face of the vehicle body cover such that the front wall member and the side wall members form an enclosure,
the flexible plate member substantially defines a bottom and a rear of a space covered by the portion of the swelled portion that is located forward and side of the opening,
the seal structure is formed between a front end of the flexible member and a lower end of the front wall member, and
the steering shaft and the cooling air intake duct of the belt converter penetrate through the flexible plate member.
6. The straddle-type four wheeled all terrain vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the seal structure is formed such that a support member being a frame member of the vehicle body extends along a lower end of the front wall member as having a clearance between the front wall member and the support member,
a cushion member is provided on the support member to fill the clearance, and a front end of the flexible plate member is connected to the support member.

1. A method of controlling the level of gain applied to a photodetector, comprising the steps of:
providing means for establishing a selected level of gain;
providing a mechanism for limiting the level of gain applied to the photodetector irrespective of the selected level of gain; and
compensating for differences between the selected level of gain and the level of gain applied to the photodetector, which differences being attributable to the mechanism.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the compensating step includes constructing a lookup table reflecting differences between the selected level of gain and the level of gain applied to the photodetector.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the compensating step includes adjusting the applied level of gain in accord with the look-up table.
4. The method of claim 1 including the step of protecting the mechanism from excessive current that would damage the mechanism.
5. An automatic gain control circuit for a photodetector, comprising:
a bias control for the photodetector;
an operational amplifier receiving an output from the photodetector and a reference level selection, the operational amplifier providing an output signal to the bias control representing an amount of bias to be applied to the photodetector;
a limit means for limiting the output from the reference level selection received by the operational amplifier to a predetermined maximum level; and
means for establishing the reference level selection and for compensating for differences between the established reference level selection and the reference level selection received by the operational amplifier.
6. The circuit of claim 5 wherein the limit means includes a Zener diode.
7. The circuit for controlling the gain of a photodetector including:
a bias control for driving the photodetector;
a gain adjusting circuit connected to the bias control for providing to the bias control an output signal representing a comparison between an output of the photodetector and a selected level of gain, both the selected level of gain and the output being received as voltage inputs to the gain adjusting circuit;
a limit device for limiting the voltage level input corresponding to the selected level of gain, the limit device also reducing the voltage level input corresponding to the selected level of gain; and
compensating means for compensating for the voltage level reductions attributable to the limiting device.
8. The circuit of claim 7 wherein the compensating means includes a stored look-up table and a controller for adjusting the selected level of gain in accord with the look-up table.
9. The circuit of claim 7 wherein the limit device is a Zener diode.
10. The circuit of claim 9 including a current protection device for limiting the level of current applied to the Zener diode.

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 woodworking machine comprising:
a cutter adapted to cut a workpiece; and
a contact detection system adapted to detect contact between a person and the cutter, the contact detection system including:
an excitation system adapted to supply an electrical signal having a first amplitude and period, the electrical signal being coupled to the cutter to induce a corresponding electrical signal of a second amplitude on the cutter, and
a sensing system adapted to sense the second electrical signal induced onto the cutter, where the sensing system is adapted to detect contact between a person and the cutter based on a change in the sensed second electrical signal over a detection period, where the detection period is between 5 and 150 microseconds and at least twice the period of the first electrical signal.
2. The machine of claim 1, wherein the excitation system is adapted to adjust the first amplitude based on the properties of the second electrical signal sensed by the sensing system.
3. The machine of claim 2, wherein the excitation system is adapted to adjust the first amplitude to attempt to maintain the amplitude of the second electrical signal sensed by the sensing system at a predetermined level.
4. The machine of claim 2, wherein the excitation system is adapted to adjust the first amplitude at an adjustment rate of less than 10% per millisecond.
5. The machine of claim 2, where the sensing system is adapted to detect contact between a person and the cutter when the amplitude of the second electrical signal sensed by the sensing system drops below the predetermined level by a specified amount.
6. For use in connection with a woodworking machine having a motor-driven cutting tool, a method of detecting contact between a person and the cutting tool, the method comprising:
imparting an electrical signal onto the cutting tool, where the electrical signal has an alternating voltage amplitude defining plural voltage peaks;
sensing the electrical signal imparted onto the cutting tool; and
detecting contact between a person and the cutting tool by detecting that a predetermined plural number of the voltage peaks of the sensed electrical signal have amplitudes outside a specified range of amplitudes.
7. A woodworking machine having a cutting tool adapted to cut workpieces, the machine comprising:
means for driving the cutting tool;
means for detecting contact between a person and the cutting tool;
means for distinguishing contact between a person and the cutting tool from contact between green wood and the cutting tool; and
means for stopping movement of the cutting tool upon detection of contact between the person and the cutting tool.
8. A woodworking machine comprising:
a support structure;
a motor supported by the support structure;
a blade supported by the support structure and moveable by the motor;
a reaction system adapted to perform an action to mitigate injury if a person contacts the blade when the blade is moving; and
a contact detection system to detect contact between the blade and a person, where the contact detection system is configured to generate a signal, to apply the signal to the blade, and to detect a change in the signal on the blade due to an electrical load applied to the blade, and where the contact detection system is further adapted to adjust the signal in the presence of a changing electrical load applied to the blade.
9. The machine of claim 8, where the contact detection system is configured to detect a change in the signal on the blade that exceeds a threshold, and where adjusting the signal in the presence of a changing electrical load applied to the blade corresponds to adjusting the threshold.
10. The machine of claim 8, where the contact detection system is configured to detect a change in the signal on the blade that exceeds a threshold, and where the threshold adjusts when the signal is adjusted in the presence of a changing electrical load applied to the blade.