Radiant energy – Photocells; circuits and apparatus – Photocell controls its own optical systems
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-02
2002-12-17
Allen, Stephone (Department: 2878)
Radiant energy
Photocells; circuits and apparatus
Photocell controls its own optical systems
C250S559400, C250S461200, C356S417000, C204S461000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06495812
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
In many applications, a light source and a detector are used to analyze an object of interest. With reference to
FIG. 1
, a housing
103
carries a light source
105
and a detector
120
and is positioned adjacent a first support element
115
(such as a glass plate). The light source
105
generates a light beam that strikes a portion of an object
110
carried by the first support element
115
, and the detector
120
is positioned so that its focal point intersects the light beam at the object
110
. As described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,523, such an analyzer can be used in DNA sequencing applications. In such an application, a plurality of DNA channels in a gel electrophoresis slab sandwiched between two glass plates are scanned with a laser that excites fluorescent markers attached to DNA strands, and a sensor is focused on the area of the gel slab excited by the laser.
When the thickness of the first support element
115
varies or when a second support element
125
(such as a cover slip or tray, see
FIG. 2
) is interposed between the object
110
and the first support element
115
, the focal point of the detector may no longer be on the object
110
. To maintain the focal point on the object
110
, the housing
103
carrying the light source
105
and detector
120
can be linearly translated closer to the first support element
115
, as shown in FIG.
2
. While the focal point of the detector
120
is once again on the object
110
, the focal point no longer intersects the light beam. This misalignment can result in a suboptimal analysis of the object
110
(e.g., a faded image or a magnitude response error). Accordingly, unless the object
110
is on the first support element
115
, the light beam and the focal point do not coincide.
There is a need, therefore, for an apparatus and method for intersecting a light beam and a focal point of a detector at an object of interest that will overcome the disadvantages described above.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention is defined by the following claims, and nothing in this section should be taken as a limitation on those claims.
By way of introduction, the preferred embodiments described below provide an apparatus and method for intersecting a light beam and a focal point of a detector at an object of interest. In one preferred embodiment, an apparatus is provided comprising a first support element and a first member carrying a light source and a detector. The first member is pivotable between first and second positions, and when the first member is in the first position, a light beam generated by the light source and a focal point of the detector intersect at an object of interest carried by the first support element. When the first member is in the second position, the light beam and the focal point of the detector intersect at an object of interest carried by a second support element disposed on the first support element.
The preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the attached drawings.
REFERENCES:
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Life Science—Confocal Scanning and Artifact Rejection for Microarrays, http://www.gsilumonics.com/lifescience%5Fframe/tech1.htm, 3 pages (Jul. 31, 2000).
Life Science—Microarray Analysis Systems http://www.gsilumonics.com/products%5Fframe/datashts/scanarray/specs.htm 5 pages (Jul. 31, 2000).
Middendorf et al., “Two-dimensional infrared fluorescence scanner used for DNA analysis,” Proc. SPIE vol. 2388, p. 44-55, Advances in Fluorescence Sensing Technology II, Joseph R. Lakowicz; Ed., Publication Date: May 1995.
Lamb Donald Thomas
Wurm John Henry
Allen Stephone
Glass Christopher W.
Li-Cor Inc.
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