Measuring and testing – Instrument proving or calibrating – Volume of flow – speed of flow – volume rate of flow – or mass...
Reexamination Certificate
2006-01-10
2006-01-10
Noland, Thomas P. (Department: 2856)
Measuring and testing
Instrument proving or calibrating
Volume of flow, speed of flow, volume rate of flow, or mass...
C073S001740, C250S576000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06983636
ABSTRACT:
A universal calibration apparatus and method to estimate the dispense output from a low volume, non-contact, liquid dispensing systems that may be applied for every hardware configuration (e.g., tube length, orifice diameter, tip design, etc), reagent solution property and environmental condition. This same calibration technique is applied to calibrate or tune these non-contact liquid dispensing systems to dispense desired volumes (in the range of about 0.050 μL to 50 μL), irrespective of the hardware configuration or the solution properties. That is, the calibration technique is not dependent on any variables, but the result (the actual dispense volume) is dependant on the variable mentioned. By actuating selected pulse widths, and measuring the resulting volume, a Calibration Profile can be generated correlating the liquid volume dispensed from the orifice to the respective pulse width of the dispensing valve thereof through calibration points. In particular, one is selected to deliver a first volume of liquid that is less than a lower base pulse width correlating to the lowest volume of the selected range of volumes of liquid, while a second pulse width is selected to deliver a second volume of liquid dispensed that is greater than an upper ceiling pulse width correlating to the highest volume of the selected range of volumes of liquid. Intermediary pulse widths are also applied, each selected to deliver a different, spaced-apart, respective intermediary low volumes of liquid dispensed from the dispensing orifice between the first volume and the second volume. Thus, applying the Calibration Profile, the pulse widths correlating to the one or more targeted discrete volumes for liquid dispensing can be extrapolated.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3405734 (1968-10-01), Smit et al.
patent: 3645142 (1972-02-01), Turpin
patent: 3747630 (1972-07-01), Hurrell
patent: 3796239 (1974-03-01), Zindler et al.
patent: 3868970 (1975-04-01), Ayers et al.
patent: 4120661 (1978-10-01), Naono
patent: 4623008 (1986-11-01), Shibata et al.
patent: 4625569 (1986-12-01), Toei et al.
patent: 4694861 (1987-09-01), Goodale et al.
patent: 4702889 (1987-10-01), Cabrera et al.
patent: 4705627 (1987-11-01), Miwa et al.
patent: 4723262 (1988-02-01), Noda et al.
patent: 4726932 (1988-02-01), Feier et al.
patent: 4818706 (1989-04-01), Starr
patent: 4948565 (1990-08-01), Bemis et al.
patent: 5207109 (1993-05-01), Olsen
patent: 5250263 (1993-10-01), Manz
patent: 5312757 (1994-05-01), Matsuyama et al.
patent: 5405585 (1995-04-01), Coassin
patent: 5465582 (1995-11-01), Bliss et al.
patent: 5525515 (1996-06-01), Blattner
patent: 5544535 (1996-08-01), Thomas
patent: 5578275 (1996-11-01), Rosenberg et al.
patent: 5599500 (1997-02-01), Jones
patent: 5601115 (1997-02-01), Broerman
patent: 5743960 (1998-04-01), Tisone
patent: 5763278 (1998-06-01), Sickinger et al.
patent: 5820824 (1998-10-01), Tanaka
patent: 5833925 (1998-11-01), Shu et al.
patent: 5849598 (1998-12-01), Wilson et al.
patent: 5906795 (1999-05-01), Nakashima et al.
patent: 5915284 (1999-06-01), Meltzer et al.
patent: 5985214 (1999-11-01), Stylli et al.
patent: 6033911 (2000-03-01), Schultz et al.
patent: 6040186 (2000-03-01), Lewis et al.
patent: 6066298 (2000-05-01), Fukunaga
patent: 6083763 (2000-07-01), Balch
patent: 6096276 (2000-08-01), Laursen
patent: 6112605 (2000-09-01), Papen et al.
patent: 6149870 (2000-11-01), Parce et al.
patent: 6158269 (2000-12-01), Dorenkott et al.
patent: 6322752 (2001-11-01), Siddiqui et al.
patent: 6325114 (2001-12-01), Bevirt et al.
patent: 6378556 (2002-04-01), Fondse
patent: 6447678 (2002-09-01), Chau
patent: 6852291 (2005-02-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 2001/0014474 (2001-08-01), Fisher
patent: 2001/0016177 (2001-08-01), Pelc et al.
patent: 2001/0026772 (2001-10-01), Fuerst et al.
patent: 2001/0053337 (2001-12-01), Doktycz et al.
patent: 2001/0055545 (2001-12-01), Takii et al.
patent: 2001/0055814 (2001-12-01), Sasaki
patent: 2002/0051737 (2002-05-01), Sollbohmer et al.
patent: 2002/0192113 (2002-12-01), Uffenheimer et al.
patent: 2003/0021734 (2003-01-01), Vann et al.
patent: 1197693 (2002-04-01), None
patent: WO 97/26539 (1997-07-01), None
patent: WO 99/30168 (1999-06-01), None
patent: WO 00/51736 (2000-09-01), None
patent: WO 01/04909 (2001-01-01), None
patent: WO 01/28701 (2001-04-01), None
patent: WO 01/65214 (2001-09-01), None
Patent Abstracts of Japan, Application No. 2000142062,Variable Discharge Capacity Liquid Dispensation Device, Otawara Shigeki.
Hue P. Le,Progress and Trends in Ink-jet Printing Technology, Journal Of Imaging Science and Technology, vol. 42, No. 1, Jan./Feb. 1998, pp. 49-62.
Ilene Schneider,Instrumentation—Doing More With Less—Discover the turnkey systems now streamlining the entire liquid handling process, Sep. 2002—Genomics & Proteomics, 4 pages, beginning p. 42 and ending p. 46.
Johnson James E.
Martin David A.
Picha Neil R.
Storms Craig M.
Beyer Weaver & Thomas LLP
Innovadyne Technologies, Inc.
Noland Thomas P.
LandOfFree
Apparatus and method for assessing the liquid flow... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus and method for assessing the liquid flow..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus and method for assessing the liquid flow... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3559313