Calibrating array scanners
AssigneeAgilent Technologies, Inc.
InventorJohn F. Corson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of using a chemical array reader, chemical array readers, and computer program products for use with a chemical array reader. The chemical array reader may include a holder to mount an array and hold the array at a reading position. A light system illuminates a mounted array when at a reading position. A detection system having a focal plane, to detect light from different regions across the array emitted in response to the illumination, when at the reading position, and which generates a resulting signal for each of the regions across the array. An autofocus system which detects and reduces offset between the different regions of an array at the reading position and a determined position of the focal plane.
Claims32
A chemical array reader, comprising:
- a) a holder to mount an array;
- b) a calibration member;
- c) a light system to illuminate the calibration member or mounted array when either is at a reading position;
- d) a carriage which alternately positions the mounted array and calibration member into the reading position;
- e) a detection system having a focal plane, to detect light from one or more regions of the calibration member and from different regions across the array emitted in response to the illumination, when either is in the reading position, and which generates a resulting signal for each of the one or more regions of the calibration member and for each of the regions across the array;
- f) an adjuster to adjust the position of the calibration member, when in the reading position, relative to the focal plane, such that a position of the focal plane can be determined from the resulting detection system signal;
- g) an autofocus system which senses and reduces offset between the different regions of the array, when in the reading position, and the determined focal plane position.
A method using a chemical array reader having:
- i) a holder to mount an array and hold the array at a reading position;
- ii) a light system to illuminate a mounted array when at a reading position;
- iii) a detection system having a focal plane, to detect light from different regions across the array emitted in response to the illumination, when at the reading position, and which generates a resulting signal for each of the regions across the array;
- and
- iv) an autofocus system which detects and reduces offset between the different regions of an array at the reading position and a determined position of the focal plane;
- the method comprising:
- a) positioning a calibration member at the reading position so as to receive illumination from the light system and emit light in response thereto, which emitted light is detected by the detection system to generate a resulting calibration signal;
- b) adjusting a position of the calibration member, when in the reading position, relative to the focal plane;
- c) determining the position of the focal plane from the light detected at various adjustments;
- and
- d) calibrating a sensitivity of the detection system from the detection system signals generated from the calibration member.
A computer program product for use with a chemical array reader of having:
- i) a holder to mount an array and hold the array at a reading position;
- ii) a light system to illuminate a calibration member or mounted array when either is at a reading position;
- iii) a detection system having a focal plane, to receive light from a region of the calibration member and from different regions across the array emitted in response to the illumination, when either is in the reading position, and which generates a resulting signal for a region of the calibration member and for each of the regions across the array;
- iv) an adjuster to adjust the position of the calibration member, when in the reading position, relative to the focal plane, such that a position of the focal plane can be determined from the resulting detection system signal;
- iv) an autofocus system which detects and reduces offset between the different regions of an array at the reading position and a determined position of the focal plane;
- and
- v) a processor communicating with the autofocus and detection systems;
- the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon which, when loaded into the processor, executes the method of:
- a) adjusting the position of the calibration member relative to the focal plane;
- b) determining the focal plane position from the resulting detection system signals at various adjustments of the calibration member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.