Automated methods and slide processing apparatuses
AssigneeVentana Medical Systems, Inc.
InventorsMichael J. Thompson, Charles Nathan Hassen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system is capable of detecting substrates and can differentiate between zero, one, or multiple transparent or semi-transparent substrates in a stack. The system can include an optical sensor, an optically anti-reflective element, and a detector. The optical sensor outputs light towards the optically anti-reflective element. The light detector is positioned to detect light from the light source that is reflected by substrates, if any, positioned within a detection zone between the optically anti-reflective element and the detector.
Claims20
1-37. (canceled)
A method for detecting substrates using a transparent substrate detector device with a detection zone, the method comprising:
- robotically carrying one or more substrates toward the detection zone;
- outputting light toward the one or more substrates at the detection zone such that at least a portion of the outputted light is reflected by the one or more substrates and another portion of the outputted lighted is transmitted through the one or more substrates;
- detecting the outputted light that is reflected by each of the one or more substrates;
- and
- determining a number of substrates at the detection zone based on the detected outputted reflected light.
A method for determining a presence or number of transparent substrates using a substrate detector device with a detection zone, the method comprising:
- outputting electromagnetic radiation;
- detecting the outputted electromagnetic radiation that has been reflected by any transparent substrate positioned at the detection zone;
- and
- determining a presence and/or number of transparent substrates at the detection zone based on the detected reflected electromagnetic radiation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.