Method and device employing time-delayed integration for detecting sample components after separation

An apparatus for detecting analytes in a sample, comprising:

• means for separating said sample into migrating analyte bands migrating along a direction comprising a capillary tube with a stationary phase wherein separation is accomplished by chemical interaction between the stationary phase and the analytes;
• means for generating radiation signals to indicate the presence of an analyte band in a detection zone;
• an array of solid state detectors capable of collecting the radiation signals to produce charges, wherein the array is aligned with the detection zone in a sequence in the direction of the migrating analyte bands, so that when a migrating analyte band is in the detection zone the radiation signals indicative of said band are directed to each of the detectors in sequence as the band migrates across the detection zone, said array having an output;
• means for shifting the charges from each detector to the respective adjacent detector in the direction of the migration at a shift rate that is synchronized to the movement of the band such that the charges corresponding to the radiation signals of an analyte band can be accumulated at the array output;
• and
• readout means to read the accumulated charges from the array output.

An apparatus for detecting analytes in a sample, comprising:

• means for separating said sample into migrating analyte bands migrating along a direction in a detection zone;
• means for generating radiation signals to indicate the presence of an analyte band in the detection zone;
• means for transmitting said radiation signals to an array of solid state detectors capable of collecting the radiation signals to produce charges, wherein the array is aligned with the detection zone in a sequence in the direction of the migrating analyte bands, so that when a migrating analyte band is in the detection zone the radiation signals indicative of said band are directed to each of the detectors in sequence as the band migrates across the detection zone, said array having an output, wherein each detector comprises a linear row of detector elements that is arranged transverse to the direction of migration, and wherein the transmitting means is such that radiation signals transmitted to one detector element of a row are at different wavelengths from those of radiation signals transmitted to another detector element that is located on said row;
• means for shifting the charges from each detector to the respective adjacent detector in the direction of the migration at a shift rate that is synchronized to the movement of the band such that the charges corresponding to the radiation signals of an analyte band can be accumulated at the array output;
• and
• readout means to read the accumulated charges from the array output.

A time-delayed integration method for detecting analyte bands from a sample, comprising the steps of:

• separating said sample into migrating analyte bands along a direction;
• generating radiation signals that indicate the presence of the analyte bands as they move through the detection zone;
• transmitting said radiation signals to an array of solid state detectors capable of collecting the radiation signals to produce charges, wherein the array is aligned with the detection zone in a sequence in the direction of the migrating analyte bands, wherein the detectors are arranged so that when a migrating analyte band is in the detection zone the radiation signals indicative of said band is directed to each of the detectors in sequence as the band migrates across the detection zone, wherein said detector comprises a linear row of detector elements that is arranged transverse to the direction of migration, and wherein said signals are transmitted such that radiation signals transmitted to one detector element in a row of detector elements are at different wavelengths from those of radiation signals transmitted to another detector element that is located on said row;
• accumulating the charge by shifting said charge, one detector at a time, beginning from a first detector sequentially toward an array output wherein the shifting is at a specific rate that is synchronized to the movement of the migrating analyte bands;
• and
• reading the accumulated charge from the device output.