Controller for a fluorometer

A fluorometer, comprising:

• a plurality of excitation light sources disposed to emit excitation light toward a plurality of positions for holding a plurality of samples;
• at least one emission light detector disposed to detect light emitted from the plurality of positions;
• and
• a fluorescence excitation light control system having a controller in communication with the plurality of excitation light sources, the controller comprising:
• a processor controllingly coupled to the excitation light sources;
• and
• a memory device for storing data, the memory device being in communication
• with the processor;
• wherein the controller, in response to at least the data from the memory device, separately controls an intensity of each of the excitation light sources to achieve an approximately normalized detection efficiency for a plurality of fluorescent samples.

A fluorometer comprising:

• a plurality of positions for holding a plurality of samples;
• at least one emission light detector disposed to detect light emitting from the plurality of positions;
• a controller in communication with a plurality of excitation light sources disposed to emit light toward the plurality of positions, the controller comprising:
• a processor controllingly coupled to the excitation light sources;
• and
• a memory device for storing data, the memory device being in communication with the processor;
• wherein the controller, in response to at least the data from the memory device, separately controls an excitation light intensity from each of the excitation light sources to achieve an approximately normalized detection efficiency for the plurality of samples.

A method of manufacturing a fluorometer comprising a plurality of independently-controllable excitation light sources, the method comprising:

• placing a normalization sample in optical communication with excitation light sources;
• operating the excitation light sources with a predetermined power level;
• measuring fluorescence emission from the normalization standards;
• and
• adjusting power levels of the excitation light sources to achieve a desired normalization.

A method of manufacturing a fluorometer, the method comprising:

• placing a plurality of normalization samples into a plurality of wells;
• using a controller to control excitation light sources to achieve a predetermined pattern of excitation light intensity;
• measuring fluorescence emission from the plurality of normalization samples;
• and
• altering data in a memory device of the fluorometer to achieve a pattern of excitation light intensity that results in an approximately normalized detection efficiency for the plurality of normalization samples.

A fluorometer, comprising:

• a plurality of positions for holding a plurality of samples;
• a fluorescence excitation light source disposed to individually illuminate the plurality of samples;
• at least one emission light detector system, comprising:
• at least one emission light detector disposed to detect light emitted from the plurality of positions;
• a processor controllingly coupled to the fluorescence excitation light source and also coupled to the at least one emission light detector or to an amplifier of a signal from the at least one emission light detector;
• and
• a memory device for storing data, the memory device being in communication with the processor;
• wherein the processor, using data from the memory device, separately controls a gain of the signal from the at least one emission light detector for each of the plurality of samples illuminated by the excitation light source to achieve an approximately normalized detection efficiency for a plurality of fluorescent samples.