High throughput optical micro-array reader capable of variable pitch and spot size array processing for genomics and proteomics
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorsRuolin Li, Guoying Ding
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical micro-array reader system includes microchip, VCSEL, microlens and detector arrays. The microchip array includes multiple sample spots to be separately analyzed. The VCSEL array is disposed to simultaneously illuminate more than one of the multiple spots. The microlens array focuses fluorescences or other optical emissions from the sample spots onto the detector array.
Claims32
An optical micro-array reader system, comprising:
- (a) a microchip array including multiple sample spots to be separately analyzed;
- (b) a vertical cavity surface emitting laser(VCSEL) array including multiple VCSELs disposed to simultaneously illuminate more than one of the multiple spots;
- (c) a detector array for receiving optical emissions from the sample spots;
- and (d) a microlens array for focusing the optical emission from the sample spots onto elements of the detector array, wherein the microlens array is located between the VCSEL and the detector array
A method of operating an optical micro-array reader system that includes microchip, VCSEL, microlens and detector arrays, comprising:
- (a) providing the microchip array with multiple sample spots to be separately analyzed;
- (b) energizing the VCSEL array that includes multiple VCSELs to simultaneously illuminate more than one of the multiple spots;
- (c) focusing optical emissions from the sample spots onto elements of the detector array through the microlens array;
- and (d) detecting the focused optical emissions from the sample spots, wherein the microlens array is located between the VCSEL and the detector array
One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied thereon, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method of operating an optical micro-array reader system that includes microchip, VCSEL, microlens and detector arrays, the method comprising:
- (a) providing the microchip array with multiple sample spots to be separately analyzed;
- (b) energizing the VCSEL away that includes multiple VCSELs to simultaneously illuminate more than one of the multiple spots;
- (c) focusing optical emissions from the sample spots onto the detector array through the microlens array;
- and (d) detecting the focused optical emissions, wherein the microlens array is located between the VCSEL and the detector array.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.