Obtaining information from time variation of sensing results

A method of using encoding/sensing arrangements, the method comprising:

• operating an encoding/sensing arrangement to obtain sensing results for an object moving relative to the encoding/sensing arrangement, the sensing results indicating one or more sensed time-varying waveforms with time variation as a result of the object's moving relative to the encoding/sensing arrangement;
• the act of operating the encoding/sensing arrangement to obtain sensing results including:
• operating the encoding/sensing arrangement to encode the time variation in accordance with a set of one or more patterns, the set including at least one of:
• an excitation pattern;
• a pattern in a filter arrangement;
• a pattern relative to which the object is displaced;
• a patterned sensing arrangement;
• a periodic pattern;
• a chirp pattern;
• a random pattern;
• a pattern in space;
• and
• a pattern in time;
• the act of operating the encoding/sensing arrangement to obtain sensing results further including at least one of:
• photosensing light emanating from the object;
• and
• performing impedance-based sensing;
• and
• performing a comparing operation on a set of time-varying waveforms to obtain comparison results;
• the set of time-varying waveforms including at least one of the sensed time-varying waveforms and also including a reference time-varying waveform, the reference time-varying waveform being related to at least one of the set of patterns.

A method of using a sensor, the method comprising:

• while objects travel past the sensor, operating the sensor to obtain sensing results, the sensing results indicating one or more sensed time-varying waveforms with time variation that includes information about the objects;
• and
• using the sensing results in a comparing operation on a set of time-varying waveforms to obtain comparison results indicating motion-independent information about the objects;
• the set of time-varying waveforms including at least one of the sensed time-varying waveforms;
• the act of using the sensing results in a comparing operation including:
• performing time scaling on at least one of the set of time-varying waveforms.

Apparatus comprising:

• a fluidic structure that includes a channel through which objects can travel during operation of the apparatus;
• along the channel, a sensor arrangement that can obtain sensing results indicating one or more sensed time-varying waveforms;
• and
• circuitry that can receive sensing results from the sensor arrangement and can, in response, obtain information about the objects;
• the circuitry being structured to use the sensing results from the sensor arrangement in a comparing operation on a set of time-varying waveforms to obtain comparison results indicating motion-independent information about the objects;
• the set of time-varying waveforms including at least one of the sensed time-varying waveforms;
• in using the sensing results in the comparing operation, the circuitry performing time scaling on at least one of the set of time-varying waveforms.

A method of using a sensor, the method comprising:

• while an object travels, operating the sensor to obtain sensing results, the sensing results indicating one or more sensed time-varying waveforms that include periodic modulation;
• and
• using the sensing results to obtain information about the object;
• the act of using the sensing results including:
• obtaining a modulation periodicity value from the periodic modulation of at least one of the sensed time-varying waveforms;
• and
• obtaining information about the object using the modulation periodicity value and one or more of the sensed time-varying waveforms, the act of obtaining information about the object including:
• time scaling a first set of one or more time-varying waveforms based on the modulation periodicity value, the first set including at least one of:
• one or more of the sensed time-varying waveforms;
• and
• a reference time-varying waveform;
• and
• comparing a second set of two or more time-varying waveforms;
• the second set including at least one of the sensed time-varying waveforms;
• the second set including at least one of the first set of time-scaled time-varying waveforms.

A method of using sensors, the method comprising:

• while an object travels, operating a sensor to obtain sensing results, the sensing results indicating one or more sensed time-varying waveforms that include periodic modulation and chirp modulation;
• and
• using the sensing results to obtain information about the object;
• the act of using the sensing results including:
• obtaining a modulation periodicity value from the periodic modulation of at least one of the sensed time-varying waveforms;
• obtaining a chirp periodicity value from the chirp modulation of at least one of the sensed time-varying waveforms, the chirp periodicity value indicating chirp periodicity at a respective time;
• and
• using the modulation and chirp periodicity values to obtain the information about the object at the respective time.