US 8,227,258 B2Granted

Delivery and sensing of metered amounts of liquid materials

AssigneeNew Jersey Institute of Technology

InventorsTimothy N. Chang, Qiong Shen

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Abstract

A liquid delivery apparatus is provided for depositing liquid materials onto prescribed areas. The apparatus includes a sensing and delivery pin and a photo sensor. The apparatus is sized to deliver a droplet of liquid material to the surface of a target area without coming into contact with the target surface. The apparatus is also capable of drawing geometric features, such as lines and grids of liquid material. The photo sensor measures the intensity of light during a processing cycle. Measured reflected-light intensity can be compared in real-time to a reference curve which is based on test process cycles representing the light intensity expected when the process proceeds in the preferred fashion to produce a normal spot having an expected droplet size. The light intensity measurements can also be fitted with a mathematical function such as an asymmetric double sigmoidal curve.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A method of dispensing a liquid material, comprising the steps of:

(a) moving a liquid delivery apparatus having liquid material contained in a cavity toward a predetermined location until a droplet of liquid material formed on a tip of the liquid delivery apparatus contacts the predetermined location;
(b) providing light from a light source directed at the liquid material and measuring the intensity of light during step (a);
(c) monitoring step (a) in real-time based on the measured light intensity;
(d) moving the liquid delivery apparatus away from the predetermined location such that the liquid material elongates and moving the liquid delivery apparatus horizontally along a predetermined area after the liquid material elongates, while the liquid material is continuously dispensed, to generate a line of liquid material;
(e) measuring the intensity of light during step (d);
and
(f) monitoring step (d) in real-time based on the measured light intensity from step (e).

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/369,295Filed 11 Feb 2009 · us provisional application
Priority: 11 Feb 2008
Published: US 2009/0253216 A18 Oct 2009
Granted: 24 Jul 2012
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

G01N 35/00613
Quality control, including calibration or testing of components of the analyser: quality control
B01L 3/0251
Using pins: pin and ring type or pin in tube type dispenser
B01L 2200/143
Process control and prevention of errors: quality control, feedback systems
B01L 2300/0829
Rectangular shaped: multi-well plates; Microtitration plates