Optical Detection System Using Excitation Signal Intensity Modulation

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical detection systems for micro-channel devices, such as those used in DNA sequencing, require additional hardware like photodiodes to identify micro-channel locations, increasing system cost, complexity, and footprint.

Innovation Solution

An optical detection system that uses a detector to emit a signal indicative of structural characteristics of a sample carrier, with a data evaluator to identify these characteristics and determine micro-channel locations, allowing for precise focusing of an excitation signal without the need for additional hardware like photodiodes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If photodiodes are added to detect reflected excitation signals for micro-channel location identification, then location identification capability is improved, but system complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicro-channel location identification accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the location identification function from the main detection system by using the excitation signal itself to carry location information through intensity modulation. Instead of adding photodiodes to detect reflected signals, the system removes the need for separate detection hardware by encoding position data in the excitation signal's intensity variations as it passes through different optical paths to the sample.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The excitation signal serves multiple functions: it provides the primary excitation for fluorescence detection and simultaneously carries location identification information through its intensity modulation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate photodiodes, reducing system complexity while maintaining location identification capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If photodiodes are added to detect reflected excitation signals for micro-channel location identification, then location identification capability is improved, but system cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicro-channel location identification accuracyVSAvoidsystem cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the location identification function from the main detection system by using the excitation signal itself to carry location information through intensity modulation. Instead of adding photodiodes to detect reflected signals, the system removes the need for separate detection hardware by encoding position data in the excitation signal's intensity variations as it passes through different optical paths to the sample.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The excitation signal serves multiple functions: it provides the primary excitation for fluorescence detection and simultaneously carries location identification information through its intensity modulation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate photodiodes, reducing system complexity while maintaining location identification capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If photodiodes are added to detect reflected excitation signals for micro-channel location identification, then location identification capability is improved, but system footprint increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicro-channel location identification accuracyVSAvoidsystem footprint

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The excitation signal serves multiple functions: it provides the primary excitation for fluorescence detection and simultaneously carries location identification information through its intensity modulation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate photodiodes, reducing system complexity while maintaining location identification capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach reduces system complexity and cost while maintaining or improving the accuracy of micro-channel location identification, enabling efficient processing of samples within the micro-channel device.

Implementation Method 1

detecting the fluoresced radiation of the dyes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluorescence: Fluorescence

Implementation Method 2

illuminate the fragments with an excitation signal and detecting the fluoresced radiation of the dyes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluorescence excitation: Fluorescence

Data Source

PatentUS8427637B2Optical detection system

Publication Date: 2013.04.23 ANALOGIC CORP

AI summary

An optical detection system includes a detector configured to detect a signal emitted from a sample carrier and generate an output indicative of the signal detected by the detector. The sample carrier emits the signal in response to the sample carrier being scanned by an excitation source, the emitted signal is indicative of a structural characteristic of the sample carrier, and the sample carrier includes bulk material, at least one material free chamber and a bulk material/chamber interface for each chamber. The optical detection system further includes a data evaluator that identifies the structural characteristic of the sample carrier based on the output of the detector and generates data indicative of the identified structural characteristic.