Methods and apparatuses for detecting microscope slide coverslips
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A coverslip detector for detecting microscope slide coverslips, the coverslip detector comprising:
- an optically anti-reflective element; and
an optical sensor includinga light source that outputs light towards the optically anti-reflective element, anda light detector positioned to detect light from the light source that is reflected by one or more coverslips positioned within a coverslip detection zone between the optical sensor and the optically anti-reflective element.
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Abstract
A system is capable of detecting substrates and can differentiate between zero, one, or multiple transparent or semi-transparent substrates in a stack. The system can include an optical sensor, an optically anti-reflective element, and a detector. The optical sensor outputs light towards the optically anti-reflective element. The light detector is positioned to detect light from the light source that is reflected by substrates, if any, positioned within a detection zone between the optically anti-reflective element and the detector.
14 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A coverslip detector for detecting microscope slide coverslips, the coverslip detector comprising:
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an optically anti-reflective element; and an optical sensor including a light source that outputs light towards the optically anti-reflective element, and a light detector positioned to detect light from the light source that is reflected by one or more coverslips positioned within a coverslip detection zone between the optical sensor and the optically anti-reflective element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An automated slide processing apparatus, comprising:
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at least one processing station configured to process a specimen on a microscope slide; a coverslipper that receives microscope slides processed by the processing station, the coverslipper including an optically anti-reflective element; and an optical sensor including a light source and a light detector, wherein the light source is positioned to deliver light along a path towards the optically anti-reflective element, wherein the light detector is positioned to detect light from the light source that is reflected by one or more coverslips positioned along the path, and a transport mechanism configured to move microscope slides between the processing station and the coverslipper. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of detecting coverslips for microscope slides, comprising:
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delivering light towards at least one coverslip such that a portion of the light is reflected by the coverslip and a portion of the light travels through the at least one coverslip and strikes an optically anti-reflective element; and detecting the light reflected by the at least one coverslip to determine a number of coverslips that reflected the light. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of detecting substrates, comprising:
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carrying at least one substrate to a detection zone of an optical sensor using a holder mechanism, wherein the detection zone is between a light detector of the optical sensor and an optically anti-reflective element of the optical sensor; delivering light towards the substrate such that a portion of the light is reflected by the substrate and a portion of the light travels through the substrate and strikes the optically anti-reflective element; detecting, using the light detector, the light reflected by the substrate; and determining a number of substrates at the detection zone based on the detected light. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification