System and method for temperature control
First Claim
1. A system for controlling the temperature of a reaction mixture contained in a reaction vessel, the system comprising:
- a) at least one heating device for heating the vessel;
b) at least one temperature sensor;
c) at least one power regulator for regulating an amount of power supplied to the heating device; and
d) at least one controller in communication with the power regulator and with the temperature sensor, wherein the controller includes program instructions for heating the reaction mixture by;
i) determining a level of power to be provided to the heating device, wherein the level of power is determined in dependence upon a variable target temperature that initially exceeds a desired setpoint temperature for the mixture;
ii) sending a control signal instructing the power regulator to provide power to the heating device at the level determined;
when the sensor measures a temperature greater than or equal to a threshold temperature, iii) decreasing the variable target temperature;
iv) determining a new level of power to be provided to the heating device, wherein the new level of power is determined in dependence upon the decreased target temperature; and
v) sending a new control signal instructing the power regulator to provide power to the heating device at the new level.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for controlling the temperature of a reaction mixture comprises at least one heating device for heating the mixture and a power regulator for regulating the amount of power supplied to the heating device. A controller in communication with the power regulator includes program instructions for heating the reaction mixture by setting a variable target temperature that initially exceeds a desired setpoint temperature for the mixture. When the heating device reaches a threshold temperature, the variable target temperature is decreased to the desired setpoint temperature. In another embodiment, the controller includes an adaptive control program for dynamically adjusting the duration or intensity of power pulses provided to the heating device.
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Citations
58 Claims
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1. A system for controlling the temperature of a reaction mixture contained in a reaction vessel, the system comprising:
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a) at least one heating device for heating the vessel;
b) at least one temperature sensor;
c) at least one power regulator for regulating an amount of power supplied to the heating device; and
d) at least one controller in communication with the power regulator and with the temperature sensor, wherein the controller includes program instructions for heating the reaction mixture by;
i) determining a level of power to be provided to the heating device, wherein the level of power is determined in dependence upon a variable target temperature that initially exceeds a desired setpoint temperature for the mixture;
ii) sending a control signal instructing the power regulator to provide power to the heating device at the level determined;
when the sensor measures a temperature greater than or equal to a threshold temperature, iii) decreasing the variable target temperature;
iv) determining a new level of power to be provided to the heating device, wherein the new level of power is determined in dependence upon the decreased target temperature; and
v) sending a new control signal instructing the power regulator to provide power to the heating device at the new level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for using a heating device to heat a reaction mixture, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) determining a level of power to be provided to the heating device, wherein the level of power is determined in dependence upon a variable target temperature that initially exceeds a desired setpoint temperature for the mixture;
b) providing power to the heating device at the level determined;
when the heating device reaches a temperature greater than or equal to a threshold temperature, c) decreasing the variable target temperature;
d) determining a new level of power to be provided to the heating device, wherein the new level of power is determined in dependence upon the decreased target temperature; and
e) providing power to the heating device at the new level. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A system for controlling the temperature of a reaction mixture contained in a reaction vessel, the system comprising:
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a) at least one heating device for heating the vessel;
b) at least one cooling device for cooling the vessel;
c) at least one temperature sensor;
d) at least one power regulator for regulating an amount of power supplied to the heating device; and
e) at least one controller in communication with the cooling device, the power regulator, and the temperature sensor, wherein the controller includes program instructions for cooling the mixture by;
i) setting a variable target temperature, wherein the variable target temperature is initially lower than a desired setpoint temperature for the mixture;
ii) activating the cooling device to cool the mixture until the sensor measures a temperature less than or equal to a threshold temperature;
iii) increasing the variable target temperature;
iv) determining a level of power to be provided to the heating device in dependence upon the increased variable target temperature; and
v) sending a control signal instructing the power regulator to provide power to the heating device at the level determined. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A system for controlling the temperature of a reaction mixture contained in a reaction vessel, the system comprising:
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a) at least one heating device for heating the vessel;
b) at least one temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the heating device;
c) at least one power regulator for regulating the amount of power supplied to the heating device;
d) at least one memory for storing;
i) a pulse intensity value indicating an intensity of a power pulse to be supplied to the heating device to heat the heating device to a desired setpoint temperature; and
ii) a pulse length value indicating a duration of the power pulse to be supplied to the heating device; and
e) at least one controller in communication with the memory, the power regulator, and the temperature sensor, wherein the controller includes program instructions for heating the reaction mixture by;
i) sending a control signal instructing the power regulator to provide the power pulse to the heating device at the intensity and for the duration indicated by the pulse intensity value and the pulse length value, respectively;
ii) receiving temperature signals from the temperature sensor indicating measured temperatures of the heating device;
iii) terminating the power pulse when the measured temperature of the heating device reaches a threshold value or when the duration of time indicated by the pulse length value has elapsed; and
iv) adjusting the pulse length value or the pulse intensity value stored in the memory in dependence upon the difference between the setpoint temperature and the measured temperature of the heating device after the power pulse is completed;
wherein the system further includes at least one optical detector in communication with the controller for generating optical data regarding the reaction mixture in the vessel, and wherein the controller further includes program instructions for processing the optical data and adjusting at least one process control selected from the group consisting of temperature control, completion of reaction, profile display, and signal generation regarding the need for addition of reagents. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A system for controlling the temperature of a reaction mixture contained in a reaction vessel, the system comprising:
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a) at least one heating device for heating the vessel;
b) at least one temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the heating device;
c) at least one power regulator for regulating the amount of power supplied to the heating device;
d) at least one memory for storing;
i) a pulse intensity value indicating an intensity of a power pulse to be supplied to the heating device to heat the heating device to a desired setpoint temperature; and
ii) a pulse length value indicating a duration of the power pulse to be supplied to the heating device; and
e) at least one controller in communication with the memory, the power regulator, and the temperature sensor, wherein the controller includes program instructions for heating the reaction mixture by;
i) sending a control signal instructing the power regulator to provide the power pulse to the heating device at the intensity and for the duration indicated by the pulse intensity value and the pulse length value, respectively;
ii) receiving temperature signals from the temperature sensor indicating measured temperatures of the heating device;
iii) terminating the power pulse when the measured temperature of the heating device reaches a threshold value or when the duration of time indicated by the pulse length value has elapsed; and
iv) adjusting the pulse length value or the pulse intensity value stored in the memory in dependence upon the difference between the setpoint temperature and the measured temperature of the heating device after the power pulse is completed;
wherein the system further includes at least one optical detector in communication with the controller for generating optical data regarding the reaction mixture in the vessel, and wherein the controller further includes program instructions for processing the optical data and adjusting at least one optical detection parameter in dependence upon the optical data. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48)
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49. A system for thermally controlling a plurality of reaction mixtures contained in a plurality of reaction vessels, the system comprising:
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a) a plurality of heat-exchanging modules for receiving the vessels, wherein each of the modules comprises;
i) at least one heating device for heating one of the vessels; and
ii) a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the heating device;
b) at least one power regulator for regulating the amount of power supplied to the heating device of each heat-exchanging module;
c) at least one memory for storing for each of the heat-exchanging modules;
i) a pulse intensity value indicating an intensity of a power pulse to be supplied to the heating device to heat the heating device to a desired setpoint temperature; and
ii) a pulse length value indicating a duration of the power pulse to be supplied to the heating device; and
d) at least one controller in communication with the memory, the power regulator, and with the temperature sensor of each heat-exchanging module, wherein the controller includes program instructions for independently controlling each heat-exchanging module to heat a reaction mixture by;
i) sending a control signal instructing the power regulator to provide the power pulse to the heating device at the intensity and for the duration indicated by the pulse intensity value and the pulse length value, respectively, stored for the module;
ii) receiving temperature signals from the temperature sensor indicating measured temperatures of the heating device;
iii) terminating the power pulse when the measured temperature of the heating device reaches a threshold value or when the duration of time indicated by the pulse length value has elapsed; and
iv) adjusting the pulse length value or the pulse intensity value stored in the memory in dependence upon the difference between the setpoint temperature and the measured temperature of the heating device after the power pulse is completed. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A method for heating and optically interrogating a reaction mixture, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) storing in at least one memory;
i) a pulse length value indicating a duration of a power pulse to be supplied to a heating device to heat the reaction mixture to a desired setpoint temperature; and
ii) a pulse intensity value indicating an intensity of the power pulse to be supplied to the heating device; and
b) sending a control signal instructing a power regulator to provide the power pulse to the heating device at the intensity and for the duration indicated by the pulse intensity value and the pulse length value, respectively;
c) receiving temperature signals from a sensor indicating measured temperatures of the heating device;
d) terminating the power pulse when the measured temperature of the heating device reaches a threshold value or when the duration of time indicated by the pulse length value has elapsed;
e) adjusting the pulse length value or the pulse intensity value stored in the memory in dependence upon the difference between the setpoint temperature and the measured temperature of the heating device after the power pulse is completed;
f) generating optical data regarding the reaction mixture; and
g) processing the optical data and adjusting at least one optical detection parameter.
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55. A method for heating and optically interrogating a reaction mixture, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) storing in at least one memory;
i) a pulse length value indicating a duration of a power pulse to be supplied to a heating device to heat the reaction mixture to a setpoint temperature; and
ii) a pulse intensity value indicating an intensity of the power pulse to be supplied to the heating device; and
b) sending a control signal instructing a power regulator to provide the power pulse to the heating device at the intensity and for the duration indicated by the pulse intensity value and the pulse length value, respectively;
c) receiving temperature signals from a sensor indicating measured temperatures of the heating device;
d) terminating the power pulse when the measured temperature of the heating device reaches a threshold value or when the duration of time indicated by the pulse length value has elapsed;
e) adjusting the pulse length value or the pulse intensity value stored in the memory in dependence upon the difference between the setpoint temperature and the measured temperature of the heating device after the power pulse is completed;
f) generating optical data regarding the reaction mixture; and
g) processing the optical data and adjusting at least one process control selected from the group consisting of temperature control, completion of reaction, profile display, and signal generation regarding the need for addition of reagents.
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56. A method for thermally controlling a plurality of reaction mixtures contained in a plurality of reaction vessels, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) placing the reaction vessels into a corresponding plurality of heat-exchanging modules, wherein each of the modules comprises;
i) at least one heating device for heating one of the vessels; and
ii) a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the heating device;
b) for each of the heat-exchanging modules, storing in at least one memory;
i) a pulse length value indicating a duration of a power pulse to be supplied to the heating device of the module to heat the heating device to a desired setpoint temperature; and
ii) a pulse intensity value indicating an intensity of the power pulse to be supplied to the heating device;
c) independently controlling each heat-exchanging module to heat the reaction mixture contained therein by;
i) sending a control signal instructing a power regulator to provide the power pulse to the heating device at the intensity and for the duration indicated by the pulse intensity value and the pulse length value, respectively, stored for the module;
ii) receiving temperature signals from the sensor indicating measured temperatures of the heating device;
iii) terminating the power pulse when the measured temperature of the heating device reaches a threshold value or when the duration of time indicated by the pulse length value has elapsed; and
iv) adjusting the pulse length value or the pulse intensity value stored in the memory in dependence upon the difference between the setpoint temperature and the measured temperature of the heating device after the power pulse is completed. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58)
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Specification