System, method, and product for scanning of biological materials employing dual analog integrators
First Claim
1. A system for reducing a dark period between successive data acquisition periods associated with the detection of one or more target molecules hybridized to at least one of a plurality of probes disposed upon a biological probe array, comprising:
- a switch that alternately directs an analog signal between a first circuit and a second circuit, wherein a period of time is required to alternate between the first and second circuits;
a first integrator associated with the first circuit that integrates the analog signal to generate a first integrated value;
a second integrator associated with the second circuit that integrates the analog signal to generate a second integrated value; and
an analog/digital converter that produces a digital value for each of the first integrated value and the second integrated values.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, a system is described for reducing a dark period between successive data acquisition periods associated with the detection of one or more target molecules hybridized to at least one of a plurality of probes disposed upon a biological probe array. The system comprises a switch that alternately directs an analog signal between a first circuit and a second circuit, where a period of time is required to alternate between the first and second circuits; an integrator associated with the first circuit that integrates the analog signal to generate a first integrated value; a second integrator associated with the second circuit that integrates the analog signal to generate a second integrated value; and an analog/digital converter that produces a digital value for each of the first integrated value and the second integrated values.
31 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A system for reducing a dark period between successive data acquisition periods associated with the detection of one or more target molecules hybridized to at least one of a plurality of probes disposed upon a biological probe array, comprising:
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a switch that alternately directs an analog signal between a first circuit and a second circuit, wherein a period of time is required to alternate between the first and second circuits;
a first integrator associated with the first circuit that integrates the analog signal to generate a first integrated value;
a second integrator associated with the second circuit that integrates the analog signal to generate a second integrated value; and
an analog/digital converter that produces a digital value for each of the first integrated value and the second integrated values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for reducing a dark period between successive data acquisition periods associated with the detection of one or more target molecules hybridized to at least one of a plurality of probes disposed upon a biological probe array, comprising:
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alternately directing an analog signal between a first circuit and a second circuit, wherein a period of time is required to alternate between the first and second circuits;
integrating the analog signal in the first circuit to generate a first integrated value;
integrating the analog signal in the second circuit to generate a second integrated value; and
producing a digital value for each of the first integrated value and the second integrated values. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A scanner system for reducing a dark period between successive data acquisition periods associated with the detection of one or more target molecules hybridized to at least one of a plurality of probes disposed upon a biological probe array, comprising;
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scanner optics and detectors comprising;
a source that provides an excitation beam;
optics that direct the excitation beam at each of the plurality of probes disposed upon the biological probe array, wherein the optics collect emissions responsive to the excitation beam; and
a detector that produces an analog signal responsive to the collected emissions from the optics; and
a computer having executable firmware stored thereon and a sensor board comprising;
a switch that alternately directs the analog signal between a first circuit and a second circuit, wherein a period of time is required to alternate between the first and second circuits;
a first integrator associated with the first circuit that integrates the analog signal to generate a first integrated value;
a second integrator associated with the second circuit that integrates the analog signal to generate a second integrated value; and
an analog/digital converter that produces a digital value for each of the first integrated value and the second integrated values.
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37. A system for computing correction values between integrators comprising:
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a voltage reference generator that provides a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage;
a switch that sequentially directs the first and second reference voltage between a first circuit and a second circuit;
a first integrator associated with the first circuit that sequentially integrates the first and second reference voltage to generate a first reference value and a second reference value;
a second integrator associated with the second circuit that sequentially integrates the first and second reference voltage to generate a third reference value and a fourth reference value; and
firmware that computes an offset correction value and a gain correction value, wherein the offset correction value and the gain correction value are computed from a difference between an offset value and a gain value each associated with a first linear plot based upon the first and second reference values, and a second linear plot based upon the third and fourth reference values. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method for computing correction values between integrators comprising:
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providing a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage;
sequentially directing the first and second reference voltage between a first circuit and a second circuit;
sequentially integrating the first and second reference voltage in the first circuit to generate a first reference value and a second reference value;
sequentially integrating the first and second reference voltage in the second circuit to generate a third reference value and a fourth reference value; and
computing an offset correction value and a gain correction value, wherein the offset correction value and the gain correction value are computed from a difference between an offset value and a gain value each associated with a first linear plot based upon the first and second reference values, and a second linear plot based upon the third and fourth reference values.
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Specification