Method for triggering through disc grooves and related optical analysis discs and system

• US 20050185569A1
• Filed: 01/23/2003
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vindur Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nagaoka & Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: McIntyre, Kevin Robert, Coombs, James Howard, Worthington, Mark Oscar
• Granted Patent: US 7,251,210 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 369/275.400
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/143 Quality control, feedback systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/021 Identification, e.g. bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0806 Standardised forms, e.g. compact disc [CD] format
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0409 centrifugal forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00178 Special arrangements of analysers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/253 for batch operation, i.e. multisample apparatus analytical automats G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00069 whereby the sample substrate is of the bio-disk type, i.e. having the format of an optical disk

Abstract

An optical analysis disc includes grooves defining corresponding laser-readable tracks and trigger marks that identify respective target regions on the disc. The trigger marks are implemented as a radial interruption of the grooves to thereby produce an increased reflection of a laser beam. There is also provided an optical analysis disc system including a trigger mechanism having a trigger detector adapted to detect interruptions in grooves of an optical analysis disc. A related method for triggering through interrupted grooves of an optical analysis disc includes detecting interruption in the grooves, generating an electrical reflection signal corresponding to the interruptions detected, and elaborating said reflection signal, so that to generate a trigger signal.

Claims

1. An optical analysis disc comprising grooves defining corresponding laser-readable tracks and trigger marks that identify respective target regions on the disc, said trigger marks being a radial interruption of said grooves to thereby produce an increased reflection of a laser beam.

2. The disc according to claim 1 wherein each target region is delimited by a first and a second interruption in the corresponding grooves.

3. An optical analysis disc comprising grooves defining corresponding laser-readable tracks and trigger marks that identify respective target regions on the disc, each of said trigger marks defining a triggering region including a sequence of interruptions that produce an increased reflection of a laser beam, defining a pattern of interrupted grooves encoding data to identify a trigger signal.

4. The disc according to claim 3 wherein said data are adapted to regenerate a clock signal.

5. An optical analysis disc system comprising a trigger mechanism including a trigger detector adapted to detect interruptions in grooves of an optical analysis disc.

6. The system according to claim 5 wherein said trigger detector is adapted to direct a laser beam toward said grooves and to detect a reflected laser beam to thereby generate an electrical reflection signal corresponding to said reflected laser beam.

7. The system according to claim 6 wherein said reflection signal has a first intensity value when the laser beam is reflected by a continuous groove and a second intensity value when the laser beam is reflected by an interruption of said grooves.

8. The system according to claim 7 wherein said second intensity value is greater than said first intensity value.

9. The system according to claim 6 further comprising means for elaborating said reflection signal, said elaborating means being adapted to determine a trigger signal.

10. The system according to claim 9 wherein said means for elaborating the reflection signal comprises an apparatus for regenerating a clock signal.

11. The system according to claim 9 wherein said means for elaborating the reflection signal is adapted to perform error correction of encoded data.

12. The system according to claim 10 wherein said apparatus for regenerating a clock signal is a slicer/PLL type apparatus.

13. The system according to claim 9 wherein said means for elaborating the reflection signal comprises a counter device that counts a predetermined number of clock pulses for determining a clock pulse corresponding to a trigger signal.

22. The system according to claim 8 further comprising means for elaborating said reflection signal, said elaborating means being adapted to determine a trigger signal.

14. A method for triggering through interrupted grooves of an optical analysis disc comprising the following steps:

detecting interruption in the grooves;

generating an electrical reflection signal corresponding to the interruptions detected; and

elaborating said reflection signal, so that to generate a trigger signal.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein said detecting step comprises the steps of directing a laser beam towards said interruption and detecting a reflected laser beam.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein said reflection signal has a first intensity value when the laser beam is reflected by continuous grooves and a second intensity value when the laser beam is reflected by an interruption of said grooves.

17. The method according to claim 14 wherein said second intensity value is greater than said first intensity value.

18. The method according to claim 14 wherein said elaborating step comprises a step of regenerating a clock signal.

19. The method according to claim 14 wherein said elaborating step comprises a step of error correction.

20. The method according to claim 18 wherein said regenerating step is performed by a slicer/PLL type apparatus.

21. The method according to claim 18 wherein said elaborating step comprises a step of counting a predetermined number of clock pulses for determining a pulse corresponding to a trigger signal