High-Resolution Parametric Signal Restoration

• US 20100033231A1
• Filed: 08/08/2008
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beckman Coulter Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Beckman Coulter Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: QUESADA, Valentin T., Weber, Bruce M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,940,105 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 327/509
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/00 Investigating characteristics of particles; Investigating permeability, pore-volume or surface-area of porous materials identification of microorganisms C12Q
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1429 Signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1459 the analysis being performed on a sample stream
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1477 Multiparameters

Abstract

Provided are high-resolution parametric signal restoration systems, and applications thereof. Such systems include a multi-output module and a parametric compensator. The multi-output module provides a reference gain output signal and one or more higher gain output signals based on a single input signal. The parametric compensator independently responds to functional parameters of the one or more higher gain output signals to provide a compensation error signal. The single input signal is modified based on the compensation error signal.

Claims

1. A system for processing electronic signals, comprising:

a multi-output module that provides a reference gain output signal and one or more higher gain output signals based on an input signal; and

a parametric compensator that independently responds to functional parameters of the one or more higher gain output signals to provide a compensation error signal,

wherein the input signal is modified based on the compensation error signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more higher gain output signals have a direct current (DC) component, and wherein the parametric compensator comprises a first modifier configured to reduce the DC component of the one or more higher gain output signals.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first modifier comprises a noise filter and a time constant module configured to reduce the DC component of the one or more higher gain output signals.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more higher gain output signals include a pulse undershoot amplitude, and wherein the parametric compensator comprises a first modifier configured to reduce the pulse undershoot amplitude included in the one or more higher gain output signals.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the one or more higher gain output signals include an amplitude, and wherein the first modifier comprises a time constant module that reduces the pulse undershoot amplitude when the amplitude of the one or more higher gain output signals exceeds a threshold.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more higher gain output signals include an optical noise component, and wherein the parametric compensator includes a first modifier configured to shift a reference position of the optical noise component included in the one or more higher gain output signals.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an input signal modification module that modifies the input signal based on the compensation error signal to reduce the perturbations included in the input signal.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the input signal modification module comprises:

a summation and isolation module configured to (1) add the compensation error signal to the input signal when a calibration signal is not present and (2) prevent the compensation error signal from being added to the input signal when the calibration signal is present.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the input signal modification module comprises:

a passive isolation element configured to couple the input signal to an input of the multi-output module thereby forming a compliant point of the system;

wherein the compensation error signal is forced to appear at the compliant point to reduce the perturbations included in the input signal.

10. A method for processing electronic signals, comprising:

(a) forming a reference gain output signal and one or more higher gain output signals based on an input signal;

(b) independently responding to functional parameters of the one or more higher gain output signals to provide a compensation error signal; and

(c) modifying the input signal based on the compensation error signal.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein step (b) comprises reducing a direct current (DC) component of the one or more higher gain output signals to provide the compensation error signal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the reducing the DC component of the one or more higher gain output signals comprises filtering the one or more higher gain output signals through a noise filter and a time constant module to reduce the DC component of the one or more higher gain output signals.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein step (b) comprises reducing a pulse undershoot amplitude included in the one or more higher gain output signals to provide the compensation error signal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the reducing the pulse undershoot amplitude comprises filtering the one or more higher gain signals through a time constant module when the amplitude of the one or more higher gain output signals exceeds a threshold.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein step (b) comprises shifting a relative position of an optical noise component included in the one or more higher gain output signals when displayed on a log-histogram plot.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein step (c) comprises:

(c1) adding the compensation error signal to the input signal when a calibration signal is not present; and

(c2) preventing the compensation error signal from being added to the input signal when the calibration signal is present.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein step (c) comprises:

(c1) forming a compliant point in a circuit; and

(c2) forcing the compensation error signal to appear at the compliant point to reduce the perturbations included in the input signal.

18. A high-resolution signal restoration system for processing signals from a measurement instrument, comprising:

a first combining module that combines an input signal and a compensation error signal to provide a combined signal;

a first amplifier, having a first gain that provides a first amplified signal based on the combined signal;

a second amplifier, having a second gain that is different from the first gain, that provides a second amplified signal based on the combined signal; and

a feedback that generates the compensation error signal based on the second amplified signal, the feedback including

a first direct current (DC) restoration module having a first time constant and configured to reduce a DC component of the second amplified signal to provide a first processed signal,

a second DC restoration module having a second time constant that is different from the first time constant and configured to reduce the DC component of the second amplified signal to provide a second processed signal, and

a feedback output module that provides either the first processed signal or a combination of the first and second processed signals as the compensation error signal based on a threshold.

19. A high-resolution signal restoration system for processing signals from a measurement instrument, comprising:

an AC coupling;

a first amplifier, having a first gain, that provides a first amplified signal based on an input signal received via the AC coupling;

a second amplifier, having a second gain that is different from the first gain, that provides a second amplified signal based on the input signal received via the AC coupling;

a pulse undershoot module coupled to the AC coupling and configured to reduce an amplitude and time duration of pulse undershoot during recovery of the input signal;

a feedback that generates a compensation error signal based on the second amplified signal; and

a summation module that adds the compensation error signal to the input signal received by the first and second amplifiers.

20. The high-resolution signal restoration system of claim 19, wherein the pulse undershoot module comprises:

a pulse undershoot recovery circuit configured to rectify the input signal to provide baseline recovery; and

a pulse undershoot recovery regulator configured to provide a compensation offset voltage to the pulse undershoot recovery circuit to reduce an offset of the pulse undershoot recovery circuit.

21. The high-resolution signal restoration system of claim 20, wherein the pulse undershoot recovery regulator comprises a microprocessor configured to use feedback to control the compensation offset voltage.

22. The high-resolution signal restoration system of claim 20, wherein the pulse undershoot recovery regulator comprises a feedback element configured to monitor an input offset voltage of the pulse undershoot recovery circuit and provide the compensation offset voltage based on the input offset voltage.

23. The high-resolution signal restoration system of claim 20, wherein the pulse undershoot recovery regulator comprises a manually adjustable circuit configured to provide the compensation offset voltage responsive to an input.

24. The high-resolution signal restoration system of claim 20, wherein the pulse undershoot recovery regulator comprises an element configured to provide a substantially fixed-value compensation offset voltage.

25. The high-resolution signal restoration system of claim 19, wherein the feedback comprises a bias operating point module configured to shift a DC operating level of the first and second amplifiers.

26. The high-resolution signal restoration system of claim 19, wherein the feedback comprises a programmable offset control configured to shift a DC operating level of the first and second amplifiers based on input received via a system interface.

27. The high-resolution signal restoration system of claim 19, wherein the feedback comprises:

a first proportional offset configured to provide a first proportion of the compensation error signal to the first amplifier; and

a second proportional offset configured to provide a second proportion of the compensation error signal to the second amplifier.

28. The high-resolution signal restoration system of claim 19, wherein the feedback comprises:

an adaptive response filter and a bias operating point module configured to reduce a DC operating level of the first and second amplifier to reduce an average noise above ground.

29. The high-resolution signal restoration system of claim 19, wherein the feedback comprises:

an adaptive response filter and a bias operating point module configured to respond to noise levels, and not pulse activity input, from the second amplifier.

30. The high-resolution signal restoration system of claim 19, wherein the feedback comprises:

an adaptive response filter and a bias operating point module configured to respond to thermal offset changes from the second amplifier to adjust a DC operating level of the first and second amplifiers.