Transmitting/Reflecting Emanating Light With Time Variation

• US 20100201988A1
• Filed: 04/19/2010
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center, Inc. (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Beck, Markus, Kiesel, Peter, Johnson, Noble M., Bassler, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,373,860 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/419
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0346 Capillary cells; Microcells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/05 Flow-through cuvettes G01N21/09 takes precedence; handling fluid samples G01N1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/255 Details, e.g. use of specially adapted sources, lighting or optical systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/645 Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters

Abstract

A filter arrangement can transmit and/or reflect light emanating from a moving object so that the emanating light has time variation, and the time variation can include information about the object, such as its type. For example, emanating light from segments of a path can be transmitted/reflected through positions of a filter assembly, and the transmission functions of the positions can be sufficiently different that time variation occurs in the emanating light between segments. Or emanating light from a segment can be transmitted/reflected through a filter component in which simpler transmission functions are superimposed, so that time variation occurs in the emanating light in accordance with superposition of two simpler non-uniform transmission functions. Many filter arrangements could be used, e.g. the filter component could include the filter assembly, which can have one of the simpler non-uniform transmission functions. Time-varying waveforms from sensing results can be compared to obtain spectral differences. The filter arrangement, in a practical commercial embodiment, can be manufactured to be disposable, and used in a point-of-care device for use practically anywhere, at low cost, and can also be implemented in an in-line monitoring system.

Claims

1. An article of manufacture comprising:

a fluid-engaging structure, wherein the fluid-engaging structure includes

(a) a channel that in use can contain fluid and through which objects can move;

(b) one or more bounding parts that bound the channel, and wherein at least one of the one or more bounding parts include

one or more light transmissive portions, wherein at least one of the one or more light transmissive portions is configured to receive excitation light and provide the received excitation light, and wherein

excitation light enters the channel and interacts with an object resulting in emanating light; and

(c) one or more mask arrangements configured to receive at least part of the emanating light and in response, provide encoded emanating light, wherein

the one or more mask arrangements and the channel are further configured so that the encoded emanating light includes time variation resulting from relative movement between the one or more mask arrangements and the object, the time variation including information about the object.

2. A method of using the article of manufacture according to claim 1, the method comprising:

causing an object to move through the channel in a fluid;

causing the excitation light to enter the channel through the one or more light transmissive portions and interact with the object, resulting in the emanating light from the object;

receiving the emanating light at a first of the one or more mask arrangements; and

providing the encoded emanating light with the time variation including the information about the object in response to the received emanating light.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

receiving the encoded emanating light at a photosensitive surface of a large area photosensor; and

providing an electrical signal by the large area photosensor, in response to the received encoded emanating light, the electrical signal indicating one or more sensed time-varying waveforms, and wherein

at least one of the one or more sensed time-varying waveforms indicating the information about the object, and wherein,

a host structure includes the large area photosensor, the host structure being separate from and useable with the fluid-engaging structure; and

operating circuitry in the host structure to respond to the electrical signal by providing data indicating the information about the object.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein

the host structure includes one of a handheld device, the handheld device configured to monitor discrete samples of fluid and objects, and an in-line device, the in-line device configured to substantially continuously monitor the fluid and objects.

5. The article of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein the fluid-engaging structure further comprises:

a first of the one or more mask arrangements configured to receive at least part of the emanating light and in response provide encoded emanating light to received emanating light, and is located on a first portion of the bounding parts;

one or more mirrors, at least one of the one or more mirrors configured to substantially reflect the excitation light through the one or more light transmissive portions; and

an internal reflecting surface, wherein the internal reflecting surface is configured to re-transmit the reflected excitation light into the channel with the fluid and objects, and wherein

the article of manufacturing is configured for use with a host structure, and wherein the host structure includes;

at least one excitation light source;

a filter configured to receive and filter the encoded emanating light; and

a photo-sensor configured to receive the filtered encoded emanating light and detect time variation resulting from relative movement between the one or more mask arrangements and the objects, the time variation including information about the objects, and wherein the photo-sensor is further configured to provide an electrical signal indicating one or more sensed time-varying waveforms.

6. The article of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein the article of manufacturing is configured for use with a host structure, and wherein the host structure comprises:

at least one excitation light source;

at least one filter configured to receive and filter the encoded emanating light; and

a photo-sensor configured to receive the filtered encoded emanating light and detect time variation resulting from relative movement between the one or more mask arrangements and the objects, the time variation including information about the objects, and wherein

the photo-sensor and the at least one filter configured to receive and filter the encoded emanating light are located on a first exterior side of the one or more bounding parts of the fluid-engaging structure, and

the at least one excitation light source is located substantially directly opposite that of the photo-sensor and the at least one filter configured to receive and filter the encoded emanating light.

7. The article of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein the article of manufacturing is configured for use with a host structure, and wherein the host structure comprises:

at least one excitation light source;

at least one filter configured to receive and filter the encoded emanating light; and

a photo-sensor configured to receive the filtered encoded emanating light and detect time variation resulting from relative movement between the one or more mask arrangements and the objects, the time variation including information about the objects, and wherein

the photo-sensor and the at least one filter configured to receive and filter the encoded emanating light are located on a first exterior side of the one or more bounding parts of the fluid-engaging structure, and

the at least one excitation light source is located substantially adjacent to that of the photo-sensor and the at least one filter configured to receive and filter the encoded emanating light.

8. The article of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein the fluid-engaging structure further comprises:

at least two mirrors, wherein

a first mirror is configured to substantially reflect first excitation light from a first excitation light source through the one or more light transmissive portions, and

a second mirror is configured to substantially reflect second excitation light from a second excitation light source through the one or more light transmissive portions;

an internal reflecting surface, wherein

the internal reflecting surface is configured to re-transmit the first reflected excitation light into the channel with the fluid and objects, and

the internal reflecting surface is configured to re-transmit the second reflected excitation light into the channel with the fluid and objects, and wherein

the re-transmitted first and second excitation light interacts with the object resulting in a combined emanating light, wherein

a first of the one or more mask arrangements is located on a first portion of the bounding parts, wherein,

the first of the one or more mask arrangements is configured to receive at least part of the combined emanating light at a first range of photon energies and, in response, provide encoded combined emanating light at the first range of photon energies; and

a host structure, the host structure including

the first excitation light source configured to transmit the first excitation light;

the second excitation light source configured to transmit the second excitation light;

a first photo-sensor;

a second photo-sensor;

a second of the one or more mask arrangements, and wherein

the second of the one or more mask arrangements is configured to receive at least part of the combined emanating light and, in response, provide encoded combined emanating light at a second range of photon energies;

a first filter located substantially adjacent to the first photo-sensor, wherein the first filter is configured to pass a first portion of the encoded combined emanating light that corresponds to the first range of photon energies to the first photo-sensor; and

a second filter located substantially adjacent to the second photo-sensor, wherein the second filter is configured to pass a second portion of the encoded combined emanating light that corresponds to the second range of photon energies to the second photo-sensor, and wherein,

the first photo-sensor is configured to receive the filtered first portion of the encoded combined emanating light that corresponds to the first range of photon energies and detect time variation resulting from relative movement between the one or more mask arrangements and the objects, the time variation including information about the objects, and wherein the first photo-sensor is further configured to provide a first set of electrical signals indicating one or more sensed time-varying waveforms to host structure circuitry, and

the second photo-sensor is configured to receive the filtered second portion of the encoded combined emanating light that corresponds to the second range of photon energies and detect time variation resulting from relative movement between the one or more mask arrangements and the objects, the time variation including information about the objects, and wherein the second photo-sensor is further configured to provide a second set of electrical signals indicating one or more sensed time-varying waveforms to host circuitry.

9. The article of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein the fluid-engaging structure further comprises:

a first receptacle for accepting the fluid, and the objects within the fluid;

a second receptacle for accepting the fluid and the objects within the fluid following passage through the channel; and

a vacuum spring-loaded syringe configured to compel movement of the fluid and the objects through the channel, and to energize an excitation light source upon release of the spring.

10. The article of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein the fluid-engaging structure comprises:

a first of the one or more mask arrangements is configured to receive at least part of the emanating light and, in response, provide color-dependent encoded emanating light and is located on a first portion of the bounding parts, and wherein

the fluid engaging structure is configured for use with a host structure, and wherein the host structure includes;

at least one excitation light source;

a filter configured to receive and filter the color-dependent encoded emanating light; and

a photo-sensor configured to receive the filtered color-dependent encoded emanating light and detect time variation resulting from relative movement between the one or more mask arrangements and the objects, the time variation including information about the objects, and wherein the photo-sensor is further configured to provide an electrical signal indicating one or more sensed time-varying waveforms.

11. The article of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein the fluid-engaging structure comprises:

a first of the one or more mask arrangements configured to receive at least part of the emanating light and, in response, provide first color-dependent encoded emanating light and is located on a first portion of the bounding parts;

a second of the one or more mask arrangements configured to receive at least part of the emanating light and, in response, provide second color-dependent encoded emanating light and is located on a second portion of the bounding parts, and wherein

the fluid engaging structure is configured for use with a host structure, and wherein the host structure includes;

a first excitation light source;

a second excitation light source;

a first filter configured to receive and filter the first color-dependent encoded emanating light, the first filter located substantially adjacent to the first of the one or more mask arrangements;

a second filter configured to receive and filter the second color-dependent encoded emanating light, the second filter located substantially adjacent to the second of the one or more mask arrangements;

a first photo-sensor located substantially adjacent to the first filter, and wherein the first photo-sensor is configured to receive the first filtered color-dependent encoded emanating light and detect time variation resulting from relative movement between the one or more mask arrangements and the objects, the time variation including information about the objects, and wherein the first photo-sensor is further configured to provide a first electrical signal indicating one or more sensed time-varying waveforms; and

a second photo-sensor located substantially adjacent to the second filter, and wherein the second photo-sensor is configured to receive the second filtered color-dependent encoded emanating light and detect time variation resulting from relative movement between the one or more mask arrangements and the objects, the time variation including information about the objects, and wherein the second photo-sensor is further configured to provide a second electrical signal indicating one or more sensed time-varying waveforms.

12. An article of manufacture comprising:

a host structure, wherein the host structure includes

(a) at least one excitation light source;

(b) one or more support parts structured to support a fluid-engaging structure on the host structure, wherein the fluid-engaging structure includes

a channel that in use can contain fluid and through which objects can move;

one or more bounding parts that bound the channel, and wherein at least one of the one or more bounding parts include

one or more light transmissive portions, wherein at least one of the one or more light transmissive portions is configured to receive excitation light and provide the received excitation light, and wherein

excitation light enters the channel and interacts with an object resulting in emanating light; and

one or more mask arrangements configured to receive at least part of the emanating light and, in response, provide encoded emanating light, and wherein

the one or more mask arrangements and the channel are further configured so that the encoded emanating light includes time variation resulting from relative movement between the one or more mask arrangements and the object, the time variation including information about the object;

(c) at least one filter configured to receive and filter the encoded emanating light;

(d) at least one photo-sensor configured to receive the filtered encoded emanating light and detect time variation resulting from relative movement between the one or more mask arrangements and the objects, the time variation including information about the objects, and wherein the photo-sensor is further configured to provide a first electrical signal indicating one or more sensed time-varying waveforms; and

(e) circuitry configured to receive the first electrical signals and which is further configured to provide second electrical signals in response to the first electrical signals resulting from photosensing of the encoded emanating light, and wherein

the second electrical signals indicate the information about the objects.

13. The article of manufacture according to claim 12, wherein

the photo-sensor and the at least one filter configured to receive and filter the encoded emanating light are located on a first exterior side of the one or more bounding parts of the fluid-engaging structure, and

the at least one excitation light source is located substantially directly opposite that of the photo-sensor and the at least one filter configured to receive and filter the encoded emanating light.

14. The article of manufacture according to claim 12, wherein

the at least one photo-sensor and the at least one filter configured to receive and filter the encoded emanating light are located on a first exterior side of the one or more bounding parts of the fluid-engaging structure, and

the at least one excitation light source is located substantially adjacent to that of the photo-sensor and the at least one filter configured to receive and filter the encoded emanating light.

15. The article of manufacture according to claim 12, wherein the host structure further comprises:

a first excitation light source configured to transmit first excitation light;

a second excitation light source configured to transmit the second excitation light, and wherein

the fluid-engaging structure is configured to provide combined emanating light resulting from interaction between the first excitation light and the objects, and the second excitation light and the objects, and wherein the fluid-engaging structure further includes

a first of the one or more mask arrangements that is located on a first portion of the bounding parts, and wherein,

the first of the one or more mask arrangements is configured to receive at least part of the combined emanating light at a first range of photon energies and, in response, provide encoded combined emanating light;

a first photo-sensor;

a second photo-sensor;

a second of the one or more mask arrangements, and wherein

the second of the one or more mask arrangements is configured to receive at least part of the combined emanating light and, in response, provide encoded combined emanating light at a second range of photon energies;

a first filter located substantially adjacent to the first photo-sensor, wherein the first filter is configured to pass a first portion of the encoded combined emanating light that corresponds to the first range of photon energies to the first photo-sensor; and

a second filter located substantially adjacent to the second photo-sensor, wherein the second filter is configured to pass a second portion of the encoded combined emanating light that corresponds to the second range of photon energies to the second photo-sensor, and wherein

the first photo-sensor is configured to receive the filtered first portion of the encoded combined emanating light that corresponds to the first range of photon energies and detect time variation resulting from relative movement between the one or more mask arrangements and the objects, the time variation including information about the objects, and wherein the first photo-sensor is further configured to provide a first set of electrical signals indicating one or more sensed time-varying waveforms to host structure circuitry, and

the second photo-sensor is configured to receive the filtered second portion of the encoded combined emanating light that corresponds to the second range of photon energies and detect time variation resulting from relative movement between the one or more mask arrangements and the objects, the time variation including information about the objects, and wherein the second photo-sensor is further configured to provide a second set of electrical signals indicating one or more sensed time-varying waveforms to host circuitry.

16. The article of manufacture according to claim 12, wherein

the filter is further configured to receive and filter color-dependent encoded emanating light, and wherein

the photo-sensor is further configured to receive the filtered color-dependent encoded emanating light and detect time variation resulting from relative movement between the one or more mask arrangements and the objects, the time variation including information about the objects, and wherein

the photo-sensor is further configured to provide an electrical signal indicating one or more sensed time-varying waveforms.

17. The article of manufacture according to claim 12, wherein the host structure comprises:

a first excitation light source;

a second excitation light source;

a first filter configured to receive and filter first color-dependent encoded emanating light provided by the fluid-engaging structure, the first filter located substantially adjacent to a first of the one or more mask arrangements located on the fluid-engaging structure;

a second filter configured to receive and filter second color-dependent encoded emanating light provided by the fluid engaging structure, the second filter located substantially adjacent to a second of the one or more mask arrangements located on the fluid-engaging structure;

a first photo-sensor located substantially adjacent to the first filter, and wherein the first photo-sensor is configured to receive the first filtered color-dependent encoded emanating light and detect time variation resulting from relative movement between the one or more mask arrangements and the objects, the time variation including information about the objects, and wherein the first photo-sensor is further configured to provide a first electrical signal indicating one or more sensed time-varying waveforms; and

a second photo-sensor located substantially adjacent to the second filter, and wherein the second photo-sensor is configured to receive the second filtered color-dependent encoded emanating light and detect time variation resulting from relative movement between the one or more mask arrangements and the objects, the time variation including information about the objects, and wherein the second photo-sensor is further configured to provide a third electrical signal indicating one or more sensed time-varying waveforms, and wherein

the circuitry is further configured to receive the first electrical signals and the third electrical signals, and which is further configured to provide fourth electrical signals in response to the first and third electrical signals resulting from photosensing of the encoded emanating light, and wherein

the fourth electrical signals indicate the information about the objects.

18. The article of manufacture according to claim 12, wherein the host structure further comprises:

a slot, wherein the slot is configured

to receive the fluid-engaging structure,

to provide a substantially lossless light-interface between a first excitation light source and the fluid engaging structure, and

to further provide a substantially lossless light-interface between a first photosensor and the fluid engaging structure.

19. The article of manufacture according to claim 18, wherein the host structure further comprises:

a second photosensor;

a second excitation light source, and wherein the slot is configured

to provide a substantially lossless light-interface between the second excitation light source and the fluid engaging structure, and

to further provide a substantially lossless light-interface between the second photosensor and the fluid engaging structure;

an interface board configured to accept data entries by a user of the article of manufacture; and

a display, wherein the display is configured to display data about the fluid to the user of the article of manufacture, and wherein

the host structure is further configured to be one of either a hand-held unit, or an in-line unit.

20. A method of using the article of manufacture according to claim 12, the method comprising:

receiving the fluid-engaging structure, wherein the fluid engaging structure includes the fluid and objects;

determining information about the objects within the fluid; and

displaying the information about the objects within the fluid to the user of the article of manufacture.

21. The method of using the article of manufacture according to claim 20, wherein the step of receiving the fluid-engaging structure comprises:

locating the fluid-engaging structure in a slot in the host structure, wherein the slot is configured to secure temporarily the fluid-engaging structure to the host structure,

provide a first light-interface between a first excitation light source on the host structure and the fluid engaging structure, and

further provide a second light-interface between a first photosensor on the host structure and the fluid engaging structure, and wherein

substantially no fluid in the fluid-engaging structure contacts the host structure, and wherein

the step of determining information about the objects within the fluid comprises;

receiving filtered encoded emanating light from the fluid-engaging structure by a photo-sensor, wherein the encoded emanating light includes time variation resulting from relative movement between the one or more mask arrangements of the fluid-engaging structure and the object, the time variation including information about the object;

detecting time variation resulting from relative movement between the one or more mask arrangements and the objects by the photo-sensor;

providing a first electrical signal from the photo-sensor that indicates one or more sensed time-varying waveforms; and

receiving by host circuitry the first electrical signals; and

providing second electrical signals in response to the first electrical signals, wherein

the second electrical signals indicate the information about the objects, and further wherein

the information includes at least one of a type of the object, a quantity of the objects, a velocity of the objects, and a color of the objects.

22. An article of manufacture comprising:

a host structure, wherein the host structure includes

a first excitation light source;

a second excitation light source;

one or more support parts structured to support a fluid-engaging structure on the host structure, wherein the fluid-engaging structure includes

a channel that in use can contain fluid and through which objects can move;

one or more bounding parts that bound the channel, and wherein at least one of the one or more bounding parts include

one or more light transmissive portions, wherein at least one of the one or more light transmissive portions is configured to receive excitation light and provide the received excitation light, and wherein

excitation light enters the channel and interacts with an object resulting in emanating light;

a first mask arrangement configured to receive at least part of the emanating light and, in response, provide encoded emanating light, and wherein

the first filter arrangement and channel are further configured so that the encoded emanating light includes time variation resulting from relative movement between the first mask arrangement and the object, the time variation including information about the object;

a first filter configured to receive and filter the encoded emanating light from the first mask arrangement; and

a first photo-sensor configured to receive the filtered encoded emanating light from the first filter and detect time variation resulting from relative movement between the one or more mask arrangements and the object, the time variation including information about the objects, and wherein the first photo-sensor is further configured to provide a first electrical signal indicating one or more sensed time-varying waveforms;

a first electrical interconnection; and

a second mask arrangement configured to receive at least part of the emanating light, and, in response, provide encoded emanating light, and wherein

the second mask arrangement and channel are further configured so that the encoded emanating light includes time variation resulting from relative movement between the second mask arrangement and the object, the time variation including information about the object;

a second filter configured to receive and filter the encoded emanating light from the second filter arrangement; and

a second photo-sensor configured to receive the filtered encoded emanating light from the second filter and detect time variation resulting from relative movement between the second mask arrangement and the object, the time variation including information about the object, and wherein the second photo-sensor is further configured to provide a third electrical signal indicating one or more sensed time-varying waveforms; and

circuitry configured to receive the first and third electrical signals and which is further configured to provide fourth electrical signals in response to the first and third electrical signals resulting from photosensing of the encoded emanating light, and wherein

the fourth electrical signals indicate the information about the object.