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Method for automatically setting the correct phase of the charge pulses in an electrostatic flow sorter

  • US 4,318,481 A
  • Filed: 08/20/1979
  • Issued: 03/09/1982
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1979
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An electrostatic particle sorting system, comprising:

  • (a) flow means for establishing the flow of a continuous particle containing stream comprising at least a particle containing core stream portion and a surrounding sheath stream portion, said stream having a particle sensing point defined therealong;

    (b) optical detection means for optically detecting said particles at least at said particle sensing point;

    (c) perturbation means for perturbing said stream with at least a preselected frequency and amplitude to cause said stream to form a break point at which said stream becomes a series of discrete droplets;

    (d) droplet charging means for relatively charging selected ones of said droplets as they are formed at said break point;

    (e) synchronization means for performing said relative charging at a preselected time with respect to the phase of formation of said discrete droplets at said break point, said synchronization means comprising;

    (i) sheath sensing means for sensing at least the light scatter of said stream at a sheath sensing point therealong subsequent to said perturbation, and for producing a surface character output signal which is proportional thereto; and

    (ii) surface character analysis means for analyzing at least the phase of said surface character output signal;

    and wherein said droplet charging means comprises charge pulse generation means for providing a charge pulse in a preselected phased relationship to said phase of said surface character output signal.

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