Methods and computer system for combinatorial analysis of lighting phosphors

• US 6,567,751 B1
• Filed: 11/03/2000
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Sun, Xiao-Dong
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Desta, Elias
• Application Number:
  US09/704,475
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 702/19, 702/22, 702/23, 702/25, 702/27, 702/32, 702/33, 702/185, 702/FOR.115, 702/116, 702/117, 702/118, 702/119, 702/134, 702/170, 422/50, 422/55, 422/56, 422/57, 422/61, 422/62, 422/82.05, 422/82.07, 422/82.09, 422/99, 436/800, 436/805, 436/806, 436/172, 436/164, 204/450, 204/471, 204/483, 204/192.15, 204/192.17, 204/192.26, 204/192.28, 205/53, 205/93, 205/95, 205/109, 205/112, 205/136, 205/655, 205/238, 700/90, 700/91, 700/266, 700/268, 700/FOR.103
• US Class Current: 506/37
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0046 Sequential or parallel reactions, e.g. for the synthesis of polypeptides or polynucleotides; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making molecular arrays synthesis methods per se C40B50/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00315 Microtiter plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00351 Means for dispensing and evacuation of reagents
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00373 Hollow needles
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00378 Piezoelectric or ink jet dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00484 by shaking, vibrating or oscillating of the reaction vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00495 Means for heating or cooling the reaction vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00695 Synthesis control routines, e.g. using computer programs
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00745 Inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 20/08 Direct analysis of the library members per se by physical methods, e.g. spectroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 40/18 Libraries containing only inorganic compounds or inorganic materials
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/02 Integrated apparatus specially adapted for creating libraries, screening libraries and for identifying library members

Abstract

There is disclosed a method and a computer system enabling high-throughput combinatorial synthesis and screening of lighting phosphors. The system links hardware instrumentation for synthesis and screening. It records, sorts, and analyzes photo-metric data gathered from the combinatorial studies, along with the characteristics of the combinatory processes. The system provides a database as the data storage and query engine, an analysis module as the processor for analytical operations, and an interface for accepting the user'"'"'s input and displaying the analysis results and other information requested by the user.

Claims

1. A system for high-throughput combinatorial synthesis, screening and analysis of lighting phosphors, comprising:

a computer system for recording, sorting and organizing photo-metric data related to the lighting phosphors;

a database disposed within the computer system comprising data related to properties of the lighting phosphors;

an analysis module operable for combinatorial analyses of the lighting phosphor properties; and

an interface operable for inputting instructions to the computer system and presenting information to a user;

wherein the computer system, the database, the analysis module, and the interface are interconnected.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more said interfaces, each of which is connected to said database via a computer network.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a first plurality of said databases and a second plurality of said interfaces, wherein one database in said first plurality is connected to one interface in said second plurality via a computer network.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said database is connected to a synthesizer capable of depositing compositional elements, and synthesizing combinatory libraries of said lighting phosphors.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said database is connected to a detector capable of measuring photo-metric properties of said lighting phosphors, and screening for desired lighting phosphors having prescribed photo-metric properties.

6. A method for combinatorial synthesis, screening, and analysis of lighting phosphors, comprising:

obtaining a first combinatory library of the-lighting phosphors;

digitally recording properties of said lighting phosphors in said first combinatory library; and

performing computerized analyses based on said properties and the information relating to said combinatorial synthesis and screening;

wherein the obtaining, the digitally recording, and the performing computerized analyses are performed using a computer system for recording, sorting and organizing photo-metric data related to the lighting phosphors, a database comprising data related to properties of the lighting phosphors, an analysis module operable for combinatorial analyses of the lighting phosphors and an interface operable for inputting instructions to the computer system and presenting information to a user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said obtaining is further controlled by a computerized system which accepts instructions from a user.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising obtaining one or more additional combinatory libraries of lighting phosphors;

and digitally recording properties of said lighting phosphors in said one or more additional combinatory libraries, wherein said one or more additional combinatory libraries share the same composition as said first combinatory library.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising obtaining one or more additional combinatory libraries of lighting phosphors;

and digitally recording properties of said lighting phosphors in said one or more additional combinatory libraries, wherein said one or more additional combinatory libraries have at least one composition which differs from that of said first combinatory library.

10. A system for combinatorial synthesis, screening, and analysis of lighting phosphors, comprising:

a computer means operable for recording, sorting and organizing photo-metric data related to the lighting phosphors;

a database means for recording information relating to said synthesis, said screening, said analysis, and results of said analysis;

an analysis means for performing analytic operations to derive said results; and

an interface means for allowing a user to input instructions to said computer system and the computer system to present said information to the user;

wherein said computer means, said database means, said analysis means, and said interface means are interconnected.