Alternative detector configuration and mode of operation of a time delay integration particle analyzer
First Claim
1. A system for obtaining at least one output signal corresponding to at least one image of an object that is formed along an inclined focal plane passing through the object, wherein there is relative motion between the object and the system, comprising:
- (a) a time delay integration (TDI) detector disposed to receive light from the object along an imaging path, forming said at least one image of the object on a plane of said TDI detector that is inclined at an angle relative to the imaging path, so that the plane of the TDI detector is not perpendicular to the imaging path, said angle determining an angle of the inclined focal plane; and
(b) an optical element disposed between the object and the TDI detector and oriented so that light traveling from the object is directed along the imaging path to form said at least one image of the object on the plane of the TDI detector, in response thereto, said TDI detector producing one of;
(i) an output signal corresponding to an image of the object relative to the inclined focal plane, said output signal being a composite of the light from the object at differing focal positions within the object, taken along the inclined focal plane, and being indicative of at least one characteristic of the object at the differing focal positions; and
(ii) a plurality of output signals, each output signal corresponding to an image of the object formed on the plane of the TDI detector relative to a different focal position along the inclined focal plane, said plurality of output signals being indicative of at least one characteristic of the object at different focal positions within the object, along the inclined focal plane.
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Abstract
Light from an object moving through an imaging system is collected, dispersed, and imaged onto a time delay integration (TDI) detector that is inclined relative to an axis of motion of the object, producing a pixilated output signal. In one embodiment, the movement of the image object over the TDI detector is asynchronous with the movement of the output signal producing an output signal that is a composite of the image of the object at varying focal point along the focal plane. In another embodiment, light from the object is periodically incident on the inclined TDI detector, producing a plurality of spaced apart images and corresponding output signals that propagate across the TDI detector. The inclined plane enables images of FISH probes or other components within an object to be produced at different focal points, so that the 3D spatial relationship between the FISH probes or components can be resolved.
85 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A system for obtaining at least one output signal corresponding to at least one image of an object that is formed along an inclined focal plane passing through the object, wherein there is relative motion between the object and the system, comprising:
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(a) a time delay integration (TDI) detector disposed to receive light from the object along an imaging path, forming said at least one image of the object on a plane of said TDI detector that is inclined at an angle relative to the imaging path, so that the plane of the TDI detector is not perpendicular to the imaging path, said angle determining an angle of the inclined focal plane; and
(b) an optical element disposed between the object and the TDI detector and oriented so that light traveling from the object is directed along the imaging path to form said at least one image of the object on the plane of the TDI detector, in response thereto, said TDI detector producing one of;
(i) an output signal corresponding to an image of the object relative to the inclined focal plane, said output signal being a composite of the light from the object at differing focal positions within the object, taken along the inclined focal plane, and being indicative of at least one characteristic of the object at the differing focal positions; and
(ii) a plurality of output signals, each output signal corresponding to an image of the object formed on the plane of the TDI detector relative to a different focal position along the inclined focal plane, said plurality of output signals being indicative of at least one characteristic of the object at different focal positions within the object, along the inclined focal plane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for determining at least one characteristic of an object, comprising the steps of:
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(a) directing light from the object onto a generally planar surface of a time delay integration (TDI) detector to form an image of the object, said generally planar surface being inclined relative to an axis along which the light from the object is directed onto the TDI detector, said TDI detector producing an output signal corresponding to the image of the object at least at one point along an inclined focal plane that passes through the object, said inclined focal plane being inclined relative to the planar surface of the TDI detector so that the inclined focal plane intersects the object at different focal points within the object over time; and
(b) reading the output signal from the TDI detector, said output signal being indicative of said at least one characteristic of the object at said at least one focal point within the object. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
(a) a presence of a fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) probe disposed on the object;
(b) a presence of a plurality of FISH probes within the object; and
(c) a location of at least one FISH probe within the object.
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30. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of determining an intensity of the output signal over time.
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31. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of forming a composite output signal as the image of the object varies at the different focal points along the inclined focal plane.
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32. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of producing a plurality of different output signals, each output signal corresponding to a different image of the object at a different focal point along the inclined focal plane, said plurality of different output signals being sufficiently spaced apart over the TDI detector to avoid overlapping each other.
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33. A system for obtaining an output signal corresponding to an image of an object and indicative of at least one characteristic of the object, wherein there is relative motion between the object and the system, comprising:
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(a) a time delay integration (TDI) detector disposed to receive light from the object along an imaging path, a plane of said TDI detector being inclined at a non-orthogonal angle relative to the imaging path and inclined relative to a direction of the relative motion, said TDI detector producing an output signal that propagates over the TDI detector and corresponds to the image of the object formed on the TDI detector at least at one focal point along an inclined focal plane that passes through the object; and
(b) an optical element disposed between the object and the TDI detector and oriented so that light traveling from the object is directed along the imaging path onto the plane of the TDI detector, forming the image of the object on the TDI detector, said output signal from the TDI detector being indicative of said at least one characteristic of the object at said at least one focal point within the object. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification