Broad range light detection system
First Claim
1. A light detection device, comprising:
- a detector configured to receive light from a sample;
an accumulator configured to generate an accumulator signal corresponding to the total light received by the detector from the sample during a sampling period;
a timer configured to measure elapsed time during the sampling period; and
a controller configured to terminate the sampling period after the accumulator signal reaches a predetermined accumulator value or after the elapsed time reaches a predetermined detection time limit, whichever occurs first.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Broad-range light-detection systems, including components and methods of use thereof. These systems may include apparatus and methods for detecting light with increased speed and/or detection efficiency, particularly in applications involving repeated analysis of the same sample and/or successive analysis of different samples, and particularly when the sample or samples have a wide range of light intensities. These systems also may include apparatus and methods for detecting light with increased accuracy over a broad range of intensities. These systems also may include vapparatus and methods for automatically scaling detection range to improve detection based on the intensity of the detected light.
194 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A light detection device, comprising:
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a detector configured to receive light from a sample; an accumulator configured to generate an accumulator signal corresponding to the total light received by the detector from the sample during a sampling period; a timer configured to measure elapsed time during the sampling period; and a controller configured to terminate the sampling period after the accumulator signal reaches a predetermined accumulator value or after the elapsed time reaches a predetermined detection time limit, whichever occurs first. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of detecting light from a sample, comprising:
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detecting photons incident on a detector during a sampling period; collecting data representative of the cumulative number of photons detected during the sampling period; and terminating the sampling period when the cumulative number of photons detected during the sampling period reaches a predetermined threshold or a predetermined sample time expires, whichever occurs first. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A light detection device, comprising:
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means for receiving light from a sample; means for generating an accumulator signal corresponding to the total light received by the detector from the sample during a sampling period; means for measuring elapsed time during the sampling period; and means for terminating the sampling period after the accumulator signal reaches a predetermined accumulator value or after the elapsed time reaches a predetermined detection time limit, whichever occurs first.
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Specification