Calibrating array scanners
First Claim
1. A method using a chemical array reader having:
- i) a holder to mount an array and hold the array at a reading position;
ii) a light system to illuminate a mounted array when at a reading position;
iii) a detection system having a focal plane, to detect light from different regions across the array emitted in response to the illumination, when at the reading position, and which generates a resulting signal for each of the regions across the array; and
iv) an autofocus system which detects and reduces offset between the different regions of an array at the reading position and a determined position of the focal plane;
the method comprising;
a) positioning a calibration member having a uniform fluorescent layer at the reading position so as to receive illumination from the light system and emit light in response thereto, which emitted light is detected by the detection system to generate a resulting calibration signal;
b) adjusting a position of the calibration member, when in the reading position, relative to the focal plane;
c) determining the position of the focal plane from the light detected at various adjustments; and
d) calibrating a sensitivity of the detection system from the detection system signals generated from the calibration member.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of using a chemical array reader, chemical array readers, and computer program products for use with a chemical array reader. The chemical array reader may include a holder to mount an array and hold the array at a reading position. A light system illuminates a mounted array when at a reading position. A detection system having a focal plane, to detect light from different regions across the array emitted in response to the illumination, when at the reading position, and which generates a resulting signal for each of the regions across the array. An autofocus system which detects and reduces offset between the different regions of an array at the reading position and a determined position of the focal plane.
76 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method using a chemical array reader having:
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i) a holder to mount an array and hold the array at a reading position; ii) a light system to illuminate a mounted array when at a reading position; iii) a detection system having a focal plane, to detect light from different regions across the array emitted in response to the illumination, when at the reading position, and which generates a resulting signal for each of the regions across the array; and iv) an autofocus system which detects and reduces offset between the different regions of an array at the reading position and a determined position of the focal plane; the method comprising; a) positioning a calibration member having a uniform fluorescent layer at the reading position so as to receive illumination from the light system and emit light in response thereto, which emitted light is detected by the detection system to generate a resulting calibration signal; b) adjusting a position of the calibration member, when in the reading position, relative to the focal plane; c) determining the position of the focal plane from the light detected at various adjustments; and d) calibrating a sensitivity of the detection system from the detection system signals generated from the calibration member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of using a chemical array reader, the method comprising:
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a) providing a calibration member comprising a substrate with at least one calibrating region thereon; b) providing a chemical array comprising a substrate with at least one chemical feature region thereon; c) calibrating the chemical array reader using the calibration member by a method comprising; i) positioning the calibration member at a reading position of the chemical array reader; ii) illuminating the calibration member with light from a light system of the chemical array reader; iii) detecting light emitted from the calibration member in response to the illuminating light with a detection system of the chemical array reader to generate a resulting calibration signal; iv) adjusting;
the position of the calibration member relative to the detection system;v) repeating steps (ii) to (iv) until a focal plane of the detection system can be determined from the calibration signals generated at various adjustments; and vi) calibrating at least one sensitivity setting of the detection system from the calibration signals generated from the calibration member when positioned at the focal plane of the detection system; and d) reading the chemical array using the calibrated chemical array reader by the method comprising; i) positioning the chemical array at the focal plane of the detection system; ii) detecting light emitted from different regions across the chemical array in response to illuminating the chemical array with light from the light system; and iii) generating a resulting data signal for each of the detected regions across the army. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification