Sensing photons from objects in channels
First Claim
1. Apparatus comprising:
- a fluidic structure with a channel defined therein within which objects travel, the objects being capable of emanating photons as the objects travel within the channel; and
along the channel, a series of two or more sensing components that obtain information about objects traveling within respective portions of the channel;
the series including a first sensing component that includes a respective set of cells of a photosensor array, the set of cells photosensing photons within a first range of photon energies that emanate from objects traveling within the respective portion of the channel, the set including a subset of two or more cells each of which photosenses photons in a respective subrange of the first range of photon energies, the subranges of at least two cells in the subset being different from each other.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fluidic structure includes a channel and along the channel is a series of sensing components to obtain information about objects traveling within the channel, such as droplets or other objects carried by fluid. At least one sensing component includes a set of cells of a photosensor array. The set of cells photosense a range of photon energies that emanate from objects, and include a subset of cells that photosense within subranges. A processor can receive information about objects from the sensing components and use it to obtain spectral information. The processor can perform an initial analysis using information from one set of sensing components and, based on the results, control a fluidic device in the channel, such as a gate, to retain objects, such as for concentration and more detailed analysis by other sensing components, or to purge objects from the channel.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. Apparatus comprising:
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a fluidic structure with a channel defined therein within which objects travel, the objects being capable of emanating photons as the objects travel within the channel; and along the channel, a series of two or more sensing components that obtain information about objects traveling within respective portions of the channel;
the series including a first sensing component that includes a respective set of cells of a photosensor array, the set of cells photosensing photons within a first range of photon energies that emanate from objects traveling within the respective portion of the channel, the set including a subset of two or more cells each of which photosenses photons in a respective subrange of the first range of photon energies, the subranges of at least two cells in the subset being different from each other. - 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)
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28. A method comprising:
producing an apparatus that includes a fluidic structure and two or more sensing components;
the fluidic structure having a channel defined therein within which objects travel, the objects being capable of emanating photons as they travel within the channel;
the act of producing the apparatus comprising;
producing the apparatus so that the sensing components are in a series along the channel, obtaining information about objects traveling within respective portions of the channel;
the series including a first sensing component that includes a respective set of cells of a photosensor array, the set of cells photosensing photons within a first range of photon energies that emanate from objects traveling within the respective portion of the channel, the set including a subset of two or more cells each of which photosenses photons in a respective subrange of the first range of photon energies, the subranges of at least two cells in the subset being different from each other.
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29. A method of obtaining information about objects, the method comprising:
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causing one or more objects to travel within a channel defined within a fluidic structure while photons emanate from the objects; and using a series of sensing components along the channel, obtaining information about objects traveling within respective portions of the channel;
the series including a first sensing component that includes a respective set of cells of a photosensor array, the set of cells photosensing photons within a first range of photon energies that emanate from objects traveling within the respective portion of the channel, the set including a subset of two or more cells each of which photosenses photons in a respective subrange of the first range of photon energies, the subranges of at least two cells in the subset being different from each other;
the act of using the series of sensing components comprising;using information from the first sensing component to obtain spectral information about objects traveling within its respective portion of the channel. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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Specification