Sensing photons from object 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 light within a range of photon energies as the objects travel within the channel; and
along the channel, a sensing component;
the sensing component including;
a set of cells of a photosensor array; and
a transmission structure positioned so that emanating light from an object traveling within the channel can enter it;
the transmission structure responding to emanating light that enters it by providing output light, the transmission structure being structured so that photon energies of the output light vary as a function of position;
the sensing component being structured so that each of a subset of two or more cells in the set receives a respective part of the output light that is in a respective subrange of the range of photon energies and so that the subranges of at least two cells in the subset are different from each other;
the transmission structure including at least one of;
a coating on the set of cells;
a coating on a support structure over the set of cells;
a Fabry-Perot cavity filter;
a Fabry-Perot etalon;
paired distributed Bragg reflectors; and
a single distributed Bragg reflector.
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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.
94 Citations
20 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 light within a range of photon energies as the objects travel within the channel; and along the channel, a sensing component;
the sensing component including;a set of cells of a photosensor array; and a transmission structure positioned so that emanating light from an object traveling within the channel can enter it;
the transmission structure responding to emanating light that enters it by providing output light, the transmission structure being structured so that photon energies of the output light vary as a function of position;
the sensing component being structured so that each of a subset of two or more cells in the set receives a respective part of the output light that is in a respective subrange of the range of photon energies and so that the subranges of at least two cells in the subset are different from each other;
the transmission structure including at least one of;a coating on the set of cells; a coating on a support structure over the set of cells; a Fabry-Perot cavity filter; a Fabry-Perot etalon; paired distributed Bragg reflectors; and a single distributed Bragg reflector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Apparatus comprising:
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a fluidic structure with a channel defined therein within which objects travel, the objects being capable of emanating light within a range of photon energies as the objects travel within the channel, the objects emanating light through at least one of emission, scattering, and transmission; and along the channel, a sensing component;
the sensing component including;a set of cells of a photosensor array; and a transmission structure positioned so that emanating light from an object traveling within the channel can enter it;
the transmission structure responding to emanating light that enters it by providing output light;the transmission structure being a coating on the set of cells or on a support structure over the set of cells;
the transmission structure being structured with varying optical thickness so that photon energies of the output light vary as a function of position, the varying optical thickness resulting from at least one of varying thickness and varying index of refraction;
the transmission structure including at least one of;a Fabry-Perot cavity filter; a Fabry-Perot etalon; paired distributed Bragg reflectors; and a single distributed Bragg reflector; the sensing component being structured so that each of a first line of two or more subrange cells in the set receives a respective part of the output light that is in a respective subrange of the range of photon energies and so that the subranges of at least two subrange cells in the subset are different from each other; the sensing component further being structured so that each of a second line of two or more reference cells in the set receives a respective part of the output light that has photon energies throughout the range of photon energies; the first and second lines including pairs of cells that are near each other, each pair including a respective subrange cell in the first line and a respective reference cell in the second line. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method of using a fluidic structure with a channel defined therein within which objects travel, the method comprising:
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causing objects to travel within the channel, each of a set of at least one of the objects emanating light within a range of photon energies as the objects travel within the channel; and transmitting a portion of the emanating light from the objects in the set to provide output light to a set of cells of a photosensor array, photon energies of the output light varying as a function of position on the photosensor array;
each of a subset of two or more cells in the set receiving a respective part of the output light that is in a respective subrange of the range of photon energies;
the respective subranges of at least two cells in the subset being different from each other; andoperating each of the cells in the subset to photosense the respective part of the output light; the act of transmitting the portion of the emanating light being performed with a transmission structure that includes at least one of; a coating on the set of cells; a coating on a support structure over the set of cells; a Fabry-Perot cavity filter; a Fabry-Perot etalon; paired distributed Bragg reflectors; and a single distributed Bragg reflector. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification