Optical reader systems and methods for microplate position detection
First Claim
1. A method of determining the position of a microplate having a surface and that supports one or more biosensors in an optical reader system, the method comprising:
- scanning a beam spot over a scan path over a portion of the microplate surface, the scan path having a first general direction and an oscillating component in a second direction perpendicular to the first general direction and imparted by a scanning mirror device having an adjustable orientation, thereby defining a two-dimensional scan path;
passing the oscillating component of the two-dimensional scan path over at least a portion of a position-detecting feature of the microplate and generating reflected light from the position-detecting feature;
detecting the reflected light as a function of the scanning mirror device orientation to establish a measured profile of the position-detecting feature; and
determining, from the measured profile, a center of the position-detecting feature.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Optical reader systems and methods with accurate microplate position detection capability are disclosed. The optical reader systems having scanning optical systems that are configured to scan select position-detecting features on the microplate to accurately determine their respective positions. The measurement of the positions of the position-detecting features can also be used to calibrate the optical reader system to reduce or eliminate adverse positioning effects from system non-linearities that arise from one or more of the system components, including the scanning optical system.
23 Citations
9 Claims
-
1. A method of determining the position of a microplate having a surface and that supports one or more biosensors in an optical reader system, the method comprising:
-
scanning a beam spot over a scan path over a portion of the microplate surface, the scan path having a first general direction and an oscillating component in a second direction perpendicular to the first general direction and imparted by a scanning mirror device having an adjustable orientation, thereby defining a two-dimensional scan path; passing the oscillating component of the two-dimensional scan path over at least a portion of a position-detecting feature of the microplate and generating reflected light from the position-detecting feature; detecting the reflected light as a function of the scanning mirror device orientation to establish a measured profile of the position-detecting feature; and determining, from the measured profile, a center of the position-detecting feature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
Specification