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Systems and methods for distinguishing optical signals of different modulation frequencies in an optical signal detector

  • US 9,915,613 B2
  • Filed: 03/21/2014
  • Issued: 03/13/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A system for detecting an optical signal emitted from a receptacle, said system comprising:

  • an excitation source controlled by an excitation circuit to (a) generate an optical excitation signal having a predetermined excitation wavelength that excites an emission moiety which emits an optical emission signal that is associated with the excitation wavelength and has a predetermined emission wavelength and (b) modulate the optical excitation signal at a predetermined modulation frequency;

    excitation optics configured to direct the optical excitation signal at the receptacle;

    a detector circuit including a photodetector configured to detect an optical signal including an optical emission signal emitted from the receptacle and to convert the detected optical signal to an analog detection signal; and

    a controller directly or indirectly connected to the detector circuit and programmed with a signal-digitizing algorithm to digitize the analog detection signal and generate digitized detection data;

    wherein the controller is further programmed with a digital signal-processing algorithm for determining from the digitized detection data an amplitude of the optical emission signal at the predetermined modulation frequency to thereby ascertain the portion of the detected optical signal corresponding to the associated optical emission signal.

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