Patent · US Expired

Radiant energy reradiating flow cell system and method

US4523841A · kind A · utility

28Cited by
11References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 15, 1979
Grant dateJun 18, 1985
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 15, 1999

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N2021/4716
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

In an apparatus in which particles which may include biological cells are passed through an optical sensing zone to measure their spatial radiant energy distribution for the purpose of identifying and/or characterizing the particles or cells, a structure and method are provided for increasing the usefulness of a geometric configuration of photovoltaic detectors such as a known assembly of generally concentric rings of such detectors usually including some wedge-shaped detectors. These are provided in a generally planar form and the invention provides structure which captures radiant energy in a flow cell of a particular type before projecting the energy to the detector. In particular an ellipsoid, paraboloid, hyperboloid or similar reflector which is symmetrical about its optical axis is utilized first to capture the radiant energy on angles which could include most forward and/or backward angles and all azimuthal angles and then deviating the same to the detector assembly mentioned. By moving the arrangement or assembly of detectors along the optical axis of the reflector the optimum distance is established for obtaining the greatest amount of information sought. Although the asse…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.