Method and apparatus for electronically controlled scanning of micro-area devices
US6246046A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 21, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jun 12, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 21, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B21/002
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention provides an excitation source which may be used, for example, in conjunction with the scanning of multi-channel electrophoresis chips or capillary arrays. The excitation source is comprised of a source of light, such as a laser beam. A beam expander, an acousto-optic deflector, and a filter are optically aligned with the source of light. A driver is connected to the acousto-optic deflector for controlling the angle of deflection. A system is disclosed which includes the excitation source, a detector for detecting fluorescence from a target chip, and a beam splitter or other device for optically connecting the excitation source to the chip and for optically connecting the chip to the detector. The excitation source may be based on an acousto-optic deflector, an electrooptic deflector, a piezoelectric deflector, or any other electronically controlled device. Methods of focusing a beam of collimated light and electronically exciting a plurality of micro-areas of a target chip, either serially or in parallel, are also disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.