Method and apparatus for verifying proper operation of a photometric device, such as a cell density probe
US7180594B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 27, 2004 |
| Grant date | Feb 20, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 26, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2201/12746
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An in-situ technique is provided for automatically verifying proper operation of a photometric device, such as a cell density probe (CDP). The CDP has a first detector and a second detector. The first detector senses light that is transmitted from a light source of the CDP. The second detector senses light that has passed through an optical gap at a tip of the CDP, wherein the sensed light has been reduced in intensity due to light absorption. Electrical current provided to the light source is reduced, and the resultant values of a light characteristic (such as intensity) are sensed. These values from the detectors are compared against one or more predicted values. If the CDP is operating properly, the values from the detectors will be consistent with the predicted values. If there is a malfunction in the CDP, then the values from the detectors will be inconsistent with the predicted values.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.