Patent · US Active

Image sensor device, apparatus and method for optical measurements

US7839450B2 · kind B2 · utility

23Cited by
7References
2Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 24, 2001
Grant dateNov 23, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 21, 2027

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N25/78
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus and processes for optical measurement and detection with real-time closed-loop controls, which enable higher levels of performance. The invention is especially suitable for applications such as spectroscopy; microscopy; biochemical assays; processes and reactions on miniaturized formats (such as those involving micro-/nano-plates, micro-formats & micro-arrays, chemistry-on-chip, lab-on-chip, micro-channels and micro-fluidics, where dimensions are on micron scale and columns are in the sub-nanoliter range). Such “intelligent sensing” allows higher data quality and reliability, higher measurement and analysis throughput and lower cost. The invention uses fast real-time adaptive digital signal processing and controls directly at the point where data is sensed. Through real-time adaptive control of sensors, chemical/opto-mechanical/opto-electronic processes and other components during the measurement process, consistently higher quality results and higher reliability are achieved. This invention furthermore includes an improved image sensor architecture that enables very intra-array dynamic range at fast frame rates and low noise performance.

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