Method and apparatus for detecting contact of a pipetting needle with a liquid in a vessel
US8100007B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 30, 2009 |
| Grant date | Jan 24, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 30, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2035/1025
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and level sensor apparatus for detecting contact of a pipetting needle with at least a liquid contained in a vessel are disclosed. The apparatus provides a pipetting needle made of a material suitable for transmitting ultrasonic waves, a needle holder for holding the needle, a electromechanical transducer for generating ultrasonic pulses to be transmitted towards the needle, for receiving echo pulses reflected at the tip of the needle, and for generating an electrical output signal representative of the echo pulses, and electronic circuit means for generating and applying a driving signal to the transducer, which generates corresponding pulses which are transmitted to the needle towards the tip thereof, and for monitoring and evaluating the output signal to detect the position of the needle at which the tip of the needle contacts the liquid and for providing a resulting signal representative of the result of said evaluation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.