EP0155813A2
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EP
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Method and apparatus for enhanced detection of electromagnetic signals
Assignee: Syntex USA LLC
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Filing: 1985-03-13
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-03-13
Abstract
Abstract A beam of incident electromagnetic radiation is generated having a spatial distribution of intensity periodically varying in time. A receiver suspected of containing an analyte is irradiated with the beam, and the electromagnetic signal emitted is detected and the correlation, if any, is determined between the periodicity of the applied beam and fluctuations in the detected signal. The method and apparatus have particular applicability in the field of particle detection, e.g. fluorescent particle detection.
Inventors
- 👤 Jonathan Briggs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 05:08
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/62; G01N21/63; G01N21/64; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/48; G01N15/00; G01N15/02; G01N15/0205; G01N15/0211; G01N2015/0222; G01N21/17; G01N21/47; G01N21/6428; G01N2201/00; G01N2201/06; G01N2201/061; G01N2201/06113
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of detecting fluctuations in an electromagnetic signal emitted by a receiver of incident electromagnetic radiation in response thereto, said receiver suspected of containing an element to be detected and/or measured, which comprises: . generating a beam of incident electromagnetic radiation having a spatial distribution of intensity periodically varying in time; irradiating at least a portion of said receiver with said beam; measuring the electromagnetic signal emitted by at least a portion of said irradiated receiver; and determining the correlation, if any, between the periodicity of said periodically varying spatial intensity distribution and fluctuations in said measured signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of detecting fluctuations in an electromagnetic signal emitted by a receiver of incident electromagnetic radiation in response thereto, said receiver suspected of containing an element to be detected and/or measured, which comprises: . generating a beam of incident electromagnetic radiation having a spatial distribution of intensity periodically varying in time; irradiating at least a portion of said receiver with said beam; measuring the electromagnetic signal emitted by at least a portion of said irradiated receiver; and determining the correlation, if any, between the periodicity of said periodically varying spatial intensity distribution and fluctuations in said measured signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said spatial distribution of intensity defines a plurality of substantially discrete areas of differing intensity in a plane intersecting said beam, a first subset of said areas having a high intensity relative to a second subset of said areas, the size of said areas in said subsets being of the same order of magnitude as the size of said element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said size of said areas is defined by a mean diameter which is substantially comparable to the mean diameter of said element suspected of being in said receiver.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
20 words
The method of any one of claims 1, 2 and 3 wherein said emitted electromagnetic signal includes elastically scattered light.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
20 words
The method of any one of claims 1, 2 and 3 wherein said emitted electromagnetic signal includes inelastically scattered light.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
19 words
The method of any one of the preceding claims wherein said beam is generated from a coherent light source.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said beam is generated utilizing wave-front interference.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
19 words
The method of any one of the preceding claims wherein said beam includes a wavelength within the visible spectrum.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
90 words
An apparatus for detecting fluctuations in electromagnetic signal emitted by a receiver of incident electromagnetic radiation in response thereto which comprises: means (10,27,9,14) for generating a beam (11) of incident electromagnetic radiation having a spatial distribution of intensity periodically varying in time; means (13) for irradiating a receiver (20) with said beam; means (22) for measuring an electromagnetic signal (21) emitted by said receiver upon irradiation; means (22) for determining the correlation, if any, between the periodicity of said periodically varying spatial intensity distribution and fluctuations in said measured signal.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
90 words
An apparatus for detecting fluctuations in electromagnetic signal emitted by a receiver of incident electromagnetic radiation in response thereto which comprises: means (10,27,9,14) for generating a beam (11) of incident electromagnetic radiation having a spatial distribution of intensity periodically varying in time; means (13) for irradiating a receiver (20) with said beam; means (22) for measuring an electromagnetic signal (21) emitted by said receiver upon irradiation; means (22) for determining the correlation, if any, between the periodicity of said periodically varying spatial intensity distribution and fluctuations in said measured signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said generation means includes a source (10) of coherent radiation, and an optical fiber (14) adapted to receive radiation from said source.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said generation means includes means periodically changing the spatial position of a portion of said optical fiber (e.g. a rotatable cam adapted to contact a portion of said optical fiber) or, optionally, means (27) associated with said source (10) and said optical fiber (14) operable to periodically change the angle of incidence of radiation from said source onto said optical fiber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said associated means comprises a rotatable mass (27) adapted to transmit and refract radiation incident thereon.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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