Patent US3936741A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3936741A
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Method and apparatus for providing primary coincidence correction during particle analysis utilizing time generation techniques
Assignee: Coulter Electronics Inc
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Filing: 1974-07-02
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Granted: 1976-02-03
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Expires: 1994-07-02
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for correcting a particle pulse count subject to coincidence error is disclosed wherein particle pulses, developed in response to passage of particles in a particulate system through a sensing zone, are counted for a predetermined period of time. The predetermined period of time is increased or extended in response to each pulse counted by a time increment that is a function of a characteristic of the counted pulse, such as the pulse width, duration, or amplitude. The total additional time period allows the counting of additional particle pulses such that the total count at the end of the extended time period is an error corrected count for the number of particles detected in the predetermined time period.
Inventors
- 👤 Wallace H. Coulter
- 👤 Walter R. Hogg
- 👤 Edward Neal Doty
- 👤 Millard D. Longman
- 👤 Stephen Campbell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 14:12
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K21/00; H03K21/02; G; G01; G01N; G01N15/00; G01N15/10; G01N15/1031; G01N15/12; G01N15/131; G01N15/132
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
49 words
A method for correcting a particle pulse count subject to coincidence error including the steps of: counting the particle pulses received for a predetermined period of time, increasing said predetermined period of time by a time increment that is a function of the pulse width of the pulses counted.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
49 words
A method for correcting a particle pulse count subject to coincidence error including the steps of: counting the particle pulses received for a predetermined period of time, increasing said predetermined period of time by a time increment that is a function of the pulse width of the pulses counted.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of counting the particle pulses for a predetermined period of time includes the step of detecting particle pulses in excess of a first amplitude and counting said detected particle pulses.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of increasing said predetermined period of time includes the steps of detecting particle pulses in excess of a first amplitude, and increasing said predetermined time period by a time increment that is a function of the time said detected particle pulses exceed said first amplitude.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of increasing said predetermined time period by fixed time increment for each of the particle pulses counted.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of increasing said predetermined time period by a second time increment that is a function of the rate said particle pulses are received.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 1 further including the steps of, detecting particle pulses in excess of a first amplitude, developing a first signal which varies in accordance with the rate at which said particle pulses are detected, increasing said predetermined time period by a second time increment that is a function of the first signal.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for automatically correcting a particle pulse count subject to coincidence error including the steps of measuring a predetermined time period during which time period said received particle pulses are counted, inhibiting measurement of said predetermined time period in response to each received particle pulse by a time increment that is a function of the characteristics of the particle pulses received.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for automatically correcting a particle pulse count subject to coincidence error including the steps of measuring a predetermined time period during which time period said received particle pulses are counted, inhibiting measurement of said predetermined time period in response to each received particle pulse by a time increment that is a function of the characteristics of the particle pulses received.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said step of inhibiting measurement of said predetermined time period includes the step of inhibiting measurement of said predetermined time period in response to each received particle pulse by a time increment that is a function of one of the pulse width and pulse amplitude of the particle pulses received.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 7 further including the step of inhibiting measurement of said predetermined time period by a fixed time increment in response to receipt of each particle pulse.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 7 further including the step of inhibiting measurement of said predetermined time period by a second increment which is a function of the rate said particle pulses are received.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
95 words
An apparatus for automatically correcting a particle pulse count subject to coincidence error wherein the particle pulses are developed in response to passage of particles in a particulate system through a particle sensing device, said apparatus including in combination, timer means operative to count the particle pulses for a predetermined period of time, and control means coupled to said timer means and operative to increase said predetermined period of time by a time increment in response to each particle pulse, said time increment duration being a function of the particular characteristics of each particle pulse.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
95 words
An apparatus for automatically correcting a particle pulse count subject to coincidence error wherein the particle pulses are developed in response to passage of particles in a particulate system through a particle sensing device, said apparatus including in combination, timer means operative to count the particle pulses for a predetermined period of time, and control means coupled to said timer means and operative to increase said predetermined period of time by a time increment in response to each particle pulse, said time increment duration being a function of the particular characteristics of each particle pulse.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said time increment duration is a function of at least one of the particle pulse amplitude and particle pulse duration.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said control means is further operative to increase said predetermined period of time by a second fixed time increment in response to each particle pulse.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 11 further including detection means coupling said particle sensing device to said timer means and control means, said detection means operative in response to particle pulses in excess of a first amplitude to develop detection signals and couple said signals to said timer means and control means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said control means is further operative to increase said predetermined time period by a second time increment in response to each particle pulse, the second time increment having a duration which is a function of the repetition rate of said particle pulses.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said timer means includes, counter means for counting said particle pulses, and a timer circuit coupled to said counter means for enabling said counter means to count said particle pulses for said predetermined period of time.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said timer circuit generates a timing signal for said predetermined time period, said counter means including gating means coupled to said particle sensing device and said timer circuit and operative in response to said timing signal and each particle pulse detected to develop a gating signal, and a counter circuit coupled to said gating means for counting each gating signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said gating means is an AND gate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said control means includes, gating means coupled to said particle sensing device and operative in response to each particle plulse detected to develop a control signal, said control signal duration being a function of at least one of said particle pulse amplitude and particle pulse duration, said timer means being coupled to said gating means and operative to increase said predetermined period of time by time increment substantially equal to said control signal duration.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said control means further includes, second detection circuit means coupled to said particle sensing device and said gating means and operative in response to the termination of each particle pulse to develop a second detection signal having a fixed duration, said gating means being operative in response to said second detection signal to develop said control signal for a fixed duration.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said second detection circuit means includes a trailing edge detection circuit coupled to said particle sensing device and operative in response to the trailing edge of each of said particle pulses to develop a detection pulse, and monostable means coupled to said trailing edge detection circuit and said gating means and operative to develop said control signal in response to said detection pulse.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
77 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said control means further includes, second detection circuit means coupled to said particle sensing device and said gating means and operative in response to termination of each particle pulse to develop a second detection signal having a duration which varies in accordance with the repetition rate of detected particle pulses, said gating means being operative in response to said second detection signal to develop said control signal for a fixed duration.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
123 words
In a particle analyzer subject to coincidence error wherein particle pulses are developed in response to passage of particles in a particulate system through a sensing zone, the improvement comprising, detection means operative in response to receipt of particle pulses to develop detection signals having a duration equal to the period said particle pulses exceed a predetermined amplitude, timer means coupled to said detector means and operative to count said detection signals for a predetermined period of time, and control means coupled to said detection means and said timer means and operative to increase said predetermined period of time by a time increment in response to each detection signal, said time increment duration being a function of the duration of said detection signal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
123 words
In a particle analyzer subject to coincidence error wherein particle pulses are developed in response to passage of particles in a particulate system through a sensing zone, the improvement comprising, detection means operative in response to receipt of particle pulses to develop detection signals having a duration equal to the period said particle pulses exceed a predetermined amplitude, timer means coupled to said detector means and operative to count said detection signals for a predetermined period of time, and control means coupled to said detection means and said timer means and operative to increase said predetermined period of time by a time increment in response to each detection signal, said time increment duration being a function of the duration of said detection signal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said control means is further operative to increase said predetermined period of time by a second fixed time increment in response to the termination of each detection signal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said control means is further operative to increase said predetermined time period by a second time increment in response to the termination of each detection signal, said second time increment having a duration which is a function of the repetition rate of said particle pulses.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-02-02 | 1979-08-04 | 1980-02-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-02-02 | 1983-08-04 | 1984-02-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-02-02 | 1987-08-04 | 1988-02-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |