US4236894A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Readout circuit in an automatic chemical testing apparatus
Assignee: Hycel Inc
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Filing: 1979-08-30
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Granted: 1980-12-02
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Expires: 1999-08-30
Abstract
Abstract In an automatic chemical testing apparatus in which radiant energy readings are taken from a liquid sample of reacted contents comprising reagent and one or more aliquots, one per channel, of a sample fluid, a statistically large number of readings are taken on each sample. For example, in a readout cycle, 32 readings are taken on each channel for a sample. For an end point chemistry, calculation of an output value is based on the mean of a plurality of readings which are a subset of all readings. For a kinetic chemistry, the output reading is based on a slope of a curve defined by subsets of successive readings.
Inventors
- 👤 David E. Sommervold
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 01:33
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01D; G01D1/00; G01D1/16; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
An automatic chemical testing apparatus having means for containing a mixture of a sample upon which a test is being performed and at least one reagent, said mixture undergoing a chemical reaction the results of which are related to the test being performed, said apparatus comprising: means for transmitting energy through said mixture; detecting means responsive to the energy transmitted through said mixture for providing an analog voltage related to said chemical reaction; converter means responsive to said voltage and a control signal for providing a digital signal related to the valve of said analog voltage at the time said control signal is applied; and control means for providing control signals to control said converter means during a defined measurement period to provide a digital signal at the beginning of said measurement period, a digital signal at the end of said measurement period and digital signals at a plurality of independent times between the beginning and end of said measurement period, said control means responding to said provided digital signals by storing a value related to the value of each digital signal and determining at least one value based on subsets of said stored values, said control means providing an output signal manifesting the results of the test being performed in response to said determined value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
216 words
An automatic chemical testing apparatus having means for containing a mixture of a sample upon which a test is being performed and at least one reagent, said mixture undergoing a chemical reaction the results of which are related to the test being performed, said apparatus comprising: means for transmitting energy through said mixture; detecting means responsive to the energy transmitted through said mixture for providing an analog voltage related to said chemical reaction; converter means responsive to said voltage and a control signal for providing a digital signal related to the valve of said analog voltage at the time said control signal is applied; and control means for providing control signals to control said converter means during a defined measurement period to provide a digital signal at the beginning of said measurement period, a digital signal at the end of said measurement period and digital signals at a plurality of independent times between the beginning and end of said measurement period, said control means responding to said provided digital signals by storing a value related to the value of each digital signal and determining at least one value based on subsets of said stored values, said control means providing an output signal manifesting the results of the test being performed in response to said determined value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said detecting means detects the optical density of said mixture and said control means converts said optical density values into concentration units as the results provided.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said control means determines the average value for a subset of said stored values, said subset excluding at least the highest and lowest stored values.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said control means arranges said stored values in order and determines the average value for a subset of said ordered values, said subset including less than one-half of said ordered values between said highest and lowest, exclusive, ordered values.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention according to claim 4 wherein said control means determines the difference between the highest and lowest values of said subset and manifests that the results cannot be measured if said difference exceeds a predetermined amount.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said control means determines the slope value for a plurality of subsets of said stored values, and checks each determined slope against a preselected limit, said output signal being provided in response to said determined slope values.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of operating a chemical analyzer in which a sample to be tested and reagents are mixed, and a voltage is obtained based on the spectral characteristics of said mixture, said method comprising the steps of: converting said voltage to a digital signal at the beginning, the end and at a plurality of independent times between the beginning and end of a measurement period; storing values related to said digital signals; determining a value from a subset of said stored values; and determining the results of said test in response to said determined value.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of operating a chemical analyzer in which a sample to be tested and reagents are mixed, and a voltage is obtained based on the spectral characteristics of said mixture, said method comprising the steps of: converting said voltage to a digital signal at the beginning, the end and at a plurality of independent times between the beginning and end of a measurement period; storing values related to said digital signals; determining a value from a subset of said stored values; and determining the results of said test in response to said determined value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 7 wherein said step of converting said voltage occurs at equispaced time intervals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method according to claim 7 wherein said step of determining the results includes the steps of determining a composite optical density value from at least one subset of said stored values and calculating concentration units from said composite optical density.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method according to claim 7 wherein said step of determining said value further includes the step of determining the slope of a plurality of subsets of said stored values, said determined results further being responsive to said determined slopes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method according to claim 7 wherein said step of determining the value includes the steps of ordering said stored values, selecting a subset of said ordered values, which subset excludes at least the largest and smallest ordered values, and determining the average value of the values only in said selected subset.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
135 words
The method according to claim 7: wherein said chemical analyzer is capable of being operated to perform end point chemistry tests on said mixture or kinetic chemistry tests on said mixture; wherein, in the event said analyzer is performing an end point chemistry test, said step of determining the value includes the steps of ordering said stored values, selecting a subset of said ordered values, which subset excludes at least the largest and smallest ordered values, and determining the average value of the values only in said selected subset; and wherein, in the event said analyzer is performing a kinetic chemistry test, said step of determining said value further includes the step of determining the slope of a plurality of subsets of said stored values, said determined results further being responsive to said determined slopes.
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) | 1983-12-02 | 1984-06-02 | 1984-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-12-02 | 1988-06-02 | 1988-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-12-02 | 1992-06-02 | 1992-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |