US4446106A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Analysis system
Assignee: IL Holding Spa
•
Filing: 1982-01-15
•
Granted: 1984-05-01
•
Expires: 2002-01-15
Abstract
Abstract A chemical analysis system for analyzing a plurality of independent specimens that have time varying characteristics includes a circumferential array of analysis regions that hold the specimens. The analytical regions are sequentially and repetitively sensed and resulting analysis signals corresponding to monitored specimen characteristics are stored in corresponding memory locations. A signal transmission channel connected between the sensor and the memory includes a signal storage capacitor and variable slew rate circuitry. The stored data signal value from the location in memory corresponding to the next analysis region to be sensed is applied to the signal transmission channel while the slew rate circuitry is set in a fast slew rate condition to preset the storage capacitor, and then the data signal generated by said sensor is applied to the signal transmission channel while the slew rate circuitry is set in a slow slew rate condition to adjust the data signal value in the storage capacitor to the current analysis signal value provided by the sensor.
Inventors
- 👤 Larry A. Nelson
- 👤 Leon W. Schmidt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:45
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/01; G01N21/03; G01N21/07; G01J; G01J1/00; G01J1/10; G01J1/16; G01J1/18; G01J2001/182; G01J2001/184; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/11; Y10T436/111666; Y10T436/115831
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
297 words
A chemical analysis system for analyzing a plurality of independent specimens that have time varying characteristics comprising: a plurality of analysis regions, each said analysis region adapted to hold a corresponding specimen, scanning means including a sensor for producing an analysis signal having a value proportional to a characteristic of the specimen in an analysis region, and means for causing sequential and repetitive sensing of said analysis regions by said sensor to produce analysis signals having values corresponding to the monitored specimen characteristics in the several analysis regions, memory means for storing data values in locations corresponding to the analysis regions from which these data values were provided, a signal transmission channel for applying data value signals to said memory means, said signal transmission channel including temporary signal storage means and variable response circuitry having a fast response mode and a slower response mode, and control means connected to said variable response circuitry and operative during a first portion of an analysis region sensing interval for concurrently placing said variable response circuitry in said fast response mode and connecting said memory means to the imput of said signal transmission channel to preset said temporary signal storage means to a data signal value from that analysis region that has been previously stored in said memory means, and operative during a second portion of said analysis region sensing interval for concurrently placing said variable response circuitry in said slower response mode and connecting said sensor to said signal transmission channel to adjust the data signal value in said temporary signal storage means to the current analysis signal value provided by said sensor, and means for transferring said adjusted data signal value from said temporary signal storage means to a location in said memory means corresponding to that analysis region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
297 words
A chemical analysis system for analyzing a plurality of independent specimens that have time varying characteristics comprising: a plurality of analysis regions, each said analysis region adapted to hold a corresponding specimen, scanning means including a sensor for producing an analysis signal having a value proportional to a characteristic of the specimen in an analysis region, and means for causing sequential and repetitive sensing of said analysis regions by said sensor to produce analysis signals having values corresponding to the monitored specimen characteristics in the several analysis regions, memory means for storing data values in locations corresponding to the analysis regions from which these data values were provided, a signal transmission channel for applying data value signals to said memory means, said signal transmission channel including temporary signal storage means and variable response circuitry having a fast response mode and a slower response mode, and control means connected to said variable response circuitry and operative during a first portion of an analysis region sensing interval for concurrently placing said variable response circuitry in said fast response mode and connecting said memory means to the imput of said signal transmission channel to preset said temporary signal storage means to a data signal value from that analysis region that has been previously stored in said memory means, and operative during a second portion of said analysis region sensing interval for concurrently placing said variable response circuitry in said slower response mode and connecting said sensor to said signal transmission channel to adjust the data signal value in said temporary signal storage means to the current analysis signal value provided by said sensor, and means for transferring said adjusted data signal value from said temporary signal storage means to a location in said memory means corresponding to that analysis region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said analytical regions are arranged in a circumferential array, and said scanning means includes means for spinning said array so that said analysis regions sequentially and repetitively pass said sensor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor is a radiation sensor adapted to sense radiation from said analysis regions representative of said time varying characteristics, and further including an amplifier connected in circuit between said radiation sensor and said signal transmission channel, and means for varying the gain of said amplifier to operate said sensor at an optimum signal level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said radiation sensor is a photomultiplier tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said signal transmission channel is a unity gain circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 1 and further including an analog to digital convertor connected in circuit between the output of said signal transmission channel and said memory means and a digital to analog convertor connected in circuit between said memory means and the input of the signal transmission channel.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
38 words
The system of any one of claims 1-6 wherein said signal transmission channel includes a transconductance amplifier, said temporary signal storage is a capacitor and said variable response circuitry includes a variable bias input to said transconductance amplifier.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
113 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said analysis regions are in the rotor of a centrifugal analyzer, said signal transmission channel includes a transconductance amplifier, said temporary signal storage is a capacitor and said variable response circuitry includes a variable bias input to said transconductance amplifier, and further including an analog to digital convertor connected in circuit between the output of said signal transmission channel and said memory means and a digital to analog convertor connected in circuit between said memory means and the input of said signal transmission channel, and wherein said control means includes a microprocessor for controlling the gain of said amplifier, said variable response circuitry, and said memory means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said variable response circuitry includes means to vary the slew rate of said signal transmission channel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3470367A
Cited
US3615140A
Cited
US3555284A
Cited
US3748044A
Cited
US3576441A
Cited
DE2347464A1
Cited
US3798459A
Cited
US3920969A
Cited
US4052161A
Cited
US4143365A
Cited
US4031506A
Cited
US4043756A
Cited
US4260580A
Cited
US4226537A
Cited
US4236894A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-05-01 | 1987-10-31 | 1988-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-05-01 | 1991-10-31 | 1992-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-05-01 | 1995-10-31 | 1996-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |