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US6025985A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Moveable control unit for high-throughput analyzer
Assignee: Molecular Devices LLC
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Filing: 1998-07-16
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Granted: 2000-02-15
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Expires: 2018-07-16
Abstract
Abstract A moveable control unit for a high-throughput analyzer that can be operatively mounted at a plurality of locations on the analyzer housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Lev J. Leytes
- 👤 William G. Burton
- 👤 Yong Paik
- 👤 Glenn R. Edwards
- 👤 Douglas N. Modlin
- 👤 Amer El-Hage
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:20
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/75; G01N21/76; B; B01; B01L; B01L9/00; B01L9/52; B01L9/523; B82; B82Y; B82Y15/00; B01J; B01J2219/00; B01J2219/00274; B01J2219/00277; B01J2219/00279; B01J2219/00306; B01J2219/00313; B01J2219/00315; B01J2219/00317; B01J2219/00583; B01J2219/00603; B01J2219/00605; B01J2219/0061; B01J2219/00612; B01J2219/00659; B01J2219/0068; B01J2219/00686; B01J2219/00691; B01J2219/00702; B01J2219/00707; B01L2300/00; B01L2300/08; B01L2300/0809; B01L2300/0829; C; C40; C40B; C40B60/00; C40B60/14; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S436/00; Y10S436/807; Y10S436/809; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/11; Y10T436/113332; Y10T436/114165; Y10T436/115831; Y10T436/25
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A device for controlling an analyzer, the device comprising: a plurality of control interface docking locations disposed on an analyzer housing; and a control unit that can be removably mounted at any one of the docking locations on the analyzer housing, so that a user can control the analyzer by inputting information through the control unit; wherein the control unit can be moved from one docking location to another to provide convenience in different modes of operation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
77 words
A device for controlling an analyzer, the device comprising: a plurality of control interface docking locations disposed on an analyzer housing; and a control unit that can be removably mounted at any one of the docking locations on the analyzer housing, so that a user can control the analyzer by inputting information through the control unit; wherein the control unit can be moved from one docking location to another to provide convenience in different modes of operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the control unit includes data input and output components.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the control unit is L-shaped and configured to mount on a top edge of the housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the control unit has a horizontal panel portion for resting on a top portion of the housing, and a vertical panel portion for resting against a side portion of the housing adjacent the top portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 4, wherein an inner side of one of the panels has mating structure that compliments other mating structure provided at each of the docking locations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the housing has a sample input side, a first docking location being located near an upper edge of the sample input side.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 6, wherein the housing has a back side opposite the sample input side, a second docking location being located near an upper edge of the back side of the housing.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
21 words
The device of 1, wherein the control unit has a front face containing a display screen for indicating instrument status data.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
21 words
The device of 1, wherein the control unit has a front face containing a display screen for indicating instrument status data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 8, wherein the front face of the control unit contains at least one data input button for carrying-out one or more of the following command functions: start, reset, load, and eject.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 8, wherein the front face of the control unit contains at least one light indicator for indicating one or more of the following data output functions: power, fault, and service required.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device of claim 1, wherein a first control interface docking location is positioned to provide convenience for manual operation of the analyzer, and wherein a second control interface docking location is positioned to provide convenience for robotic operation of the analyzer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 1, further comprising a second control unit, wherein a user can control the analyzer by inputting information through either control unit.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
80 words
A device for controlling an analyzer, the device comprising: a first control interface docking location on or near an upper edge of a first side of a housing containing the analyzer, wherein the first side also includes a sample input port; and a control unit that can be operatively mounted at the first control interface docking location; wherein the control unit can be operatively relocated at a second control interface docking location remote from the first side of the housing.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
80 words
A device for controlling an analyzer, the device comprising: a first control interface docking location on or near an upper edge of a first side of a housing containing the analyzer, wherein the first side also includes a sample input port; and a control unit that can be operatively mounted at the first control interface docking location; wherein the control unit can be operatively relocated at a second control interface docking location remote from the first side of the housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 13, wherein the second control interface docking location is located on or near a second side of the housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 13, wherein the second control interface docking location is spaced apart from the housing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 11, further comprising a second control unit, wherein a user can control the analyzer by inputting information through either control unit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device of claim 13, wherein the first control interface docking location is positioned to provide convenience for manual operation of the analyzer, and wherein the second control interface docking location is positioned to provide convenience for robotic operation of the analyzer.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of controlling an analyzer capable of being used in a manual mode or a robotic mode, the method comprising: providing a control unit that can be mounted at a first or second docking location, wherein the docking locations are disposed on a housing containing the analyzer; mounting the control unit in the first docking location when the analyzer is to be used in the manual mode; and mounting the control unit in the second docking location when the analyzer is to be used in the robotic mode.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of controlling an analyzer capable of being used in a manual mode or a robotic mode, the method comprising: providing a control unit that can be mounted at a first or second docking location, wherein the docking locations are disposed on a housing containing the analyzer; mounting the control unit in the first docking location when the analyzer is to be used in the manual mode; and mounting the control unit in the second docking location when the analyzer is to be used in the robotic mode.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
55 words
An analyzer for performing analysis on a sample, the analyzer comprising: a mechanism for performing analysis on the sample; a housing configured to contain the mechanism, wherein a plurality of control interface docking locations are disposed on the housing; and a control unit that can be removably mounted at any one of the docking locations.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
55 words
An analyzer for performing analysis on a sample, the analyzer comprising: a mechanism for performing analysis on the sample; a housing configured to contain the mechanism, wherein a plurality of control interface docking locations are disposed on the housing; and a control unit that can be removably mounted at any one of the docking locations.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 19, wherein the control unit can be moved from one docking location to another to provide convenience in different modes of operation.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device of claim 20, wherein a first control interface docking location is positioned to provide convenience for manual operation of the analyzer, and wherein a second control interface docking location is positioned to provide convenience for robotic operation of the analyzer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 19, wherein the analyzer is a light detection device.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-02-14 | 2003-08-16 | 2004-02-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-02-14 | 2007-08-16 | 2008-02-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-02-14 | 2011-08-16 | 2012-02-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |