US3603875A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Particle analyzing method and apparatus employing multiple apertures and multiple channels per aperture
Assignee: Coulter Electronics Inc
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Filing: 1969-05-12
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Granted: 1971-09-07
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Expires: 1989-05-12
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is an improved method and apparatus for analyzing particles by the Coulter principle of employing an impedance responsive detecting aperture through which pass particles in suspension. Employed herein are a plurality of logically parallel detecting apertures, preferably of different microscopic sizes, each aperture feeding circuitry which is subdivided into a plurality of channels, each responsive to a different narrow subrange of particle size. By time and volume related elements, there is generated an output voltage which is proportional to particle volume per unit time over the entire particle system; hence, statistically valid data is available at all times during an analysis run, even in the event of a malfunctioning blockage of an aperture.
Inventors
- 👤 Wallace H Coulter
- 👤 Walter R Hogg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:01
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N15/00; G01N15/10; G01N15/1031; G01N15/12; G01N15/134
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A method for analyzing a particulate system by the use of at least one passageway through which a sample portion of the particulate system passes and is detected, said method comprising the steps of: producing output signals each proportional to the volume of each detected particle of said system, passing said output signals to a plurality of logically parallel channels, separating said channels to be selectively responsive to said output signals in channels according to an incrementation based upon the amplitude of each said output signal, accumulating separately and progressively the output signals for each said channel over a determinable period of time, generating a signal proportional to the reciprocaL of said period of time, and producing for each channel an electric signal quantity equal to the mathematic product of said accumulated output signal and said reciprocal time signal at any specific time to obtain an electric signal quantity proportional to the total particulate volume per unit time based upon said specific time for each channel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
166 words
A method for analyzing a particulate system by the use of at least one passageway through which a sample portion of the particulate system passes and is detected, said method comprising the steps of: producing output signals each proportional to the volume of each detected particle of said system, passing said output signals to a plurality of logically parallel channels, separating said channels to be selectively responsive to said output signals in channels according to an incrementation based upon the amplitude of each said output signal, accumulating separately and progressively the output signals for each said channel over a determinable period of time, generating a signal proportional to the reciprocaL of said period of time, and producing for each channel an electric signal quantity equal to the mathematic product of said accumulated output signal and said reciprocal time signal at any specific time to obtain an electric signal quantity proportional to the total particulate volume per unit time based upon said specific time for each channel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 1 comprising the further step of dividing the volume of said sample portion by said specific time, said step of producing thereby yielding the ratio of total particulate volume per channel to volume of said sample portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 2 comprising the further step of maintaining the ratio between sample portion volume and specific time constant.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 3 comprising the further steps of terminating the accumulating step upon the accumulation of a preset signal amplitude in one of said channels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 3 comprising the further step of terminating the duration of said specific time in response to improper detection of said particles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 3, comprising the further step of terminating the duration of said specific time in response to an accumulation of said output signals upon attaining signal capacity of any one channel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 3 comprising the further step of terminating the duration of said specific time in response to a fixed time measurement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 1, including sending the output signals through a plurality of the passageways arranged logically parallel, each passageway arranged to pass the separated output signals through its interrelated channels, and arranging the incrementation of all said separated output signals in a regular progression based upon particle volume.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 8 comprising the further step of enabling said accumulating step for the separated output signals for any one of said plurality of channels in relationship to the same accumulating enabling of the other of said plurality of channels.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 8 comprising the further step of regulating the rate of flow of said sample portion through said passageways so that such rate is different for each passageway.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 10 in which said regulating is accomplished by sizing said passageways according to a mathematic progression.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 8 comprising the further step of arranging the passing of the output signals through the passageways such that a narrow amplitude range is sent through each passageway.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 8 comprising the further step of summing progressively said product in each channel for all said channels.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
154 words
Apparatus for analyzing particles suspended in a fluid medium which comprises: particle suspension holding means, a plurality of apertures in fluid communication with said suspension holding means, each aperture being a different size, means for moving the fluid medium through the apertures, transducer means associated with each aperture to produce signals as particles pass therethrough, said signals being respectively proportional to particle volume, threshold circuit means dividing each transducer output into a plurality of size channels, each channel having means for accumulating charge proportional to total particulate volume and deriving a first signal proportional to said accumulated charge, means for deriving a second signal proportional to the volume of the fluid medium which passed through the aperture of the said transducer means during the period of time that said charge was accumulated, and means for dividing the first signal by the second signal to achieve a third signal proportional to the particulate volume concentration.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
154 words
Apparatus for analyzing particles suspended in a fluid medium which comprises: particle suspension holding means, a plurality of apertures in fluid communication with said suspension holding means, each aperture being a different size, means for moving the fluid medium through the apertures, transducer means associated with each aperture to produce signals as particles pass therethrough, said signals being respectively proportional to particle volume, threshold circuit means dividing each transducer output into a plurality of size channels, each channel having means for accumulating charge proportional to total particulate volume and deriving a first signal proportional to said accumulated charge, means for deriving a second signal proportional to the volume of the fluid medium which passed through the aperture of the said transducer means during the period of time that said charge was accumulated, and means for dividing the first signal by the second signal to achieve a third signal proportional to the particulate volume concentration.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 in which meAns are provided to render said fluid moving means operative for each aperture consecutively.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 in which means are provided to disable all of the channels associated with any aperture after a predetermined length of time so that the duration of signal transducing associated with each aperture varies directly as the size of the aperture.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 in which disabling circuits are provided for disabling the operation of any given group of channels associated with an aperture when the aperture has passed a number of particles which produce charge accumulation to a predetermined signal level in any one of a plurality of circuits, including at least said charge accumulating means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 in which the aperture sizes vary from aperture to aperture by a factor, and the size ranges of the channels associated with each aperture also vary by the same factor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 18 in which said factor is two to one, and the channel size ranges progress from aperture to aperture.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 in which said aperture sizes differ by a factor which causes the percentage of coincident passage of particles of the smallest size measured by each aperture to be substantially the same for all apertures, such that the same particle concentration can be effectively scanned by all apertures, substantially irrespective of the breadth and average size of the particle system.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 20 in which said factor is substantially two to one in diameter, and the size ranges of the channels associated with each aperture vary by a factor of substantially two to one by particle volume.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
110 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 in which a pump circuit is provided in each channel for driving its charge accumulating means, an inverse time signal accumulating circuit comprises said second signal deriving means, a reference voltage is connected to said pump circuit and said time signal accumulating circuit so that the rate of charge accumulating and time signal accumulating are always inversely proportional to each other, and multiplying means connects each charge accumulating means with said time signal accumulating circuit to define said dividing means and provides an output signal representative of particle volume per unit concentration irrespective of the amount of time that the aperture is passing fluid medium.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
146 words
In an apparatus for analyzing a particulate system by the use of at least one passageway through which a portion of the particulate system passes and is detected in a manner which produces output signals each proportional to the volume of each detected particle of said system, the improvement which comprises: a plurality of logically parallel electrical channels selectively responsive to receive said output signals according to an incrementation based upon the amplitude of each output signal, means for progressively accumulating separately the output signals for each said channel over a determinable period of time, means for generating a reciprocal of said period of time, and means for producing for each channel the mathematic product of said accumulated output signal and said time period reciprocal at any specific time to obtain the total particulate volume per unit time based upon said specific time for each channel.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
146 words
In an apparatus for analyzing a particulate system by the use of at least one passageway through which a portion of the particulate system passes and is detected in a manner which produces output signals each proportional to the volume of each detected particle of said system, the improvement which comprises: a plurality of logically parallel electrical channels selectively responsive to receive said output signals according to an incrementation based upon the amplitude of each output signal, means for progressively accumulating separately the output signals for each said channel over a determinable period of time, means for generating a reciprocal of said period of time, and means for producing for each channel the mathematic product of said accumulated output signal and said time period reciprocal at any specific time to obtain the total particulate volume per unit time based upon said specific time for each channel.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 23 further comprising means for dividing the volume of said sample portion by said specific time, thereby yielding the ratio of total particulate volume per channel to volume of said sample portion.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 24 further comprising a reference signal source coupled to said accumulating means and said generating means for maintaining the relationship between sample portion volume and specific time constant.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 25 further comprising means for terminating the duration of said specific time in response to a preset signal amplitude in one of said channels.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 25 further comprising means for terminating the duration of said specific time in response to improper detection of said particles.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 25 further comprising means for terminating the duration of said specific time in response to an accumulation of said input signals upon attaining signal capacity of any one channel.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 25 further comprising means for terminating the duration of said specific time in response to a fixed time measurement.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 23 in which a plurality of the passageways are arranged logically parallel, each having its interrelated channels, and the incrementation of said channels is interrelated in a regular progression base upon particle volume.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 30 further comprising means for enabling said accumulating means for said plurality of channels of any one passageway in times relationship to the enabling of said accumulating means for said plurality of channels of at least one other of said passageways.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 30 further comprising means for regulating the rate of flow of said said sample portion through said passageways so that such rate is different for each passageway.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 32 in which said regulating means are the passageways themselves which have their diameters arranged according to a mathematic progression.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 33 in which there is provided a sufficient plurality of passageways and channels per passageway for causing each passageway to respond to an especially narrow range of different volumes.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 30 further comprising means for summing progressively said product in each channel for all said channels.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3345502A
Cited
US3331950A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-06 | 1975-03-08 | 1975-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-06 | 1979-03-08 | 1979-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-06 | 1983-03-08 | 1983-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |