US3634868A — New and improved method and apparatus for automat…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 241 words

In calibration apparatus for the automatic, periodic baseline and standard calibration of analysis results recording means which record the results of sample analysis performed by sample analysis means, in accordance with the output of the latter, so as to compensate for drift in said analysis means output, and which include means to condition said sample analysis means and adjust said output to a desired value for baseline calibration, and means to condition said sample analysis means and adjust said output to a desired value for standard calibration, the improvements comprising, means to compare said output with said desired value thereof for baseline calibration and, in the event that drift has occurred, to generate information which is effective to drive said output to said desired value thereof to effect baseline calibration, and means to compare said output with said desired value thereof for standard calibration and, in the event that drift has occurred, to generate information which is effective to drive said output to said desired value thereof for standard calibration, said means to drive said output to said desired values thereof for standard and baseline calibration, respectively, further including logic means to store said baseline and standard calibration information for use during subsequent sample analysis operation of said sample analysis means and automatic means to periodically update said stored baseline and standard calibration information by the baseline and standard calibration information generated upon a subsequent calibration operation of said calibration apparatus.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 241 words

In calibration apparatus for the automatic, periodic baseline and standard calibration of analysis results recording means which record the results of sample analysis performed by sample analysis means, in accordance with the output of the latter, so as to compensate for drift in said analysis means output, and which include means to condition said sample analysis means and adjust said output to a desired value for baseline calibration, and means to condition said sample analysis means and adjust said output to a desired value for standard calibration, the improvements comprising, means to compare said output with said desired value thereof for baseline calibration and, in the event that drift has occurred, to generate information which is effective to drive said output to said desired value thereof to effect baseline calibration, and means to compare said output with said desired value thereof for standard calibration and, in the event that drift has occurred, to generate information which is effective to drive said output to said desired value thereof for standard calibration, said means to drive said output to said desired values thereof for standard and baseline calibration, respectively, further including logic means to store said baseline and standard calibration information for use during subsequent sample analysis operation of said sample analysis means and automatic means to periodically update said stored baseline and standard calibration information by the baseline and standard calibration information generated upon a subsequent calibration operation of said calibration apparatus.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 160 words

In calibration apparatus as in claim 1 wherein, said means to drive said output to said desired value thereof for baseline calibration comprises a baseline calibration circuit to which said output is applied, said baseline calibration circuit having a circuit component of operational characteristics which are variable in response to the application of said baseline calibration information thereto, and which is in turn effective to vary said output in accordance therewith, and means to apply said baseline calibration to said circuit component, and said means to drive said output to said desired value thereof for standard calibration comprise a standard calibration circuit to which said output is applied, said standard calibration circuit having a circuit component of operatiOnal characteristics which are variable in response to the application of said standard calibration information thereto and which is in turn effective to vary said output in accordance therewith, and means to apply said standard calibration information to said standard calibration circuit component.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 94 words

In calibration apparatus as in claim 1 wherein, said means to compare said output with said desired values thereof for baseline and standard calibration, respectively, comprises a feedback network including operatively associated comparator and up/down counter means, means to apply the differences, if any, between said output and the desired values thereof for baseline and standard calibration, respectively, to said comparator means to generate error signals in accordance therewith, and means to apply said error signals to said up/down counter means for generation by the latter of said information for baseline and standard calibration.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 61 words

In calibration apparatus as in claim 1 wherein, said means to store said baseline and standard calibration information respectively comprise operatively associated buffer and shift register means, and means to circulate said information therebetween, with said information in said buffers at any given time being respectively effective to drive said output to said desired values thereof for baseline and standard calibration.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 30 words

In calibration apparatus as in claim 2 wherein, said output is an electrical signal and said baseline and standard calibration circuit components respectively comprise ladder networks of variable resistance values.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 94 words

In calibration apparatus as in claim 2 wherein, said means to compare said output with said desired values thereof for baseline and standard calibration, respectively, comprises a feedback network including operatively associated comparator and up/down counter means, means to apply the differences, if any, between said output and the desired values thereof for baseline and standard calibration, respectively, to said comparator means to generate error signals in accordance therewith, and means to apply said error signals to said up/down counter means for generation by the latter of said information for baseline and standard calibration.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 103 words

In calibration apparatus as in claim 6 wherein, said baseline calibration circuit comprises means to store said baseline calibration information for use during subsequent sample analysis operation of said sample analysis means and to enable updating of said baseline calibration information by the baseline calibration information generated upon subsequent calibration operation of said calibration apparatus, and said standard calibration circuit comprises means to store said standard calibration information for use during subsequent sample analysis operation of said sample analysis means and to enable updating of said standard calibration information by the standard calibration information generated upon subsequent calibration operation of said calibration apparatus.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 65 words

In calibration apparatus as in claim 7 wherein, said means to store said baseline calibration information comprise buffer and shift register means which are operatively associated to enable the circulation of said baseline calibration information therebetween, and said means to store said standard calibration information comprise buffer and shift register means which are operatively associated to enable the circulation of said standard calibration information therebetween.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 142 words

In calibration apparatus as in claim 8 wherein, said baseline calibration circuit comprises means operatively connecting said baseline calibration information buffer to said baseline calibration component for application of said baseline calibration information from said buffer to said circuit component, said standard calibration circuit comprises means operatively connecting said standard calibration information buffer to said standard calibration circuit component for application of said standard calibration informAtion from said buffer to said standard calibration circuit component, said means to drive said output to said desired value thereof for baseline calibration comprise means to apply said baseline calibration information from said up/down counter means to said baseline calibration information buffer, and said means to drive said output to said desired value thereof for standard calibration comprise means to apply said standard calibration information from said up/down counter means to said standard calibration information buffer.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 30 words

In calibration apparatus as in claim 9 wherein, said output is an electrical signal and said baseline and standard calibration circuit components respectively comprise ladder networks of variable resistance values.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 36 words

In calibration apparatus as in claim 10 wherein, said means operatively connecting said baseline and standard calibration information buffers and said baseline and standard calibration ladder networks respectively comprise baseline and standard calibration circuit ladder switches.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 109 words

In calibration apparatus as in claim 1 wherein, said sample analysis means comprise a plurality of sequentially operable sample analysis channels for the analysis of a plurality of samples, and said means to condition said sample analysis apparatus and adjust said output for baseline and standard calibration are effective for each of said channels, and wherein said means to generate said baseline calibration information are effective to generate the same for each of said analysis channels in sequence with the changing thereof, and said means to generate said standard calibration information are effective to generate the same for each of said analysis channels in sequence with the changing thereof.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 146 words

In calibration apparatus as in claim 1 wherein, said sample analysis means comprise a plurality of sequentially operable sample analysis channels for the analysis of a plurality of samples, and said means to condition said sample analysis apparatus and adjust said output for baseline and standard calibration are effective for each of said channels, and wherein said means to generate said baseline calibration information are effective to generate the same for each of said analysis channels in sequence with the changing thereof, said means to generate said standard calibration information are effective to generate the same for each of said analysis channels in sequence with the changing thereof, and said baseline and standard calibration storage means are operable to store and circulate said baseline and standard calibration information in sequence with said sample analysis means channel changes for use thereof during subsequent sample analysis means operation.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 160 words

In calibration apparatus as in claim 13 wherein, said means to drive said output to said desired value thereof for baseline calibration comprises a baseline calibration circuit to which said output is applied, said baseline calibration circuit having a circuit component of operational characteristics which are variable in response to the application of said baseline calibration information thereto, and which is in turn effective to vary said output in accordance therewith, and means to apply said baseline calibration to said circuit component, and said means to drive said output to said desired value thereof for standard calibration comprise a standard calibration circuit to which said output is applied, said standard calibration circuit having a circuit component of operational characteristics which are variable in response to the application of said standard calibration information thereto and which is in turn effective to vary said output in accordance therewith, and means to apply said standard calibration information to said standard calibration circuit component.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 109 words

In calibration apparatus as in claim 9 wherein, said sample analysis means comprise a plurality of sequentially operable sample analysis channels for the analysis of a plurality of samples, and said means to conditiOn said sample analysis apparatus and adjust said output for baseline and standard calibration are effective for each of said channels, and wherein said means to generate said baseline calibration information are effective to generate the same for each of said analysis channels in sequence with the changing thereof, and said means to generate said standard calibration information are effective to generate the same for each of said analysis channels in sequence with the changing thereof.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 98 words

In calibration apparatus as in claim 15 further comprising, control means which are operatively associated with said baseline calibration information shift register and said standard calibration information shift register and are operable to respectively shift said baseline calibration information for each of said analysis channels from said baseline calibration information shift register to said baseline calibration information buffer in sequence with said analysis channel changes, and to shift said standard calibration information for each of said analysis channels from said standard calibration information shift register to said standard calibration information buffer in sequence with said analysis channel changes.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 217 words

In a method for automatically calibrating sample analysis means to compensate for drift in the baseline and standard calibrations of output signals generated by said sample analysis means in accordance with the output of said sample analysis means to compensate for drift in said output, and which includes conditioning of said sample analysis means and adjusting said output to a desired value for baseline calibration, and conditioning said sample analysis means and adjusting said output to a desired value for standard calibration, the improvement comprising the steps of, during a calibration operation, comparing the output of said analysis means with a desired value thereof for baseline calibration and, in the event that drift has occurred, generating information which is effective to drive said output to said desired value thereof to effect baseline calibration, comparing the output of said analysis means with a desired value thereof for standard calibration and, in the event that drift has occurred, generating information which is effective to drive said output to said desired value thereof to effect standard calibration, logically storing said baseline and standard calibration information for use during subsequent sample analysis operation of said sample analysis means, and automatically periodically updating said stored baseline and standard calibration by the baseline and standard calibration information generating during a subsequent calibration operation.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 217 words

In a method for automatically calibrating sample analysis means to compensate for drift in the baseline and standard calibrations of output signals generated by said sample analysis means in accordance with the output of said sample analysis means to compensate for drift in said output, and which includes conditioning of said sample analysis means and adjusting said output to a desired value for baseline calibration, and conditioning said sample analysis means and adjusting said output to a desired value for standard calibration, the improvement comprising the steps of, during a calibration operation, comparing the output of said analysis means with a desired value thereof for baseline calibration and, in the event that drift has occurred, generating information which is effective to drive said output to said desired value thereof to effect baseline calibration, comparing the output of said analysis means with a desired value thereof for standard calibration and, in the event that drift has occurred, generating information which is effective to drive said output to said desired value thereof to effect standard calibration, logically storing said baseline and standard calibration information for use during subsequent sample analysis operation of said sample analysis means, and automatically periodically updating said stored baseline and standard calibration by the baseline and standard calibration information generating during a subsequent calibration operation.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 54 words

In a method as in claim 17 wherein, the steps of comparing said output with said desired values thereof for baseline and standard calibration further includes the steps of generating error signals in accordance with the differences, if any, therebetween, and generating said baseline and standard calibration information in response to said error signals.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 52 words

In a method as in claim 17 wherein, the steps of storing said baseline and standard calibration information comprise the further step of providing the respective stored baseline and standard calibration information available at any given time to drive said output to said desired values thereof for baseline and standard calibration, respectively.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 43 words

In a method as in claim 19 wherein the step of driving said output to said desired value thereof for baseline calibration comprises the further step of applying said baseline calibration information and said standard calibration information concurrently to modify an output signal.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 76 words

In a method as in claim 17 comprising the further steps of comparing the output of each of a plurality of sample analysis channels sequentially during a calibration operation, generating baseline calibration information and standard calibration information corresponding to each of said analysis channEls in sequence with the changing thereof, and storing said baseline and standard calibration information for each of said sample analysis channels for use during subsequent samples analysis operation of corresponding analysis channels.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 220 words

In calibration apparatus for the automatic, periodic baseline and standard calibration of analysis results recording means which record the results of sample analysis performed by sample analysis means, in accordance with the output of the latter, so as to compensate for drift in said analysis means output, and which include means to condition said sample analysis means and adjust said output to a desired value for baseline calibration, and means to condition said sample analysis means and adjust said output to a desired value for standard calibration, the improvements comprising, means to periodically compare said output of said sample analysis means conditioned for baseline calibration with said desired value thereof for baseline calibration, means to generate a first signal indicative of any baseline drift which has occurred, means to compensate said analysis means output according to said first signal to effect baseline calibration, and means to compare said output of said sample analysis means conditioned for standard calibration with said desired value thereof for standard calibration, means to generate a second signal indicative of any standard drift which has occurred, means to compensate said analysis means output according to said second signal to effect standard calibration, and logic means for storing and periodically updating said first and second signals for use during subsequent operations of said automatic sample analysis means.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 220 words

In calibration apparatus for the automatic, periodic baseline and standard calibration of analysis results recording means which record the results of sample analysis performed by sample analysis means, in accordance with the output of the latter, so as to compensate for drift in said analysis means output, and which include means to condition said sample analysis means and adjust said output to a desired value for baseline calibration, and means to condition said sample analysis means and adjust said output to a desired value for standard calibration, the improvements comprising, means to periodically compare said output of said sample analysis means conditioned for baseline calibration with said desired value thereof for baseline calibration, means to generate a first signal indicative of any baseline drift which has occurred, means to compensate said analysis means output according to said first signal to effect baseline calibration, and means to compare said output of said sample analysis means conditioned for standard calibration with said desired value thereof for standard calibration, means to generate a second signal indicative of any standard drift which has occurred, means to compensate said analysis means output according to said second signal to effect standard calibration, and logic means for storing and periodically updating said first and second signals for use during subsequent operations of said automatic sample analysis means.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 217 words

In a method for automatically calibrating sample analysis means to compensate for drift in the baseline and standard calibrations of output signals generated by sample analysis means in accordance with the output of said sample analysis means to compensate for drift in said output, and which includes conditioning said sample analysis means and adjusting said output to a desired value for baseline calibration, and conditioning said sample analysis means and adjusting said output to a desired value for standard calibration, the improvement comprising the steps of periodically comparing said output of said sample analysis means conditioned for baseline calibration with said desired value thereof for baseline calibration and, in the event that any baseline drift has occurred, generating a first signal indicative of said any baseline drift, compensating said analysis means output according to said first signal to effect baseline calibration, periodically comparing said output of said sample analysis means conditioned for standard calibration with said desired value thereof for standard calibration and, in the event that any standard drift has occurred, generating a second signal indicative of said any standard drift, compensating said analysis means output according to said second signal effect standard calibration, and logically storing and periodically updating said first and second signals for use during subsequent operations of said automatic sample analysis means.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 217 words

In a method for automatically calibrating sample analysis means to compensate for drift in the baseline and standard calibrations of output signals generated by sample analysis means in accordance with the output of said sample analysis means to compensate for drift in said output, and which includes conditioning said sample analysis means and adjusting said output to a desired value for baseline calibration, and conditioning said sample analysis means and adjusting said output to a desired value for standard calibration, the improvement comprising the steps of periodically comparing said output of said sample analysis means conditioned for baseline calibration with said desired value thereof for baseline calibration and, in the event that any baseline drift has occurred, generating a first signal indicative of said any baseline drift, compensating said analysis means output according to said first signal to effect baseline calibration, periodically comparing said output of said sample analysis means conditioned for standard calibration with said desired value thereof for standard calibration and, in the event that any standard drift has occurred, generating a second signal indicative of said any standard drift, compensating said analysis means output according to said second signal effect standard calibration, and logically storing and periodically updating said first and second signals for use during subsequent operations of said automatic sample analysis means.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 17 words

In calibration apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising means to indicate the drift which has occurred.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 26 words

In calibration apparatus as defined in claim 13 further including means to indicate the drift which has occurred in selected ones of said sample analysis channels.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 19 words

In a method as in claim 17 further comprising the further step of indicating the drift which has occurred.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 26 words

In a method as in claim 21 comprising the further step of indicating the drift which has occurred in selected ones of said sample analysis channels.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1975-01-10	1975-07-12	1976-01-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1979-01-10	1979-07-12	1980-01-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1983-01-10	1983-07-12	1984-01-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

New and improved method and apparatus for automatic baseline and standard calibration of automatic, multichannel sequentially operable fluid sample supply, treatment and analysis means

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