US3681577A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Automatic calibration apparatus
Assignee: Bayer Corp
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Filing: 1970-10-30
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Granted: 1972-08-01
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Expires: 1990-10-30
Abstract
Abstract New and improved apparatus are provided for the automatic calibration of automatic, multiple channel sample analysis means and comprise level set means to automatically control the level of the analysis means analog output signals and maintain the latter within the same general operating range, zero set means to automatically determine the background signal level for each analysis channel and subtract the same from the analysis channel output signal, attendant the conversion thereof to digital form, and calibration means to vary the scale factor involved in said signal conversion in accordance with the operating characteristics of each of said analysis channels.
Inventors
- 👤 Donatas V Gasiunas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 20:03
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03M; H03M1/00; G; G01; G01D; G01D18/00; G01D18/002; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/25; G01N21/27; G01N21/274; G01N21/31; G01N21/3103; H03M1/10; H03M1/1009
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
In apparatus for the calibration of multiple channel sample analysis means which are operable to provide a sample analysis output signal in each of a plurality of channels for each sample being analyzed, means operatively associated with said sample analysis means to automatically determine the background signal included in each sample analysis output signal channel, means to automatically subtract said background signal from each sample analysis output signal provided in said channel, means to automatically determine a calibration factor for each of said sample analysis output signal channels, and means to automatically apply said calibration factor to each sample analysis output signal provided in said channel, said output signals being provided in analog form, and said means to subtract the background signal for each of said sample analysis output signal channels comprising A/D converter means to convert said output signals and said background signals to digital form, and means to subtract the background signal for a particular sample analysis channel from each output signal from said channel attendant the conversion of said output signal to digital form.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
In apparatus for the calibration of multiple channel sample analysis means which are operable to provide a sample analysis output signal in each of a plurality of channels for each sample being analyzed, means operatively associated with said sample analysis means to automatically determine the background signal included in each sample analysis output signal channel, means to automatically subtract said background signal from each sample analysis output signal provided in said channel, means to automatically determine a calibration factor for each of said sample analysis output signal channels, and means to automatically apply said calibration factor to each sample analysis output signal provided in said channel, said output signals being provided in analog form, and said means to subtract the background signal for each of said sample analysis output signal channels comprising A/D converter means to convert said output signals and said background signals to digital form, and means to subtract the background signal for a particular sample analysis channel from each output signal from said channel attendant the conversion of said output signal to digital form.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
In apparatus as in claim 1 wherein, said means to automatically apply said calibration factor to said output signals comprise, means to apply said calibration factor for a particular sample analysis channel to said A/D converter means to vary the gain thereof attendant the conversion thereby of said output signals from said channel to digital form.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
In apparatus as in claim 1 wherein, said A/D converter means comprise up/down counter means which are operable to convert said output signals and said background signals to digital counts, and wherein said background signal is subtracted from said output signal by appropriate count subtraction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
In apparatus as in claim 3 wherein, said means to apply said calibration factor to said A/D converter means comprise means to vary the count rate of said up/down counter means attendant the conversion thereby of said output signals to digital form.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
In apparatus as in claim 4 wherein, said means to vary the count rate of said up/down counter means comprise, rate multiplier means operatively associated with said up/down counter means to control the count rate thereof, and means to vary the rate provided by the former in accordance with said calibration factor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
In apparatus as in claim 3 wherein, said means to determine said background signal for each of said sample analysis channels comprise, means to apply a sample analysis output signal of substantially zero magnitude to a said channel, and means to apply the resultant signal in said channel to said up/down counter means for conversion to a digital count.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
In apparatus as in claim 1 wherein, said A/D converter means comprise up/down counter means which are operable to convert said output signals to digital counts, and said means to supply said calibration factor to said A/D converter means comprise means to vary the count rate of said up/down counter means attendant the conversion thereby of said output signals to digital counts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
In apparatus as in claim 7 wherein, said means to vary the count rate of said up/down counter means comprise, rate multiplier means operatively associated with said up/down counter means to control the count rate thereof, and means to vary the rate provided by the former in accordance with said calibration factor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
79 words
In apparatus as in claim 7 wherein, said means to determine said calibration factor for each of said sample analysis output signal channels comprise, means to apply a standard sample analysis output signal to said up/down counter means for conversion to a digital count, digital comparator means, and means to concomitantly apply standard sample data in the form of a digital count, and said standard output signal digital count from said up/down counter means to determine said calibration factor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
In apparatus as in claim 7 further comprising, variable gain amplifier means to amplify said sample analysis output signals, and means responsive to the respective magnitudes of said signals and operable to adjust the gain of said amplifier means for each of said channels to maintain all of said signals within a predetermined level range.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
In apparatus as in claim 1 wherein, said means to determine said background signal for each of said sample analysis channels comprise, means to apply a sample analysis output signal of substantially zero magnitude to a said channel, and means to convert the resultant signal in said channel to digital form.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
70 words
In apparatus as in claim 1 wherein, said means to determine said calibration factor for each of said analysis output signal channels comprise, means to apply a standard sample analysis output signal to said A/D converter means for conversion to digital form, digital comparator means, and means to concomitantly apply standard sample data and said standard sample analysis output signal to said digital comparator means to determine said calibration factor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
In apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising, variable gain amplifier means to amplify said sample analysis output signals, and means responsive to the respective magnitudes of said signals and operable to adjust the gain of said amplifier means for each of said channels to maintain all of said signals within a predetermined level range.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-01 | 1976-01-31 | 1976-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-01 | 1980-01-31 | 1980-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-01 | 1984-01-31 | 1984-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |