Fluid analysis apparatus and method of controlling the same
Inventors
KIM, Hong-Geun • Kang, Hyun-Suk • Lee, Jong Gun • Kim, Jong Cheol • Han, Seung Woo
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11506613-B2
Publication Date
2022-11-22
Expiration Date
Abstract
Provided is a fluid analysis apparatus and a method of controlling the same. The fluid analysis apparatus include an actuator provided on a part of the fluid analysis apparatus, a mounting portion on which a fluid accommodating cartridge is mounted thereon, the fluid accommodating cartridge provided with a well in which a fluid sample is accommodated, a measurement portion configured to transmit light to the fluid accommodating cartridge and detect an optical signal from the light passed through the fluid accommodating cartridge, and a controller configured to control an operation of the actuator based on the optical signal detected by the measurement portion such that the light transmitted from the measurement portion passes through a central portion of the well to perform an accurate inspection on the fluid sample.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a fluid analysis apparatus that includes an actuator, a mounting portion for mounting a fluid accommodating cartridge, and a measurement portion. The measurement portion transmits light to a well of the fluid accommodating cartridge and detects an optical signal from light passed through the well, so that an accurate inspection on the fluid sample is performed.
A controller controls an operation of the actuator to move at least a portion of the measurement portion or the mounting portion based on a width and/or strength value derived from the detected optical signal. The control is performed to cause the light transmitted from the measurement portion to pass through a central portion of the well, thereby improving inspection accuracy.
The controller further determines cartridge mounting correctness by comparing an optical-signal metric with an allowable range. When the fluid accommodating cartridge is abnormally mounted, the controller identifies a mis-installation direction based on a change in the optical signal during controlled actuator movement and then controls the actuator so that the optical-signal metric returns within the allowable range.
Claims Coverage
Independent claims clm-00001 and clm-00010 share the core concept of actuator-controlled alignment of a light-based measurement portion with a cartridge well using optical-signal metrics derived from detected transmitted light. Across these independent claims, the document specifies 3 main inventive features: actuator-based movement based on optical-signal width/strength for central-well light passage, and (in the broader independent claim) abnormal mounting identification with mis-installation direction determination and correction to an allowable range.
Actuator-controlled light passage through a central portion of a well
A controller comprising at least one processor controls an operation of an actuator to move at least a portion of the measurement portion or the mounting portion based on a width or strength value of the optical signal detected by the measurement portion, to cause the light transmitted from the measurement portion to pass through a central portion of the well to perform an accurate inspection on the fluid sample.
Optical-signal width as a length of detection time
The width corresponds to a length of time in which the strength value is detected by the measurement portion.
Abnormally mounted cartridge detection and mis-installation direction correction to an allowable range
The controller is further configured to identify that the fluid accommodating cartridge is abnormally mounted based on the strength of the optical signal being outside of an allowable range, identify a mis-installation direction of the fluid accommodating cartridge based on a change in the strength of the optical signal while controlling the operation of the actuator, and control, based on the mis-installation direction that is identified, the operation of the actuator to cause the strength of the optical signal to be within the allowable range.
Overall claim coverage centers on moving a measurement portion or mounting portion with an actuator based on optical-signal metrics so transmitted light passes through the central portion of a well for accurate inspection, with the more detailed independent claim additionally requiring abnormal-mount identification, mis-installation direction determination from signal change during actuator control, and actuator correction to bring the optical-signal strength within an allowable range.
Stated Advantages
Improved accuracy.
Reduced user inconvenience.
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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