Temporal sensing and related methods
Inventors
Swager, Timothy Manning • Cox, Jason R. • Deans, Robert
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11994518-B2
Publication Date
2024-05-28
Expiration Date
Abstract
Embodiments described herein generally relate to: sensing and/or authentication using luminescence imaging; diagnostic assays, systems, and related methods; temporal thermal sensing and related methods; and/or to emissive species, such as those excitable by white light, and related systems and methods.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to detecting a change in an emissive species over a period of time by using non-steady-state emission. The emissive species is excited or caused to emit non-steady-state electromagnetic radiation during an emission time period of at least 10 nanoseconds, including delayed emission, thermally activated delayed fluorescence, triplet-state emission, exciplex formation, and long-lived emission.
An image sensor obtains data associated with the non-steady-state emission and is configured to sequentially read a first row or first column of pixels and a second row or second column of pixels from an array of pixels. A single image is created such that a first set of data corresponds to a first portion of the emission time period and a second set of data corresponds to a second portion of the emission time period.
A change in the emissive species is determined based on a difference between the first portion and the second portion of the single image, or based on first and second point-in-time information associated with the first and second pixel rows or columns. The disclosure further describes time-gated and background-rejected detection using delayed emission and sequential or time-associated imaging capture.
The subject matter also discusses biological diagnostic assay contexts, smartphone or consumer electronic device integration, and emissive species including modified TADF molecules and molecular complexes, phosphorescent emissive species, heavy atoms, organometallic and metallo-organic compounds, bismuth, lanthanide and actinide phosphors, inorganic phosphors, perovskites, semiconductor nanoparticles, and luminescent materials in matrices.
Claims Coverage
Two independent claims are provided. Across the claims, the core inventive concept is to excite or cause non-steady-state emission over an emission time period of at least 10 nanoseconds, capture temporally related emission information using an image sensor that sequentially reads pixel rows or columns, and determine a change in an emissive species from differences between image portions or from first- and second-point time information.
Detectable non-steady-state emission over an emission time period
Exciting the species such that it produces a detectable non-steady-state emission during an emission time period of the emissive species, wherein the emission time period is at least 10 nanoseconds.
Sequential row or column reading on an image sensor
Obtaining, using an image sensor, data associated with the detectable non-steady-state emission, wherein the image sensor is configured to sequentially read a first row or first column of pixels and a second row or second column of pixels from an array of pixels of the image sensor.
Single image with time-associated portions
Creating a single image in which a first set of data used to create a first portion corresponds to a first portion of the emission time period and a second set of data used to create a second portion corresponds to a second portion of the emission time period.
Determining change based on differences between image portions
Determining, based upon a difference between the first portion and the second portion of the single image, the change in the emissive species.
First and second point in time identification from pixel rows or columns
Causing the species to emit non-steady-state electromagnetic radiation and obtaining, using an image sensor, a single image of at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation, wherein the image sensor is configured to sequentially read a first row or first column of pixels and a second row or second column of pixels, and identifying information corresponding to a first point in time and a second point in time.
Determining change from first and second time information
Determining, from at least the information from the first row or first column of pixels and the information from the second row or second column of pixels, the change in the emissive species.
The coverage is centered on exciting or causing non-steady-state emission, capturing temporally related emission information using an image sensor that sequentially reads pixel rows or columns, and determining a change in an emissive species from differences between image portions or from first- and second-point time information.
Stated Advantages
Improved sensitivity.
Reduction of jitter/noise.
Background/stray light rejection through time-gated detection using delayed emissions.
Assay authentication using fiducials, calibration, and combining or fusing multi-domain, time, spatial, and wavelength images.
Documented Applications
Biological diagnostic assays including lateral flow assay, vertical flow assay, and LAMP for nucleic acid detection.
Smartphone or consumer electronic device imaging for detecting delayed or non-steady-state emissions.
Thermally activated delayed emission for temperature or thermal-history monitoring.
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