Multi-gain adaptive linear processing and gated digital system for use in flow cytometry
View Patent ↗Disclosed is an electronic processing system for a flow cytometer that uses a processing chip that processes data in a parallel architecture on a sample by sample basis and provides for high throughput of data. In addition, multi-gain linear amplifiers are used which are matched using feedback circuits to provide accurate data and high resolution data having high dynamic range.
1. A method of processing data from a plurality of data channels of a flow cytometer, comprising:
digitizing the data to produce a plurality of channels of digitized data; and
processing the plurality of channels of digitized data in parallel by a processor that performs:
delaying selected individual channels of digitized data of the plurality of channels of digitized data by a plurality of selected time delays to temporarily align the plurality of channels of digitized data;
generating channel triggers from the plurality of channels of digitized data by comparing the plurality of channels of digitized data with thresholds;
selecting a subset of the channel triggers to assist in generating event window signals;
using programmable logic by the processor to further assist in generating the event window signals;
generating digitized data output signals from the plurality of channels of digitized data; and
selecting the digitized data output signals using the event window signals.
2. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the programmable logic comprises a lookup table.
3. An electronic control system that simultaneously processes a plurality of input data signals to provide high data throughput, comprising:
a plurality of analog-to-digital converters configured to digitize the plurality of input data signals thereby producing a plurality of binary input data signals; and
a processor that simultaneously processes the binary input data signals, the processor comprising:
a plurality of delay circuits that temporally align the binary input data signals;
a plurality of comparator circuits that generate channel triggers by comparing the binary input data signals with predetermined thresholds;
detector circuits that generate binary output data signals from the binary input data signals; and
an event window generator that uses the channel triggers and programmable logic to generate event window signals that select a subset of the binary output data signals.
4. The electronic control system recited in claim 3 , wherein the programmable logic comprises a lookup table.
5. The electronic control system recited in claim 3 , wherein a flow cytometer comprises the electronic control system.