IP Library Granted Patent US 11,442,016
Granted Patent B2
US 11,442,016 · App. 16/076,212 · Granted Sep 13, 2022

Light-emitting detection device

Inventors: Takashi Anazawa (Tokyo, JP); Motohiro Yamazaki (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
G01N21/6452B01L3/502715C12Q1/6869G01N21/64G02B3/0056G02B27/141G01N2021/6421G01N2021/6471G01N2021/6478
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,442,016
App. No.
16/076,212
Granted
Sep 13, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention is directed to a light-emission detection apparatus for individually condensing light emitted from each emission point of a emission-point array using each condensing lens of a condensing-lens array to form a light beam and detecting each light beam incident on a sensor in parallel, and the light-emission detection apparatus can be downsized and high sensitivity and low crosstalk can be simultaneously accomplished when a certain relation between the diameter of each emission point, a focal length of each condensing lens, an interval of condensing lenses, and an optical path length between each condensing lens and a sensor is satisfied.

Claims (74)

1. A light-emission detection apparatus comprising:

a condensing-lens array in which M condensing lenses are arranged, for individually condensing lights emitted from a emission-point array in which M emission points are arranged, to form M light beams, where M≥2;

at least one sensor on which the M light beams are incident in parallel, wherein

when an average of effective diameters of the M emission points is d,

an average of focal lengths of the M condensing lenses is f,

an average of intervals of the M condensing lenses is p, and

an average of maximum optical path lengths between the M condensing lenses and the at least one sensor is g,

the d, f, p, and g satisfy relation f≥1/((2*p)/(1.27*d)+1)*g.

2. The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a pinhole array in which M pinholes are arranged while being aligned with the M condensing lenses, wherein

the M emission points are constituted by light emissions of parts of at least one emission region.

3. The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

relation f≥1/(p/d+1)*g is satisfied.

4. The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

relation f≤2*p is satisfied.

5. The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

relation f≤2p is satisfied.

6. The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a dichroic-mirror array in which N plural dichroic mirrors are arranged in number order in a first direction at an optically intermediate part between the condensing-lens array and the sensor, with N≥2, the number being 1, 2, . . . , and N, wherein

N normal vectors of fronts of the N dichroic mirrors are formed by a sum of a positive component in the first direction and a negative component in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,

the N normal vectors are substantially parallel to each other,

optical axes of the M condensing lenses are substantially parallel to the second direction, and

an arrangement direction of the M condensing lenses is substantially parallel to a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction.

7. The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein

the M light beams are incident on the dichroic-mirror array in parallel along the second direction,

(M×N) divided light beams, which are obtained by dividing each of the M light beams into N light beams different from each other in the first direction, are emitted from the dichroic-mirror array along the second direction, and

the (M×N) divided light beams are incident on the sensor in parallel and are collectively detected.

8. The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein

at least an optical path length adjusting element is provided on an optical path of a part of the (M×N) divided light beams.

9. The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein

when an average of effective diameters of the M condensing lenses is D,

an average of angles formed between the N normal vectors and a direction opposite to the second direction is θ 0 , where 0≤θ 0 ≤90°,

an average of refractive indices of base materials of the N dichroic mirrors is n 0 ,

an average of widths of base materials of the N dichroic mirrors is α,

an average of thicknesses of the base materials of the N dichroic mirrors is β,

an average of intervals of the N dichroic mirrors is x, and

an average of distances, by which an end in the second direction of the dichroic mirror of the number n is shifted, in a direction opposite to the second direction, from an end in the second direction of the dichroic mirror of the number n−1, is yz, where 2≤n≤N,

the d, f, D, p, g, θ 0 , N, n 0 , α, β, x, and yz satisfy a certain relation that is predetermined so as to be capable of detecting the M pieces of light emission using the dichroic mirrors.

10. The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein

using θ 1 =sin −1 (1/ n 0 *sin θ 0 ),

θ 2 =sin −1 (1/ n 0 *sin(90°−θ 0 )),

a W =cos θ 0 ,

b W =−cos θ 0 *tan θ 1 ,

a L =( N− 1)*cos θ 0 +sin θ 0 ,

b L =( N− 2)/cos θ 0 *(2*sin(90°−θ 0 −θ 2 )+1−sin(θ 0 +θ 2 ))+( N− 2)*sin θ 0 +2*cos θ 0 , and

d ′=( g−f )/ f*d,

the following relations are satisfied:

(sin θ 0 −b W /a W *cos θ 0 )*β+cos θ 0 /a W *D≤x , and

(sin θ 0 −b W /a W *cos θ 0 )*β+cos θ 0 /a W *d′≤x ≤(sin θ 0 −b L /a L *cos θ 0 )*β+cos θ 0 /a L *g.

11. The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein

using θ 2 =sin −1 (1/ n 0 *sin(90°−θ 0 )),

the following relation is satisfied:

0≤ yz≤ 2*sin(90°−θ 0 −θ 2 )/cos θ 2 *β.

12. The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein

using θ 2 =sin −1 (1/ n 0 *sin(90°−θ 0 )),

when n= 2,0≤ yz≤ 2*cos θ 0 *β, and

when 3≤ n≤N,

the following relation is satisfied:

0≤ yz≤ 2*sin(90°−θ 0 −θ 2 )/cos θ 2 *β.

13. The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein

the following relation is satisfied:

cos θ 0 *α≤x ≤cos θ 0 *α+2*sin θ 0 *β.

14. The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the M condensing lenses are two-dimensionally arranged in a plan parallel to a sensor surface of the sensor.

15. The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the sensor is a color sensor in which plural kinds of pixels for identifying lights with different wavelength bands are arranged.

16. The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a mechanism that moves at least a relative position of the condensing-lens array with respect to the M emission points.

17. The light-emission detection apparatus according claim 1 , further comprising:

a capillary array in which a plurality of capillaries is aligned on a plane, and

a device for support the capillary array,

wherein the emission-point array is generated from individual emission point from the capillary array and the condensing-lens array is integrated in the device.

18. The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 17 , further comprising:

a pinhole array arranged between the capillary array and the condensing-lens array in which M pinholes are arranged while being aligned with the M condensing lenses.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 14, 2020
From: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 052398/0249 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 7, 2018
From: ANAZAWA, TAKASHI; YAMAZAKI, MOTOHIRO
To: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 046575/0637 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210190689A1 · Jun 24, 2021