US 11,938,479 B2
Systems, methods, and apparatuses to image a sample for biological or chemical analysis
Erik Williamson, San Diego, CA (US); Bryan Crane, San Diego, CA (US); Patrick Leung, San Bruno, CA (US); Drew Verkade, Carlsbad, CA (US); and Mark T. Reed, Menlo Park, CA (US)
Assigned to ILLUMINA, INC., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed by ILLUMINA, INC., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed on May 8, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/144,485.
Application 16/255,546 is a division of application No. 14/550,956, filed on Nov. 22, 2014, granted, now 10,220,386.
Application 18/144,485 is a continuation of application No. 17/714,129, filed on Apr. 5, 2022, granted, now 11,697,116.
Application 17/714,129 is a continuation of application No. 16/255,546, filed on Jan. 23, 2019, granted, now 11,559,805, issued on Jan. 24, 2023.
Application 14/550,956 is a continuation of application No. 13/273,666, filed on Oct. 14, 2011, granted, now 8,951,781.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/438,530, filed on Feb. 1, 2011.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/438,567, filed on Feb. 1, 2011.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/438,486, filed on Feb. 1, 2011.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/431,439, filed on Jan. 11, 2011.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/431,440, filed on Jan. 11, 2011.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/431,425, filed on Jan. 10, 2011.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/431,429, filed on Jan. 10, 2011.
Prior Publication US 2023/0311119 A1, Oct. 5, 2023
Int. Cl. B01L 3/00 (2006.01); B01L 9/00 (2006.01); G01N 21/05 (2006.01); B01L 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC B01L 3/502715 (2013.01) [B01L 9/527 (2013.01); G01N 21/05 (2013.01); B01L 3/50273 (2013.01); B01L 7/52 (2013.01); B01L 2200/025 (2013.01); B01L 2200/027 (2013.01); B01L 2200/04 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0689 (2013.01); B01L 2300/022 (2013.01); B01L 2300/041 (2013.01); B01L 2300/043 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0816 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0877 (2013.01); G01N 2021/058 (2013.01); Y10T 436/25 (2015.01)] 28 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus, comprising;
a sample holder;
an imaging system comprising:
an imaging detector, and
an optical train comprising a plurality of optical components to direct light signals from the sample holder to the imaging detector, a mirror of the plurality of optical components being movable between a focusing position and an imaging position, the focusing position to determine a degree-of-focus for the imaging system and the imaging position to capture sample images using the imaging system, and
an image analysis module,
wherein the imaging detector is to capture a test image to determine the degree-of-focus for the imaging system when the optical component is in the focusing position and to capture sample images when the optical component is in the imaging position,
wherein the image analysis module is to 1) analyze the test image to determine a location of an optimal degree-of-focus using the test image based on one or more image quality parameters and 2) use the location to determine a z-direction distance of the sample plane relative to the image plane.