| CPC G01N 15/1436 (2013.01) [G01N 15/1434 (2013.01); G01N 15/1459 (2013.01); G01N 21/645 (2013.01); G01N 2015/1006 (2013.01); G01N 2015/1486 (2013.01); G01N 2021/6421 (2013.01)] | 11 Claims |
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1. A flow cytometer analyzer comprising:
at least one excitation light source having at least one light output;
a flow path capable of carrying a bio-sample in a medium to a region in the flow path, wherein the bio-sample in the region is illuminated by the at least one light output and gives off luminescence;
a spectrum dispersive element configured to receive the luminescence, wherein at least a portion of the luminescence given off by the bio-sample is directed to the spectrum dispersive element;
a photo-detector array adjacent the spectrum dispersive element, the photo detector array having eight or more discrete semiconductor photo-detector devices arranged sequentially in a row, each of the discrete semiconductor photo-detector devices having a photo detection input and a photo detection output, wherein the spectrum dispersive element is arranged between the flow path and the photo-detector array to spatially disperse a spectrum of the portion of the luminescence over the eight or more photo detection inputs of the eight or more discrete semiconductor photo-detector devices in the photo-detector array;
eight or more analog to digital converters with eight or more analog inputs respectively coupled to the eight or more photo detection outputs of the eight or more discrete photo-detector devices, wherein the eight or more analog to digital converters respectively convert eight or more analog signals on the eight or more photo detection outputs into eight or more digital signals representing digital data on eight or more digital outputs;
a digital signal processor coupled to the eight or more analog to digital converters to receive the eight or more digital signals, the digital signal processor including
a digital storage space with a digital input and a digital output, and
an analysis space storing operands and results of calculations by the digital signal processor;
and
a digital trigger device coupled to the eight or more analog to digital converters and the digital signal processor, wherein the digital trigger device receives the eight or more digital signals representing digital data and based on the luminescence, generates a self trigger signal causing the digital storage space and the digital signal processor processing unit to respectively store and analyze the digital data from the eight or more analog to digital converters.
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