US 12,306,083 B2
Device and method for determining a position and/or an extension of a drop
Gerald Zerza, Salzburg (AT); Josef Grassl, Schonau am Konigsee (DE); and Alwin Schuller, Neumarkt am Wallersee (AT)
Assigned to TECAN TRADING AG, Mannedorf (CH)
Filed by TECAN TRADING AG, Mannedorf (CH)
Filed on Dec. 14, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/120,882.
Claims priority of application No. 19216570 (EP), filed on Dec. 16, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0181223 A1, Jun. 17, 2021
Int. Cl. B01L 3/02 (2006.01); G01N 13/02 (2006.01); G01N 15/14 (2024.01); G01N 21/64 (2006.01); G01N 35/10 (2006.01); G02B 27/14 (2006.01); H04N 7/18 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 13/02 (2013.01) [B01L 3/021 (2013.01); B01L 3/0293 (2013.01); G01N 21/6486 (2013.01); G01N 35/1011 (2013.01); G01N 35/1016 (2013.01); H04N 7/18 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0605 (2013.01); B01L 2200/061 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0626 (2013.01); G01N 2015/1481 (2013.01); G01N 2035/1013 (2013.01); G02B 27/14 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. Device (10) for determining a position and/or an extension of a drop (5) in a position determination space (3), wherein the device comprises a camera (14) having an objective (15), a beam splitter (13) in a recording area (4) of the camera, a first reflector element (11), a second reflector element (12), a first lighting element (16) providing light along a first light path, and a second lighting element (17) providing light along a second light path,
wherein the recording area (4) of the camera comprises a spatial area in front of the objective that can be imaged onto an image sensor of the camera,
wherein the beam splitter (13), the first reflector element (11), and the second reflector element (12) are positioned so that light coming from the position determination space (3) enters the objective of the camera both along the first light path (1) and along the second light path (2),
wherein the second reflector element (12) is positioned with respect to the beam splitter (13) so that light along the second light path (2) is reflected at the second reflector element (12) in a direction of the beam splitter (13) and is reflected at the beam splitter towards the objective (15),
wherein the first reflector element (11) is positioned with respect to the beam splitter (13) so that light along the first path (1) is reflected at the first reflector element (11) in the direction of the beam splitter (13) and is transmitted through the beam splitter (13) to the objective (15),
wherein the first lighting element (16) and the second lighting element (17) are positioned so that the first light path (1) and the second light path (2) intersect at an intersection point (6) in the position determination space (3),
wherein sections of the first light path (1) and second light path (2) between the intersection point (6) in the position determination space and the first reflector element (11) and the second reflector element (12) define a first plane (E1),
wherein sections of the first light path (1) and the second light path (2) between the beam splitter and the first reflector element (11) and the second reflector element (12) define a second plane (E2), and
wherein the first reflector element (11) and the second reflector element (12) are positioned so that the second plane is arranged in a tilted manner relative to the first plane.