US 12,422,311 B2
Multi-zone temperature control device and multi-zone temperature control method
Ming-Che Hsieh, Taoyuan (TW); and Yu-Kai Kao, Taoyuan (TW)
Assigned to DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC., Taoyuan (TW)
Filed by DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC., Taoyuan (TW)
Filed on Jul. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/871,739.
Claims priority of application No. 202210517681.3 (CN), filed on May 12, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0366753 A1, Nov. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. B01L 7/00 (2006.01); A61B 1/04 (2006.01); C12M 1/38 (2006.01); G01K 11/3213 (2021.01)
CPC G01K 11/3213 (2013.01) [A61B 1/043 (2013.01); B01L 7/52 (2013.01); C12M 1/38 (2013.01); B01L 2300/1805 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A multi-zone temperature control device, comprising:
a receiver device comprising a plurality of thermo-conductive reservoirs, each of the thermo-conductive reservoirs configured to contain a test tube accommodating an individual specimen, wherein one of the thermo-conductive reservoirs belongs to a first zone and another one of the thermo-conductive reservoirs belongs to a second zone, wherein each of the thermo-conductive reservoirs has an opening disposed thereon;
a plurality of temperature adjustment devices, configured to adjust temperatures of a plurality of adjustment blocks, and contact the thermo-conductive reservoir of the first zone through one of the adjustment blocks to adjust temperature of the thermo-conductive reservoir of the first zone and contact the thermo-conductive reservoir of the second zone through another one of the adjustment blocks to adjust temperature of the thermo-conductive reservoir of the second zone, wherein each of the adjustment blocks is controlled to insert into each corresponding one of the thermo-conductive reservoirs through the opening to simultaneously contact the thermo-conductive reservoir and the test tube disposed in the thermo-conductive reservoir;
a driving device, configured to change a contact status between the one of the adjustment blocks and the thermo-conductive reservoir of the first zone and the another one of the adjustment blocks and the thermo-conductive reservoir of the second zone; and
a control device, electrically connected with the driving device and the temperature adjustment devices, and configured to execute a first temperature control procedure to control one of the temperature adjustment devices to adjust temperature, and control the driving device to change the contact status between the one of the adjustment blocks and the thermo-conductive reservoir in the first zone to make the thermo-conductive reservoir in the first zone reach a plurality of target temperatures of the first temperature control procedure sequentially, and configured to execute a second temperature control procedure to control one of the temperature adjustment devices to adjust temperature, and control the driving device to change the contact status between the another one of the adjustment blocks and the thermo-conductive reservoir in the second zone to make the thermo-conductive reservoir in the second zone reach a plurality of target temperatures of the second temperature control procedure sequentially.