Agilent Technologies, Inc.

George Tsai

Andreas N Dorsel

Kenneth Lawrence Staton

Glenda Choate Delenstarr

Russell Alan Parker

Allen C Thompson

Alan Graham

Reinhold Garbe

Enrique Chang

Cassandra Dey

The optical multiplexer system comprises an optical multiplexer, an output path and an adjustable beam steering element. The optical multiplexer comprises an input port characterized by an original acceptance range. The output path is disposed relative to the optical multiplexer such that a light beam incident on the input port within the original acceptance range enters the output path. The adjustable beam steering element is located adjacent the input port and is adjustable such that a light beam incident on the beam steering element within an enhanced acceptance range enters the output path as an output beam. The enhanced acceptance range is at least angularly greater than the original acceptance range.

Optical multiplexer system

A coupling device includes a fiber collimator, a wedge window pair and a plane window for coupling a light beam provided by a beam source to optical fiber. The fiber collimator is mounted to a base plate and includes a collimator lens, an end of the optical fiber being positioned at a focal point of the collimator lens. The wedge window pair is mounted to the base plate, and is configured to adjust the light beam to be parallel to an optical axis of the fiber collimator. The plane window is mounted to the base plate between the wedge window pair and the fiber collimator. The plane window is configured to align the parallel direction of the light beam with the optical axis of the fiber collimator.

Optical fiber coupler

Devices and methods for performing an array assay are provided. Embodiments of the subject array assay devices include (1) a base, (2) a cover, and (3) a clamping member for holding the cover to the base, wherein when the cover is operatively held to the base about a structure that includes an array assembly spaced-apart from a backing element, the array assembly and the backing element are deflected to substantially the same curvature. Embodiments of the subject methods include contacting a sample with a backing element and placing the backing element supported sample in contact with an array assembly to form a structure that includes the backing element and array assembly. The structure is then held together using a subject array assay device and the array substrate and the backing element are deflected to substantially the same curvature.

Devices and methods for performing array based assays

A method, apparatus, and computer program product for reading fluorescence signals from an array of chemical moieties (such as different sequence peptides or polynucleotides, for example different DNA sequences). In the method the spatial sequence of scanned locations need not be the same as the temporal sequence. For example, a later illuminated line may be spatially closer to an earlier illuminated line than is a temporally intervening illuminated line.

Reading multi-featured arrays

Devices and methods for performing an array assay are provided. The subject array assay devices include a degassing zone that includes a gas permeable membrane. Embodiments include degassing microarray-backing elements that are used with an array assembly to provide an enclosed assay array chamber about at least one array of the array assembly. The degassing backing elements include: (1) a substrate having a surface comprising at least one gasket, and (2) a gas permeable membrane. Embodiments also include array assemblies that include a degassing zone, for example positioned on an array substrate. Embodiments of the subject methods include contacting an array with a sample under conditions sufficient to perform an array assay, wherein the contacting step further includes degassing the sample. Also provided are systems and kits for use in practicing the subject methods.

A laser generates a collimated laser beam which passes through a lens off-axis. The beam is focused at a focal plane on a substrate surface. A first position sensitive detector receives the laser beam reflected from the substrate surface through the lens to generate a first signal proportional to lateral beam offset. A beam splitter may be provided to direct a portion of the laser beam before passing through the lens toward a second position sensitive detector to generate a second signal proportional to laser beam pointing instability. Apparatus computes the difference between the first and second signals, the difference being a defocused error signal. It is preferred that the first position sensitive detector be located at a distance from the lens that is at least twice the lens focal length.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

George Tsai