Methods of sperm cell sensing utilizing a semiconductor detector and cytometer apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12176452-B2
Application number	US-202318517465-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 22, 2023
Priority date	Sep 15, 2017
Publication date	Dec 24, 2024
Grant date	Dec 24, 2024

Abstract

A cytometer includes an avalanche photodiode, a switching power supply, a filter, and voltage adjustment circuitry. The switching power supply includes a feedback loop. The filter is electrically connected between the switching power supply and the avalanche photodiode. The voltage adjustment circuitry adjusts a voltage on the feedback loop based at least in part on a voltage measured between the filter and the avalanche photodiode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A low-noise cytometer comprising:
a semiconductor detector;
a power supply;
a two-stage feedback network;
an output filter network; and
a second filter;
wherein the two-stage feedback network and the output filter network provide a low-signal noise floor.

2. The low-noise cytometer of claim 1 , wherein the semiconductor detector is an avalanche photodiode.

3. The low-noise cytometer of claim 1 , wherein the two-stage feedback network comprises a first analog stage and a second digital stage.

4. The low-noise cytometer of claim 1 , wherein the output filter network comprises a first filter located at an output of the power supply.

5. The low-noise cytometer of claim 1 , wherein an output of the first filter is used to reverse bias the semiconductor detector.

6. The low-noise cytometer of claim 1 , wherein the second filter comprises an avalanche photodiode.

7. The low-noise cytometer of claim 1 , wherein one or more of a first filter and a second filter comprises a RC-type filter.

8. The low-noise cytometer of claim 1 , wherein the power supply comprises a resistive feedback circuit comprising a digital-to-analog converter connected through a circuitry that provides the ability to change an output voltage of a flyback converter.

9. The low-noise cytometer of claim 1 , wherein the two-stage feedback network comprises a first analog stage and a second digital stage.

10. The low-noise cytometer of claim 1 , wherein the power supply comprises:
input circuitry; and
output circuitry;

wherein a feedback loop communicates a voltage after the output circuitry to a feedback node arranged as an input to the input circuitry.

11. The low-noise cytometer of claim 1 , wherein the output filter network comprises a first filter located at the output of the switching power supply; wherein the first filter comprises a network of one or more capacitors and/or resistors.

Assignees

• Abs Global Inc

Inventors

• Savage Frederick
• Szejna Glenn J
• Xia Zheng

Classifications

• H10F77/60

  Arrangements for cooling, heating, ventilating or compensating for temperature fluctuations · CPC title

• C12N2529/10

  Stimulation by light · CPC title

• G01N2015/1006

  for cytology · CPC title

• G01N21/00

  Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light (G01N3/00 - G01N19/00 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01N15/1425

  using an analyser being characterised by its control arrangement · CPC title