Claims
- 1. In a centrifuge having a chamber with mounting means within the chamber for receiving any one of a plurality of rotor elements, the improvement which comprises:
- a transmitter and a receiver, the transmitter being operative to emit a pulse of interrogating energy impingeable on a surface of a rotor disposed on the mounting means, the receiver being cooperatively associated with the transmitter and responsive to the pulse of interrogating energy to generate a signature signal representative of the distance traveled by the pulse of interrogating energy.
- 2. The centrifuge of claim 1 wherein the improvement further comprises:
- means responsive to the signature signal for generating an indicator signal having information therein representative of the identify of the particular rotor present in the centrifuge.
- 3. The centrifuge of claim 2 wherein the transmitter is adapted to generate sonic energy.
- 4. The centrifuge of claim 3 wherein the means responsive to the signature signal itself comprises:
- a library having stored therein a predetermined plurality of signature signals each representative of a particular centrifuge rotor; and
- a comparator for comparing the signature signal with the stored signature signals and for generating the indicator signal.
- 5. The centrifuge of claim 2 wherein the transmitter is adapted to generate electromagnetic energy.
- 6. The centrifuge of claim 5 wherein the means responsive to the signature signal itself comprises:
- a library having stored therein a predetermined plurality of signature signals each representative of a particular centrifuge rotor; and
- a comparator for comparing the signature signal with the stored signature signals and for generating the indicator signal.
- 7. The centrifuge of claim 2 wherein the means responsive to the signature signal itself comprises:
- a library having stored therein a predetermined plurality of signature signals each representative of a particular centrifuge rotor; and
- a comparator for comparing the signature signal with the stored signature signals and for generating the indicator signal.
- 8. The centrifuge of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is adapted to generate sonic energy.
- 9. The centrifuge of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is adapted to generate electromagnetic energy.
- 10. The centrifuge of claim 1 wherein the transmitter and receiver are adapted to generate a second signature signal representative of the distance between the receiver and a second point on the surface of the rotor, the first and second signature signals cooperating to define a signature signal pattern.
- 11. The centrifuge of claim 10 wherein the improvement further comprises: means responsive to the signature signal pattern
- for generating an indicator signal having information therein representative of the identity of the particular rotor present in the centrifuge.
- 12. The centrifuge of claim 11 wherein the transmitter is adapted to generate sonic energy.
- 13. The centrifuge of claim 12 wherein the means responsive to the signature signal itself comprises
- a library having stored therein a predetermined pluralitY of signature signals patterns each representative of a particular centrifuge rotor; and
- a comparator for comparing the signature signal with the stored signature signal patterns and for generating the indicator signal.
- 14. The centrifuge of claim 11 wherein the transmitter is adapted to generate electromagnetic energy.
- 15. The centrifuge of claim 14 wherein the means responsive to the signature signal itself comprises:
- a library having stored therein a predetermined plurality of signature signals patterns each representative of a particular centrifuge rotor; and
- a comparator for comparing the signature signal with the stored signature signal patterns and for generating the indicator signal.
- 16. The centrifuge of claim 11 wherein the means responsive to the signature signal itself comprises:
- a library having stored therein a predetermined plurality of signature signals patterns each representative of a particular centrifuge rotor; and
- a comparator for comparing the signature signal with the stored signature signal patterns and for generating the indicator signal.
- 17. The centrifuge of claim 1 wherein the improvement further comprises:
- a second receiver cooperating with the transmitter for generating a second signature signal representative of the distance between the second receiver and at least a second point on the surface of the rotor, the first and second signature signals cooperating to form a signature pattern.
- 18. The centrifuge of claim 17 wherein the improvement further comprises:
- means responsive to the signature signal pattern for generating an indicator signal having information therein representative of the identity of the particular rotor present in the centrifuge.
- 19. The centrifuge of claim 18 wherein the transmitter is adapted to generate sonic energy.
- 20. The centrifuge of claim 19 wherein the means responsive to the signature signal itself comprises:
- a library having stored therein a predetermined plurality of signature signal patterns each representative of a particular centrifuge rotor; and
- a comparator for comparing the signature signal pattern with the stored signature signal patterns and for generating the indicator signal.
- 21. The centrifuge of claim 18 wherein the transmitter is adapted to generate electromagnetic energy.
- 22. The centrifuge of claim 21 wherein the means responsive to the signature signal itself comprises:
- a librarY having stored therein a predetermined plurality of signature signal patterns each representative of a particular centrifuge rotor; and
- a comparator for comparing the signature signal pattern with the stored signature signal patterns and for generating the indicator signal.
- 23. The centrifuge of claim 18 wherein the means responsive to the signature signal itself comprises:
- a library having stored therein a predetermined pluralitY of signature signal patterns each representative of a particular centrifuge rotor: and
- a comparator for comparing the signature signal pattern with the stored signature signal patterns and for generating the indicator signal.
- 24. The centrifuge of claim 1 wherein the improvement further comprises:
- a second transmitter and a second receiver cooperating to generate a second signature signal representative of the distance between the second receiver and at least a second point on the surface of the rotor, the first and second signature signals cooperating to form a signature pattern.
- 25. The centrifuge of claim 24 wherein the improvement further comprises:
- means responsive to the signature signal pattern for generating an indicator signal having information therein representative of the identity of the particular rotor present in the centrifuge.
- 26. The centrifuge of claim 25 wherein the transmitter is adapted to generate sonic energy.
- 27. The centrifuge of claim 26 wherein the means responsive to the signature signal itself comprises:
- a library having stored therein a predetermined plurality of signature signal patterns each representative of a particular centrifuge rotor; and
- a comparator for comparing the signature signal pattern with the stored signature signal patterns and for generating the indicator signal.
- 28. The centrifuge of claim 25 wherein the transmitter is adapted to generate electromagnetic energy.
- 29. The centrifuge of claim 28 wherein the means responsive to the signature signal itself comprises:
- a library having stored therein a predetermined plurality of signature signal patterns each representative of a particular centrifuge rotor; and
- a comparator for comparing the signature signal pattern with the stored signature signal patterns and for generating the indicator signal.
- 30. The centrifuge of claim 25 wherein the means responsible to the signature signal itself comprises:
- a library having stored therein a predetermined plurality of signature signal patterns each representative of a particular centrifuge rotor; and
- a comparator for comparing the signature signal pattern with the stored signature signal patterns and for generating the indicator signal.
- 31. The centrifuge of claim 1 wherein the improvement further comprises:
- means for conveying the transmitter and the receiver along a predetermined path across the surface of the rotor for generating a signature signal from each of a plurality of points on the surface of the rotor, the plural signature signals collectively defining a signature signal pattern.
- 32. The centrifuge of claim 31 wherein the improvement further comprises:
- means responsive to the signature signal pattern for generating an indicator signal having information therein representative of the identitY of the particular rotor present in the centrifuge.
- 33. The centrifuge of claim 32 wherein the transmitter is adapted to generate sonic energy.
- 34. The centrifuge of claim 33 wherein the means responsive to the signature signal itself comprises:
- a library having stored therein a predetermined plurality of signature signal pattern each representative of a particular centrifuge rotor, and
- a comparator for comparing the signature signal pattern with the stored signature signal patterns and for generating the indicator signal.
- 35. The centrifuge of claim 32 wherein the transmitter is adapted to generate electromagnetic energy.
- 36. The centrifuge of claim 35 wherein the means responsive to the signature signal itself comprises:
- a library having stored therein a predetermined pluralitY of signature signal patterns each representative of a particular centrifuge rotor; and
- a comparator for comparing the signature signal pattern with the stored signature signal patterns and for generating the indicator signal.
- 37. The centrifuge of claim 32 wherein the means responsive to the signature signal itself comprises:
- a library having stored therein a predetermined plurality of signature signal patterns each representative of a particular centrifuge rotor; and
- a comparator for comparing the signature signal pattern with the stored signature signal patterns and for generating the indicator signal.
- 38. The centrifuge of claim 1 wherein the pulse of interrogation energy is directed toward at least one point on the surface of a rotor element on the mounting means and the reflection therefrom is detectable by the receiver such that the signature signal contains information as to the distance between the surface of the rotor and the receiver.
- 39. The centrifuge of claim 38 further comprising a comparator operative to compare the signature signal with a signal representative of a predetermined reference distance.
- 40. The centrifuge of claim 39 wherein the reference distance represents the total distance from the transmitter to a predetermined reference plane and from the predetermined reference plane to the receiver.
- 41. The centrifuge of claim 39 wherein the reference distance represents the total distance from the transmitter to a predetermined target surface in the chamber and from the predetermined target surface to the receiver.
- 42. The centrifuge of claim 1 wherein the pulse of interrogating energy is directed toward at least one point on the surface of a rotor element mounted on the mounting means and the reflection therefrom is not detectable by the receiver within a predetermined period of time following the emission thereof from the transmitter such that the signature signal contains information that the distance traveled by the pulse of interrogating energy is greater than a predetermined reference distance.
- 43. The centrifuge of claim 42 wherein the reference distance represents the total distance from the transmitter to a predetermined target surface in the chamber and from the predetermined target surface to the receiver.
- 44. The centrifuge of claim 42 further comprising a comparator operative to compare the signature signal representative of a second predetermined reference distance.
- 45. The centrifuge of claim 1 wherein the chamber has a predetermined target surface thereon, and wherein a predetermined known total reference distance is defined by the sum of the distance from the transmitter to the target surface and from the target surface to the receiver,
- and wherein the transmitter emits a first pulse of energy toward the target surface such that the reflection therefrom is detectable by the receiver to generate a first signature signal.
- wherein the improvement further comprises:
- means for relating the first signature signal to a signal representative of the predetermined known total reference distance for generating a compensation factor that takes into account deviations in the first signature signal caused by the ambient environment in the chamber.
- 46. The centrifuge of claim 45 wherein the transmitter emits a second pulse of energy toward a point on the surface of a rotor element received on the mounting means such that the reflection therefrom is detectable by the receiver to generate a second signature signal. wherein the improvement further comprises means for scaling the second signature signal by the compensation factor thereby to generate a compensated second modified signature signal.
- 47. The centrifuge of claim 45 wherein the transmitter emits a second and a third pulse of energy toward respective points on the surface of a rotor element received on the mounting means such that the reflection of the second and third pulses therefrom are detectable by the receiver to generate a second and a third signature signal, the second and third signature signals cooperate to define a signature signal pattern
- wherein the improvement further comprises:
- means for scaling each of the second and third signature signals by the compensation factor thereby to generate second and third compensated signature signals which cooperate to define a compensated signature signal pattern.
- 48. The centrifuge of claim 1 wherein the pulse of interrogating energy is directed toward the mounting means and the reflection therefrom is detectable by the receiver such that the signature signal contains information relative to the presence of a rotor element on the mounting means.
- 49. The centrifuge of claim 1 wherein the pulse of interrogating energy is directed toward the rotor element, the improvement further comprising
- means responsive to the signature signal for comparing the signature signal to a signal representative of a reference distance, the results of the comparison being indicative of the presence of a rotor element on the mounting means.
- 50. The centrifuge of claim 1 wherein the rotor element includes a lid and wherein the pulse of interrogating energy is directed toward the rotor element, the improvement further comprising
- means responsive to the signature signal for comparing the signature signal to a signal representative of a reference distance, the results of the comparison being indicative of the presence of the lid on the rotor element.
- 51. The centrifuge of claim 1 wherein the transmitter and the receiver are configured from a single device which alternately functions as the transmitter and as the receiver.
- 52. In a centrifuge adapted to receive any one of a plurality of rotor elements each of which has a surface thereon, the improvement which comprises:
- a transmitter and a receiver, the transmitter being operative to emit a pulse of interrogating energy directed toward at least one point on the surface of a rotor received within the centrifuge, the receiver being responsive to the pulse of interrogating energy reflected from the surface of the rotor, the transmitter and the receiver cooperating to generate a signature signal representative of the distance between the receiver and the one point on the surface of the rotor.
- 53. The centrifuge of claim 52 wherein the improvement further comprises:
- means responsive to the signature signal for generating an indicator signal having information therein representative of the identity of the particular rotor present in the centrifuge.
- 54. The centrifuge of claim 53 wherein the transmitter is adapted to generate sonic energy.
- 55. The centrifuge of claim 54 wherein the means responsive to the signature signal itself comprises:
- a library having stored therein a predetermined plurality of signature signals each representative of a particular centrifuge rotor; and
- a comparator for comparing the signature signal with the stored signature signals and for generating the indicator signal.
- 56. The centrifuge of claim 53 wherein the transmitter is adapted to generate electromagnetic energy.
- 57. The centrifuge of claim 53 wherein the means responsive to the signature signal itself comprises:
- a library having stored therein a predetermined plurality of signature signals each representative of a particular centrifuge rotor; and
- a comparator for comparing the signature signal with the stored signature signals and for generating the indicator signal.
- 58. The centrifuge of claim 57 wherein the means responsive to the signature signal itself comprises:
- a library having stored therein a predetermined plurality of signature signals each representative of a particular centrifuge rotor; and
- a comparator for comparing the signature signal with the stored signature signals and for generating the indicator signal.
- 59. The centrifuge of claim 52 wherein the transmitter is adapted to generate sonic energy.
- 60. The centrifuge of claim 52 wherein the transmitter is adapted to generate electromagnetic energy.
- 61. The centrifuge of claim 52 wherein the transmitter and receiver are adapted to generate a second signature signal representative of the distance between the receiver and a second point on the surface of the rotor, the first and second signature signals cooperating to define a signature signal pattern.
- 62. The centrifuge of claim 61 wherein the improvement further comprises:
- means responsive to the signature signal pattern for generating an indicator signal having information therein representative of the identity of the particular rotor present in the centrifuge.
- 63. The centrifuge of claim 62 wherein the transmitter is adapted to generate sonic energy.
- 64. The centrifuge of claim 63 wherein the means responsive to the signature signal itself comprises:
- a library having stored therein a predetermined plurality of signature signals patterns each representative of a particular centrifuge rotor; and
- a comparator for comparing the signature signal with the stored signature signal patterns and for generating the indicator signal.
- 65. The centrifuge of claim 62 wherein the transmitter is adapted to generate electromagnetic energy.
- 66. The centrifuge of claim 65 wherein the means responsive to the signature signal itself comprises:
- a library having stored therein a predetermined plurality of signature signals patterns each representative of a particular centrifuge rotor; and
- a comparator for comparing the signature signal with the stored signature signal patterns and for generating the indicator signal.
- 67. The centrifuge of claim 62 wherein the means responsive to the signature signal itself comprises:
- a library having stored therein a predetermined plurality of signature signals patterns each representative of a particular centrifuge rotor; and
- a comparator for comparing the signature signal with the stored signature signal patterns and for generating the indicator signal.
- 68. The centrifuge of claim 52 wherein the improvement further comprises:
- a second receiver cooperating with the transmitter for generating a second signature signal representative of the distance between the second receiver and at least a second point on the surface of the rotor, the first and second signature signals cooperating to form a signature pattern.
- 69. The centrifuge of claim 68 wherein the improvement further comprises:
- means responsive to the signature signal pattern for generating an indicator signal having information therein representative of the identity of the particular rotor present in the centrifuge.
- 70. The centrifuge of claim 69 wherein the transmitter is adapted to generate sonic energy.
- 71. The centrifuge of claim 70 wherein the means responsive to the signature signal itself comprises:
- a library having stored therein a predetermined plurality of signature signal patterns each representative of a particular centrifuge rotor; and
- a comparator for comparing the signature signal pattern with the stored signature signal patterns and for generating the indicator signal.
- 72. The centrifuge of claim 69 wherein the transmitter is adapted to generate electromagnetic energy.
- 73. The centrifuge of claim 72 wherein the means responsive to the signature signal itself comprises:
- a library having stored therein a predetermined plurality of signature signal patterns each representative of a particular centrifuge rotor; and
- a comparator for comparing the signature signal pattern with the stored signature signal patterns and for generating the indicator signal.
- 74. The centrifuge of claim 69 wherein the means responsive to the signature signal itself comprises:
- a library having stored therein a predetermined plurality of signature signal patterns each representative of a particular centrifuge rotor; and
- a comparator for comparing the signature signal pattern with the stored signature signal patterns and for generating the indicator signal.
- 75. The centrifuge of claim 52 wherein the improvement further comprises:
- a second transmitter and a second receiver cooperating to generate a second signature signal representative of the distance between the second receiver and at least a second point on the surface of the rotor, the first and second signature signals cooperating to form a signature pattern.
- 76. The centrifuge of claim 75 wherein the improvement further comprises:
- means responsive to the signature signal pattern for generating an indicator signal having information therein representative of the identify of the particular rotor present in the centrifuge.
- 77. The centrifuge of claim 76 wherein the transmitter is adapted to generate sonic energy.
- 78. The centrifuge of claim 77 wherein the means responsive to the signature signal itself comprises:
- a library having stored therein a predetermined plurality of signature signal patterns each representative of a particular centrifuge rotor; and
- a comparator for comparing the signature signal pattern with the stored signature signal patterns and for generating the indicator signal.
- 79. The centrifuge of claim 76 wherein the transmitter is adapted to generate electromagnetic energy.
- 80. The centrifuge of claim 79 wherein the means responsive to the signature signal itself comprises:
- a librarY having stored therein a predetermined plurality of signature signal patterns each representative of a particular centrifuge rotor; and
- a comparator for comparing the signature signal pattern with the stored signature signal patterns and for generating the indicator signal.
- 81. The centrifuge of claim 76 wherein the means responsible to the signature signal itself comprises:
- a library having stored therein a predetermined plurality of signature signal patterns such representative of a particular centrifuge rotor; and
- a comparator for comparing the signature signal pattern with the stored signature signal patterns and for generating the indicator signal.
- 82. The centrifuge of claim 52 wherein the improvement further comprises:
- means for conveying the transmitter and the receiver along a predetermined path across the surface of the rotor for generating a signature signal from each of a plurality of points on the surface of the rotor, the plural signature signals collectively defining a signature signal pattern.
- 83. The centrifuge of claim 82 wherein the improvement further comprises:
- means responsive to the signature signal pattern for generating an indicator signal having information therein representative of the identity of the particular rotor present in the centrifuge.
- 84. The centrifuge of claim 83 wherein the transmitter is adapted to generate sonic energy.
- 85. The centrifuge of claim 84 wherein the means responsive to the signature signal itself comprises:
- a library having stored therein a predetermined plurality of signature signal patterns each representative of a particular centrifuge rotor; and
- a comparator for comparing the signature signal pattern with the stored signature signal patterns and for generating the indicator signal.
- 86. The centrifuge of claim 83 wherein the transmitter is adapted to generate electromagnetic energy.
- 87. The centrifuge of claim 86 wherein the means responsive to the signature signal itself comprises:
- a library having stored therein a predetermined plurality of signature signal patterns each representative of a particular centrifuge rotor; and
- a comparator for comparing the signature signal pattern with the stored signature signal patterns and for generating the indicator signal.
- 88. The centrifuge of claim 83 wherein the means responsive to the signature signal itself comprises:
- a library having stored therein a predetermined plurality of signature signal patterns each representative of a particular centrifuge rotor; and
- a comparator for comparing the signature signal pattern with the stored signature signal patterns and for generating the indicator signal.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is the national phase of International Application PCT/US87/03221 filed Dec. 9, 1987 and is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 06/940,143, filed Dec. 10, 1986, now abandoned.
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
102e Date |
371c Date |
PCT/US87/03221 |
12/9/1987 |
|
|
5/18/1989 |
5/18/1989 |
Publishing Document |
Publishing Date |
Country |
Kind |
WO88/04201 |
6/16/1988 |
|
|
US Referenced Citations (7)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
766651 |
Oct 1978 |
SUX |
1156740 |
May 1985 |
SUX |
2103407 |
Jan 1985 |
GBX |