OPTICAL PROCESSING

摘要

We describe a quantitative PCR (qPCR) instrument for combined qPCR and melt curve (dissociation and/or association curve) analysis. The instrument has at least one optical channel; a fluorescence excitation source; a fluorescence detector; an electronic analogue signal amplifier having an input coupled to an output of the fluorescence detector; and an analogue-to-digital converter (ADC) having analogue input coupled to an output of the analogue signal amplifier. The instrument further comprises a quantified automatic gain control (AGC) loop coupled between the signal output of the fluorescence detector and the analogue input of the ADC. The AGC loop is configured to apply a determined, numerical gain value to a fluorescence signal for the analogue input of the ADC. The instrument also includes a system to scale a digital output of the ADC responsive to the numerical gain value and to provide a digital fluorescence level signal from the scaled digital output.

主权项

1. A quantitative PCR (qPCR) instrument for combined qPCR and dissociation and/or association curve analysis, the instrument having at least one optical channel, the instrument comprising:
a fluorescence excitation source; a fluorescence detector having a signal output; an electronic analogue signal amplifier having an input coupled to said fluorescence detector signal output; and an analogue-to-digital converter (ADC) having analogue input coupled to an output of said analogue signal amplifier; further comprising a quantified automatic gain control (AGC) loop coupled between said signal output of said fluorescence detector and said analogue input of ADC, wherein said AGC loop is configured to apply a determined, numerical gain value to a fluorescence signal for said analogue input of said ADC; and a system to scale a digital output of said ADC responsive to said numerical gain value and to provide a digital fluorescence level signal from said scaled digital output.