Optical system for multiple reactions

Abstract

Optical systems, and corresponding methods, for multiple reactions are provided. The optical systems are in a fixed position relative to a thermal assembly and include at least one array of excitation sources (e.g., light emitting diodes (LEDs)) configured to output excitation energy along an excitation optical path. In addition, a detector configured to receive emission energy along a detection optical path in the same plane as the excitation optical path is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a thermal assembly configured to hold a sample plate;   an optical assembly in a fixed position relative to the thermal assembly, the optical assembly comprising:
 at least one array of excitation sources configured to emit excitation energy along an excitation optical path; and 
 a detector configured to receive emission energy along a detection optical path, wherein the excitation optical path and detection optical path are in the same plane. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises one or more of a multifunction mirror; an excitation source assembly comprising an array of excitation sources; an emission filter slide; a detection lens assembly; a set of excitation optics; or a control assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the system comprises a multifunction mirror, two excitation source assemblies, two sets of excitation optics and a detector. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein, in the excitation optical path, an excitation source assembly and a set of excitation optics is positioned on one side of the multifunction mirror and another excitation source assembly and another set of excitation optics is positioned on the other side of the multifunction mirror. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the excitation source assembly is positioned in the excitation optical path and wherein the excitation source assembly comprises individual light emitting diodes (LEDs) corresponding to individual wells on the sample plate. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the excitation source assembly further comprises an LED array comprising the LEDs. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the excitation source assembly further comprises a lenslet array comprising individual lenslets corresponding to individual LEDs in the LED array. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the multifunction mirror is positioned in the excitation optical path to direct excitation energy from individual LEDs to the corresponding wells of the sample plate and is further positioned in the detection optical path to direct emission energy from the sample plate to a detector. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the detector is positioned in the detection optical path and is capable of detecting emission energy from the sample plate. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the emission energy is fluorescent emission and the fluorescent emission is directed to the detector from the multifunction mirror. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the system further comprises an emission filter slide comprising at least one emission filter. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the emission filter slide is positioned in the detection optical path between the multifunction mirror and the detector. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the emission filter slide comprises four emission filters, each emission filter filtering a different wavelength. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the system further comprises an emission filter motor for moving the emission filter slide. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the set of excitation optics comprises an excitation filter and two lenses. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a movable lid that is positioned to move around the optical assembly and wherein the movable lid comprises a heated lid configured to mate with the sample plate. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal assembly comprises a thermal block comprising the sample plate. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein a liquid composition occurs within the thermal block and external to the sample plate. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising
 (a) at least one excitation source assembly positioned in the excitation optical path, wherein the excitation source assembly comprises individual light emitting diodes (LEDs) corresponding to individual wells on the sample plate;   (b) a multifunction mirror positioned in the excitation optical path to direct excitation energy from individual LEDs to the corresponding wells of the sample plate and wherein the multifunction mirror is further positioned in the detection optical path to direct fluorescence emission from the sample plate to the detector; and   (c) an emission filter slide positioned in the detection optical path between the multifunction mirror and the detector, wherein the emission filter slide comprises at least one emission filter.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the excitation optical path comprises two excitation source assemblies and two sets of excitation optics. 
     
     
         21 . The system of any one of  claim 20 , wherein each set of excitation optics comprises an excitation filter and two lenses. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein each excitation source assembly comprises an LED backplate to which an LED array comprising the LEDs is mounted, a lenslet array comprising individual lenslets corresponding to individual LEDs in the LED array, wherein the lenslet array is positioned to transmit the excitation energy from the LEDs on the LED array to the multifunction mirror and an excitation source cooling portal positioned to cool the LED backplate. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the emission filter slide comprises four emission filters, each emission filter filtering a different wavelength. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the system further comprising an emission filter motor for moving the emission filter slide. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising at least one detection lens assembly positioned between the emission filter slide and the detector. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the system further comprises a movable lid that is positioned to move around the optical assembly and wherein the movable lid comprises a heated lid configured to mate with the sample plate. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the thermal assembly comprises a thermal block comprising the sample plate. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein a liquid composition occurs within the thermal block and external to the sample plate.