Light energy fluorescence excitation

Abstract

There is set forth herein a light energy exciter that can include one or more light sources. A light energy exciter can emit excitation light directed toward a detector surface that can support biological or chemical samples.

1 . A method comprising:
 emitting with a light energy exciter excitation light, wherein the light energy exciter comprises a first light source and a second light source, the first light source to emit excitation light rays in a first wavelength emission band, the second light source to emit excitation light rays in a second wavelength emission band;   receiving with a detector the excitation light and emissions signal light resulting from excitation by the excitation light, the detector comprising a detector surface for supporting biological or chemical samples and a sensor array spaced apart from the detector surface, the detector blocking the excitation light and permitting the emissions signal light to propagate toward light sensors of the sensor array; and   transmitting with circuitry of the detector data signals in dependence on photons sensed by the light sensors of the sensor array.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the emitting with a light energy exciter includes imaging a light pipe light exit surface of the light energy exciter to project an illumination pattern that matches a size and shape of the detector surface. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method includes fabricating the detector using complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuit fabrication technology. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises for each of a plurality of cycles in support of a DNA sequencing process (a) removing fluid from a flow cell defined by the detector surface, (b) filling the flow cell with first and second dyes so that first and second dyes are simultaneously contained within the flow cell, and (c) reading out first signals from the light sensors exposed to emissions signal light with the first light source energized and the second light source maintained in a deenergized state, (d) reading out second signals from the light sensors exposed to emissions signal light with the second light source energized and the first light source maintained in a deenergized state, and (e) identifying a DNA nucleotide using signals of the first signals and signals of the second signals. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the light energy exciter comprises a third light source to emit light in a third wavelength emission band, wherein the emitting includes selectively energizing the first light source during a first exposure period of the light sensors with the second light source and the third light source maintained in a deenergized state, wherein the emitting comprises selectively energizing the second light source during a second exposure period of the light sensors with the first light source and the third light source maintained in a deenergized state, wherein the emitting comprises selectively energizing the third light source during a third exposure period of the light sensors with the first light source and the second light source maintained in a deenergized state. 
     
     
         6 . A light energy exciter comprising:
 at least one light source to emit excitation light rays; and   a light pipe homogenizing the excitation light and directing the excitation light toward a distal end of the light energy exciter, the light pipe comprising a light entrance surface and a light exit surface, the light pipe receiving the excitation light rays from the at least one light source;   wherein the distal end of the light energy exciter is adapted for coupling with a detector assembly that comprises a detector surface for supporting biological or chemical samples.   
     
     
         7 . The light energy exciter of  claim 6 , wherein the distal end of the light energy exciter comprises a shaped housing portion adapted for fitting into a correspondingly shaped housing portion of the detector assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The light energy exciter of  claim 6 , wherein the light energy exciter comprises a lens that images an object plane defined by the light exit surface onto an image plane defined by a detector surface of the detector assembly when the distal end of the light energy exciter is coupled to the detector assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The light energy exciter of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one light source comprises a light emitting diode that is surface coupled to the light entrance surface of the light pipe. 
     
     
         10 . The light energy exciter of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one light source comprises first and second light sources, wherein the light receives excitation light rays from the light source, and wherein the light energy exciter comprises a second light pipe housed in a common housing with the light pipe, wherein the second light pipe receives excitation light rays from the second light source, wherein the light pipe and the second light pipe propagate the excitation light rays emitted from the first light source and the second light source, respectively, and wherein the light energy exciter shapes the excitation light rays propagating, respectively, through the light pipe and the second light pipe to define first and second separate illumination patterns. 
     
     
         11 . The light energy exciter of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one light source comprises a first light emitting diode that is surface coupled to the light entrance surface of the light pipe, and a second light emitting diode that is surface coupled to the light entrance surface of the light pipe, the first light emitting diode to emit light in a first wavelength band, the second light emitting diode to emit light in a second wavelength band. 
     
     
         12 . The light energy exciter of  claim 6 , wherein the light pipe is of tapered construction and comprises an increasing diameter, in a direction from the light entry surface of the light pipe to the light exit surface of the light pipe, throughout a length of the light pipe, the light pipe reflecting the excitation light so that light pipe exit light rays exiting the light exit surface of the light pipe define a diverging cone of light that diverges with respect to an optical axis of the light energy exciter. 
     
     
         13 . The light energy exciter of  claim 6 , wherein the light pipe is of tapered construction and comprises an increasing diameter, in a direction from the light entry surface of the light pipe to the light exit surface of the light pipe, throughout a length of the light pipe of the light pipe, the light pipe reflecting the excitation light so that exit light rays exiting the light exit surface of the light pipe define a diverging cone of light that diverges with respect to an optical axis of the light energy exciter, wherein the exit light rays diverge at angles ranging from zero degrees to a maximum divergence angle in respect to a reference light ray extending from the light exit surface in a direction parallel to the optical axis, wherein the maximum divergence angle is an angle of less than about 60 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The light energy exciter of  claim 6 , wherein the light pipe is of tapered construction and comprises an increasing diameter, in a direction from the light entry surface of the light pipe to the light exit surface, throughout a length of the light pipe of the light pipe, the light pipe reflecting the excitation light so that light pipe exit light rays exiting the light exit surface of the light pipe define a diverging cone of light that forms an angle with respect to an optical axis that is reduced relative to a diverging cone of light divergence angle formed without the tapered construction. 
     
     
         15 . The light energy exciter of  claim 6 , wherein the light energy exciter comprises a lens that receives the excitation light from the light pipe and shapes light rays of the excitation light so that excitation light rays of the excitation light exiting the distal end of the light energy exciter define a converging cone of light that converges toward an optical axis of the light energy exciter to project an illumination pattern matching a size and shape of the detector surface. 
     
     
         16 . The light energy exciter of  claim 6 , wherein the light energy exciter comprises a lens that receives the excitation light from the light pipe and shapes light rays of the excitation light so that excitation light rays exiting a light exit surface of the lens define a converging cone of light that converges toward an optical axis of the light energy exciter, wherein the light exit rays exiting the lens converge at angles ranging from zero degrees to a maximum convergence angle in respect to a reference light ray extending from the light exit surface in a direction parallel to the optical axis, wherein the maximum divergence angle is an angle of less than about 60 degrees. 
     
     
         17 . The light energy exciter of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one light source comprises a light emitting diode that is surface coupled to the light entrance surface of the light pipe, wherein the light pipe comprises glass, wherein the light pipe is of tapered construction and comprises an increasing diameter, in a direction from the light entry surface of the light pipe to the light exit surface, throughout a length of the light pipe of the light pipe, the light pipe reflecting the excitation light so that light pipe exit light rays exiting the light exit surface of the light pipe define a diverging cone of light diverging with respect to an optical axis of the light energy exciter, wherein the light energy exciter comprises a lens that receives the excitation light from the light pipe and shapes light rays of the excitation light so that light rays of the excitation light exiting the distal end of the light energy exciter define a converging cone of light that converges with respect to the optical axis of the light energy exciter, wherein the light energy exciter comprises one or more filters to filter light at wavelengths longer than a cumulative emission band of wavelengths of the one or more light sources, and wherein the light energy exciter comprises folding optics folding the optical axis. 
     
     
         18 . A system comprising:
 a light energy exciter comprising at least one light source to emit excitation light rays, and a light pipe to homogenize the excitation light rays and to direct the excitation light rays, the light pipe comprising a light entrance surface to receive the excitation light rays from the at least one light source; and   a detector comprising a detector surface for supporting biological or chemical samples and a sensor array comprising light sensors spaced apart from the detector surface, wherein the detector receives excitation light from the exciter and emissions signal light, wherein the detector comprises circuitry to transmit data signals in dependence on photons detected by light sensors of the sensor array, wherein the detector blocks the excitation light and permits the emissions signal light to propagate toward the light sensors.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the light energy exciter comprises a lens focusing an object plane defined by a light exit surface of the light pipe onto an image plane defined by the detector surface. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one light source comprises a light emitting diode that is surface coupled to the light entrance surface of the light pipe, wherein the light pipe comprises glass, wherein the light pipe is of tapered construction and comprises an increasing diameter, in a direction from the light entry surface of the light pipe to a light exit surface of the light pipe, throughout a length of the light pipe, the light pipe reflecting excitation light so that light pipe exit light rays exiting the light exit surface of the light pipe define a diverging cone of light that diverges with respect to an optical axis of the light energy exciter, wherein the light energy exciter comprises a lens that receives the excitation light from the light pipe and shapes light rays of the excitation light so that light exit light rays exiting the lens define a converging cone of light that converges with respect to an optical axis of the light energy exciter, wherein the light energy exciter comprises one or more filters to filter light at wavelengths longer than a cumulative emission band of wavelengths of the one or more light sources.