Patent ID: 8629981
Filing Date: 2014-01-14
Classification: G01J,G01N,G02B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus, comprising: a fluidic structure that includes a channel through which objects can travel along respective paths during operation of the apparatus; and an encoding component that includes a filter assembly that can receive light emanating from objects in the channel; wherein the filter assembly is adapted to provide output light in response to input light that is within an application's range of photon energies and that is emanating from the objects traveling through the channel past the filter assembly; wherein the filter assembly includes a set of positions, each having a respective transmission function within the range; wherein a substantially continuous series of segments of an object's path include at least two segments from which respective positions in the set receive light emanating from the object; and wherein the filter assembly includes a longitudinal sequence of filter regions, the filter regions including first regions of a first filter type and second regions of a second filter type, the first and second filter types transmitting respective first and second spectral ranges of light, the first and second spectral ranges being sufficiently different from each other that the difference causes time variation in the output light while the object travels through the respective segments.