Patent ID: 8296962

Claim:
An automated alignment system consisting of: one or more target wells held at a first potential; a probe having a tip held at a second potential; one or more motors for moving the probe relative to the target wells; and a controller configured to: detect changes in potential at the probe, direct the motors to move the probe to an estimated position in which the probe tip extends within a given target well and move the probe along first and second axes to determine dimensions of the given target well by determining first and second end points of the first and second axes as the locations at which the potential at the probe tip changes along the first and second axes, direct the motor to move the probe along a third axis into electrical contact with a floor of the given target well based on a change in potential at the probe tip, and calculate a center location of the given target well as the coincidence of mid-points of the first, second, and third axes that are calculated based on the endpoints of the first and second axes, and a mid-point of the third axis calculated based on a location of the floor of the given target well and a known depth of the given target well.