Patent ID: 7867767

Claim:
A method for controlling a valve on a disk, the method comprising the steps of: providing the disk having a holding chamber and a process chamber, the holding chamber separated from the process chamber by the valve; providing a motor configured to rotate the disk; providing a laser control system comprising a sensor coupled to a controller and a single laser that emits electromagnetic energy at a first level to determine the position of a structure of the disk and emits electromagnetic energy at second energy level to open the valve to permit fluid to flow from the holding chamber to the process chamber, wherein the first energy level is different from the second energy level; and detecting the electromagnetic energy at the first level with the sensor and outputting a signal; wherein in response to the signal from the sensor the control unit performs the following steps: constructs a position map based on the signal that maps a position of the valve relative to a known position of the motor, uses the position map to rotate the disk and move the laser to target the valve, and instructs the laser to output electromagnetic energy at the second energy level to open the valve to permit fluid to flow from the holding chamber to the process chamber.