Patent ID: 7901026

Claim:
An analysis system comprising: a stage; a motion controller that directs movement of the stage; a printhead; a printhead controller that is in communication with the motion controller, that controls the printhead to selectively eject drops of fluid material to be deposited on a substrate, and that controls the printhead to selectively eject drops of fluid material for drop analysis; a camera supported by the stage for movement relative to the printhead, the camera selectively receiving a first trigger signal from the motion controller to initiate exposure of the camera and capturing of an image of the drops of fluid material ejected by the printhead; a light-emitting device having a strobe controller, the strobe controller selectively receiving a second trigger signal from the camera to supply a pulse of light from the light-emitting device to an area including the drops during the exposure; a prism supported by the stage for movement relative to the printhead, wherein the pulse of light from the light-emitting device is folded by the prism to pass through the area and arrive at the camera; a diffuser located proximate to the light-emitting device; a condensing lens located between the diffuser and the prism; an imaging lens located proximate to the camera; a first mirror located between the prism and the imaging lens; and a second mirror located between the first mirror and the imaging lens, wherein the motion controller positions the stage such that the area is located between the first mirror and the prism.