Patents by Inventor Peter T. Flowers

Peter T. Flowers has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20040126895
    Abstract: Fluid is deposited in spots using supported, compliant pin arragements, supplied by a local reservoir. Pin arragements in the form of reciprocating and rotating devices are shown. Supply of the pins by mobile local subreservoirs limit the range of travel between drop-pickup and drop deposit. Local reservoirs in the form of circular rings and large pins are disclosed. Compliance is achieved by using spring and flexure arrangements. Some embodiments employ planer flexures to mount the pin and constrict its movement. Such deposit techniques are shown used in many analytical, reactive, and productive conditions. Combination of the use of the versatile, high density array or with a flying mini objective, wide field scanning microscope is disclosed. Combination with other sub systems adds to the versatility of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 1998
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: JAMES W. OVERBECK, PETER T. FLOWERS, JEAN I. MONTAGU, MYLES L. MACE, PETER HONKANEN
  • Patent number: 6722395
    Abstract: For depositing fluid dots in an array, e.g., for microscopic analysis, a deposit device, e.g. a pin, cooperating with a fluid source defines a precisely sized drop of fluid of small diameter on a drop carrying surface. Transport mechanism positions the device precisely over the receiving surface and drive mechanism moves the deposit device toward and away from the surface. By repeated action, minute drops of fluid can be deposited precisely in a dense array, preferably under computer control. The drop-carrying surface shown has a diameter less than 375, preferably less than 300, preferably between about 15 and 250 micron, and is bound by a sharp rim that defines the perimeter of the fluid drop. The deposit device is compliant in the direction of deposition motion, e.g. by overcoming resistance of a resilient member. When depositing, the deposit device is laterally constrained to a reference position, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Inventors: James W. Overbeck, Peter T. Flowers, Jean I. Montagu, Myles L. Mace, Peter Honkanen
  • Publication number: 20020083998
    Abstract: For depositing fluid dots in an array, e.g., for microscopic analysis, a deposit device, e.g. a pin, cooperating with a fluid source defines a precisely sized drop of fluid of small diameter on a drop carrying surface. Transport mechanism positions the device precisely over the receiving surface and drive mechanism moves the deposit device toward and away from the surface. By repeated action, minute drops of fluid can be deposited precisely in a dense array, preferably under computer control. The drop-carrying surface shown has a diameter less than 375, preferably less than 300, preferably between about 15 and 250 micron, and is bound by a sharp rim that defines the perimeter of the fluid drop. The deposit device is compliant in the direction of deposition motion, e.g. by overcoming resistance of a resilient member. When depositing, the deposit device is laterally constrained to a reference position, e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2002
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: James W. Overbeck, Peter T. Flowers, Jean I. Montagu, Myles L. Mace, Peter Honkanen
  • Patent number: 6269846
    Abstract: A fluid deposit assembly mounted on a carrier for depositing minute drops of fluid at selected locations upon a substrate, comprising a deposit element having an exposed tip of diameter of 0.3 mm or less constructed and arranged to carry and deposit drops of fluid upon the substrate, stable lateral reference surfaces or surface portions exposed for engagement by the deposit element, the surfaces or surface portions being constructed and arranged to prevent X, Y displacement of the deposit element relative to the carrier when the deposit element is urged thereagainst and design for urging the deposit element against the reference surfaces or surface portions at least at the time that the deposit element approaches a substrate to deposit a fluid drop. The reference surfaces or surface portions and the design for urging are cooperating to precisely position the deposit tip in a precisely desired position as it contacts the substrate. The deposit element is shown as the tip of an axially moveable pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Genetic Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Overbeck, Peter T. Flowers, Jean I. Montagu, Myles L. Mace, Peter Honkanen
  • Patent number: 5123024
    Abstract: A closed loop circuit for controlling the intensity of light emitted by a laser diode. A portion of the light emitted by the laser diode is used as an optical feedback signal and applied to a photodetector. The difference between a current produced by the photodetector and a reference current is an error current which is passed via a low impedance path to an integrating amplifier. The integrated error current is used to control the current flowing through the laser diode, thereby controlling the intensity of light emitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Assignee: General Scanning, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger D. Dowd, Peter T. Flowers
  • Patent number: 4694235
    Abstract: A capacitive position sensor for sensing changes in the position of a rotating element, in which there are two sets of stationary capacitive surfaces, one set forming a first integral unit, the other set forming a second integral unit; the two units are held together with the surfaces of each set resting in corresponding spaces in the other unit such that all surfaces of both sets intersect a common radial plane and the surfaces of one set are electrically isolated from the surfaces of the other set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1987
    Assignee: General Scanning, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter T. Flowers