Open AccessActive analog pipeline delays for high signal rates in multistation flow cytometers
Author(s) -
Parson J. D.,
Hiebert R. D.,
Martin J. C.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
cytometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1097-0320
pISSN - 0196-4763
DOI - 10.1002/cyto.990060419
Subject(s) - signal (programming language) , computer science , pipeline (software) , detector , digitization , analog signal , millisecond , analog signal processing , computer hardware , high fidelity , real time computing , electronic engineering , electrical engineering , telecommunications , engineering , physics , digital signal processing , astronomy , programming language
Flow cytometers with sequential measuring stations require alignment of event timing information to assure that multiparameter data for each cell are properly correlated. Information from the first detector must be delayed until signals are produced at the last detector, with adjustments to align them in time for simultaneous digitization after the last measurement is completed. By using an analog “pipeline” delay, the deadtime between the first and last measuring stations can be minimized. The described device is capable of acquiring and propagating many signals within the delay period, with good fidelity at high signal rates. An integrated circuit charge‐coupled device (CCD), which is an analog shift register, is shown to be useful as a signal delay in the time range from 22 μs to several milliseconds.