1. A multi-modal data acquisition system for detecting target material on a biological reaction surface, the data acquisition system comprising:
a radiation source for generating an incoming beam to illuminate the biological reaction surface, the incoming beam impinging on the biological reaction surface at an oblique incidence angle and producing a reflected beam, the reflected beam being produced by the incoming beam reflecting off the biological reaction surface;
an interferometric detector for detecting an interferometric signal from the illuminated biological reaction surface, the reflected beam being directed to the interferometric detector,
a fluorescence detector for detecting a fluorescence signal from the illuminated biological reaction surface; the fluorescence detector being positioned to substantially minimize the incidence of the reflected beam on the fluorescence detector; and
a processing system for receiving the interferometric signal and the fluorescence signal and determining the presence or absence of the target material on the biological reaction surface.
2. The multi-modal data acquisition system of claim 1, wherein the biological reaction surface is a biological compact disk.
3. The multi-modal data acquisition system of claim 2, wherein the fluorescence detector is positioned above the biological compact disk and substantially perpendicular to the plane of the biological compact disk.
4. The multi-modal data acquisition system of claim 2, further comprising:
a spin motor upon which the biological compact disk can be mounted, the spin motor being configured to rotate the biological compact disk.
5. The multi-modal data acquisition system of claim 4, further comprising:
a linear stage for moving the biological compact disk relative to the optical system comprising the illumination source, the interferometric detector and the fluorescence detector;
wherein the rotation of the biological compact disk by the spin motor and the translation of the biological compact disk relative to the optical system by the linear stage creates a polar coordinate system that can be used for referencing any point on the biological compact disk.
6. The multi-modal data acquisition system of claim 1, wherein the interferometric detector is a quadrant detector configured to acquire both a phase contrast interferometric signal and an in-line quadrature interferometric signal.
7. The multi-modal data acquisition system of claim 1, wherein the processing system comprises:
an oscilloscope connected to the interferometric detector for receiving the interferometric signal and connected to the fluorescence detector for receiving the fluorescence signal; and
a computer connected to the oscilloscope for determining the presence or absence of the target material on the biological reaction surface.
8. The multi-modal data acquisition system of claim 1, further comprising:
a long-pass optical filter removably positioned in front of the fluorescence detector to effectively block the scattered illumination beam from impinging on the fluorescence detector when the optical filter is positioned in front of the fluorescence detector; and
wherein the fluorescence detector is capable of receiving both the fluorescence signal and a scattering signal, and the processing system is capable of receiving the scattering signal from the fluorescence detector; and
wherein, when the optical filter is positioned in front of the fluorescence detector, the fluorescence detector receives the fluorescence signal, and when the optical filter is removed from in front of the fluorescence detector, the fluorescence detector receives the scattering signal.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A switch for switching over a signal propagation path by contacting or non-contacting a movable member to or from an electrode, the switch comprising:
an input port for inputting a signal;
a movable member connected to the input port;
a first electrode for propagating the signal;
a first control power supply connected to the first electrode and for generating a first control signal;
a second electrode for blocking off the signal; and
a second control power supply connected to the second electrode and for generating a second control signal;
the first control power supply provides said first control signal to the first electrode, the movable member being displaced by a driving force generated based on a potential difference between the movable member and first electrode and a potential difference between the movable member and the second electrode, thereby being contacted to the first or second electrode,
the movable member is vibrated in a state contacted on the first electrode or the second electrode,
the first or second control signal is controlled to apply to the movable member a force in one direction corresponding to a magnitude of an overshot that the movable member displaces beyond a predetermined position.
2. A switch for switching over a signal propagation path by contacting or non-contacting a movable member to or from an electrode, the switch comprising:
an input port for inputting a signal;
a movable member connected to the input port;
a first electrode for propagating the signal;
a first control power supply connected to the first electrode and for generating a first control signal;
a second electrode for blocking off the signal; and
a second control power supply connected to the second electrode and for generating a second control signal;
the first control power supply provides said first control signal to the first electrode, the movable member being displaced by a driving force generated based on a potential difference between the movable member and first electrode and a potential difference between the movable member and the second electrode, thereby being contacted to the first or second electrode,
the first and second control signal from the first and second control power supply, respectively, apply to the movable member a force in a pulse form in a time shorter than a response time of the movable member,
the pulse-formed force has an application time that is a half in length of an application time of a pulse-formed force causing the movable member to overshoot to a position at which is to occur pull-in for the movable member to be abruptly contacted to the electrode, under an optimal condition of a magnitude of an overshoot of the movable member and the response time.
3. A switch according to claim 2, wherein the optimal condition is that the overshoot is in a magnitude of substantially 0.1 \u03bcm or smaller and the response time is substantially 20 \u03bcs or shorter.
4. A switch according to claim 1, wherein the first or second control signal is provided such that a force in a direction opposite to a direction of an overshoot and corresponding to a magnitude of the overshoot is alternately applied to the movable member at all times.
5. A switch according to claim 4, wherein the force in a direction opposite to a direction of an overshoot and corresponding a magnitude of the overshoot is asymmetric with respect to a direction.
6. A switch according to claim 1, wherein the first and second control signal from the first and second control power supply, respectively, apply to the movable member a force in a pulse form in a time shorter than a response time of the movable member.
7. A switch according to claim 1, wherein the movable member and the electrode has a contact interface in a waveform or rectangular form.
8. A switch according to claim 2, wherein the movable member and the electrode has a contact interface in a waveform or rectangular form.
9. A switch according to claim 3, wherein the movable member and the electrode has a contact interface in a waveform or rectangular form.
10. A switch according to claim 4, wherein the movable member and the electrode has a contact interface in a waveform or rectangular form.
11. A switch according to claim 5, wherein the movable member and the electrode has a contact interface in a waveform or rectangular form.