METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETECTING CONTACT OF A PIPETTE TIP WITH A LIQUID AS WELL AS A LABORATORY SYSTEM WITH SUCH A DEVICE

The present invention pertains to a method for detecting contact of a pipette tip (4) with a surface (7) of a liquid (6) in a pipetting device (1). The method comprises moving (m) the pipette tip (4) in direction of the surface (7) of the liquid (6), thereby measuring an absolute capacitance (C) between the pipette tip (4) and a reference potential (GND) and generating a sampled output signal (sout[n]). Furthermore, a predicted momentary sample value of the output signal (sout[n]) is generated based on a plurality of past sample values of the output signal (sout[n]). A contact signal (DL) indicative of the pipette tip (4) being in contact with the surface (7) of the liquid (6) is generated based on comparing a momentary sample value of the output signal (sout[n]) with the predicted momentary sample value of the output signal (sout[n]). Moreover, a corresponding pipetting device (1) capable of performing the method as well as a laboratory system, in particular an automated liquid processing system, with one or more such pipetting devices (1) are proposed.