Abstract:
To provide sufficient sensitivity, spectral resolution and speed of measurement for field environmental measurements in a portable spectroradiometer, a silicon photodiode receives light: (1) having a bandwidth in the range of between 2 and 15 nm (nanometers) from a pivotable concave holographic diffraction grating within the wavelength range of between 250 and 1150 nm at a scanning rate in the range of 20 to 100 nm per second; (2) having stray light of high intensity and undesired frequencies and the shorter wavelength harmonics of the selected frequency range blocked by filters; and (3) having flux of a least 10 microwatts per square meter of diffuser plate for each nanometer of bandwidth. Automatic electrical zeroing is obtained by blocking all light once at the beginning of each scan, obtaining an electrical drift-related signal and using the drift signal to ad- just the measured signal during the scan. Several different sensing interfaces can be used, including a quartz, light fiber probe having at least a 50% packing density and a cone angle of at least 24 degrees. The data and the programming storage is at least 30K bytes but the instrument uses no more than two watts of power when the instrument is not scanning.
Abstract:
Apparatus and methods may provide for determining a value of chemical parameter. One or more light emitters may be positioned within a housing to emit light through an aperture of the housing. The emitted light may illuminate a color area of a structure that is separable from the housing, such as a test strip, a printed color reference, and so on.. A color sensor may be positioned within the housing to capture reflected light and to convert the reflected light to an initial digitized color space that may be usable to determine a color shade of a color area. The reflected light may, for example, be captured independently at least of a dimension (e.g., predetermined size, shape, etc.) of the color area.
Abstract:
Apparatus and methods for analyzing single molecule and performing nucleic acid sequencing. An apparatus can include an assay chip that includes multiple pixels with sample wells configured to receive a sample, which, when excited, emits emission energy; at least one element for directing the emission energy in a particular direction; and a light path along which the emission energy travels from the sample well toward a sensor. The apparatus also includes an instrument that interfaces with the assay chip. The instrument includes an excitation light source for exciting the sample in each sample well; a plurality of sensors corresponding the sample wells. Each sensor may detect emission energy from a sample in a respective sample well. The instrument includes at least one optical element that directs the emission energy from each sample well towards a respective sensor of the plurality of sensors.
Abstract:
An egg identification system (100) for determining viability of an avian egg (1) is provided. Such a system (100) includes an emitter assembly (200) configured to emit electromagnetic radiation toward an egg (1). A detector assembly (300) is axially aligned with the emitter assembly (200) to detect electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the egg (1). The detector assembly (300) is spaced-apart from the egg (1) during operation thereof such that the detector assembly (300) does not contact the egg (1). The detected electromagnetic radiation is used to generate an output signal. The output signal is processed to determine whether there exists a periodic variation or an aperiodic perturbation in an intensity of the electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the egg (1) corresponding to action of a heart, such as heartbeat, or embryo movement, wherein the existence of the periodic variation or aperiodic perturbation indicates that the egg (1) is viable. An associated method is also provided.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method including software that make use of pivot-normalization in spectrophotometric and/or colorimetric analysis for pigment identification within an unknown complex or simple coating. The present invention is particularly useful for reliably matching the texture and/or gonioapparent effect(s) occurring within an unknown target coating.
Abstract:
A device comprising an illumination means and a light sensing means, that can examine and memorize a discrete color of an object based on the magnitude of the reflected light bouncing off of the colored surface in at least three areas of the electromagnetic spectrum. The device also provides output as a visually and/or audibly perceptible signal for deciphering the color. The color range identified by the device is not limited to the visible spectrum and may include infra-red and ultra-violet light. A storage means for memorizing colors may also be included in the device. Applications of ColorStick technology may include children's toys, aids for the visually handicapped (e.g. blind or color blind individuals), designers, internet shoppers, gardeners, etc.
Abstract:
A scatter signal is produced from light scattered by a precipitate formed by a chemical reaction and non-specific scatter sources. A blanking signal is produced for a scatter signal from light scattered only by the non-specific scatter sources that contribute to the scatter signal, and the blanking signal is subtracted from the scatter signal to dynamically produce a signal indicative of the difference between the scatter signals to reduce the effects of non-specific scattering sources in determining the rate of change of the light scattered by the precipitate. One of the scatter signals may be stored and then combined with the other, or the signals may be measured simultaneously and then combined.