Abstract: Methods and digital imaging devices disclosed herein are adapted to capture images of a specimen in a chemical reaction using a series of short exposures of light emissions from the specimen over a period of time. The series of short exposures is captured using an array of pixels of an image sensor in the digital imaging device that are configured for performing continuous non-destructive read operations to read out a set of non-destructive read images of the specimen from the pixel array. In one embodiment, images are captured by delaying the read out until at or near the end of the chemical reaction to reduce read noise in the images. The signals read out from the image sensor can be continuously monitored and the capturing of images can be discontinued either automatically or based on a command from a user. The captured images can then be displayed in a graphical display.

Abstract: An imaging assembly for the viewing, imaging, and analysis of biological, chemical, and/or biochemical samples in gels or other substrates, in which an adjustable camera and lens module, a reflex mirror, and a focal plane mirror, are configured to bend or fold an optical path in order to image a target region, and where the optical path can be reflected along non-orthogonal angles. The imaging assembly is configured to reduce the overall size of the imaging apparatus due to the angles at which the mirrors and camera and lens assembly are positioned relative to each other, which allows for the imaging of relatively larger samples in the target region.

Abstract: An imaging assembly for the viewing, imaging, and analysis of chemiluminescent or bioluminescent samples in gels or other substrates, in which an adjustable camera and lens module having a prime or fixed lens or a focusing lens is moved to change the field of view by shifting the focal plane of the camera and lens module. The imaging assembly can also include a mirror to bend or fold the optical path between the camera and lens module and the target area having a sample, in which the mirror can move in the same vertical direction as the camera and lens module. Further, the camera and lens module can be configured to more move in a diagonal direction relative to the location of the imaging target area. The imaging assembly can further have a duct system adaptable to adjust with the movement of the camera and lens module.

Abstract: Analyte arrays such as solutes in a slab-shaped gel following electrophoresis, and particularly arrays that are in excess of 3 cm square and up to 25 cm square and higher, are imaged at distances of 5 cm or less by either forming sub-images of the entire array and stitching together the sub-images by computer-based stitching technology, or by using an array of thin-film photoresponsive elements that is coextensive with the analyte array to form a single image of the array.

Abstract: An optical imaging system having an optical source located between the object being imaged and the sensor is provided. Such positioning of the source enables provision of compact optical imaging systems. In particular, such systems can have image widths significantly larger than the object to sensor separation. The arrangement of source, imaging assembly and sensor is such that an image of the source is not formed at the sensor. Therefore, the effect of this source positioning on the image of the object at the sensor is a reduction of intensity, as opposed to more objectionable imaging artifacts, such as spurious shadows and/or bright spots. Thus compact optical imaging systems having good image quality are provided, which enables high-fidelity imaging of object to sensor for a wide variety of applications.

Abstract: An optical imaging system having an optical source located between the object being imaged and the sensor is provided. Such positioning of the source enables provision of compact optical imaging systems. In particular, such systems can have image widths significantly larger than the object to sensor separation. The arrangement of source, imaging assembly and sensor is such that an image of the source is not formed at the sensor. Therefore, the effect of this source positioning on the image of the object at the sensor is a reduction of intensity, as opposed to more objectionable imaging artifacts, such as spurious shadows and/or bright spots. Thus compact optical imaging systems having good image quality are provided, which enables high-fidelity imaging of object to sensor for a wide variety of applications.