Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for optically analyzing samples contained in sample sites of a sample holder by means of fluorescence. The apparatus comprises a first light source comprising a plurality of individual light sources having narrow wavelength bands, means for further limiting wavelength bands of the light emitted by the individual light sources, means for guiding the reduced-wavelength light to the sample sites of the sample holder, and a detector for detecting light from the sample sites. According to the invention said means for further reducing the wavelength bands emitted by the individual light sources comprise a wavelength-tunable single monochromator. The invention allows manufacturing of a microplate reader having the capability for fluorescence measurements at a continuous wavelength range, while maintaining the cost of the device at a reasonable level.

Abstract: An optical measurement instrument includes: an excitation light source (120) arranged to produce an excitation beam for at least one of samples to be measured and a detector (132) arranged to detect an emission beam emitted by one of the samples to be measured and to produce a detection signal responsive to the detected emission beam. The optical measurement instrument further includes an arrangement for controlling temperature of the samples to be measured. The arrangement includes: one or more temperature sensors (176) for producing one or more temperature signals responsive to temperature of a measurement chamber (170) of the optical measurement instrument, one or more heating resistors (171-175) arranged to warm the measurement chamber, and a controller (177) arranged to control electrical power supplied to the heating resistors on the basis of the one or more temperature signals.

Abstract: An optical measurement instrument includes one or more temperature sensors (122) arranged to measure sample well specific temperatures from sample wells (111-117) arranged to store samples (103-109) to be optically measured. A processing device (121) of the optical measurement instrument is arranged to correct, using a pre-determined mathematical rule, measurement results obtained by the optical measurements on the basis of the measured sample well specific temperatures. Hence, the adverse effect caused by temperature differences between different samples on the accuracy of the temperature correction of the measurement results is mitigated.

Abstract: A body module of an optical measurement instrument includes: a reception device (201) for receiving samples, a first plate (202), a second plate (203) substantially parallel with the first plate and movably supported relative to the first plate in a direction perpendicular to the first and second plates, and walls extending from outer edges of the first plate to outer edges of the second plate. The reception device is located in a measurement chamber constituted by the walls and the first and second plates. At least the second plate includes a fastening interface provided with an aperture. The fastening interface is suitable for an optical module to be mounted to the second plate. The measuring chamber provides protection against undesired stray light from surroundings. The movability of the second plate allows adjustment of a distance between a sample and an optical module mounted to the second plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for optically analyzing samples contained in sample sites of a sample holder, the apparatus has a first light source and at least one second light source, a monochromator having an input to which first light source is optically connected or connectable and an output for monochromatized light, light guiding portion for guiding light originating from the first and from the at least one second light sources to the sample sites, and a detector for detecting light from the sample sites. A light relay having a first input optically connected to the output of the monochromator, at least one second input optically connected or connectable to a second light source such that the light from the second light source by-passes the monochromator, and a first output for guiding light from selected input of the light relay to the sample sites. Based on the apparatus and light relay a versatile sample analyzer can be achieved in a cost-effective manner.

Abstract: An optical measurement instrument comprises operational modules (101-107) that are interconnected via a digital communication network (110). Each operational module comprises a transceiver (111-117) connected to the digital communication network and arranged to support a pre-determined digital communication protocol employed in the digital communication network. Those operational modules that include a detector further comprise an analog-to-digital converter (118) for converting a detected signal into a digital form and a digital circuitry (119) for providing digital information based on the detected signal with address data related to a particular operational module to which the digital information is to be delivered via the digital communication network.

Abstract: An optical measurement instrument includes a measurement head and mechanical support elements arranged to support a sample well plate. The measurement head is moved towards the sample well plate and, after the measurement head has touched the sample well plate, the measurement head is moved backwards away from the sample well plate so as to provide a desired distance between the measurement head and the sample well plate. A sensor device is attached to the mechanical support elements and arranged detect a mechanical effect occurring in the mechanical support elements due to force directed by the measurement head to the sample well plate. Hence, the situation in which the measurement head touches the sample well plate can be detected without a need to provide the measurement head with a force sensor. This is advantageous because the measurement head can be a changeable module of the optical measurement instrument.

Abstract: An optical measurement instrument includes: an excitation light source (120) arranged to produce an excitation beam for at least one of samples to be measured and a detector (132) arranged to detect an emission beam emitted by one of the samples to be measured and to produce a detection signal responsive to the detected emission beam. The optical measurement instrument further includes an arrangement for controlling temperature of the samples to be measured. The arrangement includes: one or more temperature sensors (176) for producing one or more temperature signals responsive to temperature of a measurement chamber (170) of the optical measurement instrument, one or more heating resistors (171-175) arranged to warm the measurement chamber, and a controller (177) arranged to control electrical power supplied to the heating resistors on the basis of the one or more temperature signals.

Abstract: An optical measurement instrument, which is equipped with transportation protection, includes a body structure (201), a mechanical support element(202) for supporting an optical interface, a moveably supported receptable element (211) for receiving a sample plate and located between the mechanical support element and the body structure, and a detachable transportation protection element (212-215) arranged to mechanically restrict movements of the receptable element and the mechanical support element. The transportation protection element is arranged to be pressed between the mechanical support element (202) and the body structure (201). Hence, for the transportation protection, there is no need to use e.g. a bolt that may be more laborious to install and remove than the transportation protection element to be pressed between the mechanical support element (202) and the body structure (201).

Abstract: An optical measurement instrument includes one or more temperature sensors (122) arranged to measure sample well specific temperatures from sample wells (111-117) arranged to store samples (103-109) to be optically measured. A processing device (121) of the optical measurement instrument is arranged to correct, using a pre-determined mathematical rule, measurement results obtained by the optical measurements on the basis of the measured sample well specific temperatures. Hence, the adverse effect caused by temperature differences between different samples on the accuracy of the temperature correction of the measurement results is mitigated.

Abstract: A body module of an optical measurement instrument includes: a reception device (201) for receiving samples, a first plate (202), a second plate (203) substantially parallel with the first plate and movably supported relative to the first plate in a direction perpendicular to the first and second plates, and walls extending from outer edges of the first plate to outer edges of the second plate. The reception device is located in a measurement chamber constituted by the walls and the first and second plates. At least the second plate includes a fastening interface provided with an aperture. The fastening interface is suitable for an optical module to be mounted to the second plate. The measuring chamber provides protection against undesired stray light from surroundings. The movability of the second plate allows adjustment of a distance between a sample and an optical module mounted to the second plate.

Abstract: An optical measurement instrument includes a measurement head and mechanical support elements arranged to support a sample well plate. The measurement head is moved towards the sample well plate and, after the measurement head has touched the sample well plate, the measurement head is moved backwards away from the sample well plate so as to provide a desired distance between the measurement head and the sample well plate. A sensor device is attached to the mechanical support elements and arranged detect a mechanical effect occurring in the mechanical support elements due to force directed by the measurement head to the sample well plate. Hence, the situation in which the measurement head touches the sample well plate can be detected without a need to provide the measurement head with a force sensor. This is advantageous because the measurement head can be a changeable module of the optical measurement instrument.

Abstract: An optical measurement instrument comprises operational modules (101-107) that are interconnected via a digital communication network (110). Each operational module comprises a transceiver (111-117) connected to the digital communication network and arranged to support a pre-determined digital communication protocol employed in the digital communication network. Those operational modules that include a detector further comprise an analog-to-digital converter (118) for converting a detected signal into a digital form and a digital circuitry (119) for providing digital information based on the detected signal with address data related to a particular operational module to which the digital information is to be delivered via the digital communication network.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for optically analysing samples contained in sample sites of a sample holder by means of fluorescence. The apparatus comprises a first light source comprising a plurality of individual light sources having narrow wavelength bands, means for further limiting wavelength bands of the light emitted by the individual light sources, means for guiding the reduced-wavelength light to the sample sites of the sample holder, and a detector for detecting light from the sample sites. According to the invention said means for further reducing the wavelength bands emitted by the individual light sources comprise a wavelength-tunable single monochromator. The invention allows manufacturing of a microplate reader having the capability for fluorescence measurements at a continuous wavelength range, while maintaining the cost of the device at a reasonable level.

Abstract: The invention concerns a measurement system and method for optical spectroscopic measurement of samples. The system comprises an illumination source for forming a primary light beam, a first tunable monochromator for spectrally filtering the primary light beam, a sample-receiving zone to which the spectrally filtered primary beam is directed for producing a secondary light beam affected by a sample in the sample receiving zone, and a second tunable monochromator for spectrally filtering the secondary light beam, and a detector for measuring the intensity of the spectrally filtered secondary beam. In particular, the system is adapted to scan a predefined wavelength range using one of the monochromators and to tune the other monochromator sequentially to one of at least two predefined separate wavelengths in order to eliminate the effect of undesired diffraction orders of the second monochromator on the measurement.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for optically analysing samples contained in sample sites of a sample holder, the apparatus comprising a first light source and at least one second light source, a monochromator having an input to which first light source is optically connected or connectable and an output for monochromatized light, light guiding means for guiding light originating from the first and from the at least one second light sources to the sample sites, and a detector for detecting light from the sample sites. According to the invention, the apparatus further comprises a light relay comprising a first input optically connected to the output of the monochromator, at least one second input optically connected or connectable to a second light source such that the light from the second light source by-passes the monochromator, and a first output for guiding light from selected input of the light relay to the sample sites.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and arrangement for measuring the quality of wood. The wood comprises not only a pure body but also components of bark and knots, having optical properties different from those of the pure body. Barked trees (308) are turned into wood powder (322). The wood powder (322) is illuminated with optical radiation and the radiation is received by means of a camera (330). The camera (330) transmits a signal consistent with the radiation reflected from or passed through the wood powder (322) to a computer (332) which, by means of the optical properties of the wood powder (322), determines the amount of bark, knots, and/or defective wood present in the wood.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and a device for measurement of the nip force and/or nip pressure in a nip (N) formed by a revolving roll or a band used in the manufacture of paper. In the method and in the device, a series of measurement detectors (20.sub.1 . . . 20.sub.n) is used, whose detectors (20) are placed across a considerable width of the paper web (W) in the transverse direction of the revolving roll (10) or the band. The measurement signals received from the different detectors (20) are passed to a switching unit (23), whose connectors (24.sub.l. . .24.sub.n) are controlled so that, through the switching unit (23), the signal of each measurement detector (20.sub.l. . .20.sub.n) is alternatingly connected to a telemeter transmitter (26) placed in connection with the revolving roll (10). By means of the telemeter transmitter (26), the series of measurement signals (V.sub.in l. . . V.sub.in n) are transmitted wirelessly to a stationary telemeter receiver (27) placed outside the revolving roll (10).