Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a small-sized assaying apparatus having multiple functions such as dispensing function and heating function.

Abstract: A method for identifying the presence or absence of an aggregation of particles distributed on a translucent surface includes the steps of providing a light sensing device for sensing light incident thereon and producing an output value which represents the intensity of the incident light, and identifying a first output value which is produced by the light sensing device when there is no light incident thereon. The method also identifies a second output value which is produced by the light sensing means when, with no particles present on the translucent surface, light is directed through the translucent surface onto the light sensing device. With a distribution of particles deposited on the translucent surface, light is directed through the translucent surface and onto the light sensing device, causing the light sensing device to produce a third output value. A final output value is then determined as a function of said first, second and third output values.

Abstract: An aggregation pattern detecting apparatus includes a microplate having a plurality of reactive vessels in which aggregation patterns are formed, a light source arranged above the microplate, and a light sensor arrangement positioned below the microplate. The microplate is removably fastened to a main body, and a movable frame is movably supported on the main body. The light source and light sensor arrangement are carried on the movable frame for movement therewith. A driving mechanism effects movement of the movable frame and is controlled by a main control section. A reference plate is provided separately from the microplate, and has a plurality of through holes therein which correspond to the reactive vessels of the microplate. The reference plate is removably fastenable to the main body at the normal operative position of the microplate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for discriminating aggregation patterns includes detection of an image of the aggregation pattern and dividing the image into a plurality of image line data using a photoelectric element. The image line data defines an image waveform and includes a maximum image value. High and low image levels are defined based on the maximum image value. These high and low image levels are used to determine first and second areas of the aggregation pattern image, which first and second areas respectively include image values at least as large as the high and low image levels. An area difference between the first and second areas and a level difference between the high and low image levels are then calculated, along with a ratio of the area difference to the level difference. The calculated area difference and ratio are then compared with a predetermined reference value to discriminate whether or not the aggregation pattern is positive.

Abstract: An apparatus for discriminating a particle aggregation pattern includes a memory circuit for storing line data output from a CCD line sensor, which line data represents the aggregation pattern. A maximum value is obtained for each set of line data, and thereafter a further maximum value is obtained from the afore-mentioned previously obtained maximum values. A threshold value is determined on the basis of the further maximum value, and is then applied to the line data in order to extract therefrom information regarding the shape and area of the aggregation pattern. In another embodiment, the threshold value is determined on the basis of minimum values obtained from the line data.

Abstract: A CCD driving circuit for reading and outputting data from a plurality of CCD sensors, each CCD sensor being actuable to convert an image into data by first optically sensing the image during a first time period and thereafter converting the optically-sensed image into data during a second time period, including a driving arrangement for actuating the CCD sensors such that the first time periods associated therewith are staggered so that the second time periods associated therewith do not overlap each other. A multiplexing arrangement is provided for multiplexing and outputting the data read from each of the CCD sensors.

Abstract: An immunological agglutination detecting apparatus including an agglutination examination plate having one or more reaction vessels each provided with a bottom face of which at least a part is slanted. A light emitting source is arranged at one side of the agglutination examination plate. A light receiver is situated on the other side thereof. Respective images of the agglutination patterns formed on the bottom faces of the reaction vessels are focussed on the light receiver through individual lenses in order to detect, by an electrical device, the agglutination patterns which are formed by the shining light from the light emitting source. In the preferred embodiment, the light emitting source is one or more rows of primary point sources, each corresponding to a particular vessel in the plate, and one or more supplementary point sources adjacent the ends of the row or rows. The intensity of the primary and supplementary light sources can be separately adjusted.

Abstract: The aggregation pattern of particles is determined by obtaining luminous intensity curves representative of the particle aggregation pattern, obtaining a first threshold face by cutting the curves with a plane positioned at a first given height, obtaining a second threshold face by cutting the curves with a plane positioned at a second given height and determining the particle aggregation pattern by calculating the ratio of the area of the first threshold face to the area of the second threshold face.