Abstract: The present invention discloses a quantitative micro-volume nucleic acids detection device, which includes a light source, a first shielding screen, a second shielding screen, a lower glass plate, an upper glass plate and at least one sensor, wherein a pin-hole on the second shielding screen generates an image of a nucleic acid sample solution fixed between the bottom and upper glasses, the image is then captured by the sensor, concentration of the nucleic acid sample solution is determined accordingly. With the implementation of the present invention, the detection is reproducible and repetitive, the detection optical path is invariant, avoid of interfering from the pollution during detection so that the cost and time are greatly reduced.

Abstract: A system and method for the monitoring of ammonia in a fluid. The ammonia monitoring system includes an ammonia sensor that is configured to detect trace amounts of ammonia (NH3) in a fluid (i.e., gas or liquid) that is pumped through it in real time. The real time ammonia sensor includes an interferometer configured to track the amount of ammonia that is pumped into the real time ammonia sensor. The ammonia monitoring system, via the real time ammonia sensor, is further configured to detect ammonia levels in industrial poultry houses and provide electronic feedback to the building's ventilation control system.

Abstract: A multidimensional spectrometer provides broadband white light pump and probe pulses to allow acquisition of multidimensional spectral information over a wide range commensurate with solar-related chemical processes.

Abstract: A spectrometer comprises a package having a stem and a cap, an optical unit arranged on the stem, and a lead pin penetrating through the stem. The optical unit has a dispersive part for dispersing and reflecting light entering from a light entrance part of the cap, a light detection element for detecting the light dispersed and reflected by the dispersive part, a support for supporting the light detection element such as to form a space between the dispersive part and the light detection element, a projection projecting from the support, and a wiring electrically connected to the light detection element. The projection is arranged at such a position as to be in contact with the stem. The lead pin is electrically connected to a second terminal part of the wiring arranged in the projection.

Abstract: An exemplary sensor chip includes a substrate, a metal pattern, a proximate substance, and a light shielding layer. The metal pattern is on the substrate. The proximate substance is on or near the metal pattern. The light shielding layer is provided on the substrate so as to cover the metal pattern and the proximate substance. The light shielding layer is a layer that blocks the excitation light from going into the proximate substance, and is made of a substance which becomes degraded inside a subject.

Abstract: An example of an optical accessory configured to produce an optical image depicting spectral characteristics of light. The produced optical image is captured by an image capture sensor of a mobile device. The captured image is processed by the mobile device to produce a measured value corresponding to a lighting-related parameter.

Abstract: In an optical measuring method, a first spectrum and a second spectrum are obtained from a pattern and a thin layer formed on the pattern by a deposition process using an ellipsometer respectively. A skew spectrum is obtained between the first spectrum and the second spectrum. A fourier transform operation is performed on the skew spectrum to calculate a thickness of the thin layer on the pattern.

Abstract: A monitoring system for an electric vehicle that draws current from a conductor is provided. The monitoring system includes a plurality of sensor modules distributed at spaced intervals throughout a conducting block of a current collector. The conducting block contacts the conductor in operation of the vehicle. Each sensor module comprises a strain sensor configured to output a first optical signal that reflects changes in strain and temperature of the conducting block and a strain-isolated temperature sensor that is configured to output a second optical signal that reflects changes in temperature of the conducting block. The monitoring system also includes an optical source for illuminating each sensor module and an optical signal interpretation module configured to receive first and second optical signals from each said sensor module. The optical signal interpretation module is configured to determine, from the optical signals, a temperature-independent strain measurement for each said sensor module.

Abstract: Systems and methods for inspecting a surface are disclosed. A source, detector, a base, a controller, and a processing device are used to collect image data related to the surface and information relating to the location of the image data on the surface. The image data and information relating to location are correlated and stored in a processing device to create a map of surface condition.

Abstract: A high precision signal sensing system and method using an infrared light is provided. The high precision signal sensing system may receive, from a light emitting device, a plurality of lights including a first light and a second light, may measure intensities of the first light and the second light, and may measure a light emitting intensity of the light emitting device based on an intensity difference between the measured light receiving intensities.

Abstract: A gemstone tester for characterizing a gemstone and a method of characterizing a gemstone are provided, the gemstone tester comprising a detector unit for detecting one or more transmittances of the gemstone; and a processing unit for determining a first parameter based on one or more of the transmittances of light; and for characterizing the gemstone based on the first parameter; wherein each transmittance of the gemstone is a fraction of light of a specific wavelength that is passed through the gemstone.

Abstract: A system for measuring the power or energy loss in a photovoltaic array due to soiling, which is the accumulation of dust, dirt, and/or other contaminants on the surfaces of photovoltaic modules, comprising: a pair of photovoltaic reference devices placed within or near the photovoltaic array and co-planar to the modules comprising the array, wherein one reference device is a module similar to those of the array and is allowed to accumulate soiling at the natural rate, and wherein the second reference device is a module or a cell and is periodically cleaned; and a measurement and control unit which measures and compares the electrical outputs of the soiled reference device and the clean reference device in order to determine the fraction of power lost by the soiled reference module due to soiling.

Abstract: Data acquisition devices for analyzing reference objects and systems for monitoring turbine component deformation are provided. A data acquisition device has a longitudinal axis and includes a lens assembly and an image capture device in communication with the lens assembly for receiving and processing light from the lens assembly to generate images. The data acquisition device further includes a light source and a light tube coupled at a rear end to the light source. The light tube extends along the longitudinal axis between a front end and the rear end, and is operable to transport light from the light source therethrough and emit the light from the front end. The data acquisition device further includes an actuator operable to activate the image capture device and the light source.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for curvature and thin film stress measurement are disclosed. The apparatus comprises two light sources and a detector. Two light beams from the two light sources with an angle are not parallel. The two light beams are collimated and projected onto a specimen with a pitch. The detector receives the light beams reflected from the specimen. The curvature of the specimen is calculated via a distance between spots of the light beams on the detector or a size variation of one of the spots.

Abstract: Provided is a phase shift amount measuring apparatus and method capable of measuring a phase shift amount and a transmittance of a phase shift mask in one measurement step by using a miniaturized monitor pattern. The phase shift amount and transmittance of the monitor pattern are simultaneously measured using a shearing interferometer. The phase shift amount is obtained from a phase difference of interference light between light passing through the monitor pattern and light passing through a non-pattern area. The transmittance of the monitor pattern is obtained using an amplitude of interference light between light passing through the monitor pattern and light passing through the non-pattern area and an amplitude of interference light between light beams passing through the non-pattern area. The use of common interference images in measuring the phase shift amount and transmittance enables measurement of both the phase shift amount and the transmittance in one measurement operation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus for automatic test diagnosis of a test paddle is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a personal computing device including: a camera to capture images over time of test pads of a test paddle, a processor coupled to the camera, and a display device coupled to the processor. The processor analyzes the color changes over time of each test pad to determine a color trajectory over time for each test pad. The processor compares the color evolution trajectory for each test pad with color calibration curves for each test pad to determine an analyte concentration of a test biological sample, such as urine. During the analysis by the processor, the display device displays a user interface with results of the analyte concentration in response to the analysis over time.

Abstract: A tunable coherent radiation source comprises a pump laser which outputs a pump beam and a non-linear optical medium having a tuning pattern to provide tuning across a wavelength range. A translation system is arranged such that the pump beam is translated across the tuning pattern. The scanning pattern is formed such that translation of the pump beam across the tuning pattern provides one or more discontinuities in tuning across the wavelength range. A spectroscopic system and a hyperspectral imaging system comprising such a tunable coherent radiation source are described, as is a non-linear optical medium adapted for use in such a source. A method of providing coherent radiation tuned over a wavelength range is also described.

Abstract: A wavelength-swept light source apparatus comprises a light source that emits a wavelength-swept light that varies in a predetermined cycle, a mode hop detector that detects a mode hop of the wavelength-swept light emitted from the light source; and a control unit that controls at least one of a parameter that defines a specified period having a predetermined fixed or variable time length provided in the predetermined cycle and a control parameter of the light source, thereby to set an occurrence timing of the mode hop detected by the mode hop detector outside of the specified period.

Abstract: A device is proposed for measuring tracks, in particular for track laying machines, having two outer, one front and one rear, track-traveling measurement carriages (15, 21) and a middle track-traveling measurement carriage (22) arranged in between. To enable advantageous measurements, it is proposed that at least one position encoder (14, 20) pointing toward the middle measurement carriage (22) is associated with each of the outer measurement carriages (15,21), and at least two optical sensors (16, 17), in particular cameras, are arranged on the middle measurement carriage (22) on an optical axis (34) such that at least one optical sensor is oriented toward the rear measurement carriage (15) and at least one other optical sensor is oriented toward the front measurement carriage (21).

Abstract: A rotatable compensator configured to transmit non-collimated light over a broad range of wavelengths, including ultraviolet, with a high degree of retardation uniformity across the aperture is presented. In one embodiment, a rotatable compensator includes a stack of four individual plates in optical contact. The two thin plates in the middle of the stack are made from a birefringent material and are arranged to form a compound, zeroth order bi-plate. The remaining two plates are relatively thick and are made from an optically isotropic material. These plates are disposed on either end of the compound, zeroth order bi-plate. The low order plates minimize the sensitivity of retardation across the aperture to non-collimated light. Materials are selected to ensure transmission of ultraviolet light. The optically isotropic end plates minimize coherence effects induced at the optical interfaces of the thin plates.