Abstract: Disclosed are photometric methods and devices for determining optical pathlength of liquid samples containing analytes dissolved or suspended in a solvent. The methods and devices rely on determining a relationship between the light absorption properties of the solvent and the optical pathlength of liquid samples containing the solvent. This relationship is used to establish the optical pathlength for samples containing an unknown concentration of analyte but having similar solvent composition. Further disclosed are methods and devices for determining the concentration of analyte in such samples where both the optical pathlength and the concentration of analyte are unknown. The methods and devices rely on separately determining, at different wavelengths of light, light absorption by the solvent and light absorption by the analyte. Light absorption by the analyte, together with the optical pathlength so determined, is used to calculate the concentration of the analyte.

Abstract: An instrument for analyzing and dispensing objects larger than about 70 &mgr;m in diameter is based on a flow cytometer with a novel fluidic switch arrangement for diverting a portion of a sample stream in response to detector signals in a flow cell. The instrument is particularly adapted for dispensing multicellular test organisms like nematodes or large microspheres for use in screening large libraries of potential pharmaceutical agents. Hydrodynamic focussing is used to center and align the objects in the flow cell. The objects pass through a sensing zone where optical or other characteristics of the objects are detected. The detector signals are processed and used to operate a fluidic switch that is located downstream from the sensing zone. The fluid stream containing the detected objects emerges from the flow cell into air where a fluid stream controlled by the fluidic switch diverts portions of the stream containing no sample objects or sample objects not meeting predetermined characteristics.

Abstract: An absorbance measuring pipette includes a pipette and a pipette adapter. The pipette adapter has a pipette attachment portion for receiving the front end of the pipette and a tip attachment portion for attaching a tip and is attachable between the pipette and the tip. The pipette adapter has an inner space continuous with respective internal spaces of the pipette and tip upon attachment. The pipette adapter includes a test light introducing window for introducing a test light into the inner space from outside and a reflecting mirror for reflecting toward the sample suction port of the tip by way of an opening in the tip attachment portion the test light introduced into the inner space through the test light introducing window.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for optically determining a physical parameter such as thickness t, index of refraction n, extinction coefficient k or a related physical parameter such as energy bandgap Eg of a thin film. A test beam having a wavelength range &Dgr;&lgr; is used to illuminate the thin film after it is deposited on a complex substrate which has at least two layers and exhibits a non-monotonic and an appreciably variable substrate optical response over wavelength range &Dgr;&lgr;. Alternatively, the thin film can be deposited between the at least two layers of the complex substrate. A measurement of a total optical response, consisting of the substrate optical response and an optical response difference due to the thin film is performed over wavelength range &Dgr;&lgr;. The at least two layers making up the complex substrate are chosen such that the effect of multiple internal reflections in the complex substrate and the film is maximized.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring optical characteristics of liquid samples, clinical samples for example, has an optical head (21) which is adapted to scan past a rack (12) of sample containers first in one direction and then in the opposite. The optical head has reference and test light sources (22) and corresponding light detectors (28) and separate optical paths are provided in the head for developing reference and test beams passing through the scanned samples. A fixed band pass filter is provided in the reference path and a filter wheel with a plurality of different band pass filters is provided in the test path, the apparatus being arranged to index the requisite filter into the test path in dependence upon the results of the reference scan. The optical head is driven by a reversible stepper motor (26) via a toothed drive belt (27) and this enables the output signals from the detectors to be correlated to the specific samples in the rack.

Abstract: A device and method for performing a preliminary test on a neat serum sample contained in a primary collection tube is provided herein. The method includes the steps of positioning of an optical probe near the primary collection tube and monitoring the neat serum sample in the primary collection tube to determine whether an interferant, such as hemolysis, icteris and lipemia are present in the serum sample. From this test, a hemolytic index, an icteric index and a lipemic index can also be established for the neat serum sample. Based upon these serum indices, the neat serum sample can be transferred to a clinical analyzer for additional testing or to waste receptacle because the sample is compromised. Additionally, a volume test can be performed on the serum sample in the primary collection tube so that the serum sample can be properly allocated during subsequent testing.

Abstract: This light scattering technique for size measurement is based on the fact that an illuminated particle (inclusion) serves as a secondary radiation source in a manner which is related to its size. This technique allows for detection of inclusions in the interior of transparent solid media, such as bulk glass. When illuminated with a beam of monochromatic light such as a laser beam as the primary light source, the angular distribution of the scattered intensity originated from the inclusion in the micron to submicron range, is a function of intensity, wavelength and index of refraction. A lens and light trap block the primary light for reaching a detector. The light trap, however, allows the secondary scattered light to reach the detector.

Abstract: A defect inspection apparatus for detecting defects existing on a surface of a semiconductor sample and/or inside the sample based on light information from the sample obtained by irradiating a light beam onto the sample is provided, which comprises a detecting means for detecting positions in the depth direction where the defects exist and distribution of the defects based on the light information; a setting means for setting a position in the depth direction where defects exist; and a means for displaying the distribution of the defects obtained by the detecting means, the displaying means displaying the distribution of the defects corresponding to the position in the depth direction set by the setting means.

Abstract: An imaging device for biochemical or medical samples, the pulse mode light source of which incorporates flash lamps and a rotating mirror in an inclined position, the said mirror reflecting the light emitted by each flash lamp in turn along the same optical path to the sample. The flash lamps are switched on alternately in phases and synchronised with the rotating mirror and the emission light chopper, which comprises two rotating discs. The turning mirror directs the light at the sample from above and/or below, in which case a double-acting transparent scattering plate can be used.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for on-column analysis in flash chromatography. The detection scheme utilizes refractive index changes as analytes move through an illuminated region of a chromatography column. The column packing material is a diffuse scattering medium when the refractive index of the solvent is significantly different than that of the packing material. The magnitude of the signal depends on the degree to which the refractive index mismatch is changed as an analyte passes through the illuminated region. This detection scheme provides a simple, inexpensive means for monitoring the end of a flash chromatography column to determine the exit time of the species of interest, thus greatly reducing the post-column analysis time. Additionally, the detector is movable along the length of the column, offering the potential to monitor separations as they occur.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for determining the dimension of an object. The apparatus of the present invention includes a transmitter that is positioned at a first point of interest on an object. The transmitter transmits a scanning light beam rotated at a predetermined angular velocity. Located at a second point of interest on the object is a target. At least a portion of the target defines a first plane that reflects the scanning light beam as the scanning light beam traverses across the target. To receive the reflected signal from the target, the apparatus of the present invention further includes a receiver positioned at the first point of interest. Additionally, the apparatus of the present invention includes a processor for processing the reflected signal and determining the dimensions of the object. In operation, the scanning light beam scans the target, where the radius of the arc that the light beam traverses across the target defines the dimension of the object.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for visually inspecting tubular garments such as socks, sleeves, stockings, panties or the like. The article is loaded onto or unloaded from a support or stretcher, and the article is checked or inspected by means of a computer-aided vision system during the loading onto or unloading off of the support or stretcher.

Abstract: A device is described for measuring changes in parameters in transparent objects, in particular for medical applications. For universal use in various applications, the device includes a light source, an optical line sensor which detects the intensity of the light of the light source passing through the object as a function of location in at least one extension direction of the object, and a computer unit which compares the distribution of the light intensities detected by the optical line sensor as a function of location with at least one predetermined reference distribution. According to another embodiment, the light source supplies approximately parallel light, and the computer unit shapes the first derivation according to location of the distribution of the light intensities detected by the optical line sensor. The device is designed so that the different light sources can be easily replaced or combined.

Abstract: An inspection system is set forth for the inspection of surface and body defects within glass substrates. The glass is supported by an inclined air table during the inspection process to provide planar stability and minimize vibration. The sheet is indexed a given distance along an oblique axis parallel to the air table and stopped, wherein a scanning mechanism having portions on opposite sides of the air table moves transversely of the sheet in alignment with slots formed in the air table, and the process is repeated until the sheet is completely scanned.

Abstract: A programmable automated turbidimeter/colorimeter system for accurately measuring growth among multiple bacterial specimens is described which in a preferred embodiment includes a motor driven rotatable carousel assembly disposed within an aluminum housing, the carousel assembly including a plurality of evenly spaced peripheral holes for receiving a corresponding plurality of disposable culture test tubes, a light source and a light detector disposed in spaced confronting relationship to each other whereby the culture tubes pass therebetween, and a signal amplifier and a recorder for recording optical densities of each specimen as the carousel is continuously rotated. A concentric magnetic shield may be disposed on one side of the carousel for shielding experimental specimens from control specimens in measurements of magnetic effects on the cultures.

Abstract: In a device and method for detecting the position of components and/or for checking the position of terminals of components, and an insertion head with such a device for detecting the position of components and/or for checking the position of terminals of components, the components are illuminated with vertically incident light, with multi-directional, obliquely incident light, and with horizontally incident light, so that the side surfaces of the components, and thus the projecting terminals as well are sufficiently illuminated. For the horizontal illumination, a light deflection element is employed wherein light is emitted by a light source into the light deflection element, is reflected at a first outer wall of the light deflection element, and is directed into an opening of the light deflection element in which the component is disposed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for demodulating a plurality of frequency components output from a photodetector in a wavelength modulation spectroscopy system and determining absorption line shapes from the demodulated data. Demodulation is performed with a homodyne demodulator. Line center magnitudes of selected even harmonics of the demodulated output frequency components are measured and the absorption line shape is calculated from the relationship between these magnitudes.

Abstract: A device for detecting six components of the relative motion of two bodies during a primarily two-dimensional translatory basic motion is described. The device has a plate which is provided with a two-dimensional, optical grating, and which is equipped with a plurality of vertically arranged devices for distance measuring. A second element which is composed of an arrangement of two or three optical gratings, and a plane surface which is parallel to the gratings is included. The optical gratings permit a detection of the relative displacements in X- and Y- directions parallel to the lower plate via an evaluation of the variations in intensity of the reflected light.

Abstract: An optical transmitter-receiver according to the present invention is an optical transmitter-receiver connected to an optical fiber used for a single-core two-way optical communication channel for making a first optical signal S1 to be sent incident upon the end of the optical fiber and receiving a second optical signal S2 sent via the optical fiber. The above optical transmitter-receiver is provided with emission means for emitting a first optical signal S1, an optical system for making a first optical signal S1 from the emission means incident upon the incident end of the optical fiber in a direction R1 different from a direction in which a second optical signal S2 is outgoing from the end of the optical fiber and light receiving means for receiving a second optical signal S2 outgoing from the end of the optical fiber.

Abstract: The present invention is relates to an optical fiber assembly which may be used in an optical detection system. The optical fiber assembly may comprise a trifurcated cable and a ball lens in optical communication with the trifurcated cable. The trifurcated cable may comprise an excitation bundle, a first emission bundle for receiving light and a second emission bundle for receiving light.