Abstract: A method of analyzing a plurality of biological sample volumes comprises emitting, along an excitation optical path toward a sample holder holding the plurality of biological sample volumes, electromagnetic radiation from a broadband LED, wherein the broadband LED emits the electromagnetic radiation across a range of wavelengths at a total output power of at least 5 watts and at a maximum intensity at a wavelength less than 600 nanometers and at an intensity less than 30 percent of the maximum intensity at a wavelength of 650 or 670 nanometers, and receiving, by a sensor, an electromagnetic emission transmitted from the sample holder along an emission optical path.

Abstract: An instrument for processing and/or measuring a biological process comprises a plurality of filter assemblies configured to be interchangeably located along at least one of the optical paths. The plurality of filter components includes a first filter assembly characterized by a first optical power and a first filter having a first filter function, the first filter function characterized by at least one of a first low-pass wavelength or a first high-pass wavelength. The second filter assembly is characterized by a second optical power and a second filter having a second filter function, the second filter function comprising at least one of a second low-pass wavelength that is different than the first low-pass wavelength or a second high-pass wavelength that is different than the first high-pass wavelength.

Abstract: A biological analysis system is provided. The system comprises an interchangeable assembly configured to accommodate any one of a plurality of sample holders, each respective sample holder configured to receive a plurality of samples. The system also includes a control system configured to cycle the plurality of samples through a series of temperatures. The system further includes an optical system configured to detect fluorescent signals emitted from the plurality of samples. The optical system, in particular, can comprise a single field lens, an excitation source, an optical sensor, and a plurality of filter components. The excitation source can be one or more light emitting diodes. The field lends can be a bi-convex lens.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of generating a digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) result is provided. The method includes detecting of emission data from a planiality of samples, each included in a sample region of a plurality of sample regions, at a first time amplification period. The method further includes determining a positive or negative amplification determination for each sample of the plurality of samples based in part on the first set of emission data, A dPCR result is generated based on the positive amplification determinations for the plurality of samples.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of generating a digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) result is provided. The method includes detecting a first set of emission data from a plurality of samples, each included in a sample region of a plurality of sample regions, at a first time during an amplification period. The method further includes determining a positive or negative amplification determination for each sample of the plurality of samples based in part on the first set of emission data. A dPCR result is generated based on the positive or negative amplification determinations for the plurality of samples.

Abstract: A biological analysis system is provided. The system comprises an interchangeable assembly configured to accommodate any one of a plurality of sample holders, each respective sample holder configured to receive a plurality of samples. The system also includes a control system configured to cycle the plurality of samples through a series of temperatures. The system further includes an optical system configured to detect fluorescent signals emitted from the plurality of samples. The optical system, in particular, can comprise a single field lens, an excitation source, an optical sensor, and a plurality of filter components. The excitation source can be one or more light emitting diodes. The field lends can be a bi-convex lens.

Abstract: An instrument for processing and/or measuring a biological process contains an excitation source, a sample holder, an optical sensor, an excitation optical system, and an emission optical system. The sample holder is configured to receive a plurality of biological samples. The optical sensor is configured to receive an emission from the biological samples. The excitation optical system is disposed along an excitation optical path and is configured to direct the electromagnetic radiation from the excitation source to the biological samples. The emission optical system is disposed along an emission optical path and is configured to direct electromagnetic emissions from the biological samples to the optical sensor. The instrument further contains a plurality of filter assemblies configured to be interchangeably located along at least one of the optical paths.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for identifying a first object-of-interest is provided. The first object-of-interest includes two identifiers and a sample portion. The method includes imaging the first object-of-interest including the two identifiers. The imaging generates a first set of image data. The method further includes determining a position of the first object-of-interest in the field-of-view of an optical sensor and determining the two identifiers from the first set of image data. The method includes identifying the first object-of-interest based on the two identifiers.

Abstract: An instrument for processing and/or measuring a biological process contains an excitation source, a sample holder, an optical sensor, an excitation optical system, and an emission optical system. The sample holder is configured to receive a plurality of biological samples. The optical sensor is configured to receive an emission from the biological samples. The excitation optical system is disposed along an excitation optical path and is configured to direct the electromagnetic radiation from the excitation source to the biological samples. The emission optical system is disposed along an emission optical path and is configured to direct electromagnetic emissions from the biological samples to the optical sensor. The instrument further contains a plurality of filter assemblies configured to be interchangeably located along at least one of the optical paths.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for identifying a first object-of-interest is provided. The first object-of-interest includes two identifiers and a sample portion. The method includes imaging the first object-of-interest including the two identifiers. The imaging generates a first set of image data. The method further includes determining a position of the first object-of-interest in the field-of-view of an optical sensor and determining the two identifiers from the first set of image data. The method includes identifying the first object-of-interest based on the two identifiers.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of generating a digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) result is provided. The method includes detecting a first set of emission data from a plurality of samples, each included in a sample region of a plurality of sample regions, at a first time during an amplification period. The method further includes determining a positive or negative amplification determination for each sample of the plurality of samples based in part on the first set of emission data. A dPCR result is generated based on the positive or negative amplification determinations for the plurality of samples.

Abstract: A biological analysis system is provided. The system comprises an interchangeable assembly configured to accommodate any one of a plurality of sample holders, each respective sample holder configured to receive a plurality of samples. The system also includes a control system configured to cycle the plurality of samples through a series of temperatures. The system further includes an optical system configured to detect fluorescent signals emitted from the plurality of samples. The optical system, in particular, can comprise a single field lens, an excitation source, an optical sensor, and a plurality of filter components. The excitation source can be one or more light emitting diodes. The field lens can be a bi-convex lens.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for generating a modified data structure defining modified grammar rules for the recognition of a natural language input with pauses in which grammar rules for recognition of a natural language are analysed to identify positions in the grammar rules at which pauses can occur in the natural language. A modified data structure is generated defining the modified grammar rules in dependence upon the analysis. The modified data structure is used to improve the accuracy of recognition of a natural language input with pauses. Where the natural language input is used in conjunction with a second modality input, the analysis is performed to identify the positions of pauses in dependence upon the second modality inputs.

Abstract: A speech recognition method for use in a multimodal input system comprises receiving a multimodal input comprising digitized speech as a first modality input and data in at least one further modality input. Features in the speech and in the data in at least one further modality are identified. The identified features in the speech and in the data are used in the recognition of words by comparing the identified features with states in models for the words. The models have states for the recognition of speech and for words having features in at least one further modality associated with the words, the models also have states for the recognition of events in the further modality or each further modality.