Abstract: A support assembly for a heat pump system comprising a base and a plurality of platforms for supporting a respective heat pump such as a thermoelectric cooler. Resiliently flexible pipes support the platforms with respect to the base and form part of a coolant circulation system. The platforms are movable with respect to each other and the support structures allow the platforms to move with respect to the base. An object to be cooled, such as an image sensor, is mounted on the heat pumps. The platforms are able to move in response to expansion and contraction of the object thereby preventing damage to the heat pump system.

Abstract: A support assembly for a heat pump system comprising a base and a plurality of platforms for supporting a respective heat pump such as a thermoelectric cooler. Resiliently flexible pipes support the platforms with respect to the base and form part of a coolant circulation system. The platforms are movable with respect to each other and the support structures allow the platforms to move with respect to the base. An object to be cooled, such as an image sensor, is mounted on the heat pumps. The platforms are able to move in response to expansion and contraction of the object thereby preventing damage to the heat pump system.

Abstract: A method of determining the gain of an electron multiplier, especially in an Electron Multiplying Charge Coupled Device (EMCCD). The electron multiplier multiplies, in use, signals received from a device, typically a CCD, comprising photodetectors. A test signal is input to the electron multiplier from the device, and the gain of the electron multiplier is determined from the output of the electron multiplier. The test signal comprises, or is derived from, electrical charge generated by the photodetectors other than as a result of the incidence of an electromagnetic signal on the photodetectors. The test signal comprises, or is derived from, dark current, or clock induced charge.

Abstract: A method of determining the gain of an electron multiplier, especially in an Electron Multiplying Charge Coupled Device (EMCCD). The electron multiplier multiplies, in use, signals received from a device, typically a CCD, comprising at least one photodetector. The method involves causing a test signal to be input to the electron multiplier from the device, and determining the gain of the electron multiplier from the output of the electron multiplier, wherein said test signal comprises, or is derived from, electrical charge generated by said at least one photodetector other than as a result of the incidence of an electromagnetic signal on said at least one photodetector. The test signal advantageously comprises, or is derived from, dark current, or clock induced charge.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to the processing of measured data. Especially the invention applies to the binning procedure of data which is measured with a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) sensor unit. The invention is preferably used in photometrics for measuring radiation from samples on a well plate. It is the objective of the present invention to create a solution, in which a good signal-to-noise value is achieved, and the measuring results of the neighbouring sample wells can still be well separated. This objective is achieved in photometrics application by selecting the binning factor on the basis of position and size of sample wells on a well plate (530, 550). With the present invention it is possible to achieve a maximal signal-to-noise ratio, because all pixels within the image area of one sample are accumulated. However, since the pixels between the sample images are not accumulated with the pixels within the sample images (526, 546), the problem of interference between samples can be avoided.