Abstract: An environmental sampling and assay system, having a coupon storage assembly, storing coupons; an environment sampling assembly, the sampling assembly mixing an environmental sample with a liquid to create a sample-liquid, bearing the environmental sample; a coupon moving assembly; a coupon wetting assembly for automatically wetting a coupon with the sample-liquid; a coupon perceiving device; a data input, adapted to receive a signal; and a data processing and control assembly, controlling the environmental sampling system, the coupon moving assembly, the wetting assembly and the coupon perceiving device. Further, the coupon moving assembly can retrieve a coupon from the coupon storage assembly and move it in a linear manner to the coupon wetting assembly.

Abstract: A particle detector, having a housing defining a chamber; an air stream injector, producing an airstream in said chamber from air taken from outside said chamber; a light source, producing a light beam that crosses the air stream and wherein said light beam is shaped so that a transverse extent of said light beam has a uniform intensity over said transverse extent of said air stream. Also, a photon detection assembly, including an optical train of lenses, is positioned to accept light from said light beam, emitted by the particles, and to focus this light onto a photon detector. A particle detection assembly detects the particles, responsive to the photon detection assembly. Finally, a particle size estimation assembly estimates size for each detected particle, based on number of photons detected by said photon detection assembly from said particle, as it crosses said light beam.

Abstract: A method of reading a coupon channel that displays a test section pattern after being exposed to a target substance, the method uses a device having a computer readable memory, digital camera, logic assembly and user interface; providing a pixel target intensity profile; placing the coupon in the device and exposing the coupon channel to a test fluid mixture; automatically using the digital camera to take a digital image of the coupon channel test section after the exposure. The improvement in the method includes finding the contiguous set of pixels from the test section of the coupon channel that best matches the intensity profile of the target pattern representation and determining if this best match set of pixels exceeds a similarity threshold and in response to a best match set of pixels passing the similarity threshold, automatically providing a human perceptible indication that the target substance has been detected.

Abstract: A particle detector, having a housing defining a chamber; an air stream injector, producing an airstream in said chamber from air taken from outside said chamber; a light source, producing a light beam that crosses the air stream and wherein said light beam is shaped so that a transverse extent of said light beam has a uniform intensity over said transverse extent of said air stream. Also, a photon detection assembly, including an optical train of lenses, is positioned to accept light from said light beam, emitted by the particles, and to focus this light onto a a photon detector. A particle detection assembly detects the particles, responsive the photon detection assembly. Finally, a particle size estimation assembly estimates size for each detected particle, based on number of photons detected by said photon detection assembly from said particle, as it crosses said light beam.

Abstract: A particle detector that includes a housing defining a chamber, and an air stream injector, producing an airstream with entrained particles, in the chamber. A light source produces a light beam that intersects with and is wider than the air stream. A light detection assembly detects light generated by scattering of the light beam, by particles in the air stream. A digitizer produces a sequence of scattering digital values, each representing light detected per a first unit of time duration. Additionally, a summing assembly produces a sequence of summed scattering digital values, each equaling a sum of a sequential set of n of the digital values, and wherein successive summed digital values are offset by a the first unit of time duration and overlap by n?1 of the first units of time duration with a nearest neighbor. Finally, a detection assembly processes the summed scattering digital values to detect particles.

Abstract: An environmental sampling and assay system, having a coupon storage assembly, storing coupons; an environment sampling assembly, the sampling assembly mixing an environmental sample with a liquid to create a sample-liquid, bearing the environmental sample; a coupon moving assembly; a coupon wetting assembly for automatically wetting a coupon with the sample-liquid; a coupon perceiving device; a data input, adapted to receive a signal; and a data processing and control assembly, controlling the environmental sampling system, the coupon moving assembly, the wetting assembly and the coupon perceiving device. Further, the coupon moving assembly can retrieve a coupon from the coupon storage assembly and move it in a linear manner to the coupon wetting assembly.

Abstract: An environmental sampling and assay system, utilizing coupons, and having an assay coupon wetting and monitoring assembly adapted to perform an assay on a coupon. The system also includes a coupon storage assembly and a coupon moving assembly, adapted to move a coupon from the coupon storage assembly to the coupon wetting and monitoring assembly. Further, the coupon storage assembly includes a first coupon magazine storing a set of first-shaped coupons and a second coupon magazine storing a set of second-shaped coupons, different in shape from the first-shaped coupons, and wherein the coupon moving assembly includes a first moveable coupon carrier, positioned to receive coupons from the first magazine, that is shaped to hold first-shaped coupons and a second moveable coupon carrier, positioned to receive coupons from the second magazine and that is shaped to hold second-shaped coupons.

Abstract: A method of detecting bioaerosols, including detecting particles and estimating a particle size for each detected particle and determining a fluorescence strength for each detected particle. Comparing particle size and fluorescence strength for each detected particle to arrive at a normalized fluorescence strength per particle and comparing normalized fluorescence strengths over a time period to a maximum threshold, to detect highly fluorescent manmade substances.

Abstract: A method of reading a coupon channel that displays a test section pattern after being exposed to a target substance, the method uses a device having a computer readable memory, digital camera, logic assembly and user interface; providing a pixel target intensity profile; placing the coupon in the device and exposing the coupon channel to a test fluid mixture; automatically using the digital camera to take a digital image of the coupon channel test section after the exposure. The improvement in the method includes finding the contiguous set of pixels from the test section of the coupon channel that best matches the intensity profile of the target pattern representation and determining if this best match set of pixels exceeds a similarity threshold and in response to a best match set of pixels passing the similarity threshold, automatically providing a human perceptible indication that the target substance has been detected.

Abstract: A method of detecting bioaerosols, including detecting particles and estimating a particle size for each detected particle and determining a fluorescence strength for each detected particle. Comparing particle size and fluorescence strength for each detected particle to arrive at a normalized fluorescence strength per particle and comparing normalized fluorescence strengths over a time period to a maximum threshold, to detect highly fluorescent manmade substances.

Abstract: A particle detector that includes a housing defining a chamber, and an air stream injector, producing an airstream with entrained particles, in the chamber. A light source produces a light beam that intersects with and is wider than the air stream. A light detection assembly detects light generated by scattering of the light beam, by particles in the air stream. A digitizer produces a sequence of scattering digital values, each representing light detected per a first unit of time duration. Additionally, a summing assembly produces a sequence of summed scattering digital values, each equaling a sum of a sequential set of n of the digital values, and wherein successive summed digital values are offset by a the first unit of time duration and overlap by n?1 of the first units of time duration with a nearest neighbor. Finally, a detection assembly processes the summed scattering digital values to detect particles.

Abstract: A method of reading a coupon channel that displays a test section pattern after being exposed to a target substance, the method uses a device having a computer readable memory, digital camera, logic assembly and user interface; providing a pixel target intensity profile; placing the coupon in the device and exposing the coupon channel to a test fluid mixture; automatically using the digital camera to take a digital image of the coupon channel test section after the exposure. The improvement in the method includes finding the contiguous set of pixels from the test section of the coupon channel that best matches the intensity profile of the target pattern representation and determining if this best match set of pixels exceeds a similarity threshold and in response to a best match set of pixels passing the similarity threshold, automatically providing a human perceptible indication that the target substance has been detected.

Abstract: A particle detector that includes a housing defining a chamber, and an air stream injector, producing an airstream with entrained particles, in the chamber. A light source produces a light beam that intersects with and is wider than the air stream. A light detection assembly detects light generated by scattering of the light beam, by particles in the air stream. A digitizer produces a sequence of scattering digital values, each representing light detected per a first unit of time duration. Additionally, a summing assembly produces a sequence of summed scattering digital values, each equaling a sum of a sequential set of n of the digital values, and wherein successive summed digital values are offset by a the first unit of time duration and overlap by n?1 of the first units of time duration with a nearest neighbor. Finally, a detection assembly processes the summed scattering digital values to detect particles.

Abstract: A particle detector that includes a housing defining a chamber, and an air stream injector, producing an airstream with entrained particles, in the chamber. A light source produces a light beam that intersects with and is wider than the air stream. A light detection assembly detects light generated by scattering of the light beam, by particles in the air stream. A digitizer produces a sequence of scattering digital values, each representing light detected per a first unit of time duration. Additionally, a summing assembly produces a sequence of summed scattering digital values, each equaling a sum of a sequential set of n of the digital values, and wherein successive summed digital values are offset by a the first unit of time duration and overlap by n?1 of the first units of time duration with a nearest neighbor. Finally, a detection assembly processes the summed scattering digital values to detect particles.

Abstract: An environmental sampling and assay system, utilizing coupons, and having an assay coupon wetting and monitoring assembly adapted to perform an assay on a coupon. The system also includes a coupon storage assembly and a coupon moving assembly, adapted to move a coupon from the coupon storage assembly to the coupon wetting and monitoring assembly. Further, the coupon storage assembly includes a first coupon magazine storing a set of first-shaped coupons and a second coupon magazine storing a set of second-shaped coupons, different in shape from the first-shaped coupons, and wherein the coupon moving assembly includes a first moveable coupon carrier, positioned to receive coupons from the first magazine, that is shaped to hold first-shaped coupons and a second moveable coupon carrier, positioned to receive coupons from the second magazine and that is shaped to hold second-shaped coupons.

Abstract: A method of reading a coupon channel that displays a test section pattern after being exposed to a target substance, the method uses a device having a computer readable memory, digital camera, logic assembly and user interface; providing a pixel target intensity profile; placing the coupon in the device and exposing the coupon channel to a test fluid mixture; automatically using the digital camera to take a digital image of the coupon channel test section after the exposure. The improvement in the method includes finding the contiguous set of pixels from the test section of the coupon channel that best matches the intensity profile of the target pattern representation and determining if this best match set of pixels exceeds a similarity threshold and in response to a best match set of pixels passing the similarity threshold, automatically providing a human perceptible indication that the target substance has been detected.

Abstract: An environmental sampling and assay system, utilizing coupons, and having an assay coupon wetting and monitoring assembly adapted to perform an assay on a coupon. The system also includes a coupon storage assembly and a coupon moving assembly, adapted to move a coupon from the coupon storage assembly to the coupon wetting and monitoring assembly. Further, the coupon storage assembly includes a first coupon magazine storing a set of first-shaped coupons and a second coupon magazine storing a set of second-shaped coupons, different in shape from the first-shaped coupons, and wherein the coupon moving assembly includes a first moveable coupon carrier, positioned to receive coupons from the first magazine, that is shaped to hold first-shaped coupons and a second moveable coupon carrier, positioned to receive coupons from the second magazine and that is shaped to hold second-shaped coupons.

Abstract: When reading a coupon that displays a pattern when a target substance is detected, recognition of the target pattern can be hindered by nonuniform illumination of the coupon. In one aspect, methods and devices are disclosed for uniform illumination of a coupon using a negative axicon lens and a light diffusing assembly. In another separate aspect, methods are disclosed for mathematically compensating for nonuniform illumination of a coupon.

Abstract: When reading a coupon that displays a pattern when a target substance is detected, recognition of the target pattern can be hindered by nonuniform illumination of the coupon. In one aspect, methods and devices are disclosed for uniform illumination of a coupon using a negative axicon lens and a light diffusing assembly. In another separate aspect, methods are disclosed for mathematically compensating for nonuniform illumination of a coupon.

Abstract: An optical assay apparatus having an optical filter, an optical sensor with a light ray redirection portion and an assay sensing portion, and a filter to block certain wavelengths of excitation light rays and to pass certain wavelengths of signal recovery light rays from the optical sensor. A method for performing an assay that includes providing at least one assay station, moving the optical sensor into position over a respective fluid in at least one assay station, immersing the assay sensing portion in the respective fluid, and removing the assay sensing portion from the respective fluid.