Abstract: A system for conducting an optical inspection of a biological, chemical, or biochemical sample supported by an optically transparent disc. The disc is mounted for rotation about its central axis while a light source and a plurality of radiation detectors are provided for scanning optically readable portions and tracking information encoded to the disc and scanning the sample. The source is arranged above the disc and the detectors are arranged above and below the disc. The optical properties of the sample can be automatically and rapidly inspected by analyzing the output of the light detectors including the use of a ratio of first and second detector output. A third detector output also may be used in the analysis.

Abstract: A system for conducting an optical inspection of a biological, chemical, or biochemical sample supported by an optically transparent disc. The disc is mounted for rotation about its central axis while a light source and detector are mounted on an arm for rotation in an arc crossing the surface of the disc. The source is arranged above the disc and the detector is arranged below the disc with the optical axes provided with a calibration marking which interrupts the passage of the light beam when the beam passes over it, thus allowing the scan to be aligned relative to the disc. The optical properties of the sample supported on the substrate can be automatically and rapidly inspected by analyzing the output of the light detector.

Abstract: An optical disk for use in conducting an optical inspection of a biological, chemical or biochemical sample in association with an optical reader capable of scanning and reading optical disks with a beam of light has an optically transparent substrate having a semi-reflective layer which reflects a portion of the beam of light to form a reflected beam and transmits a portion of the beam of light to form a transmitted beam. The semi-reflective layer includes optically readable encoded information to be read by the reader for controlling the scanning of the reader relative the disk, the encoded information providing modulation of the reflected beam. The disk includes a sample support surface positioned to be scanned by the reader and on which the biological, chemical or biochemical sample may be located for optical inspection with the transmitted beam.

Abstract: A system for conducting an optical inspection of a biological, chemical, or biochemical sample supported by an optically transparent disc. The disc is mounted for rotation about its central axis while a light source and detector are mounted on an arm for rotation in an arc crossing the surface of the disc. The source is arranged above the disc and the detector is arranged below the disc with the optical axes provided with a calibration marking which interrupts the passage of the light beam when the beam passes over it, thus allowing the scan to be aligned relative to the disc. The optical properties of the sample supported on the substrate can be automatically and rapidly inspected by analyzing the output of the light detector.

Abstract: A system and method for conducting an optical inspection of a biological, chemical, or biochemical sample supported by an optical transparent disc. The disc is mounted for rotation about its central axis whilst a light source and detector are mounted on an arm for rotation in an arc crossing the surface of the disc. The source is arranged above the disc and the detector below the disc with the optical axes of the two being aligned so that the entire usable surface of the disc can be scanned by the light source and detector. The disc is provided with a calibration marking which interrupts the passage of the light beam when the beam passes over it, thus allowing the scan to be aligned relative to the disc. The optical properties of the sample supported on the substrate can be automatically and rapidly inspected by analyzing the output of the light detector.