The present invention relates to the field of biochemical detection, and in particular to a reading apparatus for reading an assay result on a testing element. The reading apparatus comprises a first light-emitting element, a first photodetector and a light blocking element, wherein the first light-emitting element emits light and illuminates one or more corresponding areas of the testing element, the first photodetector receives light from one or more corresponding areas of the testing element, and the light blocking element guides a path of light emitted from a light emitting element and/or from a testing element. The light blocking element separates photodetectors in separate spaces, including a first light blocking element and a second light blocking element, wherein the first light blocking element is located between the first light-emitting element and the first photodetector, to guide the light emitted from the light emitting element to illuminate the testing element. The reading apparatus of the present invention allows light from a specific area of the testing element to be received by the photodetector and blocks invalid light from unrelated areas from entering the photodetector, thereby enhancing the accuracy and sensitivity of detection.

A droplet sensor includes an optical cover that forms part of a spheroid, a major axis of the spheroid being a vertical axis, a light emitting/receiving device disposed at a position offset from a first focal point of the spheroid along the major axis, and a reflector disposed in vicinity of a second focal point of the spheroid. The optical cover has an effective detection area between the light emitting/receiving device and the reflector. The effective detection area satisfies a total internal reflection condition at an interface with a gas, and does not satisfy the total internal reflection condition at an interface with a liquid. The reflector reflects, towards a light receiving surface of the light emitting/receiving device, light totally reflected by the effective detection area, or reflects, towards the effective detection area, light directly incident on the reflector from the light emitting/receiving device.

A droplet sensor includes an optical cover that forms part of a spheroid, a major axis of the spheroid being a vertical axis, a light emitting/receiving device disposed at a position offset from a first focal point of the spheroid along the major axis, and a reflector disposed in vicinity of a second focal point of the spheroid. The optical cover has an effective detection area between the light emitting/receiving device and the reflector. The effective detection area satisfies a total internal reflection condition at an interface with a gas, and does not satisfy the total internal reflection condition at an interface with a liquid. The reflector reflects, towards a light receiving surface of the light emitting/receiving device, light totally reflected by the effective detection area, or reflects, towards the effective detection area, light directly incident on the reflector from the light emitting/receiving device.

In an information processing apparatus, a captured image acquiring section acquires data of an image captured of a reference object while part of incident light applied thereto is being blocked. An incident light information acquiring section acquires, according to a predetermined model equation, a brightness distribution of partial incident light in each of light-blocked states on the basis of the image of the reference object, and acquires a brightness distribution of overall incident light by calculating brightness distributions of partial incident light. A target information acquiring section acquires the shape and material of a target by using the brightness distribution of overall incident light.

In an information processing apparatus, a captured image acquiring section acquires data of an image captured of a reference object while part of incident light applied thereto is being blocked. An incident light information acquiring section acquires, according to a predetermined model equation, a brightness distribution of partial incident light in each of light-blocked states on the basis of the image of the reference object, and acquires a brightness distribution of overall incident light by calculating brightness distributions of partial incident light. A target information acquiring section acquires the shape and material of a target by using the brightness distribution of overall incident light.

An EUV reflectometer includes a radiation source, a beam shaping unit (130) generating a measurement beam (190) from the radiation; a positioning device (500) for holding and positioning a test object (110) relative to the measurement beam in plural degrees of freedom; and a detector that detects the EUV radiation reflected by the test object. The positioning device has a main carrier (520), which is rotatable about a vertical rotation axis and on which a parallel kinematic multi-axis system (530) having a multiplicity of actuators is arranged. A common platform (540) movable in three linear and three rotational degrees of freedom carries a holding device (550) for holding the test object and a rotary drive for rotating the holding device about a rotation axis. An associated measuring system (700) determines the location and position of the test object in space and/or in relation to the measurement beam.

An EUV reflectometer includes a radiation source, a beam shaping unit (130) generating a measurement beam (190) from the radiation; a positioning device (500) for holding and positioning a test object (110) relative to the measurement beam in plural degrees of freedom; and a detector that detects the EUV radiation reflected by the test object. The positioning device has a main carrier (520), which is rotatable about a vertical rotation axis and on which a parallel kinematic multi-axis system (530) having a multiplicity of actuators is arranged. A common platform (540) movable in three linear and three rotational degrees of freedom carries a holding device (550) for holding the test object and a rotary drive for rotating the holding device about a rotation axis. An associated measuring system (700) determines the location and position of the test object in space and/or in relation to the measurement beam.

A receiver of a lidar system configured to receive one or more scattered light pulses from a target in a field of regard of the lidar system. The receiver includes a detector that emits an electric signal representative of the received light pulse in response to detecting the received light pulse. The receiver further includes one or more analog circuits configured to receive the electric signal from the detector, sample one or more voltages of the electric signal, and determine the energy of the received light pulse based at least on the one or more sampled voltages. The lidar system may further calculate a reflectivity and/or other characteristics of the target based at least on the energy of the received light pulse.

A receiver of a lidar system configured to receive one or more scattered light pulses from a target in a field of regard of the lidar system. The receiver includes a detector that emits an electric signal representative of the received light pulse in response to detecting the received light pulse. The receiver further includes one or more analog circuits configured to receive the electric signal from the detector, sample one or more voltages of the electric signal, and determine the energy of the received light pulse based at least on the one or more sampled voltages. The lidar system may further calculate a reflectivity and/or other characteristics of the target based at least on the energy of the received light pulse.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of measuring the optical reflectance R of a target using a detection system comprising a light emitter and a light detector spaced apart from one another. The method comprises illuminating the target with the light emitter, detecting light reflected from the target using the light detector, wherein the light detector provides an electrical output signal S.sub.S indicative of the intensity of the detected light, and determining the optical reflectance R of the target according to (Formula 1), where R.sub.R is the spectral reflectance of a reference standard, S.sub.R is the detector electrical output signal with the reference standard in place, S.sub.H is the detector electrical output signal with no target in front of the light emitter and light detector, and M is a calibration factor.

[00001]$\begin{array}{cc}R=M.Math.R_R\frac{s_s-s_H}{M.Math..Math.s_R-s_H.Math.-R_R.Math.s_R-s_s.Math.},& \left(1\right)\end{array}$