An object of the present invention is to improve the quality level discrimination accuracy of the grain G by a grain quality level discrimination device. The device includes an optical unit 3 that emits light to the grain G, receives reflected and/or transmitted light from the grain G by a photosensor, and obtains information for discrimination of the quality level of the grain G from the upper and lower surface side of the grain G, and a quality level discrimination unit 7 that discriminates the quality level of the grain G on the basis of the information. The information on the upper and lower surface sides can be acquired by one optical unit at the same time so that the divergence therebetween due to the displacement or variation of the attitude of the grain G can be avoided. The reference plate for the correction of the information is placed outside of the moving path of the grain G to prevent it from soiling or damaging. Thus the deterioration of information can be avoided. Further, a reference plate especially for the information to be obtained from the side surface of the grain G may be provided for enhancing the accuracy of the side surface information. Thus the quality level discrimination accuracy can be improved further.

Described herein are various embodiments directed to rotor devices, methods, and systems. Embodiments of rotors disclosed herein may be used to characterize one or more analytes of a fluid. A method may include bonding a first layer and a second layer using two-shot injection molding. The first layer coupled to the second layer may collectively define a set of wells. The first layer may be substantially transparent. The second layer may define a channel. The second layer may be substantially absorbent to infrared radiation. A third layer may be bonded to the second layer using infrared radiation. The third layer may define an opening configured to receive a fluid. The third layer may be substantially transparent. The channel may establish a fluid communication path between the opening and the set of wells.

A brushless motor includes: a 2n-pole (n: natural number) rotor; and a first Hall element and a second Hall element arranged at a positional relationship of an angle (0<<180) from each other with respect to a rotation axis of the rotor. The first Hall element and the second Hall element each output a voltage signal in accordance with a magnitude of a magnetic field of the rotor. A rotational angle detection circuit for detecting a rotational angle of the brushless motor includes: a phase detection circuit that receives the voltage signals from the first Hall element and the second Hall element and that detects a phase of the rotor by using values of the voltage signals and information of the angle ; and an angle calculation circuit that calculates a rotational angle of the rotor calculated from an initial angle based on the phase and a predetermined reference angle.

The automatic analyzer includes a storage unit storing the reaction containers of cleaning target by day unit in such a manner that all the reaction containers mounted on a reaction disk are to be cleaning target within a plurality of days, and a control unit exerts a control in such a manner that during an operation state after the sample of analysis object is dispensed to the reaction containers, a sample of analysis object in each of the reaction containers is analyzed, and not the sample but a detergent is dispensed to the reaction containers of cleaning target of an appointed day, the reaction containers of cleaning target of the appointed day being stored in the storage unit, to soak and wash the reaction containers for a certain time.

An automatic analysis device that avoids carryover and prevents deterioration of analysis performance without controlling reaction cell position is provided with: a reaction cell in which a sample and a reagent are mixed and allowed to react; a light source that radiates light onto the mixed liquid of the sample and the reagent; a detector that detects the light radiated from the light source; and a cleaning mechanism that cleans the reaction cell. The cleaning mechanism includes an intake nozzle that draws in liquid from the reaction cell and a discharge nozzle that discharges the liquid into the reaction cell; the intake nozzle and the discharge nozzle can move vertically; and the intake nozzle is cleaned by lowering the intake nozzle into the reaction cell, in which a cleaning liquid or cleaning water have been accumulated, without drawing in the cleaning liquid or the cleaning water.

An automatic analysis apparatus comprises: a light source generating light having a center wavelength equal to or shorter than 340 nm; a fluorescent substance excited by the light source light, and generates light together with transmitted light from the light source, having a wavelength of 340 nm to 800 nm; a condenser lens; at least one slit; a reaction cell holding a reaction solution where a specimen and reagent are mixed, and that the light source light and the light from the fluorescent substance enter; and a detector that detects light transmitted through the reaction cell. The light source, fluorescent substance, condenser lens, and slit are provided along a straight light corresponding to the optical axis. The width of the slit's opening is equal to or narrower than the width of a ray forming an image of the light source at the position of the slit.

A computer-implemented method for calibrating a photometer in an in-vitro diagnostics analyzer includes generating a cuvette map of a reaction ring identifying a plurality of cuvette locations. The cuvette map is used to identify a plurality of reference measurement areas between the plurality of cuvette locations. A plurality of reference measurements are acquired in the reference measurement areas using the photometer. The photometer is automatically calibrated based on a comparison of the reference measurements to a predetermined standard setup of the photometer.

An optical positioning code disk, device and method for a microfluidic chip are provided. A cross section of an outer contour of the code disk is circular. N light transmissive openings are arranged uniformly around the code disk. The device includes: the code disk, a positioning pin, a rotating shaft, a motor, an internal photoelectric switch and an external photoelectric switch. A positioning surface is provided on the rotating shaft. The motor is fixedly connected with an end of the rotating shaft, and the other end of the rotating shaft passes through a center of the cross section of the code disk. The internal and external photoelectric switches are configured to identify the light transmissive openings on the code disk.

A computer-implemented method for performing photometric cuvette mapping includes detecting edges associated with a plurality of gaps between a plurality of vessels in a reaction ring during a complete rotation of a reaction ring. Each gap is determined according to an edge detection process which includes identifying: a vessel interior in response to detection of a first predetermined number of photometer device control manager (DCM) measurements below a threshold value; a rising edge in response to detection of a second predetermined number of photometer DCM measurements above the threshold value; and identifying a falling edge in response to detection of a third predetermined number of photometer DCM measurements below the threshold value. The edge detection process further includes recording the rising edge and the falling edge as being indicative of one of the plurality of gaps.

A high-speed, 3-D method and system for optically inspecting parts are provided. The system includes a part transfer subsystem including a transfer mechanism adapted to support a part at a loading station and transfer the supported part from the loading station to an inspection station at which the part has a predetermined position and orientation for inspection. The system also includes an illumination assembly to simultaneously illuminate an end surface of the part and a peripheral surface of the part. The system further includes a lens and detector assembly to form an optical image of the illuminated end surface and an optical image of the illuminated peripheral surface of the part and to detect the optical images. The system still further includes a processor to process the detected optical images to obtain an end view of the part and a 3-D panoramic view of the peripheral surface of the part.