A fumed silica monolithic integrating cavity device. The device is configured to facilitate optical measurements taken from a sample positioned within a cavity of the device. The cavity is defined by a fumed silica monolith with the added feature of a fused quartz lining on the surface of the monolith. This provides an intermediate surface that allows for cleaning and reuse of the highly effective diffuse light scattering fumed silica monolith. Furthermore, the lining may be placed under pressure or vacuum to structurally enhance mechanical integrity of the underlying monolith. Thus, continued or reliably repeated use of the device may be appreciated as well as use in more industrial environments that are prone to vibration.

A measurement system may include a diffusive cavity including a reflective internal surface and one or more ports, a sample chamber located within the diffusive cavity, and a light source to direct measurement light into the diffusive cavity through one of the one or more ports of the diffusive cavity. The diffusive cavity may uniform illumination of the sample through diffusive reflection of at least one of the measurement light from the light source or scattered measurement light from the sample. The system may further include two or more detectors to capture light exiting at least one of the one or more ports. The system may further include a controller to receive detection signals from the two or more detectors indicative of the scattering of the measurement light by the sample and determine one or more time-varying properties of the sample based on the detection signals.

A reflection rate detection device and reflection rate detection method for a liquid crystal panel are provided by embodiments of the present application. A sphere of the liquid crystal panel is a hollow sphere, and an inner wall of the sphere is uniformly sprayed with diffuse reflection materials. The sphere is provided with a window hole, and the window hole corresponds to the liquid crystal panel. The emitting light source is disposed on the sphere, the emitting light source is configured to emit light, and emitted light enters the liquid crystal panel. The receiver is configured to receive reflection energy of the liquid crystal panel. A reflection rate of a large-area liquid crystal panel can be detected by the present application.

Provided is a portable biosensor that includes a sample filter cartridge, a filter collector, an optical sphere, an electromagnetic radiation emitter, a photo-detector, a processor, a signal display, a vacuum pump, and a power supply. The sample filter cartridge selectively removes small molecules to minimize spectral interference in the detection signal. The sample is concentrated onto the filter collector and subjected to illumination by the electromagnetic radiation emitter, producing Raman-scattering. The optical sphere collects and distributes the Raman-scattering shifts, which then pass through a spectral filter to produce spectral filtered scattering, which is then reflected by the concave holographic flat-field grating onto the photo-detector. The data is displayed graphically to provide the Raman-scattering shift data. The data is compared with a database for sample identification. The device is contained within a housing that is small enough to be easily transported for field use.

A system (100) for viewing and ascertaining optical characteristics of gemstones, said system including a first and second integrating sphere (150,150a), wherein each integrating sphere (150,150a) is in optical communication with each other and having a spacer portion (116) disposed therebetween, a first light source (118) engaged with the first sphere (150) and for providing light to the interior of the first sphere (150) and a second light source (118a) engaged with the second sphere (150a) and for providing light to the interior of the second sphere (150a); at least one optical image acquisition device (110) in communication with the interior of one of the spheres for acquisition of an optical image of a gemstone disposed in a region between the spheres; a transparent platform (117) for supporting the gemstone between the two integrating spheres (150,150a); and a control module (120) in communication with the optical image acquisition device (110), for controlling the acquisition of optical images of gemstones thereof; wherein said optical image of the gemstone is processed by a processor to ascertain one or more optical characteristics of the gemstone.

An inspection system is described. The inspection system includes a camera and a housing. The housing contains a reflective dome. The reflective dome includes an apex and a viewport. The viewport is offset from the apex. The camera is mounted to capture light exiting the reflective dome through the viewport. And, a plurality of light sources are arranged about the reflective dome such that light output from the plurality of light sources enters the dome.

Provided herein is an apparatus for assessing a color characteristic of a gemstone. The apparatus comprises an optically opaque platform for supporting a sample gemstone to be assessed, a daylight-approximating light source to provide uniform illumination to the gemstone, an image capturing component, and a telecentric lens positioned to provide an image of the illuminated gemstone to the image capturing component. Also provided are methods of color analysis based on images collected using such an apparatus.

A sample-container holding member is detachably attached to an integrator via a fixing member and holds a sample container, which comprises a cell containing a sample and a cap, in a state where the sample container is placed in the integrator. The sample-container holding member comprises a pillar-shaped support portion fixed to the fixing member and a container attaching portion which is provided at an end of the support portion in the axial direction and to which the sample container is attached. The container attaching portion comprises a housing portion housing a cap and a holding portion having contact with at least three points on an outer surface of the cell and holding the sample container.

Preparation of anhydrous lithium sulfide (Li.sub.2S) purified suitably for applications in advanced batteries, and, in particular, for synthesis of solid electrolytes based on Li.sub.2S, including sulfide solid electrolytes of the type that may be described as crystalline (e.g., polycrystalline), amorphous (e.g., glass) and combinations thereof, such as sulfide glass-ceramic solid electrolyte materials.

An apparatus, and method of operating the same, detects changes in biomass accumulating on a surface of a substrate while minimizing bulk effect. The apparatus includes a sensor substrate and two illumination sources. A first illumination source generates a first light having a first central wavelength. A second illumination source generates a second light having a second central wavelength different than the first wavelength. The first and second light are mixed to produce a combined light. An analyte solution is introduced to the sensor substrate. Incident light of the combined light is reflected from the sensor substrate to produce a signal. The signal is imaged with a camera to obtain a reflectance. Reflectance produced by the combined light is not affected by variations in the dielectric properties of the analyte solution. A biomass accumulated on the substrate is computed based on the reflectance.