A foreign object inspection device determines the position and the shape of foreign objects remaining on a workpiece. The foreign object inspection device for inspecting foreign objects at inspection spots of a workpiece includes a nozzle including a suction port that sucks a foreign object, an exhauster, and a suction channel connecting the nozzle to the exhauster, and a detector installed on the suction channel to detect foreign object information about the shape of the foreign object sucked through the suction port.

A cell inspection method includes a concentrate production step, a staining step, a cell precipitation step, and an observation step. In the concentrate production step, the cell concentrate is produced by causing an inner cylinder which has a filter provided on a bottom surface to enter from the bottom surface side into the through hole of the outer cylinder and bringing the inner cylinder closer to the slide, the inner cylinder having an internal space, and in the observation step, observation is performed in a state where the inner cylinder is entered into the outer cylinder.

The invention relates to a method for determination of ambient mineral dust concentration based on optical absorption of particles concentrated by a virtual impactor as well as a device performing the said method. The method comprises the following steps: Sampling air samples with particle size smaller than 1 m (PM.sub.1) and sampling air samples with particle size up to 10 m; Concentrating the samples with particle sizes up to 10 m with a virtual impactor; Measuring optical absorption of collected samples at least one wavelength from UV to IR spectre, preferably from 370 to 950 nm, most preferably at 370 nm; Subtracting the absorption of the samples with particle size smaller than 1 m from the absorption of the sample concentrated by the virtual impactor.

A system and method for automated analysis of a filter obtained from an air quality monitoring apparatus used for sampling airborne respirable particles such as asbestos fibres, synthetic mineral fibres, pollen or mould particles is described. The system comprises capturing images at a plurality of sample locations. At least one magnified phase contrast image is obtained at each sample location. An automated quality assessment is then performed using a computer vision method to assess one or more quality criteria. Failure may lead to the sample location being ignored for subsequent analysis, or the whole filter slide may be rejected if the overall quality is poor. The quality assessment may performed be in two stages comprising an overall filter quality assessment performed on a series of low power/magnification images captured over the filter and a field of view or graticule level quality assessment performed on high power/magnification images captured at individual sample locations on the filter. Images which pass the quality assessment are then analysed using a computer vision method to identify and count the number of respirable particles.

Disclosed are methods and systems for analyte detection in a sample and more particularly, a biological sample. Methods and systems particularly relate to differentiating and/or identifying cell types in biological samples, such as blood samples, by adding antibodies specific to predetermined CD antigens. Other methods and systems relate to controlling the dynamic range of an assay for analyte detection.

To enable exhaust gas analysis by taking into account the influence of particulates contained in air in a test chamber, an analysis system that analyzes exhaust gas discharged from a test piece that is provided in the test chamber and that includes an engine includes a sampling unit that samples the particulates contained in the air in the test chamber, a first analyzing unit that analyzes the particulates sampled by the sampling unit, and an analysis result output unit that outputs an analysis result of the first analyzing unit.

A protection device for an oil-smoke sensor has a protection housing having two ends and an inner chamber; the first end having a first opening for receiving a probe of the oil-smoke sensor and in communication with the inner chamber; a second opening is disposed on the second end which is opposite to the first opening and in communication with the inner chamber. Because the probe is sealing mounted in the first opening, the probe will not be directly exposed in oil-smoke flow. The protective device is mounted such that the axial direction of the protective device is vertical to the oil-smoke flow direction. Therefore, the inner chamber of the protection housing has a pressure with respect to the oil-smoke flow that tangentially flows at a high speed, and the oil-smoke can only be diffused into the protection housing, thus, the probe is much less likely to be contaminated.

An analyzing apparatus includes a collection filter, a two-dimensional sensor, and a calculation unit. The collection filter collects fine particulate matter included in the air. The two-dimensional sensor obtains collection image data including a collection area of the collection filter in which the fine particulate matter is collected. The calculation unit calculates data relating to content of the colored particulate matter included in the collection area based on the collection image data.

An apparatus for sensing particulate matter in a fluid includes a substrate; and an integrated circuit electrically connected to the substrate, the integrated circuit including a photodetector. The apparatus includes a filter assembly including a particle filter aligned with the photodetector, and a filter housing for the particle filter, the filter housing defining a flow path for fluid through the particle filter. The apparatus includes a light source electrically connected to the substrate and positioned to illuminate the particle filter.

A protection device for an oil-smoke sensor comprises a protection housing (1) having a first end, a second end, and an inner chamber (2); the first end having a first opening (3) for receiving a probe (5) of the oil-smoke sensor and in communication with the inner chamber (2); a second opening (4) is disposed on the second end which is opposite to the first opening (3) and in communication with the inner chamber (2). Because the probe (5) is sealing mounted in the first opening (3), the probe (5) will not be directly exposed in oil-smoke flow. When in use, the protective device is mounted in a manner that the axial direction of the protective device is vertical to the oil-smoke flow direction. Therefore, the inner chamber of the protection housing has a pressure with respect to the oil-smoke flow that tangentially flows at a high speed, and the oil-smoke can only be diffused into the protection housing, thus, the probe is much less likely to be contaminated; and the protection device has a good effect in preventing dust and oil-smoke pollution.