Disclosed herein is a method for improving the precision of a test result from an instrument with an optical system that detects a signal. The method comprises including in the instrument a normalization target disposed directly or indirectly in the optical path of the optical system. Also disclosed are instruments comprising a normalization target, and systems comprising such an instrument and a test device that receives a sample suspected of containing an analyte.

A turbidity sensor featuring a signal processor or processing module configured to: receive signaling containing information about light reflected off suspended matter in a liquid and sensed by a linear sensor array having rows and columns of optical elements; and determine corresponding signaling containing information about a concentration of turbidity of the liquid, based upon the signaling received.

To characterize hydrocarbon contamination, a container, an ultraviolet laser source and a detector are spatially positioned relative to each other. The container carries a hydrocarbon sample including a first hydrocarbon and a second hydrocarbon. The ultraviolet laser source is configured to emit an ultraviolet laser at a wavelength to irradiate the hydrocarbon sample in the container. The wavelength is configured to induce fluorescence in the hydrocarbon sample. The detector is configured to detect the induced fluorescence. The hydrocarbon sample in the container is irradiated with the ultraviolet laser at multiple locations within the container at respective multiple distances from the detector. The multiple locations are arranged in a straight line normal to the detector. A volume of the first hydrocarbon in the hydrocarbon sample is determined based on induced fluorescence detected by the detector at each of the multiple locations arranged in the straight line normal to the detector

Disclosed herein is a method for improving the precision of a test result from an instrument with an optical system that detects a signal. The method comprises including in the instrument a normalization target disposed directly or indirectly in the optical path of the optical system. Also disclosed are instruments comprising a normalization target, and systems comprising such an instrument and a test device that receives a sample suspected of containing an analyte.

There is disclosed a method of calibrating a gas sensor comprising a luminescent compound having a luminescence lifetime that is quenched by a gaseous substance which uses a model of the relationship between the luminescence lifetime and the concentration of the gaseous substance that is modified by a calibration factor representing a proportion of the compound not being exposed to the gaseous substance, the method comprising: measuring values of the luminescence lifetime of the luminescent compound while the gas sensor is exposed to at least two known concentrations of the gaseous substance; and deriving the calibration factor from the measured values of the luminescence lifetime using the model. Also disclosed are a corresponding gas sensor apparatus for measuring the concentration of a gaseous substance in an environment, and method of measuring a concentration of a gaseous substance in an environment using a gas sensor.

A measurement apparatus for weight measuring composite sheet including a sheet material having a second material thereon as a coating and/or as embedded particles therein. The apparatus includes an x-ray sensor for providing an x-ray signal from x-ray irradiating the composite sheet and an infrared (IR) sensor for providing an IR signal from IR irradiating the composite sheet. A computing device is coupled to receive the x-ray signal and the IR signal that includes a processor having an associated memory for implementing an algorithm, where the algorithm uses the x-ray signal and the IR signal to compute a plurality of weights selected from a weight of the sheet material, a weight of the second material, and a total weight of the composite sheet.

A measurement apparatus for weight measuring composite sheet including a sheet material having a second material thereon as a coating and/or as embedded particles therein. The apparatus includes an x-ray sensor for providing an x-ray signal from x-ray irradiating the composite sheet and an infrared (IR) sensor for providing an IR signal from IR irradiating the composite sheet. A computing device is coupled to receive the x-ray signal and the IR signal that includes a processor having an associated memory for implementing an algorithm, where the algorithm uses the x-ray signal and the IR signal to compute a plurality of weights selected from a weight of the sheet material, a weight of the second material, and a total weight of the composite sheet.

Disclosed herein is a method for improving the precision of a test result from an instrument with an optical system that detects a signal. The method comprises including in the instrument a normalization target disposed directly or indirectly in the optical path of the optical system. Also disclosed are instruments comprising a normalization target, and systems comprising such an instrument and a test device that receives a sample suspected of containing an analyte.

A calibration curve setting method used at the time of quantitatively analyzing specific components in a drug by a transmission Raman spectrum, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining respective transmission Raman spectra of a plurality of different wave number ranges including Raman hands corresponding to the specific components of a plurality of known drugs of which concentrations or amounts of the specific components are known and the concentrations or the amounts are different from each other; calculating candidate calibration curves which are candidates for calibration curves used for the quantitative analysis respectively from a plurality of transmission. Raman spectra in each of the wave number ranges; and using the most probable candidate calibration curve as a calibration curve for the quantitative analysis of the specific components, among the respective candidate calibration curves.

Disclosed herein is a method for improving the precision of a test result from an instrument with an optical system that detects a signal. The method comprises including in the instrument a normalization target disposed directly or indirectly in the optical path of the optical system. Also disclosed are instruments comprising a normalization target, and systems comprising such an instrument and a test device that receives a sample suspected of containing an analyte.