Disclosed herein is a detector for determining at least one material property of at least one object. The detector includes at least one projector configured for illuminating the object with at least one illumination pattern including a plurality of illumination features; at least one first camera having at least one first sensor element; at least one second camera having at least one second sensor element; and at least one evaluation device configured for evaluating a first reflection image and the second reflection image.

An algorithm for determining viscoelastic modulus of an optically scattering biofluid that takes into account variable scattering and/or absorption characteristics of the biofluid. A correction to mean square displacement value charactetizing the Brownian motion of light scatterers is introduced based on a polarization-sensitive Monte-Carlo ray-tracing taking into account optical properties of the biofluid determined with the use of laser speckle rheology measurements. In contradistinction with a diffusion model, the correction-implemented determination of the viscoelastic modulus applies to a biofluid with substantially any concentration of light-scattering particles.

Methods and systems for automatically identifying and enumerating early granulated cells (EGC) in blood samples are disclosed. In one embodiment a method for identifying EGC in a blood sample includes analyzing white blood cells of the blood sample using a low angle light scatter (LALS) parameter, separating the EGCs from the other white blood cells using the LALS parameter, and enumerating the separated EGCs.

A gas detection apparatus includes a housing which carries a plurality of light emitting diodes which are coupled in parallel and which emit substantially the same wavelength of radiant energy. A closed loop control circuit maintains the radiant energy output of the diodes at substantially a predetermined value. The radiant light radiant light and a sample of a gas of interest are directed to a sensing position at which a gas responsive tape is positioned. Reflected light from the tape is detected at a sensor displaced from the tape. A light collecting element can be positioned between the coupled diodes and the sensing position.

A remote reflective materials sensor for detecting remotely located reflective material. The remote reflective materials sensor includes a transparent window with two window surfaces, an amount of reflective material that is remotely located away from one window surface. An operating parameters sensor located adjacent to the transparent window, a radiation detector located away from the other window surface; and two spaced apart radiation emitters located on either side of the radiation detector, and away from the second window surface. Each radiation emitter is configured to emit radiation along one axis through the transparent window towards the reflective material and towards a common focal point. The radiation detector is located to receive reflected radiation from the reflective material along another axis. The first axis of the radiation emitters is angled towards the other axis of the reflected radiation.

The present concept is a method of preparing an egg to determine the color of the egg using an egg yolk cover. The egg yolk cover is dome-shaped with a base edge and inspection area. The egg yolk cover eliminates ambient light from impinging on the egg yolk and is used in combination with a light sensor to determine the color of egg yolks. The light sensor includes a single flat printed circuit board with a top and bottom side which includes at least one LED light and one color sensor, at least one light pipe receiving light from the LED and transmitting it onto a substrate at an angle theta and a tube frame including an optical tube for receiving light reflections from the substrate. The light pipes and the tube frame are compression fit between the printed circuit board and a lower housing. To determine the color of the egg yolk, the egg is first cracked onto a flat surface. The egg yolk cover is then placed over the egg yolk and the color sensor is placed onto the inspection area to measure the color.

Turbidity measurements are obtained by directing a polarized optical beam to a scattering sample. Scattered portions of the beam are measured in orthogonal polarization states to determine a scattering minimum and a scattering maximum. These values are used to determine a degree of polarization of the scattered portions of the beam, and concentrations of scattering materials or turbidity can be estimated using the degree of polarization. Typically, linear polarizations are used, and scattering is measured along an axis that orthogonal to the direction of propagation of the polarized optical beam.

A method of monitoring the evolution of polymer and/or colloid stimuli responsiveness during synthesis of polymers and/or colloids, including postpolymerization modifications on natural and synthetic polymers, includes providing a reactor in which the polymers and/or colloids are synthesized; and providing a means of monitoring the stimuli responsiveness of the polymers and/or colloids during said synthesis. Preferably, the method also includes monitoring the evolution of the characteristics of the polymers and/or colloids during said synthesis. Preferably, evolution of polymer and/or colloid stimuli responsiveness is correlated to the evolution of the properties of the polymers and/or colloids themselves. Also, preferably the conditions of the fluid in the reactor in which the synthesis occurs is determined. The determination can be by detection, choice of materials and temperature conditions, for example, and combinations thereof. The method and instrumentation disclosed can lead to optimization and control of processes and synthetic and modification strategies leading to polymers and colloids with desired stimuli responsiveness.

A method may involve directing a fluid through a fluid path that includes industrial equipment during a phase of a clean-in-place (CIP) process to remove soil from the industrial equipment. The method can include analyzing a turbidity of a bolus of fluid within the fluid path at a first time to provide a first measured turbidity of the bolus of the fluid and at a second time to provide a second measured turbidity of the bolus of the fluid. In some cases, the bolus of the fluid travels through the industrial equipment between the first time and the second time. The method can include determining an end of the phase of the CIP process based on the first measured turbidity and the second measured turbidity, and controlling the CIP process based upon the determined end of the phase.

A method for interrogating a sample with a microscopy analyzer is disclosed. The method includes capturing, by an imaging sensor, of the microscopy analyzer, one or more first images, determining a stain intensity, modifying an intensity of a light source of the microscopy analyzer, based at least in part on the determined stain intensity, in response to modifying the intensity of the light source, capturing one or more second images from the imaging sensor, inputting the one or more first images and the one or more second images into one or more machine learning models, identifying, via the one or more machine learning models, one or more characteristics of the one or more first images and the one or more second images, and transmitting instructions that cause a graphical user interface to display a graphical indication of the one or more characteristics.