To provide a detector capable of reliably inducing a gas containing a detection target to a detection space. A detector which is attached to an installation surface of an installation target and has an attachment surface facing the installation surface includes a detection space into which a detection target flows; a light-emitting portion and a light-receiving portion which detect the detection target flowing into the detection space; a casing which accommodates the light-emitting portion, the light-receiving portion and the detection space; and a rib, an inclined surface, a light shielding portion, a casing side inflow opening, a substrate side outflow opening, a casing side outflow opening, a back plate, and the like which induce gas outside the casing, which is gas containing the detection target, to flow into the detection space inside the casing from an opposite side of the attachment surface of the casing and to flow out from the side of the attachment surface of the casing in a direction substantially orthogonal to the attachment surface.

A calibration material may be used to calibrate an optical sensor to help ensure that the optical sensor produces accurate measurements. In some examples, the calibration material may be used to calibrate both turbidity measurements made by an optical sensor and fluorometric measurements made by the same optical sensor. The calibration material may be an aqueous mixture that includes water in an amount greater than 70 percent by weight of the composition, inorganic, water-insoluble, light-scattering particles, and a viscosity modifier in an amount effective to maintain the inorganic, water-insoluble, light-scattering particles in suspension in the composition. The composition can be non-fluorescing when exposed to ultraviolet light. In addition, in some applications, the composition is formulated of food safe ingredients, allowing the composition to be used in facilities that process consumable foods and beverages.

A method for measuring asphaltene content of a crude oil is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes measuring an optical density of a live crude oil within a well and calculating a formation volume factor of the live crude oil based on the measured optical density. The method also includes determining asphaltene content of the live crude oil based on the measured optical density and the calculated formation volume factor of the live crude oil. Additional methods, systems, and devices are also disclosed.

A debris detection system includes a chamber configured to permit particles to pass through the chamber; an optical fiber or fiber optic cable providing a light path; a collimator configured to channel light from the light path into the chamber; and a reflector configured to reflect light back to the collimator for signal detection. In embodiments, the reflector may include a mirror. Methods for detecting particles and information and/or parameters associated with particles, including that associated with reflected light, are disclosed.

Gain independent reference channel measurement system and method. A method of making robust, stable measurements, in a variety of different applications is disclosed. More specifically, this disclosure describes systems and methods relating to performing gain independent reference channel measurements by making two phase measurements of a device under test. Mathematically, the measurements are combined and many common mode parameters drop out. The result yields an analysis of a device under test analysis which mitigated errors, predominately arising from environmental variations and changes in circuit behavior stemming from swings in signal input.

A device for assessing changes in erythrocyte deformability, such as erythrocyte sickling tendency in a controlled hypoxic atmosphere, comprising: an at least partially transparent inner wall, an at least partially transparent outer wall extending parallel with the inner wall, wherein a gap is present between the inner and outer walls for receiving a blood sample, wherein one of said walls is movable parallel to and relative to the other one of said walls so as to exert a shear force to the sample in the gap, a light source arranged to emit light in a perpendicular direction through overlapping transparent parts of the inner and outer walls, a camera arranged to observe the light from the light source after it is emitted through said transparent parts of the inner and outer walls in order to detect and assess a diffraction pattern therein when a blood sample is present in said gap and the movable wall is being moved, and an oxygen sensor arranged to be in contact with the blood sample in the gap between the inner and outer walls and to measure the oxygen concentration in the blood sample when the blood sample is present in said gap and the movable wall is being moved. The device is in particular useful for research and development in the field of sickle cell disease and the efficacy of medication and treatments.

Described are systems and methods for optical characterization of inclusions, such as solids and liquids, in liquid samples. An inclusion characterization system may include a radiation source, a radiation detector, a sample optical cell, and a sample delivery mechanism. The radiation detector may be configured to perform time resolved measurements. The sample may be delivered to the sample optical cell by the sample delivery mechanism at a flow rate set for preserving the sample integrity (i.e., the transport rate). The inclusion characterization in the sample may be performed at flow rates set for sample analysis (i.e., the analysis rate). The analysis rate may differ from the transport rate. The rate difference may be achieved by diverting only a portion of the overall sample into the sample optical cell. Also provided are examples of disengagement of sample transport and analysis flow rates.

An optical analysis apparatus, that irradiates a liquid sample with light and analyzes the sample, includes a measurement unit that measures the sample, a light source portion that emits light with which the sample is irradiated, and a light receiving portion that receives the light transmitted through the sample. The measurement unit includes a housing provided with an opening portion for flowing in and out of the sample, an accommodation region connected to the opening portion and provided inside the housing, a movable portion provided inside the accommodation region to be movable inside the accommodation region, an irradiation portion which receives the light emitted from the light source portion and in which an inside of the accommodation region is irradiated with the light, and a light collection portion which collects the light transmitted through the sample inside the accommodation region and outputs the light to the light receiving portion.

A sample observation device includes a flow cell in which a fluid containing samples flows, an irradiation unit configured to irradiate the samples flowing in the flow cell with planar light, an image formation unit having an observation axis inclined with respect to an irradiation surface for the planar light, and configured to form an image of observation light generated in the sample due to the irradiation with the planar light, a two-dimensional imaging element configured to capture a light image including at least a cross section of the fluid among light images according to the observation light formed by the image formation unit, and outputs image data, and an analysis unit configured to analyze a light intensity profile of the sample in a flow direction of the fluid on the basis of the image data.

A detection unit that detects smoke contained in a gas by radiating detection light toward a detection space for detecting smoke, and an inner labyrinth for inhibiting ambient light from entering the detection space, the inner labyrinth being provided to cover an outer edge of the detection space are included, the detection unit includes a light emitting unit that radiates the detection light and a light receiving unit that receives the detection light radiated by the light emitting unit, and at least a part of a side surface of the inner labyrinth on a side of the detection space is formed in a flat shape capable of inhibiting the detection light reflected by the inner labyrinth from entering a field of view RV of the light receiving unit in the detection space.