Refractory anchoring devices include a main body and a mounting feature for mounting to a thermal vessel. The main body has the shape of two end-to-end Y's forming a central segment, branch segments extending from ends of the central segment, and extension segments extending from the branch segments, to collectively form four unenclosed cell openings that are semi-hexagonally shaped. Some embodiments include reinforcement segments extending into respective cell openings, voids extending through respective adjacent branch and extension segments, an underbody gap under the central segment, a single stud-welding stud for the mounting feature, and/or a collar-and-stud connection between the anchor main body and a stud-welding stud of the mounting feature. Refractory anchoring systems and methods include an array of the refractory anchoring devices arranged and mounted so that the unenclosed semi-hexagonal cell openings of adjacent anchoring devices cooperatively form substantially hexagonal cells.

Refractory anchoring devices include a main body and a mounting feature for mounting to a thermal vessel. The main body has the shape of two end-to-end Y's forming a central segment, branch segments extending from ends of the central segment, and extension segments extending from the branch segments, to collectively form four unenclosed cell openings that are semi-hexagonally shaped. Some embodiments include reinforcement segments extending into respective cell openings, voids extending through respective adjacent branch and extension segments, an underbody gap under the central segment, a single stud-welding stud for the mounting feature, and/or a collar-and-stud connection between the anchor main body and a stud-welding stud of the mounting feature. Refractory anchoring systems and methods include an array of the refractory anchoring devices arranged and mounted so that the unenclosed semi-hexagonal cell openings of adjacent anchoring devices cooperatively form substantially hexagonal cells.

A transportation method for transporting an object including a plurality of Fabry-Perot interference filters, the transportation method including a first step of accommodating the object in an accommodating container, wherein the Fabry-Perot interference filter includes a substrate, a first mirror portion and a second mirror portion provided on the substrate to face each other via a gap and in which a distance from each other is variable, and in the first step, the object is accommodated and supported in the accommodating container in a state where the plurality of Fabry-Perot interference filters is two-dimensionally arranged.

A transportation method for transporting an object including a plurality of Fabry-Perot interference filters, the transportation method including a first step of accommodating the object in an accommodating container, wherein the Fabry-Perot interference filter includes a substrate, a first mirror portion and a second mirror portion provided on the substrate to face each other via a gap and in which a distance from each other is variable, and in the first step, the object is accommodated and supported in the accommodating container in a state where the plurality of Fabry-Perot interference filters is two-dimensionally arranged.

A protective sheath having a closed end and an open end is sized to receive a hand held spectrometer. The spectrometer can be placed in the sheath to calibrate the spectrometer and to measure samples. In a calibration orientation, an optical head of the spectrometer can be oriented toward the closed end of the sheath where a calibration material is located. In a measurement orientation, the optical head of the spectrometer can be oriented toward the open end of the sheath in order to measure a sample. To change the orientation, the spectrometer can be removed from the sheath container and placed in the sheath container with the calibration orientation or the measurement orientation. Accessory container covers can be provided and placed on the open end of the sheath with samples placed therein in order to provide improved measurements.

The invention relates to an optical method for detecting at least one target molecule (TM) contained in a sample at a determined concentration, which comprises: (a) bringing a sample containing the TM into contact, in a liquid medium, with a solution containing nanoparticles (NPs), the surface of the NPs having been coated or functionalised with at least one type of specific bioreceptor (BR) of the target molecule to be detected (NP-BR), such that the BRs specifically recognise the TM, thus forming conjugates of the NP-BRs with the TMs (NP-BR-TMs); (b) separating the nanoparticles conjugates (NP-BR-TMs and/or NP-BRs) formed in the previous step; (c) bringing the nanoparticles conjugates (NP-BR-TMs and/or NP-BRs) into contact with a sensor surface of an optical transducer that operates by means of reflection and/or transmission, the response of which is based on optical interference, the sensor surface being functionalised by immobilising thereon: (i) the target molecule (TM) or (ii) at least one specific bioreceptor of the target molecule, which may be of the same type (BR) or of another type (BR1); and (d) determining the optical reading on the sensor surface by means of change in the interference response of the optical transducer, caused by change in the real part of the refractive index as a result of the NP conjugates recognised on the sensor surface, and/or by means of change in intensity in the interference response, caused by variation in intensity as a result of dispersion or as a result of variation in the complex part of the refractive index of the NP conjugates, or by means of a combination of both effects amplification in the interference response by refractive index and scattering.

A light detecting device is provided with: a filter array including filters arranged two-dimensionally, each of the filters having a light-incident surface and a light-emitting surface, the filters including multiple types of filters having mutually different transmission spectra; and an image sensor having a light-detecting surface facing the light-emitting surface, the image sensor being provided with light-detecting elements arranged two-dimensionally on the light-detecting surface, wherein the distance between the light-emitting surface and the light-detecting surface is different for each of the filters.

A spatial Fourier transform spectrometer is disclosed. The Fourier transform spectrometer includes a Fabry-Perot interferometer with first and second optical surfaces. The gap between the first and second optical surfaces spatially varies in a direction that is orthogonal to the optical axis of the Fourier transform spectrometer. The Fabry-Perot interferometer creates an interference pattern from input light. An image of the interference pattern is captured by a detector, which is communicatively coupled to a processor. The processor is configured to process the interference pattern image to determine information about the spectral content of the input light.

A spatial Fourier transform spectrometer is disclosed. The Fourier transform spectrometer includes a Fabry-Perot interferometer with first and second optical surfaces. The gap between the first and second optical surfaces spatially varies in a direction that is orthogonal to the optical axis of the Fourier transform spectrometer. The Fabry-Perot interferometer creates an interference pattern from input light. An image of the interference pattern is captured by a detector, which is communicatively coupled to a processor. The processor is configured to process the interference pattern image to determine information about the spectral content of the input light.

A compact spectrometer is disclosed that is suitable for use in mobile devices such as cellular telephones. In preferred embodiments, the spectrometer comprises a filter, at least one Fourier transform focusing element, a micro-lens array, and a detector, but does not use any dispersive elements. Methods for using the spectrometer as an end-user device for performing on-site determinations of food quality, in particular, by comparison with an updatable database accessible by all users of the device, are also disclosed.