A continuous dust accumulation monitoring system, device and method monitors and measures dust accumulation via an enclosure and a machine vision subsystem which can include a digital camera. A dirty optics detection subsystem monitors optical clarity and can invoke a cleaning assembly to help maintain clarity of optics for monitoring and measuring dust accumulation.

In a sample analyzing apparatus, an injector assembly injects a reagent onto a sample, and luminescent light from the sample is transmitted to a detector. The assembly may be movable toward and away from the sample. The assembly may include one or more needles that communicate with one or more reservoirs supplying reagent or other liquids. The assembly may include a light guide for communicating with the detector. A cartridge may be provided in which the assembly, one or more reservoirs, and one or more pumps are disposed. The cartridge and/or the apparatus may be configured for enabling rinsing or priming to be done outside the apparatus. The cartridge and/or the apparatus may include one or more types of sensors configured for detecting, for example, the presence of liquid or bubbles in one or more locations of the apparatus and/or the cartridge.

A sensor system includes a sensor including a sensor window; a nozzle aimed at the sensor window; a supply line to supply fluid to the nozzle; a primary reservoir to supply fluid to the supply line; a first valve actuatable to inject fluid from a first reservoir into the supply line; a second valve actuatable to inject fluid from a second reservoir into the supply line; a third valve actuatable to inject fluid from a third reservoir into the supply line; and a computer communicatively coupled to the sensor and the valves. The computer is programmed to actuate the first valve in response to determining a first condition based on data from the sensor, actuate the second valve in response to determining a second condition based on data from the sensor, and actuate the third valve in response to determining a third condition based on data from the sensor.

A system for automated collection of Raman spectra from ex-vivo tissue samples is provided. The system may comprise a cartesian robot that moves a detachable Raman probe to points on the ex-vivo tissue sample that have been predetermined through a 3D image of the sample. Accordingly, methods of rapid acquisition of multiple Raman spectra from a heterogeneous tissue sample are provided. The inventive methods consider variable contours of the sample to provide Raman spectra from multiple points while generating optimal coverage of the sample. The inventive methods include cleaning the Raman probe between acquisitions of Raman spectra from the multiple points.

A system and method for the spectrophotometric analysis of a sample of a liquid solution while it flows in a duct. The method determines the luminous intensity (I.sub.in) of a substantially monochromatic beam based on the cleaning state of a measurement chamber and/or ageing of at least one emitting device and/or ageing of at least one detecting device, whereby the worse is the cleaning state of the measurement chamber and/or the greater is the ageing state of the at least one emitting device and/or the at least one detecting device, the higher the luminous intensity (I.sub.in) of the substantially monochromatic beam.

A maintenance method of a gas detecting device includes the following steps: providing the gas detecting device that includes a shell component, a sensing component, a dust blocking element, and a detecting area, the sensing component including a sensor, a reference light source, and a processor, and the dust blocking element including a cover; the reference light source generating a reference beam projecting toward the cover and the detecting area, and the reference beam generating a feedback beam projecting toward the cover and the sensor through being reflected by a part of the shell component positioned at the detecting area; the sensor receiving the feedback beam to generate a measured information; and the processor comparing the measured information to an initial information in the processor, so as to obtain a pollution degree information of the cover.

A maintenance method of a gas detecting device includes the following steps: providing the gas detecting device that includes a shell component, a sensing component, a dust blocking element, and a detecting area, the sensing component including a sensor, a reference light source, and a processor, and the dust blocking element including a cover; the reference light source generating a reference beam projecting toward the cover and the detecting area, and the reference beam generating a feedback beam projecting toward the cover and the sensor through being reflected by a part of the shell component positioned at the detecting area; the sensor receiving the feedback beam to generate a measured information; and the processor comparing the measured information to an initial information in the processor, so as to obtain a pollution degree information of the cover.

A determining unit 31 determines an image region of a foreign material in an imaged image generated by an imaging unit 22 by using an imaging optical system 21. A setting unit 32 sets a pressure, injection time, an injection direction of air injected to the foreign material, an injection pattern obtained by combining them and the like based on a determination result. A foreign material removal processing unit 33 adjusts air injection by an air injection adjusting unit 331 based on the setting by the setting unit 32 and injects from an air injecting unit 332 to the imaging optical system 21 to remove the foreign material adhering to the imaging optical system 21. The air is injected according to an adhesion condition of the foreign material, so that the foreign material adhering to the imaging optical system may be optimally removed.

A sensor assembly includes a passageway for a process fluid, an optical window, an optical sensor, and a nozzle. The optical sensor configured to detect an optical property of the process fluid. The optical window includes an inner surface. The nozzle configured discharge an atomized fluid in a discharge direction that intersects the inner surface of the optical window. A sensor system includes a sensor assembly and conduits for supplying a gas and a liquid to a nozzle of the sensor assembly. A method of cleaning an optical window in a sensor assembly includes forming an atomized fluid and discharging the atomized fluid in a discharge direction that intersects the optical window.

A sensor system includes a sensor including a sensor window; a nozzle aimed at the sensor window; a supply line to supply fluid to the nozzle; a primary reservoir to supply fluid to the supply line; a first valve actuatable to inject fluid from a first reservoir into the supply line; a second valve actuatable to inject fluid from a second reservoir into the supply line; a third valve actuatable to inject fluid from a third reservoir into the supply line; and a computer communicatively coupled to the sensor and the valves. The computer is programmed to actuate the first valve in response to determining a first condition based on data from the sensor, actuate the second valve in response to determining a second condition based on data from the sensor, and actuate the third valve in response to determining a third condition based on data from the sensor.