Optical sample characterization facilitates measurement and testing at any angle in a full range of angles of light propagation through an optical sample, such as a coated glass plate, having a higher than air index of refraction. A rotatable assembly includes a cylinder having a hollow, and a receptacle including the hollow. The receptacle also contains a fluid with a known refractive index. An optical light beam is input normal to the surface of the cylinder, travels through the cylinder, then via the fluid, to the optical sample, where light beam is transmitted and/or reflected, then exits the cylinder and is collected for analysis. Due at least in part to the fluid surrounding the optical sample, the optical sample can be rotated through a full range of angles (±90°, etc.) for full range testing of the optical sample.

A method and apparatus for determining a reflectance, of at least a portion of a target object, in at least one selected wavelength range of electromagnetic (EM) radiation are disclosed. The method comprises, for each selected wavelength range, providing a digital image including at least one target object and a plurality of reference objects, each reference object having respective non-identical predetermined reflectance characteristics, with a digital camera arrangement that provides output image data that comprises digital numbers that are responsive to radiation, in only a selected wavelength range, incident at a sensing plane of the digital camera arrangement. A relationship between a first set of the digital numbers is determined and a first set of the respective predetermined reflectance characteristics of the reference objects. Responsive to the relationship, a further set of digital numbers is transformed to allocate a value of reflectance for each of the digital numbers in the further set. For at least a portion of the target object, a corresponding first group of allocated values of reflectance is determined and responsive to the first group of allocated values, determining a reflectance of the portion of the target object.

A method for inspecting a pillar-shaped honeycomb structure includes steps of: capturing a pattern of reflected light from an end face with a camera and generating an image data of the pattern of the reflected light; distinguishing positional information of each of cells adjacent to an outer peripheral side wall and cells that are not adjacent to the outer peripheral side wall based on the image data of the pattern of the reflected light, and storing the distinguished positional information in a memory; capturing a pattern of transmitted light from the end face with the camera and generating an image data of the pattern of the transmitted light; measuring intensity of each transmitted light from the cells adjacent to the outer peripheral side wall to detect the cells having defective plugged portions that are adjacent to the outer peripheral side wall based on the generated image data of the pattern of the transmitted light and the positional information; and measuring intensity of each transmitted light from the cells that are not adjacent to the outer peripheral side wall to detect the cells having defective plugged portions that are not adjacent to the outer peripheral side wall based on the generated image data of the pattern of the transmitted light and the positional information.

Biomarkers of high blood pressure are measured to identify high blood pressure of the subject based on one or more biomarkers. In many embodiments, the response of the biomarker to blood pressure occurs over the course of at least an hour, such that the high blood pressure identification is based on a cumulative effect of physiology of the subject over a period of time. The methods and apparatus of identifying high blood pressure with biomarkers have the advantage of providing improved treatment of the subject, as the identified biomarker can be related to an effect of the high blood pressure on the subject, such as a biomarker corresponding to central blood pressure. The sample can be subjected to increases in one or more of pressure or temperatures, and changes in the blood sample measured over time.

Implementations disclosed describe a system including a light source, an optical sensor, and a processing device. The light source directs, during a first time, a probe light into a processing chamber through a window. The light source ceases, during a second time, directing the probe light into the processing chamber through the window. The optical sensor detects, during the first time, a first intensity of a first light. The first light includes a portion of the probe light reflected from the window and a light transmitted from an environment of the processing chamber through the window. The optical sensor detects, during the second time, a second intensity of a second light. The second light includes the light transmitted from the environment of the processing chamber through the window. The processing device determines, using the first intensity and the second intensity, a transmission coefficient of the window.

An optical sensor for examining value documents, such that at a point in time before the check of the value documents, a self-test of the optical sensor is carried out, during which the light sources thereof are switched on, and, with the aid of monitor elements, the respective light intensity of the light source assigned to the respective monitor element is detected which impinges on the respective monitor element at the time of the self-test. During the check of a value document following the self-test, the light sources illuminate the value document, and measured values are recorded. The recorded measured values are then corrected with the aid of the light intensities detected by the monitor elements at the time of the self-test to take into account a change in the light intensity emitted by the light sources that occurs in the course of the service life of the light sources.

A method for the time-differentiated detection of a spectrum of a test object comprises providing a first conversion dye, which is configured to convert light with a first spectral distribution in the visible range into light with a second spectral distribution in the infrared range. The first conversion dye is excited with a light pulse in the range of the first spectral distribution during a first time period, and a light fraction, reflected or transmitted by the test object, in the range of the first spectral distribution is registered during a first time interval. During a subsequent second time period, a fraction of converted light reflected or transmitted by the test object is registered. According to the invention, the first time interval is selected so that it lies substantially inside a luminescence lifetime for the first conversion dye in the first time period.

An object of the present invention is to improve the quality level discrimination accuracy of the grain G by a grain quality level discrimination device. The device includes an optical unit 3 that emits light to the grain G, receives reflected and/or transmitted light from the grain G by a photosensor, and obtains information for discrimination of the quality level of the grain G from the upper and lower surface side of the grain G, and a quality level discrimination unit 7 that discriminates the quality level of the grain G on the basis of the information. The information on the upper and lower surface sides can be acquired by one optical unit at the same time so that the divergence therebetween due to the displacement or variation of the attitude of the grain G can be avoided. The reference plate for the correction of the information is placed outside of the moving path of the grain G to prevent it from soiling or damaging. Thus the deterioration of information can be avoided. Further, a reference plate especially for the information to be obtained from the side surface of the grain G may be provided for enhancing the accuracy of the side surface information. Thus the quality level discrimination accuracy can be improved further.

A ring-type wearable device is provided for sensing biometric data associated with various physiological conditions of the user. In one embodiment, a ring apparatus comprises a ring body including an opening formed therethrough structured to receive a body portion of a user therein when worn by the user; and an electronic computer processor programmed for processing one or more signals detected by the apparatus and associated with one or more biometrics associated with a physiological condition of the user into processed data. A light sensor system connected to the ring body includes multiple light-emitting diodes (LEDs), wherein each LED is associated with a predetermined light wavelength range, a first photodetector configured for light detection in a reflection mode, and a second photodetector configured for light detection in a transmission mode, each for detecting at least a portion of the light originating from the multiple LEDs.

Biomarkers of high blood pressure are measured to identify high blood pressure of the subject based on one or more biomarkers. In many embodiments, the response of the biomarker to blood pressure occurs over the course of at least an hour, such that the high blood pressure identification is based on a cumulative effect of physiology of the subject over a period of time. The methods and apparatus of identifying high blood pressure with biomarkers have the advantage of providing improved treatment of the subject, as the identified biomarker can be related to an effect of the high blood pressure on the subject, such as a biomarker corresponding to central blood pressure. The sample can be subjected to increases in one or more of pressure or temperatures, and changes in the blood sample measured over time.