A system for reading and reporting data from a production of an alcoholic beverage includes a data capture device having a sensor end for placement within a liquid. The sensor end has at least two sensors for measuring data related to the liquid. A transmitter located within the data capture device is coupled to the at least two sensors and the transmitter periodically transmits the data related to the liquid. Color transmission or reflection of the liquid is used to measure clarity, color of the liquid, and relative sugar content.

A component measurement apparatus has a chip insertion space configured to receive a component measurement chip provided with a reagent that reacts with a component to be measured in a sample, and includes: a light emitting unit configured to emit radiation light; a light receiving unit configured to receive the radiation light or light acquired by the radiation light transmitting through or being reflected from the component measurement chip; and a control unit configured to measure the component to be measured in the sample using an actual measurement value of an intensity of received light in the light receiving unit. The control unit is configured such that, when the component measurement chip is inserted into the chip insertion space, the control unit adjusts an amount of the radiation light emitted from the light emitting unit to a predetermined amount of light used in the measurement of the component.

Systems and methods for monitoring, characterizing and controlling operation of LEDs are provided herein. Methods includes measuring a voltage across the LED, and correlating the voltage to a junction temperature of the LED. This correlation can be used to improve operation of the LED by increasing the signal to noise ratio of the LED signal, characterize the LED by comparing to an I-V curve, control LED operation to compensate for LED degradation and avoid crosstalk, and/or to generally improve performance and life expectancy of the LED. Improved performance of the LED can include stabilizing the photon output during performance of an assay to provide a desired dye reporter signal required for the assay and/or reducing an intra-shot during of the LED output during the assay. System and device with control units configured to perform these methods are also described herein.

An embodiment of a gas analyzer is described that comprises a light source configured to produce a substantially collimated first beam with a diverging angle of less than about 15 degrees; a gas cell comprising an inlet configured to introduce a gas into the gas cell, an outlet configured to remove the gas from the gas cell, and a plurality of mirrors configured to reflect the substantially collimated first beam within the gas cell; and a detector configured to generate a signal in response to the substantially collimated first beam.

An instrument for processing and/or measuring a biological process contains a sample processing system, an excitation source, an excitation optical system, an optical sensor, and an emission optical system. The sample processing system is configured to retain a first sample holder and a second sample holder, wherein the number of sample cells is different for each sample holder or a characteristic dimension for the first sample cells is different from that of the second sample holder. The instrument also includes an excitation source temperature controller comprising a temperature sensor that is coupled to the excitation source. The temperature controller is configured to produce a first target temperature when the first sample holder is retained by the instrument and to produce a second target temperature when the second sample holder is retained by the instrument.

An instrument for processing and/or measuring a biological process comprises a sample processing system and an excitation source exhibiting a spectral function of output power or intensity verses wavelength of output power or intensity. The spectral function has a minima wavelength corresponding to a local minima value of the output power or intensity; a first maxima wavelength corresponding to a first local maxima of output power or intensity, the output power or intensity at the first local maxima being greater than the output power or intensity at any wavelength less than the minima wavelength; a second maxima wavelength corresponding to a second local maxima of output power or intensity, the output power or intensity at the second local maxima being greater than the output at any wavelength greater than the minima wavelength; the minima wavelength is between the first maxima wavelength and the second maxima wavelength.

The flow cell of the present application simultaneously monitors and measures light absorbance and fluorescence of particles in a flowing liquid. The flow cell comprises a housing having a light input face, an absorbance output face and first and second emission output faces; a fluid flow section within the housing that comprises a bottom funnel through which fluid enters the flow cell, a core chamber into which fluid flows from the bottom funnel, and a top funnel into which fluid flows from the core chamber, wherein the bottom and top funnels each comprise a first end which extends at an angle to a second end that is wider in diameter than the first end, and said second end of each is adjacent to and aligned with the core chamber; and a center section within the housing center having a recess formed therein which houses the core chamber of the fluid flow section, wherein said center section comprises a first pair of opposing channels formed in the light input face and the absorbance output face, respectively, and a second pair of opposing channels formed in the first emission output face and the second emission output face and which are perpendicular to the first pair of opposing channels, and wherein the first pair of opposing channels and second pair of opposing channels are in communication with the core chamber. An apparatus comprising the flow cell is also provided.

An optical filter 4 is placed in an optical path between a light source unit 1 using a deep ultraviolet LED as a light source and a sample cell 2. The optical filter 4 is a shortpass filter that allows passage of light of a main peak located within a deep ultraviolet region while blocking light of an unwanted peak located within a visible region. The temporal change in the amount of light of the unwanted peak is considerably greater than that of the main peak. The optical filter 4 blocks the former light whose amount considerably changes with time. As a result, the influence of the noise and drift originating from the LED on the detection signal obtained in a detector 3 is dramatically reduced, so that the analytical accuracy is improved.

A measurement system for measuring blood characteristics includes a controller, an emitter, a sensor, and a reference sensor. The emitter emits light at a plurality of wavelengths from a first side of a blood flow channel to a second side of the blood flow channel. The sensor is provided on the second side of the blood flow channel. The reference sensor is provided on the first side of the blood flow channel. The controller compensates measurements from the sensor based upon measurements from the reference sensor. The reference sensor may be disposed in a position to increase noise immunity of the measurement system. The measurement system may be connected to or part of a dialysis system.

A sensor platform for the assessment of the condition and quality of fluids while in service is based on a combination of solid-state light sources (LEDs) and detectors housed within a single integrated package. The sensor platform configured to be standalone in operation and comprises interfacing optics and acquisition and processing electronics. The sensor platform is configured to obtain inputs from multiple stimulus points and correlates these to changes in the overall composition or condition of the fluid. The sensing method can be described as a combination of a differential sensor, by monitoring changes from the normal status of the fluid, and an inferential sensor where changes are interpreted in terms of global impact rather than specific localized changes in component concentration.