This invention relates to a light delivery and collection device for performing spectroscopic analysis of a subject. The light delivery and collection device comprises a reflective cavity with two apertures. The first aperture receives excitation light which then diverges and projects onto the second aperture. The second aperture is applied to the subject such that the reflective cavity substantially forms an enclosure covering an area of the subject. The excitation light interacts with the covered area of the subject to produce inelastic scattering and/or fluorescence emission from the subject. The reflective cavity reflects the excitation light as well as the inelastic scattering and/or fluorescence emission that is reflected and/or back-scattered from the subject and redirects it towards the subject. This causes more excitation light to penetrate into the subject hence enabling sub-surface measurement and also improves the collection efficiency of the inelastic scattering or fluorescence emission. The shape of the reflective cavity is optimized to further improve the collection efficiency.

An illumination system for recognizing material includes a measurement stage, a light-providing part, a light-receiving part, and a processing part. The measurement stage is upwardly open and the measurement target is located on the measurement stage. The light-providing part includes a plurality of illumination sections providing incident lights to the measurement target, and provides multi-directional incident lights to the measurement target from multiple upper directions at which the measurement stage is open. The light-receiving part receives single-directional reflection lights reflected by the measurement target according to the multi-directional incident lights provided by the light-providing part. The processing part acquires a multi-directional intensity distribution of multi-directional reflection lights reflected by the measurement target according to a single-directional incident light from the single-directional reflection lights reflected by the measurement target according to the multi-directional incident lights, and determines material of the measurement target from the multi-directional intensity distribution of reflection lights. Thus, material of an object may be easily and accurately known at a low cost.

The present invention relates to a system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria, in biological samples. More particularly, the invention relates to a system comprising a disposable cartridge and an optics cup or cuvette having a tapered surface; wherein the walls are angled to allow for better coating and better striations of the light. The system may utilize the disposable cartridge in the sample processor and the optics cup or cuvette in the optical analyzer, wherein the optics cup also has a floor in the shape of an inverted arch.

An illumination system for recognizing material includes a measurement stage, a light-providing part, a light-receiving part, and a processing part. The measurement stage is upwardly open and the measurement target is located on the measurement stage. The light-providing part includes a plurality of illumination sections providing incident lights to the measurement target, and provides multi-directional incident lights to the measurement target from multiple upper directions at which the measurement stage is open. The light-receiving part receives single-directional reflection lights reflected by the measurement target according to the multi-directional incident lights provided by the light-providing part. The processing part acquires a multi-directional intensity distribution of multi-directional reflection lights reflected by the measurement target according to a single-directional incident light from the single-directional reflection lights reflected by the measurement target according to the multi-directional incident lights, and determines material of the measurement target from the multi-directional intensity distribution of reflection lights. Thus, material of an object may be easily and accurately known at a low cost.

The present invention relates to a system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria, in biological samples. More particularly, the invention relates to a system comprising a disposable cartridge and an optics cup or cuvette having a tapered surface; wherein the walls are angled to allow for better coating and better striations of the light. The system may utilize the disposable cartridge in the sample processor and the optics cup or cuvette in the optical analyzer, wherein the optics cup also has a floor in the shape of an inverted arch.

A fluorometer can comprise a microfluidics chip receptacle configured to receive a microfluidics chip. The fluorometer can comprise a reflective enclosure that has an outer surface and an inner surface. The microfluidics chip receptacle can be configured in relation to the reflective enclosure so that the reflective enclosure can receive, at the inner surface, light energy emitted from an analyte on a microfluidics chip disposed in the microfluidics chip receptacle. The fluorometer can comprise an excitation source configured to emit excitation energy to the microfluidics chip receptacle. The fluorometer can comprise a light sensor configured in relation to the microfluidics chip receptacle to receive light energy from the microfluidics chip receptacle. The light energy, caused by the excitation energy, is emitted from an analyte. The fluorometer can comprise a controller configured to determine a concentration of an analyte from the light energy received at the light sensor.

A moisture sensor detects moisture in an object. A first light-emitting element emits light. A first reflecting member reflects light reflected from the object toward the object. A light-receiving element receives light that is multiple reflected between the object and the first reflecting member. A controller determines an amount of moisture in the object based on a light reception result from the light-receiving element.