Apparatus for optically evaluating colorimetric coloration zones on a carrier to automatically detect gaseous and/or vaporous components of a gas mixture

• US 5,397,538 A
• Filed: 02/10/1994
• Issued: 03/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dragerwerk AG
• Original Assignee: Dragerwerk AG
• Inventors: Dreyer, Peter, Stark, Hartmut
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, LYLE
• Application Number:
  US08/194,262
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: 422/57-58, 422/82.05, 422/81, 422/83, 422/88, 436/43-44, 436/46
• US Class Current: 422/404
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/8627 with an illuminator over the whole width
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/8645 using multidetectors, detector array
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00108 Test strips, e.g. paper
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/783 for analysing gases
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8483 Investigating reagent band test-element handling not specific to a test method G01N33/4875; analytical elements specific to chemical analysis of biological material G01N33/52; autometer with reagent band G01N35/04
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0621 Supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/110833 Utilizing a moving indicator strip or tape
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/112499 with sample on test slide

Abstract

The invention is directed to an apparatus for optically evaluating colorimetric coloration zones automatically wherein not only a single testing tube but also a plurality of reaction zones applied one behind the other to a common carrier can be evaluated. The least quantity of indicator substances for the coloration zones is used and an adequate signal intensity with the least possible consumption of power for the optical signal evaluation is attained. At the same time, the sensitivity to faults is reduced. Such an apparatus includes transmission as well as receiving units on a common mounting carrier. The light of the transmitting unit is conducted via a light conductor through the region of the reagent carrier which is transmittent and the coloration of the channel-shaped reaction zones of the carrier is detected in transmission and reflectance.

Claims

1. An arrangement for colorimetrically detecting a gaseous and/or vaporous component of a gas mixture, the arrangement comprising:

a plate-shaped reagent device including;

a carrier having transparent regions;

a reagent carrier foil mounted in said carrier and likewise having a transparent region;

a color indicator containing reagents for entering into a color reaction with said component;

said color indicator being disposed on said reagent carrier foil along a predetermined path thereon to define a reaction zone having a predetermined width; and

, access means for facilitating the passage of said gas mixture to said reaction zone to permit said component to enter into a color reaction with said color indicator in said reaction zone; and

,

an apparatus for detecting said component with reference to the coloration of said reaction zone, the apparatus including;

a housing for receiving said reagent device therein at a measuring position wherein said reaction zone can be measured;

radiation emitting transmitter means mounted on said housing for emitting radiation;

said carrier having a data field formed thereon and being receivable in said housing at a read-in position wherein the data of said data field can be read in;

light conducting means optically coupled to said transmitter means and having an emitter surface below said reagent device opposite said reaction zone when said reagent device is in said measuring position and opposite said data field when said reagent device is in said read-in position;

receiver means mounted above said reaction zone so as to be optically coupled to said emitter surface for receiving said radiation transmitted through said reaction zone and said data field;

said transmitter means including;

a first transmitter for emitting a first radiation required to transilluminate said reaction zone and for making measurements along said reaction zone when said reagent device is in said measuring position; and

, a second transmitter for emitting a second radiation to transilluminate said data field when said reagent device is in said read-in position;

said receiver means including a plurality of detectors defining a detector array corresponding to said path of said reaction zone;

a data field diaphragm interposed between said receiver means and said emitter surface;

said data field diaphragm defining a plane and having a diaphragm slit formed therein so as to extend in correspondence to said data field as well as to said detector array;

said data field diaphragm being made of a material transmittent for said first radiation and opaque to said second radiation;

a measuring field diaphragm having a plurality of measuring slits formed therein extending perpendicularly to said diaphragm slit of said data field diaphragm;

said measuring field diaphragm being disposed in a plane parallel to said plane of said data field diaphragm and being interposed between said data field diaphragm and said receiver means;

said measuring slits corresponding in number to the number of said detectors and each of said measuring slits having a length corresponding to said width of said reaction zone; and

,

said measuring field diaphragm being made of a material opaque to said first radiation as well as to said second radiation.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, said data field being a bar code;

said carrier being receivable in said housing at a read-in position wherein the data of said bar code can be read in;

said light conducting means comprising a first deflecting mirror for receiving and deflecting said radiation;

said first deflecting mirror defining a first focal point and said transmitter means being a first transmitter disposed in said focal point; and

, a first output mirror defining said emitter surface by deflecting said radiation onto said reagent device; and

, said apparatus further comprising a second deflecting mirror defining a second focal point;

a second transmitter disposed in said second focal point; and

, a second output mirror for deflecting the radiation from said second transmitter to transilluminate said bar code.

3. The arrangement of claim 1, said data field being a bar code;

said first transmitter being a first LED for emitting visible radiation for transilluminating said reaction zone; and

, said second transmitter being a second LED for emitting infrared light for transilluminating said bar code.

4. The arrangement of claim 1, said plurality of detectors being arranged in a row to define a detector array corresponding to said path of said reaction zone;

and, a mounting carrier for accommodating said detectors thereon.

5. The arrangement of claim 1, said data field being a bar code;

comprising a first light conductor having a first emitter surface defining said emitter surface; and

, a second light conductor having a second emitter surface below said reagent device opposite said bar code to transilluminate said bar code when said reagent device is in said read-in position with said second radiation from said second transmitter;

said housing having a base wall and said first and second transmitters being mounted on said base wall;

said first light conductor and said first emitting surface conjointly defining a first emitting head for directing said first radiation through said reaction zone directly to said receiver means; and

, said second light conductor and said second emitting surface conjointly defining a second emitting head for directing said read-out radiation through said bar code directly to said receiver means.

6. The arrangement of claim 1, said light conducting means comprising a light conductor having a first end optically coupled to said transmitter means and a second end defining said emitter surface for emitting said first and second radiations toward said receiver means.

7. The arrangement of claim 1, said first transmitter including a plurality of transmitting heads transmitting said first radiation at respective wavelengths.

8. The arrangement of claim 1, said first radiation having a first wavelength and said second radiation having a second wavelength different from said first wavelength.

9. The arrangement of claim 8, said first wavelength being 500 nanometer corresponding to green light and said second wavelength being 560 nanometer corresponding to yellow light.

10. The arrangement of claim 1, said data field being a bar code;

said light conducting means including a first light conductor optically coupled to said first transmitter; and

, a second light conductor having a first end optically coupled to said second transmitter and a second end optically coupled to said first light conductor and said emitter surface so as to permit said second radiation to transilluminate said bar code when said reagent device is in said read-in position with said second radiation from said second transmitter also reaching said receiver means from said emitter surface; and

, said first and second light conductors having first and second extension pieces so as to permit said plate-shaped reagent device to be disposed in a plane between said emitting surface on one side of said reagent device and said receiver means on the other side of said reagent device.

11. The arrangement of claim 10, said first and second light conductors being respective light conducting strips transparent to the radiation of said first and second transmitters;

said light conducting strips being made of plastic or glass; and

, said first and second light conductors being optically joined so as to cause said emitter surface to be common to both of said light conducting strips.

12. The arrangement of claim 10, said apparatus further comprising a cylindrical concave mirror defining an apex line and a focal line;

said concave mirror being positioned in said housing above said reaction zone so as to cause said focal line to lie in said reaction zone; and

, said detector array being mounted in said mirror along said apex line.

13. The arrangement of claim 10, further comprising a mounting carrier in said housing;

said first transmitter being mounted on said mounting carrier and being configured to emit said first radiation required for colorimetric measurement of said reaction zone and said first radiation having a wavelength in the visible wavelength range;

said second transmitter also being mounted on said mounting carrier and being configured to emit said second radiation required for reading out said bar code and said first radiation having a wavelength in the infrared wavelength range;

said first and second transmitters being separately optically coupled to corresponding ones of said first and second light conductors;

said first light conductor having a first reflection surface means for reflecting said first radiation toward said reaction zone when said reagent device is in said measuring position;

said second light conductor having second surface reflection means for reflecting said second radiation toward said bar code when said reagent device is in said read-out position; and

, said receiver means having a sensitivity matched to said first radiation as well as to said second radiation.

14. An arrangement for colorimetrically detecting a gaseous and/or vaporous component of a gas mixture, the arrangement comprising:

a plate-shaped reagent device including;

a carrier;

a color indicator containing reagents for entering into a color reaction with said component;

said color indicator being disposed on said reagent carrier along a predetermined path thereon to define a reaction zone having a predetermined width; and

, access means for facilitating the passage of said gas mixture to said reaction zone to permit said component to enter into a color reaction with said color indicator in said reaction zone; and

,

an apparatus for detecting said component with reference to the coloration of said reaction zone, the apparatus including;

a housing for receiving said reagent device therein at a measuring position wherein said reaction zone can be measured;

radiation emitting transmitter means mounted on said housing for emitting a radiation;

said carrier having a data field formed thereon and being receivable in said housing at a read-in position wherein the data of said data field can be read in;

light conducting means optically coupled to said transmitter means and having an emitter surface below said reagent device opposite said reaction zone when said reagent device is in said measuring position and opposite said data field when said reagent device is in said read-in position for transilluminating said reaction zone and said data field;

receiver means mounted above said reaction zone so as to be optically coupled to said emitter surface for receiving said first radiation transmitted through said reaction zone and said data field;

a cylindrically-shaped concave mirror defining an apex line and a focal line;

said concave mirror being positioned in said housing above said reaction zone so as to cause said focal line to lie in said reaction zone; and

, said receiver means being mounted in said concave-mirror along said apex line; and

,

a reflectance light transmitter for emitting additional radiation directed onto said reaction zone so that light is reflected from said reaction zone in dependence upon the degree of coloration thereof and received by said receiver means.

15. The arrangement of claim 14 said data field being a bar code;

said transmitter means including;

a first transmitter for emitting a first radiation required to transilluminate said reaction zone and for making measurements along said reaction zone when said reagent device is in said measuring position; and

, a second transmitter for emitting a second radiation to transilluminate said data field when said reagent device is in said read-in position;

said receiver means including a plurality of detectors defining a detector array corresponding to said path of said reaction zone; and

, said arrangement further including;

a data field diaphragm interposed between said receiver means and said emitter surface;

said data field diaphragm defining a plane and having a diaphragm slit formed therein so as to extend in correspondence to said bar code as well as to said detector array;

said data field diaphragm being made of a material transmittent for said first radiation and opaque to said second radiation;

a measuring field diaphragm having a plurality of measuring slits formed therein extending perpendicular to said diaphragm slit of said data field diaphragm;

said measuring field diaphragm being disposed in a plane parallel to said plane of said data field diaphragm and being interposed between said data field diaphragm and said receiver means;

said measuring slits corresponding in number to the number of said detectors and each of said slits having a length corresponding to said width of said reaction zone; and

,

said measuring diaphragm being made of a material opaque to said first radiation as well as to said second radiation.

16. The arrangement of claim 15, said plurality of detectors being arranged in a row to define said*detector array corresponding to said path of said reaction zone;

and, a mounting carrier for accommodating said detectors thereon.

17. The arrangement of claim 15, said light conducting means comprising a light conductor having a first end optically coupled to said transmitter means and a second end defining said emitter surface for emitting said first and second radiations toward said receiver means.

18. The arrangement of claim 15, said first and second light conductors being respective light conducting strips transparent to the radiation of said first and second transmitters;

said light conducting strips being made of plastic or glass; and

, said first and second light conductors being optically joined so as to cause said emitter surface to be common to both of said light conducting strips.

19. The arrangement of claim 15, said carrier being receivable in said housing at a read-in position wherein the data of said bar code can be read in;

said light conducting means comprising a first deflecting mirror for receiving and deflecting said radiation;

said first deflecting mirror defining a first focal point and said transmitter means being a first transmitter disposed in said focal point; and

, a first output mirror defining said emitter surface by deflecting said radiation onto said reagent device; and

, said apparatus further comprising a second deflecting mirror defining a second focal point;

a second transmitter disposed in said second focal point; and

, a second output mirror for deflecting the radiation from said second transmitter to transilluminate said bar code.

20. The arrangement of claim 15, said first transmitter being a first LED for emitting visible radiation for transilluminating said reaction zone;

and, said second transmitter being a second LED for emitting infrared light for transilluminating said bar code.

21. The arrangement of claim 15, said first transmitter including a plurality of transmitting heads transmitting said first radiation at respective wavelengths.

22. The arrangement of claim 15, said light conducting means comprising:

a first light conductor having a first emitter surface defining said emitter surface; and

, a second light conductor having a second emitter surface below said reagent device opposite said bar code to transilluminate said bar code when said reagent device is in said read-in position with said second radiation from said second transmitter;

said housing having a base wall and said first and second transmitters being mounted on said base wall;

said first light conductor and said first emitting surface conjointly defining a first emitting head for directing said first radiation through said reaction zone directly to said receiver means; and

, said second light conductor and said second emitting surface conjointly defining a second emitting head for directing said read-out radiation through said bar code directly to said receiver means.

23. The arrangement of claim 15, said light conducting means including a first light conductor optically coupled to said first transmitter;

and, a second light conductor having a first end optically coupled to said second transmitter and a second end optically coupled to said first light conductor and said emitter surface so as to permit said second radiation to transilluminate said data field when said reagent device is in said read-in position with said second radiation from said second transmitter also reaching said receiver means from said emitter surface; and

, said first and second light conductors having first and second extension pieces so as to permit said plate-shaped reagent device to be disposed in a plane between said emitting surface on one side of said reagent device and said receiver means on the other side of said reagent device.

24. The arrangement of claim 23, further comprising a mounting carrier in said housing;

said first transmitter being mounted on said mounting carrier and being configured to emit said first radiation required for colorimetric measurement of said reaction zone and said first radiation having a wavelength in the visible wavelength range;

said second transmitter also being mounted on said mounting carrier and being configured to emit said second radiation required for reading out said bar code and said first radiation having a wavelength in the infrared wavelength range;

said first and second transmitters being separately optically coupled to corresponding ones of said first and second light conductors;

said first light conductor having a first reflection surface means for reflecting said first radiation toward said reaction zone when said reagent device is in said measuring position;

said second light conductor having second surface reflection means for reflecting said second radiation toward said bar code when said reagent device is in said read-out position; and

, said receiver means having a sensitivity matched to said first radiation as well as to said second radiation.

25. The arrangement of claim 15, said first radiation having a first wavelength and said second radiation having a second wavelength different from said first wavelength.

26. The arrangement of claim 23, said first wavelength being 500 nanometer corresponding to green light and said second wavelength being 560 nanometer corresponding to yellow light.