Readhead for a photometric diagnostic instrument
First Claim
1. A readhead for a photometric diagnostic instrument for illuminating a target area and receiving light from the target area, said readhead comprising:
- a housing (12, 14,
16) adapted to be incorporated in said photometric diagnostic instrument;
a first light source (20) mounted in a fixed position relative to said housing (12, 14,
16), said first light source (20) being composed of only a single light-emitting diode (20) for emitting substantially monochromatic light of a first wavelength;
a second light source (20) mounted in a fixed position relative to said housing (12, 14,
16), said second light source (20) being composed of only a single light-emitting diode (20) for emitting substantially monochromatic light of a second wavelength substantially different from said first wavelength;
light guide means (26), mounted to receive light from each of said light sources (20), for conveying, when only one of said light sources (20) is illuminated, substantially all of said light from said one light source (20) to a target area so that said target area is illuminated substantially uniformly, said light guide means (26) comprising a diverging light guide (26) having a relatively small width at a point adjacent an inlet of said diverging light guide (26) and a relatively large width at a point adjacent an outlet of said diverging light guide (26); and
a light detector (70) coupled to receive light from said target area.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A readhead for a photometric diagnostic instrument for illuminating a target area substantially uniformly via only a single light-emitting diode (20) and receiving light from the target area so that reagent tests may be performed is provided with a housing (12, 14, 16) adapted to be incorporated in a photometric diagnostic instrument, first and second light sources (20) mounted in a fixed position relative to the housing (12, 14, 16), a light guide (26) mounted to receive light from each of the light sources (20) which conveys, when only one of the light sources (20) is illuminated, substantially all of the light from the light source (20) to illuminate a target area substantially uniformly, and a light detector (70) coupled to receive light from the target area. Each of the first and second light sources (20) is composed of only a single light-emitting diode (20) for emitting substantially monochromatic light of a different wavelength.
56 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A readhead for a photometric diagnostic instrument for illuminating a target area and receiving light from the target area, said readhead comprising:
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a housing (12, 14,
16) adapted to be incorporated in said photometric diagnostic instrument;a first light source (20) mounted in a fixed position relative to said housing (12, 14,
16), said first light source (20) being composed of only a single light-emitting diode (20) for emitting substantially monochromatic light of a first wavelength;a second light source (20) mounted in a fixed position relative to said housing (12, 14,
16), said second light source (20) being composed of only a single light-emitting diode (20) for emitting substantially monochromatic light of a second wavelength substantially different from said first wavelength;light guide means (26), mounted to receive light from each of said light sources (20), for conveying, when only one of said light sources (20) is illuminated, substantially all of said light from said one light source (20) to a target area so that said target area is illuminated substantially uniformly, said light guide means (26) comprising a diverging light guide (26) having a relatively small width at a point adjacent an inlet of said diverging light guide (26) and a relatively large width at a point adjacent an outlet of said diverging light guide (26); and a light detector (70) coupled to receive light from said target area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A readhead for a photometric diagnostic instrument for illuminating a target area and receiving light from said target area, said readhead comprising:
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a housing (12, 14,
16) adapted to be incorporated in said photometric diagnostic instrument;a light source (20) mounted in a fixed position relative to said housing, said light source (20) comprising a light-emitting diode (20) for emitting light; a diverging light guide (26), mounted to receive light from said light source (20), adapted to convey substantially all of said light from said light source (20) to a target area so that said target area is illuminated substantially uniformly, said diverging light guide (26) having a relatively small width at a point adjacent an inlet of said diverging light guide (26) and a relatively large width at a point adjacent an outlet of said diverging light guide (26); and a light detector (70) coupled to receive light from said target area. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A readhead for a photometric diagnostic instrument for illuminating a target area and receiving light from said target area, said readhead comprising:
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a housing (12, 14,
16) adapted to be incorporated in said photometric diagnostic instrument;a light source (20) mounted in a fixed position relative to said housing (12, 14,
16), said light source (20) comprising a lensless light-emitting diode (20);a light guide (26), mounted in a fixed position relative to said light source (20), for conveying light from said light source (20) to a target area; and a light detector (70) coupled to receive light from said target area. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification