Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Varian Australia Pty Ltd

Yin Sheng Sun

Michael Bolles

Lindsay Buck

Glyn Russell

Martin Keith Masters

An optical emission spectrometer system includes a light source and a dichroic beam combiner. The light source emits first light in a first direction and second light in a second direction different from the first direction. The dichroic beam combiner receives the first light via a first light path and the second light via a second light path, reflects a portion the first light into an entrance aperture of a light detection and measurement apparatus, and transmits a portion of the second light into the entrance aperture, enabling analysis and measurement of both first and second light characteristics simultaneously. The portion of the first light reflected into the entrance aperture predominately has wavelengths in a first range of wavelengths and the portion of the second light transmitted into the entrance aperture predominately has wavelengths in a second range of wavelengths, different from the first range of wavelengths.

Optical emission system including dichroic beam combiner

A spectrophotometer having an optical system for directing a beam of substantially monochromatic excitation light to a liquid sample contained in a well () of a well plate for interaction with the sample for absorption or emission measurements to analyse the sample. The optical system includes two apertures () for establishing a Kohler illumination region outside the well, that is an excitation beam region between conjugate images () of the two apertures. This excitation beam region is then demagnified and imaged () into the well (). The invention provides for the shape of the Kohler illumination region to correspond to the shape of the well space so that all of the liquid sample is uniformly illuminated without the well obstructing any portion of the illuminating excitation beam of light. Advantages of the invention are that the Kohler illumination region of the excitation beam is convenient for insertion of filters (), apertures and polarisers () into the excitation optical system and permits use of small and thus cheaper filters and polarisers. Also the invention provides for accurate absorption or emission measurements from a liquid sample in a well notwithstanding that the sample may only partially fill the well.

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Glen Waverley, Australia

Yin Sheng Sun