Patent ID: 9733124
Date: 2017-08-15
CPC Classifications: G01J,G01N

Claim:
1. A microplate reader comprising: a light source configured to emit light at one or more wavelengths; a detector configured to detect incident light; an optical system comprising a plurality of optical elements configured to guide light emitted by the light source along an optical path of the microplate reader from the light source to a microplate, and from the microplate to the detector; a first wavelength selector disposed optically between the light source and the microplate, the first wavelength selector comprising a first pair of linear variable filters disposed in the optical path, the first pair of linear variable filters comprising first and second linear variable filters, the first linear variable filter movable transverse to the optical path and relative to the second linear variable filter; a second wavelength selector disposed optically between the microplate and the detector, the second wavelength selector comprising a second pair of linear variable filters disposed in the optical path, the second pair of linear variable filters comprising third and fourth linear variable filters, the third linear variable filter movable transverse to the optical path and relative to the fourth linear variable filter; a dichroic optical element disposed between the light source, the detector, and the microplate so as to direct the light emitted by the light source to the microplate, and to direct the light from the microplate to the detector; wherein the dichroic optical element comprises a fifth linear variable filter disposed on a fifth moveable frame, the fifth moveable frame further having at least one of an aperture and a fixed dichroic mirror disposed thereon; wherein the first linear variable filter is disposed on a first moveable frame, the first movable frame further having at least one of an aperture, a fixed optical filter, and an optical polarization filter disposed thereon; wherein the second linear variable filter is disposed on a second moveable frame, distinct from the first movable frame, the second movable frame further having at least one of an aperture, a fixed optical filter, and an optical polarization filter disposed thereon; wherein the third linear variable filter is disposed on a third moveable frame, the third movable frame further having at least one of an aperture, a fixed optical filter, and an optical polarization filter disposed thereon; wherein the fourth linear variable filter is disposed on a fourth moveable frame, distinct from the third movable frame, the fourth movable frame further having at least one of an aperture, a fixed optical filter, and an optical polarization filter disposed thereon; wherein the first wavelength selector is configured such that movement of at least one of the first and second linear variable filters, transverse to the optical path, adjusts at least one of a first center wavelength and a first bandwidth of the first wavelength selector over a continuous range of wavelengths; wherein the second wavelength selector is configured such that movement of at least one of the third and fourth linear variable filters transverse to the optical path adjusts at least one of a second center wavelength and a second bandwidth of the second wavelength selector over the continuous range of wavelengths; wherein a first variably sized set of linear variable filters includes one or more of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth linear variable filters; wherein the microplate reader is configured such that at least one of (a) and (b) are true: