Patent Description:
In the field of inspection equipment, a lot of instruments and equipment need to use photosensitive devices such as a photomultiplier tube to measure weak optical signal. An example is a chemiluminescence apparatus. Chemiluminescence refers to light emitted by using energy produced by a chemical reaction, for example, light emitted by a molecule when the module is excited by a chemical reaction into an excited state and returns from the excited state to a ground state. In another example, light is produced by a reaction of an enzyme with a substrate, by the application of electrochemical stimulation to a labeled substance, by LOCI (Luminescent Oxygen Channeling Immunoassay), or by bioluminescence. Chemiluminescence determination refers to the determination of chemiluminescence. Therefore, in chemiluminescence determination, it is necessary to construct a darkroom environment for the photosensitive devices to avoid light. A darkroom is a space surrounded by light shielding portions. Darkrooms are not specifically defined provided that they are dark spaces where chemiluminescence can be detected stably. For example, an anechoic chamber is a space surrounded by light shielding portions in such a way that the number of incident photons detected in the anechoic chamber is less than <NUM> per mm<NUM>·s when there is no chemiluminescence in a box.

The conventional light-avoiding structure for chemiluminescence determination generally achieves light avoidance by providing a completely closed darkroom. Its disadvantage is that structures of the equipment need to be increased. For example, a clamshell mechanism for completely closing a reaction chamber is provided, which makes the structures of the equipment complicated.

<CIT> refers to a sample test device wherein a: shell is positioned on the bearing piece in the shell and is used for detecting the luminescence of the reaction cup; wherein the bearing piece is provided with an accommodating groove, the bottom of the accommodating groove is provided with a supporting plate, and the supporting plate is provided with a placing hole for placing the reaction cup; the detector is connected with the shell in a sealing mode, and the shell, the detector and the accommodating groove can be arranged opposite to the detector form a detection cavity.

<CIT> refers to a reaction cup rotating disc, a measuring chamber and a chemiluminiscence detector.

Based on this, the present invention, defined in appended independent claim <NUM>, provides a light-avoiding structure for optical signal detection, which can effectively solve the problem of light leakage in a darkroom by means of an annular structure for shielding light arranged between a cover plate and a rotating body, is simple in structure, and reduces influences on the equipment.

A light-avoiding structure for optical signal detection includes:.

According to the aforementioned light-avoiding structure for chemiluminescence determination, the base, the rotating body, and the cover plate constitute a darkroom for optical signal detection. An annular structure for shielding light composed of the first light shielding member and the second light shielding member is provided between the cover plate and the rotating body. When external light is incident on the hole of the cover plate and on the cup hole of the rotating body, based on the principle of straight line propagation of light, the light propagating in the straight line will be blocked by the annular structure constituted between the cover plate and the rotating body, such that the light is difficult to be incident on the photosensitive device at the detection port, so as to achieve the purpose of avoiding light. In addition, the gap provided at the joint between the first light shielding member and the second light shielding member can ensure that the rotating body is rotatable with respect to the cover plate. The above design can effectively solve the problem of light leakage in the darkroom by means of the annular structure for shielding light arranged between the cover plate and the rotating body, the structure is simple, and the influence on equipment is reduced.

In one embodiment, a width of the gap is no greater than <NUM>. The gap between the first light shielding member and the second light shielding member is set within a range of no greater than <NUM>, so that the probability of light entering a mounting hole through diffuse reflection and other means can be reduced.

In one embodiment, the cover plate is detachably connected to the base or hinged to the base.

In one embodiment, there are a plurality of first light shielding members that are concentric structures arranged with a rotating shaft of the rotating body as the center, and the number of the first light shielding members is inversely proportional to a diameter of the cover plate.

In one embodiment, there are a plurality of second light shielding members that are concentric structures arranged with a rotating shaft of the rotating body as the center, and the number of the second light shielding members is inversely proportional to a diameter of the cover plate.

In one embodiment, the cover plate is provided with a side of the first light shielding member and the rotating body is provided with a side of the second light shielding member with a low-light treatment layer. The low-light treatment layer is used to reduce diffuse reflection of light between the first light shielding member and the second light shielding member.

In one embodiment, the low-light treatment layer is a blackening layer or a matte oxide layer.

In one embodiment, the light-avoiding structure for chemiluminescence determination further includes an actuator connected to the rotating body; the actuator is used to drive the rotating body to rotate.

Reference numerals in the drawings are as follows:.

In order to facilitate the understanding of the invention, a more comprehensive description of the invention will be given with reference to the relevant accompanying drawings. Preferred embodiments of the invention are given in the accompanying drawings. However, within the scope defined by the appended claims, the invention may be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to provide a more thorough and comprehensive understanding of the disclosure of the invention.

It should be noted that, when one element is referred to as "fixed to" another element, it may be directly on another element or there may be an intermediate element. When one element is referred to as "connected to" another element, it may be directly connected to another element or there may be an intermediate element.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings generally understood by those skilled in the art. The terms used in the specification of the invention are intended only to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

As shown in <FIG>, a light-avoiding structure <NUM> for optical signal detection according to an embodiment of the invention is provided.

As shown in <FIG>, the light-avoiding structure <NUM> for optical signal detection includes: a base <NUM>, a rotating body <NUM> rotatably connected to the base <NUM>, and a cover plate <NUM> arranged toward the rotating body <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the base <NUM> is provided with an accommodating slot for receiving the rotating body <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the base <NUM> is further provided with a mounting hole (not labeled) for mounting a photosensitive device <NUM>. The cover plate <NUM> covers an opening of the accommodating slot. The base <NUM> can receive the rotating body <NUM>, and it can cooperatively construct a darkroom required for optical signal detection with the cover plate <NUM>.

Further, for ease of operation, the cover plate <NUM> is detachably connected to the base <NUM> or is hinged to the base <NUM>.

In addition, the base <NUM> currently shown in the present embodiment is a U-shaped structure in coordination with the rotating body <NUM>, which may also have a lot of variants, as long as it can match the rotating body <NUM>. For example, the photosensitive device may be mounted inside the base <NUM>, with the detection port facing inward, or it can be disassembled into a plurality of parts.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the rotating body <NUM> is provided with a first light shielding member <NUM>. The rotating body <NUM> is provided with at least one cup hole <NUM>. The cup hole <NUM> is provided with a detection port <NUM>. The detection port <NUM> serves as a signal input port for the photosensitive device <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the first light shielding member is a circular ring structure with a rotating shaft of the rotating body <NUM> as a center. The cup hole <NUM> is located on the first light shielding member <NUM>. In other embodiments, the cup hole <NUM> may also be located outside the first light shielding member <NUM>. In addition, a specific location of the detection port <NUM> can be changed according to a mounting position of a photosensitive element (also corresponding to a position of the mounting hole). For example, in the present embodiment, the detection port <NUM> is located on one side of the cup hole <NUM> away from the rotating shaft of the rotating body <NUM> and is arranged inward. In other embodiments, the detection port <NUM> may also be arranged on one side of the cup hole <NUM> adjacent to the rotating shaft of the rotating body <NUM> and is arranged outward.

The cup hole <NUM> is used to accommodate an object for photoelectric detection, such as a reaction vessel. In the present embodiment, the reaction vessel is not drawn. In the present embodiment, three cup holes <NUM> are provided. In other embodiments, there may be one, two, four, or more cup holes. The more cup holes <NUM>, the more stations can be provided, which is conducive to increase the processing speed of the equipment. During operation, the cup hole <NUM> rotates with the rotation of the rotating body <NUM>. When the cup hole <NUM> rotates to a detection end of the photosensitive device <NUM>, the detection port <NUM> on a side wall of the cup hole <NUM> can allow the detection end of the photosensitive device <NUM> to detect an optical signal generated by reactants in the reaction vessel.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the cover plate <NUM> is provided with a second light shielding member <NUM>. The second light shielding member <NUM> and the first light shielding member <NUM> match each other, so as to form an annular structure for shielding light. A gap <NUM> is provided at a joint between the second light shielding member <NUM> and the first light shielding member <NUM>. The detection port <NUM> is located outside the first light shielding member <NUM> and the second light shielding member <NUM>. The cover plate <NUM> is provided with at least one hole <NUM>. A projection of the hole <NUM> along the rotating shaft of the rotating body <NUM> is located on a rotation trajectory of the cup hole <NUM>. The hole <NUM> is misaligned with the mounting hole. In the present embodiment, the second light shielding member <NUM> is a circular ring structure with a rotating shaft as the center. The hole <NUM> is arranged opposite to the cup hole <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the hole is located in the second light shielding member <NUM>. Likewise, in other embodiments, the hole <NUM> may also be located outside the second light shielding member <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the first light shielding member <NUM> is a convex ring, and the second light shielding member <NUM> is a groove. In the present invention, the first light shielding member <NUM> is a groove, and the second light shielding member <NUM> is a convex ring. As comparative example, shown in <FIG>, the first light shielding member <NUM> and the second light shielding member <NUM> may both be convex rings and mutually sleeved.

In addition, in the present embodiment, there are a plurality of first light shielding members <NUM>, which are concentric structures arranged with a rotating shaft of the rotating body <NUM> as the center. The number of the first light shielding members <NUM> is inversely proportional to a diameter of the cover plate <NUM>. Similarly, in the present embodiment, there may also be a plurality of second light shielding members <NUM>, which are concentric structures arranged with a rotating shaft of the rotating body <NUM> as the center. The number of the second light shielding members <NUM> is inversely proportional to a diameter of the cover plate <NUM>. That is, with the decrease of the diameter of the cover plate <NUM>, the number of the first light shielding members <NUM> and the number of the second light shielding members <NUM> are increased to improve the blocking capability of the light propagating in the straight line. It should be understood that in other embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, only one first light shielding member <NUM> and one second light shielding member <NUM> are provided.

Considering that there may be diffuse reflection when the light is incident to the gap <NUM> at the junction between the first light shielding member <NUM> and the second light shielding member <NUM>, a width of the gap <NUM> is less than <NUM> in the present embodiment. Since the gap <NUM> between the first light shielding member <NUM> and the second light shielding member <NUM> is set within the range of no greater than <NUM>, the probability of the light incident to the photosensitive device <NUM> through diffuse reflection and other means will be reduced.

In addition, in the present embodiment, a low-light treatment layer is provided on a side of the cover plate <NUM> that is provided with the first light shielding member <NUM>, and a low-light treatment layer is provided on a side of the rotating body <NUM> that is provided with the second light shielding member <NUM>. The low-light treatment layer is used to weaken diffuse reflection of the light between the first light shielding member <NUM> and the second light shielding member <NUM>.

Further, the low-light treatment layer may be a blackening layer or a matte oxide layer.

The hole <NUM> is used to operate the cup hole <NUM> of the rotating body <NUM>, through which for example, the reaction vessel can be placed in or taken out, or a reaction liquid can be added to or remove from the reaction vessel.

In the present embodiment, the number of the hole <NUM> on the cover plate <NUM> is two; in other embodiments, the number of the holes <NUM> may also be three, four or more, or one. The holes <NUM> are used to operate the cup hole <NUM> of the rotating body <NUM>, through which for example, the reaction vessel can be placed in or taken out, or a reaction liquid can be added to or remove from the reaction vessel. Therefore, the more holes <NUM>, the more stations corresponding to the cup holes <NUM>, which is conducive to increase the working efficiency of the equipment.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, in the present embodiment, the light-avoiding structure for chemiluminescence determination may further include an actuator <NUM> connected to the rotating body <NUM>. The actuator <NUM> is used to drive the rotating body <NUM> to rotate.

Further, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the actuator <NUM> may further include a motor <NUM> provided outside the base <NUM>. The motor <NUM> is connected to the rotating shaft of the rotating body <NUM> via a synchronous belt <NUM>, so as to drive the rotating body <NUM> to rotate. In other embodiments, the motor <NUM> may also be directly connected to the rotating shaft of the rotating body <NUM> or driven by a gear.

According to the aforementioned light-avoiding structure for chemiluminescence determination, the base <NUM>, the rotating body <NUM>, and the cover plate <NUM> constitute a darkroom for optical signal detection. An annular structure for shielding light composed of the first light shielding member <NUM> and the second light shielding member <NUM> is provided between the cover plate <NUM> and the rotating body <NUM>, and the hole <NUM> on the cover plate <NUM> is misaligned with the mounting hole for mounting the photosensitive device <NUM>. When external light is incident on the hole <NUM> of the cover plate <NUM> and on the cup hole <NUM> of the rotating body <NUM>, based on the principle of straight line propagation of light, the light propagating in the straight line will be blocked by the annular structure constituted between the cover plate <NUM> and the rotating body <NUM>, such that the light is difficult to be incident on the photosensitive device <NUM> at the detection port <NUM>, so as to establish a good darkroom environment for the detection of the photosensitive device <NUM>. In addition, the gap <NUM> is provided at the joint between the first light shielding member <NUM> and the second light shielding member <NUM>, which can ensure that the rotating body <NUM> is rotatable relative to the cover plate <NUM>. Moreover, the cup hole <NUM> can be kept in a normally open state, such that the accommodating slot of the base <NUM> is in communication with an external environment, thus avoiding the problem of difficult heat dissipation caused by complete closure. The above design can effectively solve the problem of light leakage in the darkroom by means of the annular structure for shielding light arranged between the cover plate <NUM> and the rotating body <NUM>, the structure is simple, and the influence on equipment is reduced.

Technical features of the above embodiments may be arbitrarily combined within the scope defined by the appended claims. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described.

Claim 1:
A light-avoiding structure for optical signal detection (<NUM>), comprising:
a base (<NUM>) provided with an accommodating slot;
a rotating body (<NUM>) rotatably connected to the base (<NUM>), the rotating body (<NUM>) being received in the accommodating slot, the rotating body (<NUM>) being provided with a first light shielding member (<NUM>), the rotating body (<NUM>) being provided with at least one cup hole (<NUM>), the cup hole (<NUM>) being provided with a detection port (<NUM>) serving as a signal input port of a photosensitive device (<NUM>); and
a cover plate (<NUM>) arranged toward the rotating body (<NUM>), the cover plate (<NUM>) covering an opening of the accommodating slot, the cover plate (<NUM>) being provided with a second light shielding member (<NUM>), the second light shielding member (<NUM>) and the first light shielding member (<NUM>) matching each other so as to form an annular structure for shielding light, and a gap (<NUM>) being provided at a joint between the second light shielding member (<NUM>) and the first light shielding member (<NUM>), the detection port (<NUM>) being located outside the first light shielding member (<NUM>) and the second light shielding member (<NUM>), and the cover plate (<NUM>) being provided with at least one hole (<NUM>);
wherein the first light shielding member (<NUM>) is a groove, and the second light shielding member (<NUM>) is a convex ring.