JP3218378U - Spectrophotometer - Google Patents

Abstract

A spectrophotometer provided with accessory discrimination means suitable for discriminating a wide variety of accessories is provided. A spectrophotometer having a light source, a spectroscope, a sample chamber, and a detector arranged in a housing, and a bar code reader on a lid that can be opened and closed that constitutes a part of the sample chamber. Install. On the other hand, a barcode 14 storing apparatus information or accessory information is attached to a location corresponding to the barcode reader 12 of the accessory 13 installed in the space 16 of the sample chamber. [Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a spectrophotometer, and more particularly to a spectrophotometer that can distinguish a wide variety of accessories used for measurement.

The spectrophotometer has a light source, a spectroscope, a sample chamber, and a detector arranged as main components in a housing. The light emitted from the light source is dispersed with a spectroscope as light having a wavelength used for measurement, and is incident on the sample. For example, in the case of a solution sample, the sample is placed in a container called a sample cell held by a sample cell holder and installed in the sample chamber.
The intensity of light transmitted through or reflected from the sample is detected by a detector. The spectrophotometer calculates and displays the transmittance or absorbance. In general, transmittance is used when measuring a solid sample, and absorbance is used when measuring a solution sample.
In this way, spectrophotometers can identify and quantify substances in a sample by detecting light that has passed through or reflected from the sample, and research and development in a wide range of fields such as universities, government agencies, pharmaceuticals, chemistry, and foods. It is used for quality control.

  A spectrophotometer typically uses a wide variety of accessories to place a sample in a sample chamber depending on the sample and purpose. For example, film holders for measuring thin samples such as films and filters, cell positioners that can be equipped with multiple sample cells at the same time, cell holders for ultra-micro cells used when measuring trace samples, etc. In order to make full use of the superior functions, select the most suitable accessories for the application field and sample properties.

Conventionally, an infrared spectrophotometer in which a recognition chip corresponding to the type is mounted on an accessory installed in a sample chamber is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this method, measurement method information stored in a recognition chip is read, and an appropriate search can be performed on spectra measured by various measurement methods.
On the other hand, spectrophotometers are required to discriminate various accessories and record them together with data.

JP2015-206625A

The spectrophotometer accessories are structurally long in life and are often used as they are even if the spectrophotometer body is changed. Therefore, in order to improve the usability for customers, an accessory discrimination mechanism that can easily cope with old accessories is desired. In this case, the reading by the reading means must not affect the measurement. Furthermore, when an identifier for identifying an accessory is damaged, it must be able to be repaired quickly and easily.
An object of the present invention is to provide a spectrophotometer equipped with a discrimination means suitable for discrimination of a wide variety of accessories.

  In order to solve the above problems, a spectrophotometer according to the present invention as claimed in claim 1 comprises a light source, a spectroscope, a sample chamber, a removable accessory disposed in the sample chamber, and a detector in a casing. The sample chamber has an identifier that stores apparatus information or accessory information in a removable accessory and can read the identifier of the accessory when the accessory is installed in the sample chamber. In this way, a wide variety of accessories can be identified in synchronization with the installation in the sample chamber.

The spectrophotometer of the present invention according to claim 2 is the spectrophotometer according to claim 1, wherein the reading unit is provided on the lid of the sample chamber, and the identifier attached to the accessory side is read by the reading unit. It is what I did. The location where the identifier on the accessory side is affixed must be within the operating range of the reading means attached to the openable / closable lid that forms part of the sample chamber, but most accessories are excluded except for special accessories. The corresponding part can be specified.

  Further, the spectrophotometer according to the present invention described in claim 3 is the spectrophotometer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reading means is provided on the bottom surface of the sample chamber and the identifier is attached to the bottom of the accessory. It is.

  Furthermore, the spectrophotometer of the present invention according to claim 4 is the spectrophotometer according to claims 1 to 3, wherein a bar code or an RFID tag is used as an identifier. These identifiers can be read by a bar code reader or a reader / writer.

According to the spectrophotometer of the present invention, it is only necessary to affix an identifier storing apparatus information or accessory information to a location corresponding to an accessory reading means installed in the sample chamber. It can be easily applied and even old accessories can be used continuously.
In addition, since the reading means is attached to an openable / closable lid that constitutes a part of the sample chamber, the reading is started when the lid is closed, and the operation is stopped at the time of measurement. Accessory information can be obtained in synchronization with opening and closing, and the user's hand is not bothered.
Furthermore, since the reading means is attached to the lid constituting the part of the sample chamber or the bottom of the sample chamber, it is hardly affected by the reagent, and the lid and accessories can be removed relatively easily. Can be easily repaired by replacing the reading means or re-attaching a new identifier to the accessory. In particular, in the case of an identifier that can be easily pasted, such as a barcode or an RFID tag, the pasting can be performed quickly and easily.

It is a figure which shows the basic composition of the spectrophotometer of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure at the time of opening and closing of the lid | cover of the sample chamber of the spectrophotometer of this invention, Comprising: (A) is the state in which the lid is closed, (B) is the state in which the lid is open.

Hereinafter, the spectrophotometer of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of a spectrophotometer according to the present invention. As a light source 1 of a spectrophotometer, a deuterium discharge tube is usually used in the ultraviolet region and a halogen lamp is used in the visible region. Each lamp is used by switching according to the wavelength to be used. In recent years, there is a spectrophotometer using a xenon flash lamp as the light source 1 from the viewpoint of the light source life. Xenon flash lamps not only have a longer life than halogen lamps and deuterium discharge tubes, but also have the advantage of being able to measure with a single lamp from the ultraviolet region to the visible region.

  In the measurement, first, light having a wavelength used for measurement from the light source 1 is split into monochromatic light by a spectroscope 2 such as a diffraction grating and is incident on a sample. For example, in the case of a solution sample, the sample is placed in a container called a sample cell, and is held in an accessory sample cell holder (not shown) and placed in the sample chamber 3. The intensity of light transmitted through the sample is detected by a detector 4 such as a photomultiplier tube or a silicon photodiode. A spectrophotometer normally includes a calculation display unit 5 that calculates and displays the transmittance or absorbance. Generally, transmittance is used for measurement of a solid sample, and absorbance is used for measurement of a solution sample.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams showing a configuration of the spectrophotometer according to the present invention when the lid constituting the part of the sample chamber is opened and closed, in which FIG. 2A shows a state in which the lid is closed, and FIG. It is in a state.
In FIG. 2, the spectrophotometer 10 has a casing 15, and the light source 1, the spectroscope 2, the sample chamber 3, and the detector 4 except for the calculation display section 5 shown in FIG. A measuring optical system is formed together with the element.

  In the sample chamber 3, a space 16 having a predetermined width is formed by closing the lid 11 constituting a part of the sample chamber 3 (see FIG. 2A). In the measurement, various accessories 13 are installed in the space 16 of the sample chamber 3 according to the measurement purpose and the property of the sample. For example, film holders for measuring thin samples such as films and filters, cell positioners that can be equipped with multiple sample cells at the same time, cell holders for ultra-micro cells used when measuring a small amount of samples, etc. The product is selected.

A barcode reader 12 is attached to the back surface of the lid 11 constituting a part of the sample chamber 3. On the other hand, a barcode 14 is pasted as an identifier storing apparatus information or accessory information in a corresponding position of the accessory 13 within an operation range where the barcode reader 12 can read the information. There are a wide variety of accessories 13, but it is possible to specify for each accessory 13 the location where the barcode 14 is pasted within the operating range of the barcode reader 12 with some exceptions.
Alternatively, the barcode reader 12 may be disposed on the bottom surface of the sample chamber 3 and the barcode 14 may be attached to the bottom of the accessory 13 as an identifier.

Although the barcode 14 is easy to handle and suitable as an identifier storing apparatus information or accessory information, for example, an RFID tag (not shown) is also attached to the accessory 13 in the same manner as the barcode 14 or simply pasted. Can be used in
The reading of the barcode 14 by the barcode reader 12 is not shown in a specific configuration, but the opening / closing operation of the lid 11 is started so that the reading starts when the lid 11 is closed and the operation stops at the time of measurement. Can be done synchronously. The device information or accessory information read by the barcode reader 12 is recorded and displayed together with the measurement data transferred to the calculation display unit 5.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Light source 2 ... Spectrometer 3 ... Sample chamber 4 ... Detector 5 ... Calculation display part 10 ... Spectrophotometer 11 ... Cover 12 ... Bar code reader 13・ ・ ・ Accessory 14 ・ ・ ・ Bar code 15 ・ ・ ・ Case 16 ・ ・ ・ Space

Claims (4)

  In a spectrophotometer comprising a light source, a spectroscope, a sample chamber, a removable accessory and a detector arranged in the sample chamber, an identifier storing apparatus information or accessory information in the removable accessory The spectrophotometer is provided with a reading means capable of reading the identifier of the accessory when the accessory is installed in the sample chamber.   2. The spectrophotometer according to claim 1, wherein a reading means is provided on a lid of the sample chamber, and the identifier attached to the accessory side is read by the reading means. 3. The spectrophotometer according to claim 1, wherein the reading means is provided on a bottom surface of the sample chamber, and the identifier is attached to a lower part of the accessory.   4. The spectrophotometer according to claim 1, wherein the identifier is a bar code or an RFID tag.

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