GB2524130A

GB2524130A - Analysing Apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2524130A
Application number: GB1416839.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Carroll; Ben Ferrar
Original assignee: LPW Technology Ltd
Current assignee: LPW Technology Ltd
Priority date: 2014-09-24
Filing date: 2014-09-24
Publication date: 2015-09-16
Anticipated expiration: 2034-09-24
Also published as: GB201416839D0; GB2524130B; WO2016046544A1

Abstract

An analysing apparatus 10 comprises attachment means 32a, 32b to attach the apparatus to a smartphone or tablet device 102, and to enable the apparatus to interact with an image capture device 104 of the said smartphone, such that the smartphone can analyse sample powder material 110, a sample container 12 connected to an analysing chamber 14 by a flow aperture 16, an imaging aperture 22 positioned such that upon attachment of the apparatus with said smartphone, the aperture 22 is optically aligned with said imaging device, wherein the imaging aperture is disposed adjacent the analyzing chamber 14 such that upon attachment of the apparatus with said smartphone, the imaging aperture 22 is disposed in optical alignment between the analyzing chamber 14 and the imaging device of the said smartphone or tablet device. A light 106 from the smartphone is used to illuminate the sample chamber.

Description

Title: Analysing apparatus

Description:

This invention relates to apparatus and methods for analysing materials and in particular) but without limitation, to apparatus and methods for analysing powder materials.

Raw materials, such as powders, are inherently used in the manufacturing industry.

Analysis of such material is often essential prior to use in order to ensure certain characteristics are achieved in the final manufactured product, such as, for example, structural strength and surface finish.

An example of a type of manufacturing in which analysis of powdered material is particularly important is additive manufacturing (AM). Additive manufacturing is the direct fabrication of end-use products and components by depositing material layer-by-layer, without the need for fixed tooling or manual intervention.

Powdered materials for additive manufacturing need to be tested on-site prior to use.

Analysis systems for undertaking such analysis are known. However, the known systems are relatively expensive to buy, maintain and calibrate, and provide a large number and relatively complicated range of test results -many of which are not always required.

It is also a known procedure to send samples of materials to a test laboratory. This procedure has the advantage of reducing capital expenditure, but results in delays and an inability to undertake spot-check analysis of material when required.

There is therefore a need in the industry for an apparatus and method which are capable of operating passively on-site, are relatively inexpensive to buy, maintain and calibrate, are simple to use and provide results specific to the requirements of the user.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method that meets these needs in the industry.

Various aspects of the invention are set forth in the appendent claims.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided analysing apparatus comprising attachment means operable to attach the analyzing apparatus to a smartphone or tablet device and interact with an image capture device of the said smartphone or tablet device to analyse sample material.

The analysing apparatus may additionally interact with a vibrator of the smartphone or tablet device, for example, by comprising a substantially rigid connection means between the two to enable mechanical vibration from the smartphone ortable device to be transmitted to the analysing apparatus.

The attachment means is suitably operable to detachably attach the analysing apparatus to the said smartphone or tablet device.

The analysing apparatus suitably comprises a sample container and an analysing chamber, wherein the sample container is connected to the analysing chamber by a flow aperture.

The sample container suitably comprises a hopper.

At least a portion of the sample container is suitably removable.

The flow aperture is suitably configured such that in a passive mode the said sample material is substantially retained within the sample container.

The flow aperture is also suitably configured to receive mechanical vibration from an attached smartphone or tablet device and such that, in an activated mode, sample material flows through the flow aperture from the sample container into the analysing chamber.

The analysing apparatus suitably further comprises an imaging aperture positioned such that upon attachment of the analysing apparatus with a said smartphone ortablet device the imaging aperture is optically aligned with a said image capture device of the said smartphone or tablet device.

The analysing apparatus suitably further comprises an optical element disposed in the imaging aperture. The optical element is suitably a magnifying lens, e.g. a macro lens.

The optical element is suitably disposed adjacent the analysing chamber such that upon attachment of the analyzing apparatus with a said smartphone or tablet device, the optical element is disposed in optical alignment between the analysing chamber, of the analysing apparatus) and the image capture device, of the said smartphone or tablet device.

The analysing apparatus suitably further comprises illumination means operable to interact with a flash light-source of a said smartphone or tablet device to illuminate at least a portion of the analysing chamber.

The illumination means suitably comprises an illumination aperture through which light is received from the said flash light-source and at least one optical element operable to redirect the received light towards a predetermined portion of the analysing chamber.

Suitably, the optical element is adapted to backlight the sample.

The predetermined portion of the analysing chamber is suitably in optical alignment with the imaging aperture.

The at least one optical element may comprise at least one optical prism. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one optical element may comprise at least one mirror.

Suitably, the analysing apparatus further comprises a stand operable to support it and/or an attached smartphone or tablet device in a predetermined position relative to the analysing apparatus.

The stand is suitably operable to substantially mitigate external vibration.

According to a second aspect of the present invention an analysing device comprises analysing apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention and a smartphone or tablet device, wherein the smartphone or tablet device comprises an image capture device and a vibrator.

According to a third aspect of the invention a method for analysing sample material comprises: providing an analysing device according to the second aspect of the present invention; activating the image capture device; activating the vibrator to cause a flow of sample material to travel through the view of the image capture device; recording an image of the sample material; and analysing the recorded image to determine characteristics of the sample material.

Recording an image of the sample material suitably comprises recording multiple still images, or a video of the sample material.

Where the analysing apparatus comprises a sample container and an analysing chamber and wherein the sample container is connected to the analysing chamber through a flow aperture, the method suitably further comprises: loading the sample container with sample material, wherein activation of the vibrator causes the sample material to flow from the sample container, through the flow aperture and into the analysing chamber.

Suitably) the method further comprises selecting a continuous or pulsing vibration and/or selecting the frequency and/or amplitude of the vibration.

The method suitably further comprises inserting a new sample container prior to loading the sample container with sample material and removing the used sample container following analysis of the sample material.

Where the smartphone or tablet device comprises a flash light-source and the method suitably further comprises: activating the flash light-source to illuminate at least a part of the analysing chamber.

Where the analysing apparatus comprises illumination means, the method suitably further comprises: redirecting light received by the illumination means from the flash light-source to illuminate a predetermined portion of the analysing chamber.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer readable storage medium storing a computer program which when executed on a processor causes the processor to perform the method according to the second aspect of the present invention.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided an analysing system comprising an analysing device according to the second aspect of the present invention and a computer readable storage medium according to the third aspect of the present invention.

The analysing system is suitably operable to determine at least one of the particle/droplet size, the number of particles/droplets per second and flow rate, the speed of particles/droplets and the colour of particles of the sample material. Determination of the colour of the particles is suitably indicative of the composition, contamination and oxidation of the sample material.

A further aspect of the invention provides an application, executable, in use, in a smart phone or tablet device affixed to an analysing apparatus as described herein) the application being configured to: control an image capture device of the smart phone or tablet device; to control a flash light of the smart phone or tablet device; and optionally to control a vibrator of the smart phone or tablet, wherein the application is configured to capture, and analyze a sample passing by the image capture device and to determine any one or more of the group comprising: the size of the particles; the shape of the particles; the colour of the particles; the number of particles passing by in a given interval of time; and the speed of the particles.

Suitably, the application is adapted to capture a series of images of the sample, and optionally to capture a video clip of the sample. However, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the application is adapted to extract data from the images, for example, a metric or metrics of a particular parameter or set of parameters, respectively, and to discard the image(s) or video and to retain the metric or metrics.

The application suitably comprises a GUI adapted to display the metric or metrics, e.g. in the form of a report. By discarding the images and retaining only the metrics or data, this reduces the system overhead requirement of the smartphone or tablet device, for example, by reducing the need for high-quality, high-speed image capturing, and/or the memory and/or data storage capabilities of the smartphone device ortablet. Put another way, the application behaves in a similar manner to the human eye and brain: it captures, extracts and records the relevant information from the scene, and disregards and/or discards the remaining information in the scene.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention shall now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section view through analysing apparatus according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is a cross-section view through an analysing device and system according to the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1, analysing apparatus 10 comprises a sample container 12 and an analysing chamber 14. A flow aperture 16, which may be in the form of a nozzle, connects the sample container 12 to the analysing chamber 14. The flow aperture 16 is configured and dimensioned such that in a passive mode sample material is retained in the sample container 12.

In an alternative embodiment the sample container 12 may be in the form of a hopper (not shown). The sample container 12, or a part of the sample container, may be detachable from the analysing chamber 14 and removable for cleaning or disposal and replaceable with a new substitute sample container. This is advantageous to prevent cross-contamination of sample materials.

The analysing chamber 14 has a back wall 18 and a front wall 20. Suitably disposed in the front wall 20 is an imaging aperture 22 having an optical element, such as, for example, a macro lens 24.

The analysing chamber 14 also comprises illumination means which includes an illuminating aperture 26, disposed in the front wall 20, and an optical element 28 operable to redirect light along an optical path 29, received into the analysing chamber 14 through the illuminating aperture 26, through 1800 and into optical alignment with the macro lens 24 to provide a back-light.

The optical element 28 may be formed from a pair of mirrored surfaces 30a and 30b disposed on the internal surface of the back wall 18 to face each other at an angle of approximately 900 relative to each other and approximately 45° relative to the internal surface of the back wall 18.

In an alternative embodiment, the illumination means 28 may comprise two optical prisms suitably disposed on the inner surface of the back wall to re-direct the received light through 1800.

The analysing apparatus 10 further comprises attachment means which includes a pair of clips 32a and 32b. The clips 32a and 32b are suitably positioned, dimensioned and spaced apart to securely detachably attach the analysing apparatus 10 to a smartphone 102 (or tablet device)) as described below in relation to Figure 2.

The analysing apparatus 10 is formed from a plastics material. However, it may alternatively be made from other materials depending on, and to suit, other applications.

Referring to Figure 2, an analysing device 100 comprises the analysing apparatus 10 and a smartphone 102 detachably attached to the analysing apparatus 10 using clips 32a and 32b. The smartphone 102 has an image capture device 104, which is a standard smartphone camera, and a flash light-source 106, which is a standard smartphone camera flash.

The clips 32a and 32b can be formed and positioned to attach a specific make and model of smartphone 102, such as, for example, Iphone®, Nokia0 and Samsung0. In doing so, it is important that the clips 32a and 32b are formed in accordance with the dimensions and layout of the specific smartphone with which it is to be used. In this regard, the clips 32a and 32b are dimensioned and arranged to hold the specific smartphone 102 against the external surface of the front wall 20, of the analysing apparatus 10, such that the macro lens 24 and the illumination aperture 26, of the analysing apparatus 10, are optically aligned with the image capture device 104 and the flash light-source 106, of the smartphone 102, respectively.

In an alternative embodiment, the analysis apparatus 10 may be adapted for attachment with a tablet device (for example) an iPad) by suitably forming the clips 32a and 32b in a different arrangement and with different dimensions as appropriate.

In a preferred embodiment, the analysing apparatus 10 comprises a stand 108 for positioning the smartphone 102 in a parallel relationship with the sample container 12 and the analysing chamber 14, and a vertical relationship relative to the surface on which the stand is positioned.

The stand 108 is adapted to at least substantially mitigate external vibration travelling into the analysing apparatus 10, such that the analysis apparatus lOis insulated from external vibration, which may be present on the surface on which it is positioned.

The stand 108 extends from the lower clip 32b and is adapted to provide a platform 112 through which the weight of the analysing apparatus 10, the sample material 110 and the smartphone 102 is distributed to provide stability for improved accuracy during analysis. The stand 108 may be formed from a plastics material and integrally formed with the remainder of the analysing apparatus 10.

An analysing system comprises the analysing device 100 and a computer application (i.e. app) loaded onto the computer readable storage medium of the smartphone 102.

In use, a user loads the sample container 12 with sample material 110 for analysis.

The user then initiates the smartphone app. The smartphone app activates the smartphone vibrator (not shown), which vibrates the analysing apparatus io. vibration of the analysing apparatus 10 causes the sample material 110 to flow from the sample container 12 through the flow aperture 16 and into the analysing chamber 14.

The smartphone app is operable to control the vibration such as to provide a continuous vibration or pulsed vibration) depending on the requirements to agitate the sample material 110 sufficiently to cause it to flow through the flow aperture 16. Also) the smartphone app is operable to alter the frequency and amplitude of the vibration in order to optimize the flow of the sample material 110 through the flow aperture 16. A flow test may need to be undertaken at several different vibration frequencies and amplitudes to reach the optimum flow of material.

The smartphone app also activates the smartphone flash light-source 106) which launches light through the illumination aperture 26, of the analysing apparatus 10. The light travels along the optical path 29 and is thereby re-directed through 180° by the mirrored surfaces 32a and 32b to illuminate and thereby provide a back-light at a predetermined portion of the analysing chamber 14 through which the sample material 110 flows and at which the image capture device 104 captures the required image.

The smartphone app also activates the smartphone image capture device 104, which captures one or more still images and/or a video of the flowing sample material 110, through the macro lens 24. The smartphone 102 therefore interacts with the analysing apparatus 10 to provide the analysing system) which functions as a microscope through which the flow of sample material 110 can be captured and recorded.

The captured images and/or videos are then analysed on-site by the smartphone app to determine one or more characteristics and/or properties of the sample material, such as) for example: the particle/droplet size, the number of particles/droplets per second (i.e. the flow rate)) the speed of particles/droplets.

The sample material is suitably a powder material, which may be, for example) micron metal powders. However, the sample material may be any flowable material such as, for example, sand, soils and liquids, depending on the application required.

Accordingly, the present invention is applicable to many industries such as, for example, manufacturing (especially additive manufacturing), civil engineering, environmental monitoring and pharmaceutical.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiments, which are merely exemplary of the invention. For example, the shape and configuration of the various elements of the invention may be changed, as might their materials of manufacture.

Claims

Claims: 1. Analysing apparatus comprising attachment means operable to attach the analyzing apparatus to a smartphone or tablet device and interact with an image capture device of the said smartphone or tablet device, to analyse sample material.
2. Analysing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment means is operable to detachably attach the analysing apparatus to the said smartphone or tablet device.
3. Analysing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a sample container and an analysing chamber, wherein the sample container is connected to the analysing chamber by a flow aperture.
4. Analysing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sample container comprises a hopper.
5. Analysing apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein at least a portion of the sample container is removable.
6. Analysing apparatus as claimed in claims 3 or 4, wherein the flow aperture is configured such that in a passive mode the said sample material is substantially retained within the sample container.
7. Analysing apparatus according to any preceding claim, adapted to interact with a vibrator of the smartphone or tablet device.
8. Analysing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a substantially rigid connection means interposed between) and for mechanically coupling, the analysing apparatus to the smartphone or tablet device.
9. Analysing apparatus as claimed in claims 3 to 8, wherein the flow aperture is configured to receive mechanical vibration from an attached smartphone or tablet device and such that, in an activated mode, sample material flows through the flow aperture from the sample container into the analyzing chamber.
10. Analysing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising an imaging aperture positioned such that upon attachment of the analysing apparatus with a said smartphone or tablet device the imaging aperture is optically aligned with a said image capture device of the said smartphone or tablet device.
11. Analysing apparatus as claimed in claim 10, further comprising an optical element disposed in the imaging aperture.
12. Analysing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the optical element comprises a magnifying or a macro lens.
13. Analysing apparatus as claimed in claim 11 or 12, wherein the optical element is disposed adjacent the analyzing chamber such that upon attachment of the analyzing apparatus with a said smartphone or tablet device, the optical element is disposed in optical alignment between the analyzing chamber of the analysing apparatus and the image capture device of the said smartphone or tablet device.
14. Analysing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising illumination means operable to interact with a flash light-source of a said smartphone or tablet device to illuminate at least a portion of the analysing chamber.
15. Analysing apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the illumination means comprises an illumination aperture through which light is received from the said flash light-source and at least one optical element operable to redirect the received light towards a predetermined portion of the analysing chamber.
16. Analysing apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the predetermined portion of the analysing chamber is in optical alignment with the imaging aperture.
17. Analysing apparatus as claimed in claim 15 or 16, wherein the at least one optical element comprises at least one optical prism.
18. Analysing apparatus as claimed in claims 15 to 17, wherein the at least one optical element comprises at least one mirror.
19. Analysing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a stand operable to support an attached smartphone or tablet device in a predetermined position relative to the analysing apparatus.
20. Analysing apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the stand is operable to mitigate external vibration.
21. An analysing device comprising analysing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim and a smartphone or tablet device, wherein the smartphone or tablet device comprises an image capture device and a vibrator.
22. A method for analysing sample material comprising: providing an analysing device as claimed in claim 21; activating the image capture device; activating the vibrator to cause a flow of sample material to travel through the view of the image capture device; recording an image of the sample material; and analysing the recorded image to determine characteristics of the sample material.
23. A method as claimed in claim 22, whereby recording an image of the sample material comprises recording a video of the sample material.
24. A method as claimed in claim 22, whereby recording an image of the sample material comprises recording a series of still images of the sample material.
25. A method as claimed in claim 22 to 24, wherein the analysing apparatus comprises a sample container and an analysing chamber and wherein the sample container is connected to the analysing chamber by a flow aperture, and whereby the method further comprises: loading the sample container with sample material, wherein activation of the vibrator causesthe sample material to flow from the sample container, through the flow aperture and into the analysing chamber. is
26. A method as claimed in any of claims 22 to 25, comprising selecting a continuous or pulsing vibration.
27. A method as claimed in any of claims 22 to 26, comprising selecting the frequency and amplitude of the vibration.
28. A method as claimed in any of claims 22 to 27, further comprising inserting a new sample container prior to loading the sample container with sample material and removing the used sample container following analysis of the sample material.
29. A method as claimed in claims 22 to 28, wherein the smartphone or tablet device comprises a flash light-source and whereby the method further comprises: activating the flash light-source to illuminate at least a part of the analysing chamber.
30. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the analysing apparatus comprises illumination means; and whereby the method further comprises: redirecting light received by the illumination means from the flash light-source to illuminate a predetermined portion of the analysing chamber.
31. A computer readable storage medium storing a computer program which when executed on a processor causes the processor to perform the method of any of claims to 27.
32. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the computer program comprises an application, executable, in use, in a smart phone or tablet device affixed to an analysing apparatus as described herein, the application being configured to: control an image capture device of the smart phone or tablet device; to control a flash light of the smart phone or tablet device; and optionally to control a vibrator of the smart phone or tablet, wherein the application is configured to capture, and analyze a sample passing by the image capture device and to determine any one or more of the group comprising: the size of the particles; the shape of the particles; the colour of the particles; the number of particles passing by in a given interval of time; and the speed of the particles.
33. An analysing system comprising an analysing device as claimed in claim 21 and a computer readable storage medium as claimed in claim 31 or 32.
34. An analysing system as claimed in claim 33, wherein the system is operable to determine at least one of the following characteristics: particle/droplet size; the number of particles/droplets per second and flow rate; the speed of particles/droplets and) the colour of particles of the sample material.
35. An analysing system as claimed in claim 34, wherein the system is operable to derive at least one of the: composition; particle/droplet size distribution; and surface chemistry based on the determined characteristics.
36. Analysing apparatus, an analysing device or an analysing system substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.Amendments to claims have been filed as follows 1. Analysing apparatus comprising: attachment means operable to attach the analyzing apparatus to a smartphone or tablet device) and to enable, in use, the analysing apparatus to interact with an image capture device of the said smartphone or tablet device, such that the said the said smartphone or tablet device can analyse sample material; a sample container and an analysing chamber, wherein the sample container is connected to the analysing chamber by a flow aperture; an imaging aperture positioned such that upon attachment of the analysing apparatus with a said smartphone or tablet device, the imaging aperture is optically aligned with said image capture device of the said smartphone or tablet device, wherein the imaging aperture is disposed adjacent the analyzing chamber such that C'J upon attachment of the analyzing apparatus with a said smartphone or tablet device) U) the imaging aperture is disposed in optical alignment between the analyzing chamber of the analysing apparatus and the image capture device of the said smartphone ortablet device.2. Analysing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment means is operable to detachably attach the analysing apparatus to the said smartphone or tablet device.3. Analysing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the sample container comprises a hopper.4. Analysing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least a portion of the sample container is removable.5. Analysing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the flow aperture is configured such that in a passive mode the said sample material is substantially retained within the sample container.6. Analysing apparatus according to any preceding claim, adapted to interact with a vibrator of the smartphone or tablet device.7. Analysing apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a substantially rigid connection means interposed between) and for mechanically coupling, the analysing apparatus to the smartphone or tablet device.8. Analysing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the flow aperture is configured to receive mechanical vibration from an attached smartphone or tablet C'J device and such that, in an activated mode) sample material flows through the flow U) aperture from the sample container into the analyzing chamber. r9. Analysing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim) further comprising an optical element disposed in the imaging aperture.10. Analysing apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the optical element comprises a magnifying or a macro lens.11. Analysing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising illumination means operable to interact with a flash light-source of a said smartphone or tablet device to illuminate at least a portion of the analysing chamber.12. Analysing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the illumination means comprises an illumination aperture through which light is received from the said flash light-source and at least one optical element operable to redirect the received light towards a predetermined portion of the analysing chamber.13. Analysing apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the predetermined portion of the analysing chamber is in optical alignment with the imaging aperture.14. Analysing apparatus as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the at least one optical element comprises at least one optical prism.15. Analysing apparatus as claimed in claims 12 to 14, wherein the at least one optical element comprises at least one mirror. (4 rU) 16. Analysing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a stand operable to support an attached smartphone or tablet device in a predetermined position relative to the analysing apparatus.17. Analysing apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the stand is operable to mitigate external vibration.18. An analysing device comprising analysing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim and a smartphone or tablet device, wherein the smartphone or tablet device comprises an image capture device and a vibrator.19. A method for analysing sample material comprising: providing an analysing device as claimed in claim 18; activating the image capture device; activating the vibrator to cause a flow of sample material to travel through the view of the image capture device; recording an image of the sample material; and analysing the recorded image to determine characteristics of the sample material.20. A method as claimed in claim 19, whereby recording an image of the sample material comprises recording a video of the sample material.21. A method as claimed in claim 20, whereby recording an image of the sample material comprises recording a series of still images of the sample material.22. A method as claimed in claim 19 to 21, whereby the method further comprises: loading U) the sample container with sample material, wherein activation of the vibrator causes the sample material to flow from the sample container, through the flow aperture and into the analysing chamber.23. A method as claimed in any of claims 19 to 22, comprising selecting a continuous or pulsing vibration.24. A method as claimed in any of claims 19 to 23, comprising selecting the frequency and amplitude of the vibration.25. A method as claimed in any of claims 19 to 24, further comprising inserting a new sample container prior to loading the sample container with sample material and removing the used sample container following analysis of the sample material.26. A method as claimed in claims 19 to 25, wherein the smartphone or tablet device comprises a flash light-source and whereby the method further comprises: activating the flash light-source to illuminate at least a part of the analysing chamber.27. A method as claimed in claim 26, wherein the analysing apparatus comprises illumination means; and whereby the method further comprises: redirecting light received by the illumination means from the flash light-source to illuminate a predetermined portion of the analysing chamber.28. A computer readable storage medium storing a computer program which when U) executed on a processor causes the processor to perform the method of any of claims 19 to 27.29. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the computer program comprises an application, executable, in use, in a smart phone or tablet device affixed to the analysing apparatus of claims ito 17, the application being configured to: control an image capture device of the smart phone or tablet device; to control a flash light of the smart phone or tablet device;) wherein the application is configured to capture, and analyze a sample passing bythe image capture device and to determine anyone or more of the group comprising: the size of particles in the sample; the shape of particles in the sample; the colour of particles in the sample; the number of particles in the sample passing by in a given interval of time; and the speed of particles in the sample.30. The computer readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein the application is further adapted to control a vibrator of the smart phone or tablet 31. An analysing system comprising an analysing device as claimed in claim 18 and a computer readable storage medium as claimed in claim 28 or 29.32. An analysing system as claimed in claim 30, wherein the system is operable to determine at least one of the following characteristics: particle/droplet size; the number of particles/droplets per second and flow rate; the speed of particles/droplets and, the colour of particles of the sample material.33. An analysing system as claimed in claim 31, wherein the system is operable to derive at least one of the: composition; particle/droplet size distribution; and surface chemistry based on the determined characteristics.LO r34. Analysing apparatus, an analysing device or an analysing system substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.