JP2021188975A - Inspection unit and specimen analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an inspection unit with which, even when using a plurality of light sources arranged along one direction, it is possible to suitably execute measurements based on two-wavelength photometry, and a specimen analyzer that includes this inspection unit.SOLUTION: An irradiation part 85 repeatedly radiates light emitted from each of light sources 86a, 86b, 86c while switching in the order stated. The imaging data based on light emitted from each of light sources 86a, 86b, 86c is acquired as first to third imaging data, respectively. Then, a generation part performs computation, for each of corresponding pixel data, on the first and third imaging data having been corrected on the basis of illumination references and thereby generates a first determination index. Similarly, furthermore, the generation part performs computation, for each of corresponding pixel data, on the second and third imaging data having been corrected on the basis of illumination references and thereby generates a second determination index.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

The present invention relates to a test unit and a sample analyzer including the test unit.

Conventionally, when analyzing the concentration of a component contained in a sample such as urine, a method of determining a measuring unit provided on a test body by image processing is known (for example, Patent Document 1). Further, a technique using a lens diffuser is also conventionally known (for example, Patent Document 2). Further, a technique related to the two-wavelength photometry method is also conventionally known (for example, Patent Document 3).

Japanese Patent No. 6379385 Japanese Patent No. 6043229 Special Publication No. 59-000779

Here, when a plurality of light sources are arranged along one direction, the distances (optical path lengths) between the points of interest on the measuring unit and each light source are different. As a result, when these light sources are used, there arises a problem that the measurement according to the two-wavelength photometry method cannot be performed satisfactorily.

Therefore, in the present invention, an inspection unit capable of satisfactorily performing measurement based on the two-wavelength photometry method even when a plurality of light sources arranged along one direction are used, and a sample analyzer including this inspection unit. The purpose is to provide.

In order to solve the above problem, the invention of claim 1 is an inspection unit that inspects the measurement unit by using the light emitted to the measurement unit, and is an irradiation unit that irradiates the measurement unit with diffused light. An image pickup unit that images the measurement unit, a moving unit that moves the measurement unit relative to each of the irradiation unit and the image pickup unit in the advancing / retreating direction, and imaging data acquired by the image pickup unit. A generation unit for generating a determination index and a determination unit for determining a measurement item associated with the measurement unit based on the determination index are provided, and each of the irradiation units is independent. A plurality of light sources arranged along an arrangement direction that intersects the advancing / retreating direction, and a lens diffuser that diffuses the emitted light by transmitting the emitted light emitted from each light source. It is provided between each light source and the lens diffuser, and has a light guide portion that guides the emitted light to the lens diffuser, and the diffusion angle of the lens diffuser in the arrangement direction is the same. By moving the measuring unit relative to the moving unit, the light from the irradiation unit is set to be sequentially irradiated to each part of the measuring unit, and the irradiation unit is set to at least the plurality of light sources. Of these, the light of the first wavelength emitted from the first light source and the light of the second wavelength emitted from the second light source among the plurality of light sources and different from the first wavelength are alternately switched. The image pickup unit can be repeatedly irradiated, and the image pickup unit has an image pickup element in which a plurality of light source elements are one-dimensionally arranged along the arrangement direction, and the measurement unit that is relatively moved by the moving unit is imaged. The two-dimensional image pickup data corresponding to the measurement unit is acquired, and the generation unit acquires the first image pickup data imaged based on the light of the first wavelength and the light of the second wavelength among the two-dimensional image pickup data. It is characterized in that the determination index is generated by calculating each of the corresponding pixel data with respect to the second image pickup data imaged based on the above.

Further, the invention of claim 2 is the inspection unit according to claim 1, wherein the irradiation unit is a third light source among the first wavelength light, the second wavelength light, and the plurality of light sources. It is possible to repeatedly irradiate light having a third wavelength different from that of the first and second wavelengths emitted from the above while switching in this order, and the generation unit describes the first and second imaging data. The first determination index is generated by calculating for each corresponding pixel data, and the second imaging data and the third imaging data imaged based on the light of the third wavelength correspond to each other. A second determination index is generated by calculating for each pixel data, and the determination unit determines the measurement item using at least one of the first and second determination indexes as the determination index. ..

Further, according to the invention of claim 3, in the inspection unit according to claim 1 or 2, the emitted light is guided to the lens diffuser plate through a light guide hole formed in the light guide portion. The inner peripheral length of the light guide hole in the direction perpendicular to the irradiation direction of the diffused light is characterized by increasing as the distance from each light source increases.

Further, the invention of claim 4 is characterized in that, in the inspection unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the image pickup unit captures the light reflected by the measurement unit.

Further, the invention of claim 5 is characterized in that, in the inspection unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, each light source is a point light source.

Further, the invention of claim 6 is a sample analyzer, and a sample process for discharging a sample to the inspection unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and the measurement unit provided on the test body. It is characterized by including a unit and a transfer unit for transferring the test body to which the sample is supplied to the measurement unit from the sample processing unit to the inspection unit.

In the invention according to claim 1 to 6, the light from each light source arranged along the arrangement direction can be transmitted to the lens diffuser. As a result, the intensity of the light of each wavelength irradiated from the irradiation unit to the measurement unit can be made uniform. Therefore, the distances (optical path lengths) between the points of interest on the measuring unit and each light source can be treated as the same. As a result, even when light emitted from a plurality of light sources is used, the measurement based on the two-wavelength photometry method can be satisfactorily performed.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of the structure of the sample analyzer in embodiment of this invention. It is a left side view which shows an example of the structure of the inspection unit in embodiment of this invention. It is a bottom perspective view which shows an example of the structure of the inspection unit in embodiment of this invention. It is a bottom view which shows an example of the structure of the inspection unit in embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the irradiation part seen from the line BB of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the irradiation part seen from the line AA of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the structure of a plurality of light sources. It is a top view which shows an example of the structure of a test body. It is a side view which shows an example of the structure of a test body. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the structure of a control unit. It is a timing chart for explaining the image pickup timing of the light emitted from each light source.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<1. Configuration of sample analyzer>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the sample analyzer 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Here, the sample analyzer 1 is an apparatus for inspecting the concentration of components (for example, glucose, protein, etc.) in a biological sample such as urine and blood. As shown in FIG. 1, the sample analyzer 1 mainly includes a sample processing unit 10, a transfer unit 40, an inspection unit 70, and a control unit 90.

In addition, in order to help understanding of each component described in the drawings, the following drawings are provided with an XYZ Cartesian coordinate system in which the Z-axis direction is the vertical direction and the XY plane is the horizontal plane, as necessary. Has been done.

The sample processing unit 10 discharges a sample supplied from a sample storage container (not shown) such as a test tube to a desired position (for example, the measuring unit 7a of the test body 7 placed on the transfer unit 40). .. The transfer unit 40 transfers the test body 7 to which the sample has been supplied to the measurement unit 7a from the sample processing unit 10 to the inspection unit 70.

The inspection unit 70 takes an image of the measurement unit 7a provided on the test body 7 and performs image processing on the acquired image pickup data to execute determination of the measurement item corresponding to the measurement unit 7a. The detailed configuration of the inspection unit 70 will be described later.

The control unit 90 is electrically connected to each of the sample processing unit 10, the transfer unit 40, and the inspection unit 70 via the signal line 99, and controls the operation of these elements 10, 40, and 70. The detailed configuration of the control unit 90 will be described later.

<2. Inspection unit configuration>
2 to 4 are a left side view, a bottom perspective view, and a bottom view showing an example of the configuration of the inspection unit 70, respectively. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the irradiation unit 85 as seen from the line BB of FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the irradiation unit 85 as seen from the line AA of FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a plurality of light sources 86 (86a, 86b, 86c), and is a view of each light source 86 (86a, 86b, 86c) viewed from the lens diffuser plate 88 side.

The inspection unit 70 inspects a liquid sample based on the brightness distribution of the measuring unit 7a provided on the test body 7. As shown in FIG. 2, the inspection unit 70 mainly includes a moving unit 71, an imaging unit 80, and an irradiation unit 85.

Here, the "brightness" represents the brightness of the object surface, and in the present embodiment, the value of each pixel imaged by the image pickup unit 80 corresponds to the brightness value, and the distribution of the value of each pixel. (Ie, the imaging data) corresponds to the brightness distribution.

The moving unit 71 moves the imaging unit 80 and the irradiation unit 85 along the advancing / retreating direction (arrow AR1 direction). As shown in FIG. 2, the moving unit 71 is arranged below the image pickup unit 80 and the irradiation unit 85. As a result, when the moving unit 71 is driven, the imaging unit 80 and the irradiation unit 85 are moved directly above the measuring unit 7a.

The image pickup unit 80 images the measurement unit 7a by being moved by the moving unit 71 along the advancing / retreating direction (arrow AR1 direction). As shown in FIG. 2, the image pickup unit 80 mainly includes an image pickup element 81 and a lens system 83.

The lens system 83 forms an image of the light reflected by the test body 7, for example, on the image pickup device 81. As shown in FIG. 2, the image pickup unit 80 is set so that the optical axis of the lens system 83 is parallel to the arrow AR2.

The image pickup element 81 is a line sensor capable of acquiring a grayscale image, and a plurality of light receiving elements are one-dimensionally arranged along the arrangement direction (arrow AR4 direction). As a result, the image pickup device 81 converts the light imaged by the lens system 83 into an electric signal according to the intensity of the light. Here, as the image pickup device 81, for example, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor or a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor may be adopted.

The irradiation unit 85 irradiates, for example, diffused light toward the measurement unit 7a of the test body 7. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the irradiation unit 85 is oriented so that the irradiation direction of the light emitted from the irradiation unit 85 (direction of arrow AR3) is tilted with respect to the optical axis of the lens system 83 (parallel to the direction of arrow AR2). Is fixed to the housing 80a (see FIGS. 2 and 3) of the imaging unit 80. As shown in FIG. 6, the irradiation unit 85 mainly has a plurality of light sources 86 (86a, 86b, 86c), a light guide unit 87, and a lens diffuser plate 88. Here, the "irradiation direction" means a direction parallel to the central axis of the diffused light emitted from the irradiation unit 85.

Each of the plurality of light sources 86 (86a, 86b, 86c) is a point light source composed of, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode), and each of them can emit light independently (light emission control is possible).

As shown in FIG. 5, the light source 86 is fixed to a plate-shaped lid 89 arranged above the light guide portion 87. Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, each light source 86 (86a, 86b, 86c) is arranged along an arrangement direction (arrow AR4 direction) intersecting the advancing / retreating direction (arrow AR1 direction).

In this embodiment, the light sources 86a, 86b, and 86c have wavelengths corresponding to red (R: first wavelength), green (G: second wavelength), and blue (B: third wavelength), respectively. Light is emitted. That is, light having different wavelengths is emitted from each of the light sources 86a, 86b, and 86c.

The lens diffuser plate 88 diffuses the emitted light emitted from each of the light sources 86 (86a, 86b, 86c) by transmitting the emitted light. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the lens diffuser plate 88 is provided in the lower part of the light guide portion 87 so as to close the straight hole 87b.

A large number of micro-order fine lens arrays are randomly arranged on the incident surface 88a (see FIG. 6) of the lens diffuser plate 88. As a result, when light from each light source 86 (86a, 86b, 86c) is incident on the incident surface 88a, the incident light is scattered in the range of the diffusion angle 88b by the refraction function of the lens array.

Further, by moving the measuring unit 7a of the test body 7 by the moving unit 71, the lens diffusion in the arrangement direction (arrow AR4 direction) so that the light from the irradiation unit 85 is sequentially irradiated to each part of the measuring unit 7a. The diffusion angle 88b of the plate 88 is set.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the portion on the measuring unit 7a that is within the range of the diffusion angle 88b (for example, the elliptical portion on the measuring unit 7a that extends at least along the arrangement direction (arrow AR4 direction)). In 8), the intensity of the light from the light source 86a can be made uniform. Similarly, the intensity of the light from the light sources 86b and 86c can be made uniform in the elliptical portion 8. Therefore, by moving the measuring unit 7a with respect to the irradiation unit 85, the light from each light source 86 (86a, 86b, 86c) can be satisfactorily irradiated to the entire measuring unit 7a.

Here, when a diffuser plate formed of, for example, a milky white acrylic plate instead of the lens diffuser plate 88 is provided at the lower part of the light guide portion 87, the inspection unit 70 of the present embodiment has the following problems. Occurs.

That is, when a diffuser plate formed of a milky white acrylic plate is adopted, the light transmitted through the diffuser plate is diffused in the entire range. As a result, the amount of light that reaches the measuring unit 7a when this diffuser plate is used is significantly reduced as compared with the case where the lens diffuser plate 88 is used.

In particular, when the light of a plurality of light sources 86 (86a, 86b, 86c) is repeatedly irradiated while switching in this order as in the inspection unit 70 of the present embodiment, the light of each light source 86 (86a, 86b, 86c) The lighting time is shorter than the lighting time when a single light source is used. Therefore, when the above-mentioned diffusion plate formed of a milky white acrylic plate is used for the inspection unit 70 of the present embodiment, the problem of a decrease in the amount of light becomes remarkable, which leads to a decrease in the SN ratio.

On the other hand, like the inspection unit 70 of the present embodiment, the lens diffuser plate 88 having the above-mentioned diffusion angle 88b is provided at the lower part of the light guide unit 87, and then the measurement unit is provided with respect to the irradiation unit 85. When the 7a is moved, the irradiation of the light of each light source 86 (86a, 86b, 86c) is mainly limited to the measuring unit 7a. That is, by limiting the irradiation range of the light from the irradiation unit 85, it is possible to suppress the decrease in the amount of light in this irradiation range and prevent the decrease in the SN ratio.

The light guide unit 87 guides the emitted light emitted from the light source 86 to the lens diffuser plate 88. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the light guide unit 87 is a cylinder in which a light guide hole 87a and a straight hole 87b are formed along the irradiation direction, and is provided between the light source 86 and the lens diffuser plate 88. ing. As a result, the emitted light emitted from the light source 86 is guided to the lens diffuser plate 88 through the light guide hole 87a and the straight hole 87b.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the inner peripheral length of the light guide hole 87a (the length along the inner peripheral wall 87c of the light guide portion 87) in the direction perpendicular to the irradiation direction of the diffused light (arrow AR3 direction). Increases as the distance from the light source 86 increases. That is, the light guide hole 87a widens from the light source 86 toward the lens diffuser plate 88.

As a result, the emitted light emitted from the light source 86 is reflected by the inner peripheral wall 87c of the light guide hole 87a widening from the light source 86 toward the lens diffuser plate 88 and the inner peripheral wall 87c of the straight hole 87b, while being reflected by the lens. It reaches the diffuser plate 88.

As described above, when the moving unit 71 is driven, the test body 7 is moved with respect to the imaging unit 80 and the irradiation unit 85 of the inspection unit 70. Therefore, when the measurement unit 7a moved by the moving unit 71 is imaged, the image pickup unit 80 can take the measurement unit 7a (more specifically, the measurement surface 7c on the measurement unit 7a) (FIGS. 8 and 9). The two-dimensional imaging data corresponding to (see) can be acquired.

8 and 9 are a plan view and a side view showing an example of the configuration of the test body 7, respectively. Here, the test body 7 is a test paper for qualitatively or quantitatively measuring the concentration of the component dissolved in the liquid sample. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the test body 7 mainly has a measuring unit 7a and a base portion 7b.

The measuring unit 7a is associated with a specific measurement item (for example, a specific component dissolved in a sample). When a liquid sample is supplied to the measurement surface 7c on the measurement unit 7a, the brightness of the measurement surface 7c changes according to the concentration of the corresponding measurement item (component).

The base portion 7b is a support for arranging the measuring portion 7a, and the color of the base portion 7b is set to have a high lightness (for example, white). Then, in the determination of the measurement item, the index of the brightness on the reference surface 7d on the base 7b is used as the reference value of the brightness.

<3. Judgment procedure of measurement items by inspection unit>
FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the control unit 90. Here, the determination process of the measurement item will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a timing chart for explaining the imaging timing of the light emitted from each light source 86 (86a, 86b, 86c). As shown in FIG. 10, the control unit 90 mainly includes a CPU 91, a memory 92, and a communication control unit 94.

The CPU (Central Processing Unit) 91 executes operation control and data processing according to the program 92a of the memory 92. Further, the arithmetic function corresponding to the blocks (reference numerals 95 and 96 are assigned, respectively) described in the CPU 91 in FIG. 10 is realized by the CPU 91.

The generation unit 95 generates a determination index (first and second determination index) used by the determination unit 96 based on the image pickup data acquired by the image pickup unit 80. The determination unit 96 determines the measurement item corresponding to the measurement surface 7c based on the determination index (first determination index and / or second determination index) generated by the generation unit 95.

Here, the generation unit 95 has a first image pickup data imaged based on the light of the light source 86a (light of the first wavelength) and a second image captured based on the light of the light source 86b (light of the second wavelength). The first determination index is generated by using the image pickup data. Further, the generation unit 95 generates a second determination index by using the second imaging data and the third imaging data imaged based on the light of the light source 86c (light of the third wavelength).

Further, the control unit 90 having the generation unit 95 and the determination unit 96 executes determination of measurement items according to the following procedure. As shown in FIG. 11, the irradiation unit 85 includes the light (light of the first wavelength) emitted from the light source 86a (first light source) and the light source 86b (light of the first wavelength) among the plurality of light sources 86 (86a, 86b, 86c). The light emitted from the light source (second light source) (light of the second wavelength) and the light emitted from the light source 86c (third light source) (light of the third wavelength) are repeatedly irradiated while switching in this order. In this case, the switching process of the light sources 86a, 86b, 86c is repeated in this order, and when the measuring unit 7a is moved below the image pickup unit 80 and the irradiation unit 85 by the moving unit 71, the light sources 86a, 86b, 86c The light from the light source is sequentially applied to each part of the measuring part 7a.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the image pickup unit 80 executes the image pickup process at the timing when the light from each light source 86 (86a, 86b, 86c) is emitted.

As a result, the light of each light source 86a, 86b, 86c is irradiated to the measuring unit 7a, and the entire measuring unit 7a is irradiated by the light sources 86a, 86b, 86c. Therefore, the two-dimensional imaging data (two-dimensional array data) of the measurement surface 7c imaged based on the light of each light source 86a, 86b, 86c can be acquired as the first to third imaging data, respectively.

In this way, below the light sources 86a, 86b, 86c, the measuring unit 7a of the test body 7 is moved once in one direction along the advancing / retreating direction (arrow AR1 direction), so that the light of the light source 86a (the first). The first imaging data imaged based on the light of one wavelength), the second imaging data imaged based on the light of the light source 86b (light of the second wavelength), and the light of the light source 86c (light of the third wavelength). ), And the third imaging data imaged based on) can be acquired.

Next, the generation unit 95 uses the image pickup data (one-dimensional or two-dimensional array data) of the reference surface 7d imaged based on the light of each light source 86a, 86b, 86c to obtain the first to third wavelengths. Calculate the lightness standard (white standard) corresponding to each. Then, the generation unit 95 corrects the corresponding first to third imaging data based on each calculated brightness standard.

Subsequently, the generation unit 95 generates a first determination index (two-dimensional array data) by calculating each of the corresponding pixel data for the first and second imaging data corrected by the brightness standard. Similarly, the generation unit 95 generates a second determination index (two-dimensional array data) by calculating each of the corresponding pixel data for the second and third imaging data corrected by the brightness standard.

More specifically, when each data included in the first imaging data is represented by P1 (i, j) and each data included in the second imaging data is represented by P2 (i, j), it corresponds to each other. Calculate the ratio of pixel data to each other (that is, the ratio of the pixel P1 (i1, j1) of interest in the first imaging data to the pixel P2 (i1, j1) corresponding to P1 (i1, j1)). May generate a first determination index (two-dimensional array data).

Similarly, when each data included in the third imaging data is represented as P3 (i, j), the ratio of the corresponding pixel data (that is, the pixel P2 (i2, j2) of interest in the second imaging data). ) And the pixel P3 (i2, j2) corresponding to P2 (i2, j2)), the second determination index (two-dimensional array data) may be generated.

Then, the determination unit 96 selects at least one of the first and second determination indexes as the determination index, and determines the measurement item based on the selected determination index.

The communication control unit 94 transmits a control signal to a moving unit 71, an image pickup device 81, a plurality of light sources 86 (86a, 86b, 86c) in the inspection unit 70 connected via a signal line 99 (see FIG. 1). Can be sent. As a result, the communication control unit 94 can operate these moving units 71, the image pickup device 81, the light source 86, and the like at predetermined timings.

<4. Advantages of the inspection unit of this embodiment>
As described above, in the inspection unit 70 of the present embodiment, the light from the light sources 86 (86a, 86b, 86c) separately arranged along the arrangement direction (arrow AR4 direction) is transmitted to the lens diffuser plate 88. Can be made to. As a result, the intensity of light of each wavelength (first to third wavelengths) irradiated from the irradiation unit 85 to the measurement unit 7a can be made uniform.

Therefore, the distances (optical path lengths) between each part on the measuring part 7a and each light source 86 (86a, 86b, 86c) can be treated as the same. As a result, even when the light emitted from each light source 86 (86a, 86b, 86c) is used, the measurement based on the two-wavelength photometry method can be satisfactorily performed.

<5. Modification example>
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be modified in various ways.

(1) In the embodiment of the present invention, the moving unit 71 has been described as moving the test body 7 with respect to the imaging unit 80 and the irradiation unit 85, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the image pickup unit 80 and the irradiation unit 85 may be moved with respect to the test body 7, or each of the test body 7, the image pickup unit 80, and the irradiation unit 85 may be moved. That is, the moving unit 71 moves the measuring unit 7a provided on the test body 7 relative to each of the imaging unit 80 and the irradiation unit 85 along the advancing / retreating direction (arrow AR1 direction).

(2) Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the measurement unit 7a provided on the test body 7 has been described as being single, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the number of measuring units 7a provided on the test body 7 may be plural (two or more).

(3) Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the generation unit 95 generates the first and second determination indexes after correcting the corresponding first to third imaging data based on each brightness standard. However, it is not limited to this. For example, the generation unit 95 may generate the first and second determination indexes based on the first to third imaging data without the brightness correction.

(4) Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the image pickup unit 80 has been described as capturing the light reflected by the measurement unit 7a, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, in the case of a measuring unit capable of transmitting light, the imaging unit 80 may capture the light transmitted through the measuring unit and create a determination index using the imaging data acquired by this imaging process.

(5) Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of light sources 86 (86a, 86b, 86c) included in the irradiation unit 85 are red (R: first wavelength) and green (G: second wavelength), respectively. , Light having a wavelength corresponding to blue (B: third wavelength) is repeatedly irradiated while switching in this order, but the wavelength of the light emitted from each light source 86 (86a, 86b, 86c) is It is not limited to this.

For example, from each light source 86 (86a, 86b, 86c),
(A) Light having wavelengths corresponding to red (R: first wavelength), blue (B: second wavelength), and green (G: third wavelength), respectively.
(B) Light having wavelengths corresponding to green (G: first wavelength), red (R: second wavelength), and blue (B: third wavelength), respectively.
(C) Light having wavelengths corresponding to green (G: first wavelength), blue (B: second wavelength), and red (R: third wavelength), respectively.
(D) Light having wavelengths corresponding to blue (B: first wavelength), green (G: second wavelength), and red (R: third wavelength), respectively, and
(E) Light having wavelengths corresponding to blue (B: first wavelength), red (R: second wavelength), and green (G: third wavelength), respectively.
May be emitted.

(6) Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, each light source 86 (86a, 86b, 86c) (see FIG. 7) included in the irradiation unit 85 has been described as being installed at equal intervals. Not limited to. For example, the distance between the light sources 86a and 86b and the distance between the light sources 86b and 86c may be different.

(7) Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the size (in the case of FIG. 7: diameter) of each light source 86 (86a, 86b, 86c) included in the irradiation unit 85 has been described as being about the same. However, it is not limited to this. For example, the sizes of the light sources 86 (86a, 86b, 86c) may be different.

(8) Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the generation unit 95 has been described as generating a determination index by using three lights (RGB) having different wavelengths, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the determination index may be created using two lights having different wavelengths, or the determination index may be created using four or more lights having different wavelengths.

For example, when two lights having different wavelengths are used, the determination process may be executed as follows. That is, the irradiation unit 85 is from the light (light of the first wavelength) emitted from the light source 86a (first light source) and the light source 86b (second light source) among the plurality of light sources 86 (86a, 86b, 86c). The emitted light (light of the second wavelength) and the emitted light are alternately switched and repeatedly irradiated. In this case, when the measurement unit 7a is moved below the image pickup unit 80 and the irradiation unit 85 by the moving unit 71 while the switching process of the light sources 86a and 86b is repeated, the light from the light sources 86a and 86b is emitted from the measurement unit 7a. Each part of is irradiated sequentially.

In this way, below the light sources 86a and 86b, the measuring unit 7a of the test body 7 is moved once in one direction along the advancing / retreating direction (arrow AR1 direction), whereby the light (first wavelength) of the light source 86a is moved. The first image pickup data imaged based on the light of the light source 86b and the second image pickup data imaged based on the light of the light source 86b (light of the second wavelength) can be acquired.

Next, the generation unit 95 uses the imaging data (one-dimensional or two-dimensional array data) of the reference surface 7d imaged based on the light of each of the light sources 86a and 86b, so that the first and second wavelengths are set to each. Calculate the corresponding lightness standard (white standard). Then, the generation unit 95 corrects the corresponding first and second imaging data based on each calculated brightness standard.

Subsequently, the generation unit 95 generates a determination index (two-dimensional array data) by calculating each of the corresponding pixel data for the first and second imaging data corrected by the brightness standard. Then, the determination unit 96 determines the measurement item based on this determination index.

When two lights having different wavelengths are used, the combination of the light sources 86b and 86c may be adopted or the combination of the light sources 86a and 86c may be adopted in addition to the combination of the light sources 86a and 86b.

(9) Further, in the generation unit 95 of the present embodiment, it has been described as generating the first and second determination indexes, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the generation unit 95 calculates the ratio of the pixel P3 (i3, j3) of interest in the third imaging data to the pixel P1 (i3, j3) corresponding to P3 (i3, j3). A third determination index (two-dimensional array data) may be generated.

(10) Further, in the present embodiment, the generation unit 95 and the determination unit 96 have been described as being realized by software in the CPU 91 based on the program 92a stored in the memory 92, but the present invention is limited thereto. It is not something that is done. The generation unit 95 and the determination unit 96 may be realized by hardware, for example, by an electronic circuit.

1 Specimen analyzer 7 Specimen 7a Measuring unit 10 Specimen processing unit 40 Transfer unit 70 Inspection unit 71 Moving unit 80 Imaging unit 81 Image sensor 85 Irradiation unit 86 Light source (86a, 86b, 86c)
87 Light guide unit 87a Light guide hole 88 Lens diffuser plate 88b Diffusion angle 90 Control unit 91 CPU
95 Generation unit 96 Judgment unit

Claims (6)

An inspection unit that inspects the measuring unit using the light emitted to the measuring unit.
(a) An irradiation unit that irradiates diffused light toward the measurement unit,
(b) An imaging unit that captures the measurement unit and
(c) A moving unit that moves the measuring unit relative to each of the irradiation unit and the imaging unit in the advancing / retreating direction.
(d) A generation unit that generates a determination index based on the imaging data acquired by the imaging unit, and a generation unit.
(e) A determination unit that determines the measurement items associated with the measurement unit based on the determination index.
Equipped with
The irradiation part is
(a-1) A plurality of light sources, each of which can emit light independently and are arranged along an arrangement direction intersecting the advancing / retreating direction,
(a-2) A lens diffuser that diffuses the emitted light by transmitting the emitted light emitted from each light source, and
(a-3) A light guide portion provided between each light source and the lens diffuser plate to guide the emitted light to the lens diffuser plate.
Have and
The diffusion angle of the lens diffuser in the arrangement direction is set so that the light from the irradiation unit is sequentially irradiated to each part of the measurement unit by the relative movement of the measurement unit by the moving unit. Ori,
The irradiation unit is at least
Of the plurality of light sources, the light of the first wavelength emitted from the first light source and the light of the first wavelength.
Of the plurality of light sources, light having a second wavelength emitted from the second light source and different from the first wavelength is emitted.
Irradiation can be repeated while switching alternately,
The image pickup unit is
It has an image pickup element in which a plurality of light receiving elements are arranged one-dimensionally along the arrangement direction, and also has an image pickup element.
By imaging the measuring unit that is relatively moved by the moving unit, the two-dimensional imaging data corresponding to the measuring unit is acquired.
Among the two-dimensional imaging data, the generation unit relates to the first imaging data imaged based on the light of the first wavelength and the second imaging data imaged based on the light of the second wavelength. , An inspection unit characterized in that the determination index is generated by performing an operation for each corresponding pixel data. In the inspection unit according to claim 1,
The irradiation part is
The light of the first wavelength and
The light of the second wavelength and
Of the plurality of light sources, light having a third wavelength emitted from the third light source and different from each of the first and second wavelengths is emitted.
Irradiation can be repeated while switching in this order,
The generator is
(i) The first determination index is generated and the first determination index is generated by calculating each of the corresponding pixel data for the first and second imaging data.
(ii) A second determination index is generated by calculating the second imaging data and the third imaging data imaged based on the light of the third wavelength for each corresponding pixel data.
The determination unit is an inspection unit characterized in that at least one of the first and second determination indexes is used as the determination index to determine the measurement item. In the inspection unit according to claim 1 or 2.
The emitted light is guided to the lens diffuser through the light guide hole formed in the light guide portion, and is guided to the lens diffuser plate.
An inspection unit characterized in that the inner peripheral length of the light guide hole in a direction perpendicular to the irradiation direction of the diffused light increases as the distance from each light source increases. In the inspection unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
The image pickup unit is an inspection unit characterized in that the light reflected by the measurement unit is imaged. In the inspection unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
Each light source is an inspection unit characterized by being a point light source. It is a sample analyzer,
The inspection unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
A sample processing unit that discharges a sample to the measuring unit provided on the test body, and
A transfer unit that transfers the test body to which the sample is supplied to the measurement unit from the sample processing unit to the inspection unit, and
A sample analyzer characterized by being equipped with.

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