Optical system

Abstract

An optical system includes a sample carrier receiving region configured to receive a sample carrier carrying a sample for processing, a source that emits an excitation signal having a wavelength within a first predetermined wavelength range, and a first set of optical components that direct the excitation signal along an excitation path to the sample carrier receiving region, wherein radiation having a wavelength within a second predetermined wavelength range is emitted from the sample carrier receiving region in response to receiving the excitation signal. The optical system further includes a detector configured to detect the emitted radiation and generates a signal indicative of a power of the detected radiation and a second set of optical components that directs the emitted radiation along a collection path to the detector. The optical system further includes a power meter that measures a power of the radiation emitted from the sample carrier receiving region and generates a signal indicative thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An optical system, comprising:
 a sample carrier receiving region configured to receive a sample carrier carrying a sample for processing;   a source that emits an excitation signal having a wavelength within a first predetermined wavelength range,   a first set of optical components that direct the excitation signal along an excitation path to the sample carrier receiving region, wherein radiation having a wavelength within a second predetermined wavelength range is emitted from the sample carrier receiving region in response to receiving the excitation signal;   a detector configured to detect the emitted radiation and generates a signal indicative of a power of the detected radiation;   a second set of optical components that directs the emitted radiation along a collection path to the detector; and   a power meter that measures a power of the radiation emitted from the sample carrier receiving region and generates a signal indicative thereof,   wherein the power meter measures a power of the excitation signal and generates a signal indicative thereof, and the processor determines an optical excitation efficiency based on a ratio of the signal indicative of the power of the excitation signal received at the sample carrier receiving region to the signal indicative of the power of the excitation signal.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the process compares the determined optical excitation efficiency with a theoretical optical excitation efficiency and generates a signal indicating whether a difference between the determined optical excitation efficiency and the theoretical optical excitation efficiency satisfies a predetermined optical excitation efficiency threshold. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the theoretical optical excitation efficiency is a ratio of a theoretical power of the excitation signal received at the sample carrier receiving region to a theoretical power of the excitation signal. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the theoretical power of the excitation signal is determined based on an output power specification of the source and the theoretical power of the excitation signal received at the sample carrier receiving region is determined as a product of the theoretical power of the excitation signal and at least one of a transmittance specification or a reflectance specification of the first set of optical components. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is part of a DNA analysis apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . A method of determining an optical performance of an optical system, comprising:
 measuring a signal power of a signal emitted from a sample carrier receiving region and traversing a collection path to a detector;   measuring a signal power of the signal received at the detector, wherein the emitted signal traverses at least one optical component while traversing the collection path between the sample carrier receiving region and the detector;   generating a signal indicative of an optical collection efficiency based on a ratio of the signal power of the signal emitted received at the detector to the signal power of a signal emitted from a sample carrier receiving region;   determining an optical excitation efficiency performance by comparing a difference value between the measured optical excitation efficiency and a theoretical optical excitation efficiency with a predetermined optical excitation efficiency threshold; and   generating a signal indicating whether the difference value satisfies the predetermined optical excitation efficiency threshold.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the optical system is part of an apparatus configured to analyze DNA. 
     
     
         8 . A method of determining an optical performance of an optical system, comprising:
 measuring a signal power of a signal emitted by a source;   measuring a signal power of the emitted signal received at a sample carrier receiving region, wherein the emitted signal traverses at least one optical component while traversing an excitation path between the source and the sample carrier receiving region; and   generating a signal indicative of an optical excitation efficiency based on a ratio of the signal power of the signal emitted received at the sample carrier receiving region to the signal power the signal emitted by the source.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 determining a theoretical optical excitation efficiency based on a ratio of a theoretical power of the emitted signal received at the sample carrier receiving region to a theoretical power of a theoretical signal emitted by the source.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein determining the theoretical power of the signal emitted by the source includes determining a power output manufacturer's specification of the source. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein determining the theoretical power of the emitted signal received at the sample carrier receiving region includes determining a product of the theoretical signal emitted by the source and at least one of a transmittance specification of the at least one optical component or a reflectance specification of the at least one optical component. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 determining an optical excitation performance by comparing a difference value between the optical excitation efficiency and the theoretical optical excitation efficiency with a predetermined optical excitation efficiency threshold; and   generating a signal indicating whether the difference value satisfies the predetermined optical excitation efficiency threshold.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 determining an optical collection performance by comparing a difference value between an optical collection efficiency and a theoretical optical collection efficiency with a predetermined optical collection efficiency threshold; and   generating a signal indicating whether the difference value satisfies the predetermined optical collection efficiency threshold.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the optical system is part of an apparatus configured to analyze DNA.