Spectrophotometer arrangement with multi-detector readhead

Claim 2

A spectrophotometer arrangement, comprising: a biological test sample containing unknown concentrations of preselected color-developed analytes having different characteristic absorption bands; an artificial light source for illuminating the biological test sample; a plurality of light-emitting diodes for detecting light from the biological test sample, said plurality of light-emitting diodes having spectral responses encompassing respective ones of the different characteristic absorption bands of the preselected color-developed analytes; and a housing assembly for supporting said plurality of light-emitting diodes, wherein said housing assembly includes a base and said plurality of light-emitting diodes are mounted to said base, and wherein said housing assembly includes a window disposed opposite said base and a side wall bridging said base and said window such that said plurality of light-emitting diodes are enclosed within said housing assembly.

Claim 3

The photometer readhead of claim 1, wherein said plurality of light-emitting diodes are disposed on an opposite side of the test sample relative to said artificial light source so that said plurality of light-emitting diodes detect a portion of light transmitted through the test sample.

Claim 4

The photometer readhead of claim 2, wherein said artificial light source, the test sample, and said plurality of light-emitting diodes are disposed in line with each other.

Claim 5

The photometer readhead of claim 1, wherein said plurality of light-emitting diodes are disposed on the same side of the test sample as said artificial light source so that said plurality of light-emitting diodes detect a portion of light reflected from the test sample.

Claim 6

The photometer readhead of claim 4, wherein said plurality of light-emitting diodes are disposed at a scattering angle of approximately 45 degrees as measured between a line representing a direction of travel of light from said artificial light source to the test sample and a line representing a direction of travel of the reflected light portion from the test sample to said plurality of light-emitting diodes.

Claim 7

The photometer readhead of claim 1, wherein said artificial light source is selected from the group consisting of an incandescent lamp, a halogen lamp, a fluorescent lamp, and a plurality of light-emitting diodes.

Claim 8

The photometer readhead of claim 1, wherein said plurality of light-emitting diodes include a first light-emitting diode having a spectral response in the red portion of the visible light spectrum, a second light-emitting diode having a spectral response in the blue portion of the visible light spectrum, and a third light-emitting diode having a spectral response in the green portion of the visible light spectrum.

Claim 9

The photometer readhead of claim 7, wherein said plurality of light-emitting diodes include a fourth light-emitting diode having a spectral response in the infrared light spectrum.

Claim 10

The photometer readhead of claim 1, wherein said base includes a printed circuit board.

Claim 11

A spectrophotometer arrangement, comprising: a biological test sample containing unknown concentrations of preselected color-developed analytes having different characteristic absorption bands; an artificial light source for illuminating the biological test sample; and a detector assembly for detecting light from the biological test sample, said detector assembly including a plurality of light-emitting diodes having spectral responses encompassing respective ones of the different characteristic absorption bands of the preselected color-developed analytes, said plurality of light-emitting diodes including a pair of light-emitting diodes having respective spectral responses in different portions of the visible light spectrum such that said respective spectral responses are substantially non-overlapping; wherein said detector assembly includes a housing for enclosing and supporting said plurality of light-emitting diodes and wherein said housing includes a base and said plurality of light-emitting diodes are mounted to said base, and wherein said housing includes a window disposed opposite said base and a side wall bridging said base and said window such that said plurality of light-emitting diodes are enclosed within said housing; and wherein said plurality of light-emitting diodes are disposed at a scattering angle of approximately 45 degrees as measured between a line representing a direction of travel of light from said artificial light source to the test sample and a line representing a direction of travel of the reflected light portion from the test sample to said plurality of light-emitting diodes.

Claim 12

A spectrophotometer arrangement, comprising: a biological test sample containing unknown concentrations of preselected color-developed analytes having different characteristic absorption bands; an artificial light source for illuminating the biological test sample; and a detector assembly for detecting light from the biological test sample, said detector assembly including a plurality of light-emitting diodes having spectral responses encompassing respective ones of the different characteristic absorption bands of the preselected color-developed analytes, said plurality of light-emitting diodes including a pair of light-emitting diodes having respective spectral responses in different portions of the visible light spectrum such that said respective spectral responses are substantially non-overlapping; wherein said detector assembly includes a housing for enclosing and supporting said plurality of light-emitting diodes and wherein said housing includes a base and said plurality of light-emitting diodes are mounted to said base, and wherein said housing includes a window disposed opposite said base and a side wall bridging said base and said window such that said plurality of light-emitting diodes are enclosed within said housing; and wherein said plurality of light-emitting diodes are disposed at a scattering angle of approximately 45 degrees as measured between a line representing a direction of travel of light from said artificial light source to the test sample and a line representing a direction of travel of the reflected light portion from the test sample to said plurality of light-emitting diodes.

Claim 13

The photometer readhead of claim 10, wherein a first of said pair of light-emitting diodes has a spectral response in the red portion of the visible light spectrum and a second of said pair of light-emitting diodes has a spectral response in the blue portion of the visible light spectrum, and wherein said plurality of light-emitting diodes includes a third light-emitting diode having a spectral response in the green portion of the visible light spectrum.

Claim 14

The photometer readhead of claim 11, wherein said plurality of light-emitting diodes include a fourth light-emitting diode having a spectral response in the infrared light spectrum.

Claim 15

The photometer readhead of claim 10, wherein said base includes a printed circuit board.

Claim 16

The photometer readhead of claim 10, wherein said artificial light source is selected from the group consisting of an incandescent lamp, a halogen lamp, a fluorescent lamp, and a plurality of light-emitting diodes.