# US 11,442,016 B2 · Light-emitting detection device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,442,016 B2 - Document ID: US11442016B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/076,212 - Filed: 2016-02-22 - Published: 2021-06-24 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2016-02-22 - Assignees: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation - Applicants: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation - Inventors: Takashi Anazawa; Motohiro Yamazaki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11442016B2 ## CPC - G01N 21/645: {Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters} - G01N 21/6452: {Individual samples arranged in a regular 2D-array, e.g. multiwell plates} - B01L 3/502715: {characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces} - C12Q 1/6869: Methods for sequencing - G01N 21/64: Fluorescence; Phosphorescence - G02B 3/0056: {arranged along two different directions in a plane, e.g. honeycomb arrangement of lenses (G02B3/0043 takes precedence; miniaturised objectives for electronic devices employing wafer level optics G02B13/0085)} - G02B 27/141: {using dichroic mirrors} - G01N 2021/6421: {Measuring at two or more wavelengths} - G01N 2021/6471: {Special filters, filter wheel} - G01N 2021/6478: {Special lenses} - G01N 2021/6484: {Optical fibres} - G01N 2201/0833: Fibre array at detector, resolving - G02B 3/005: {arranged along a single direction only, e.g. lenticular sheets (G02B3/0043 takes precedence)} - G02B 19/0014: {at least one surface having optical power} - G02B 19/0066: {in the form of an LED array} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - C12Q: MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS (immunoassay G01N33/53); COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract The invention is directed to a light-emission detection apparatus for individually condensing light emitted from each emission point of a emission-point array using each condensing lens of a condensing-lens array to form a light beam and detecting each light beam incident on a sensor in parallel, and the light-emission detection apparatus can be downsized and high sensitivity and low crosstalk can be simultaneously accomplished when a certain relation between the diameter of each emission point, a focal length of each condensing lens, an interval of condensing lenses, and an optical path length between each condensing lens and a sensor is satisfied. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A light-emission detection apparatus comprising: a condensing-lens array in which M condensing lenses are arranged, for individually condensing lights emitted from a emission-point array in which M emission points are arranged, to form M light beams, where M≥2; at least one sensor on which the M light beams are incident in parallel, wherein when an average of effective diameters of the M emission points is d, an average of focal lengths of the M condensing lenses is f, an average of intervals of the M condensing lenses is p, and an average of maximum optical path lengths between the M condensing lenses and the at least one sensor is g, the d, f, p, and g satisfy relation f≥1/((2*p)/(1.27*d)+1)*g. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a pinhole array in which M pinholes are arranged while being aligned with the M condensing lenses, wherein the M emission points are constituted by light emissions of parts of at least one emission region. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein relation f≥1/(p/d+1)*g is satisfied. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein relation f≤2*p is satisfied. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein relation f≤2p is satisfied. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a dichroic-mirror array in which N plural dichroic mirrors are arranged in number order in a first direction at an optically intermediate part between the condensing-lens array and the sensor, with N≥2, the number being 1, 2, . . . , and N, wherein N normal vectors of fronts of the N dichroic mirrors are formed by a sum of a positive component in the first direction and a negative component in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the N normal vectors are substantially parallel to each other, optical axes of the M condensing lenses are substantially parallel to the second direction, and an arrangement direction of the M condensing lenses is substantially parallel to a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the M light beams are incident on the dichroic-mirror array in parallel along the second direction, (M×N) divided light beams, which are obtained by dividing each of the M light beams into N light beams different from each other in the first direction, are emitted from the dichroic-mirror array along the second direction, and the (M×N) divided light beams are incident on the sensor in parallel and are collectively detected. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 7, wherein at least an optical path length adjusting element is provided on an optical path of a part of the (M×N) divided light beams. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 6, wherein when an average of effective diameters of the M condensing lenses is D, an average of angles formed between the N normal vectors and a direction opposite to the second direction is θ0, where 0≤θ0≤90°, an average of refractive indices of base materials of the N dichroic mirrors is n0, an average of widths of base materials of the N dichroic mirrors is α, an average of thicknesses of the base materials of the N dichroic mirrors is β, an average of intervals of the N dichroic mirrors is x, and an average of distances, by which an end in the second direction of the dichroic mirror of the number n is shifted, in a direction opposite to the second direction, from an end in the second direction of the dichroic mirror of the number n−1, is yz, where 2≤n≤N, the d, f, D, p, g, θ0, N, n0, α, β, x, and yz satisfy a certain relation that is predetermined so as to be capable of detecting the M pieces of light emission using the dichroic mirrors. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 9, wherein using θ1=sin−1(1/n0*sin θ0), θ2=sin−1(1/n0*sin(90°−θ0)), aW=cos θ0, bW=−cos θ0*tan θ1, aL=(N−1)*cos θ0+sin θ0, bL=(N−2)/cos θ0*(2*sin(90°−θ0−θ2)+1−sin(θ0+θ2))+(N−2)*sin θ0+2*cos θ0, and d′=(g−f)/f*d, the following relations are satisfied: (sin θ0−bW/aW*cos θ0)*β+cos θ0/aW*D≤x, and (sin θ0−bW/aW*cos θ0)*β+cos θ0/aW*d′≤x≤(sin θ0−bL/aL*cos θ0)*β+cos θ0/aL*g. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 9, wherein using θ2=sin−1(1/n0*sin(90°−θ0)), the following relation is satisfied: 0≤yz≤2*sin(90°−θ0−θ2)/cos θ2*β. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 9, wherein using θ2=sin−1(1/n0*sin(90°−θ0)), when n=2,0≤yz≤2*cos θ0*β, and when 3≤n≤N, the following relation is satisfied: 0≤yz≤2*sin(90°−θ0−θ2)/cos θ2*β. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the following relation is satisfied: cos θ0*α≤x≤cos θ0*α+2*sin θ0*β. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the M condensing lenses are two-dimensionally arranged in a plan parallel to a sensor surface of the sensor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a color sensor in which plural kinds of pixels for identifying lights with different wavelength bands are arranged. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a mechanism that moves at least a relative position of the condensing-lens array with respect to the M emission points. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The light-emission detection apparatus according claim 1, further comprising: a capillary array in which a plurality of capillaries is aligned on a plane, and a device for support the capillary array, wherein the emission-point array is generated from individual emission point from the capillary array and the condensing-lens array is integrated in the device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The light-emission detection apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising: a pinhole array arranged between the capillary array and the condensing-lens array in which M pinholes are arranged while being aligned with the M condensing lenses.