2. General Description
32
IFU for Infinite 200 PRO No. 30052730 Rev. No. 1.6
2016-04
Light Source System
Flash light enters the optical system by being focused through a slit containing
the filter. This opening acts as a color specific light source.
The Infinite F200 PRO light source system is built from the following components:
•
Flash lamp
•
Condensing Optics
•
Excitation Filters
•
Flash lamp Monitor
Flash lamp
The Infinite F200 PRO utilizes a high energy Xenon arc discharge lamp (Flash
lamp). The flash sparks across a small gap between two electrodes. The lamp
bulb contains a high pressure Xenon atmosphere. The flash decays within some
microseconds.
The flash frequency is 40 Hz.
The Infinite F200 PRO uses the Flash lamp for fluorescence and for absorbance
measurements, although pulsed illumination is a must only for TRF. The main
benefits of this singular kind of lamp are:
1.
High intensity from the deep UV to the near IR
2.
Very long lifetime
3.
Many applications - only one kind of lamp
4.
No warm up time required
Condenser
Condenser type optics focus the light through the entrance slit to the fluorescence
optical system.
Excitation Filter
Wavelength-specific bandpass filters serve to select the wavelength range of
interest from the whole spectrum of excitation light coming from the flash lamp.
Filters are installed in removable slides and are user-exchangeable.
Flash Monitor
The light energy of single flashes may fluctuate slightly. To take these variations
into account, a reference silicon photodiode monitors the energy of every single
flash. Fluorescence measurement results are compensated correspondingly.
Fluorescence Optics Top
Flash light enters the optical system by being focused through a slit and then
through the excitation filter. Depending on the measured wavelength either a
semi-transparent (50%) or a special dichroic mirror reflects the light towards the
microplate. The objective lens system focuses the light into the sample.
Fluorescence Emission is measured from above the well. Fluorescence light is
collected by the objective, directed through the appropriate mirror, and focused
through the exit slit for detection.
Objective Lens System
The objective is designed to collect the fluorescent light emitted from a well and
focus it through the exit slit to the detection system.
The objective lenses are made from fused silica. This material provides high UV
transmission and is virtually void of auto-fluorescence.
