US 12,013,329 B1
Detection apparatus
Mineyuki Haruta, Fukushima (JP)
Assigned to P&M Co., Ltd., Fukushima (JP)
Appl. No. 17/799,875
Filed by P&M Co., Ltd., Fukushima (JP)
PCT Filed Mar. 11, 2022, PCT No. PCT/JP2022/011101
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 15, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/196587, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 22, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-041469 (JP), filed on Mar. 15, 2021.
Int. Cl. G01N 15/1434 (2024.01); A61M 5/168 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 15/1434 (2013.01) [A61M 5/1689 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A detection apparatus that detects dropping of a droplet,
wherein the detection apparatus comprises:
an optical element array having four or more optical elements comprising a first light emitting element, a first light receiving element, a second light emitting element and a second light receiving element,
wherein the first light emitting element, the first light receiving element and the second light receiving element are disposed within the optical element array so that:
a part of a light emitting region irradiated from the first light emitting element and a part of a light receiving region of the first light receiving element overlap; and
a part of a light emitting region irradiated from the first light emitting element and a part of a light receiving region of the second light receiving element overlap,
wherein the first light emitting element, the first light receiving element, the second light receiving element and the second light emitting element are disposed within the optical element array so that:
a part of a light emitting region irradiated from the second light emitting element and a part of a light receiving region of the first light receiving element overlap; and
a part of a light emitting region irradiated from the second light emitting element and a part of a light receiving region of the second light receiving element overlap,
wherein the second light emitting element and the first light receiving element are disposed on an upstream side of a pathway where the droplet passes, and
wherein the second light emitting element and the first light receiving element are disposed on a downstream side of pathway where the droplet passes.