Modular illumination and sensor chamber

Abstract

Embodiments described are generally directed to a test sample apparatus. The test sample apparatus generally comprises a holder base arranged that accommodates a tablet or cell phone. The apparatus has a hood that is placed over a portion of the tablets illuminating touchscreen such that the illuminating touchscreen provides light that can be collected by the hood. There is a chamber integrated with the hood adapted to accommodate a chemically activated test strip. The chemically activated test strip is illuminated when the hood collects light from the illuminating touchscreen. A lens in the hood interposed between the camera and the test strip enables the camera to focus on a portion of the chemically activated test strip when the hood is placed over the portion of the illuminating touchscreen.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A specimen illumination apparatus operably used with a handheld electronic device, the handheld electronic device possessing a front surface comprising an illuminating screen and a camera, the handheld electronic device further possessing a back surface, a top, two sides and a bottom, the specimen illumination apparatus comprising:
 an illumination chamber covering a portion less than the entirety of the illuminating screen and the camera lens, the illumination chamber configured to collect light from the illuminating screen while the illuminating screen is activated;   a specimen holder adapted to retain a specimen in view of the camera, at least a portion of the collected light configured to illuminate the specimen when the specimen is at least partially disposed in the illumination chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The specimen illumination apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the specimen holder is integrated with the illumination chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The specimen illumination apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a lens between the camera and the specimen. 
     
     
         4 . The specimen illumination apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the illumination chamber comprises a pathway configured to funnel the portion of the collected light from the illuminating screen to the specimen, the pathway also configured to provide the camera with an unobstructed view of the specimen. 
     
     
         5 . The specimen illumination apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the illumination chamber is integrated with handheld electronic device cover configured to cover the back surface, the top, the two sides and the bottom. 
     
     
         6 . The specimen illumination apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the specimen is essentially only illuminated by the portion of the collected light. 
     
     
         7 . The specimen illumination apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the illumination chamber shields at least 75% of the ambient light from reaching the sample when the illumination chamber is engaged with the handheld electronic device, the ambient light is non-illuminating screen derived. 
     
     
         8 . The specimen illumination apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a means for covering the hood over the portion of the illuminating screen and the camera lens. 
     
     
         9 . A specimen illumination apparatus in cooperation with a handheld electronic device, the handheld electronic device comprising a front surface that includes an illuminating screen and a camera, the apparatus comprising:
 a hood covering at least a portion of the illuminating screen and the camera lens;   an illuminated specimen that is illuminated from screen light, the screen light is collected by the hood from the illuminating screen while illuminated; and   a specimen holder that retains the illuminated specimen inside of the hood and in front of the camera, the camera configured to capture a picture of the illuminated specimen.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the specimen holder is accessible from outside of the hood. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the hood essentially blocks ambient light originating from other than the illuminating screen. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the hood shields at least 75% of the ambient light from reaching the sample when the illumination chamber is engaged with the handheld electronic device, the ambient light is non-illuminating screen derived. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the hood comprises a funnel that directs the screen light to the sample. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a lens interposed between the sample and the camera. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising a means for covering the hood over the portion of the illuminating screen and the camera lens. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 providing a handheld electronic device possessing a front surface having an illuminating screen and a camera;   placing a sample in a chamber integrated with a light collecting hood;   positioning the light collecting hood over the camera and at least a portion of the illuminating screen that when in the position inherently provides a pathway between the camera and the test device, the light collecting hood significantly blocking ambient light originating from other than the illuminating screen;   illuminating the sample from light produced by illuminating the illuminating screen;   capturing an image of the illuminated sample with the camera; and   post processing the camera-captured image of the sample.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the illuminating step is accomplished from light outside of the visible light spectrum. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising positioning the light collecting hood over a portion of the illuminating screen prior to the illuminating step. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein only the light from the illuminating screen illuminates the sample. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising essentially blocking all other light except for the light produced by the illuminating screen via the light collecting hood.