Patent attributes
A multi-channel sensor is provided with sensor sections, each of the sensor sections reflecting or transmitting light, whose physical characteristics vary for different kinds of samples. Each of samples is supported by one of the sensor sections. A scanning mirror scans the sensor sections of the multi-channel sensor with measuring light. A scanning controller controls the scanning mirror and stores information, which represents scanning positions of the measuring light with respect to the multi-channel sensor. A detector receives reflected light or transmitted light, which is radiated out from each of the sensor sections when each of the sensor sections is scanned with the measuring light. The detector thus detects the physical characteristics of the reflected light or the transmitted light.