# Plate Readers

PyLabRobot supports the following plate readers:

- {ref}`BMG Clariostar <clariostar>`

Plate readers are controlled by the {class}`~pylabrobot.plate_reading.plate_reader.PlateReader` class. This class takes a backend as an argument. The backend is responsible for communicating with the plate reader and is specific to the hardware being used.

```python
from pylabrobot.plate_reading import PlateReader
backend = SomePlateReaderBackend()
pr = PlateReader(backend=backend)
await pr.setup()
```

The {meth}`~pylabrobot.plate_reading.plate_reader.PlateReader.setup` method is used to initialize the plate reader. This is where the backend will connect to the plate reader and perform any necessary initialization.

The {class}`~pylabrobot.plate_reading.plate_reader.PlateReader` class has a number of methods for controlling the plate reader. These are:

- {meth}`~pylabrobot.plate_reading.plate_reader.PlateReader.open`: Open the plate reader and make the plate accessible to robotic arms.
- {meth}`~pylabrobot.plate_reading.plate_reader.PlateReader.close`: Close the plate reader and prepare the machine for reading.
- {meth}`~pylabrobot.plate_reading.plate_reader.PlateReader.read_luminescence`: Read luminescence from the plate.
- {meth}`~pylabrobot.plate_reading.plate_reader.PlateReader.read_absorbance`: Read absorbance from the plate.

Read a plate:

```python
await pr.open()
move_plate_to_reader()
await pr.close()
results = await pr.read_absorbance()
```

`results` will be a width x height array of absorbance values.

(clariostar)=

## BMG ClarioSTAR

The BMG CLARIOStar plate reader is controlled by the {class}`~pylabrobot.plate_reading.clario_star.CLARIOStar` class.

```python
from pylabrobot.plate_reading.clario_star import CLARIOStar
c = CLARIOStar()
```