Abstract:
A Spectrometer is provided including a camera and an axial symmetric camera mount configured to receive the camera and to rotate. The spectrometer furthers include an input for providing optical radiation to a spectrometer system; a diffraction grating for dispersing the optical radiation along a prescribed plane; at least one lens for focusing wavelength-dispersed light onto at least one array of a detector of optical radiation, wherein the camera has at least one linear array of elements for detecting optical radiation; a mechanical housing, wherein the axial symmetric camera mount is configured to couple the camera to the mechanical housing; and a means for rotating the camera coupled to the mechanical housing about an axis. Related systems and methods are also provided.
Abstract:
An infrared emitter, which utilizes a photonic bandgap (PBG) structure to produce electromagnetic emissions with a narrow band of wavelengths, includes a semiconductor material layer, a dielectric material layer overlaying the semiconductor material layer, and a metallic material layer having an inner side overlaying the dielectric material layer. The semiconductor material layer is capable of being coupled to an energy source for introducing energy to the semiconductor material layer. An array of holes are defined in the device in a periodic manner, wherein each hole extends at least partially through the metallic material layer. The three material layers are adapted to transfer energy from the semiconductor material layer to the outer side of the metallic material layer and emit electromagnetic energy in a narrow band of wavelengths from the outer side of the metallic material layer.
Abstract:
The invention is a method and apparatus capable of detecting constituents of a gas at extremely low concentrations comprising providing a medium that is absorbent of at least a first particular gas under a first environmental condition and desorbent of the particular gas under a second environmental condition, exposing the medium to a sample gas for a first period of time under the first environmental condition, during a second period of time after the first period of time, exposing the medium to the second environmental condition to cause the medium to desorb gas into an optical cavity of a cavity ring down spectrometer and introducing electromagnetic radiation into the cavity, during a third period of time after the second period of time, ceasing introduction of the electromagnetic radiation into the cavity and detecting the decay of the electromagnetic radiation in the cavity, and analyzing the decay of the light in the cavity to obtain a spectral analysis of the sample gas.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a luminescence sensor (20) comprising at least one chamber (22) and at least one optical filter formed by at least a first conductive grating (11), the at least first conductive grating (11) comprising a plurality of wires (12), wherein at least one of the wires (12) of the at least first conductive grating (11) is linked to a temperature control device for controlling the temperature of at least one chamber (22) in the sensor.
Abstract:
A method of Raman detection for a portable, integrated spectrometer instrument includes directing Raman scattered photons by a sample to an avalanche photodiode (APD), the APD configured to generate an output signal responsive to the intensity of the Raman scattered photons incident thereon. The output signal of the APD is amplified and passed through a discriminator so as to reject at least one or more of amplifier noise and dark noise. A number of discrete output pulses within a set operational range of the discriminator is counted so as to determine a number of photons detected by the APD.
Abstract:
A color measurement device designed for use at various stages of an industrial process is provided. The device offers enhanced insensitivity to ambient light, measurement depth variations, and/or ambient or environmental temperature variations. The device may be embodied as an LED-based, non-contact color measurement spectrophotometer. Over- illumination in full-spectrum of the target object facilitates effective color measurements over varying depths of view. Collected light is measured at discrete wavelengths across the entire visual spectrum. The hardened, rugged design and packaging of the measurement device allows color measurement to be performed at various stages of industrial processes wherein the device can add value by enabling enhanced detection of color errors.
Abstract:
A color measurement device designed for use at various stages of an industrial process is provided. The device offers enhanced insensitivity to ambient light, measurement depth variations, and/or ambient or environmental temperature variations. The device may be embodied as an LED-based, non-contact color measurement spectrophotometer. Over- illumination in full-spectrum of the target object facilitates effective color measurements over varying depths of view. Collected light is measured at discrete wavelengths across the entire visual spectrum. The hardened, rugged design and packaging of the measurement device allows color measurement to be performed at various stages of industrial processes wherein the device can add value by enabling enhanced detection of color errors.
Abstract:
The invention concerns measurements in which light interacts with matter giving rise to changes in light intensity, and preferred embodiment spectrophotometer devices of the invention provide for ultrasensitive measurements through a reflection interaction with matter. The level of light source noise in these measurements can be reduced in accordance with the invention. Preferred embodiments of the invention use sealed housings (112, 600, 700) lacking an internal light source, and reflection based sample and reference cells. In some embodiments a substantially solid thermally conductive housing (600, 700) is used. Other features of preferred embodiments include particular reflection based sample and reference cells. A total internal reflection embodiment includes, for example, a prism (302, 322, 622a, 623 a) including an interaction surface, a detector, a lens that focuses a beam output from the prism onto the detector, and a closed interaction volume having an inlet and an outlet for delivering gas or liquid to the interaction surface. In a specular reflection embodiment, a reflective surface (402, 422) is used instead of a prism. In a diffuse reflection embodiment a matte surface (502, 522) is used instead of a prism and the matte surface produces scattering. Aspects of the invention include identification of noise-contributing components in spectrophotometry and the select set of preferred features in a given embodiment, and noise levels very near the shot noise limit may be realized with application of preferred embodiment devices.
Abstract:
A compact, lightweight, portable optical assembly comprising: a platform; and a plurality of optical elements mounted to the platform; wherein the plurality of optical elements are optically connected to one another with free-space couplings so as to form an optical circuit; and further wherein the platform is sufficiently mechanically robust so as to maintain the free-space optical coupling between the various optical elements. A method for making a compact, lightweight, portable optical assembly, comprising: providing a platform; and mounting a plurality of optical elements to the platform; wherein the plurality of optical elements are mounted to the platform so that they are optically connected to one another with free-space couplings so as to form an optical circuit; and further wherein the platform is sufficiently mechanically robust so as to maintain the free-space optical coupling between the various optical elements.