Spectroscopic system and method for displaying the spectroscopic system

JP2024019299A5Inactive Publication Date: 2024-12-19RICOH CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2023205594
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2023-12-05
Publication Date
2024-12-19
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable · inactive patent

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Conventional spectrometer systems lack user guidance for calibration, making it difficult for users to determine when calibration is necessary, which affects measurement accuracy.

Method used

A spectrometer system equipped with a light deflection section, spectrometer, detection section, information processing, and display control, which provides real-time feedback on analysis results and recommends calibration when necessary.

Benefits of technology

Enhances user convenience by automatically notifying users when calibration is required, maintaining measurement accuracy and improving the reliability of analysis results.

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Abstract

To improve convenience of an analysis device.SOLUTION: An analysis device can perform arithmetic processing for classifying an unknown spectrum to an assignment class for which the unknown spectrum has the highest correlation, out of classes belonging to a known sample constructed by a plurality of known spectra. A display part displays values obtained by digitizing probability of a first candidate and a second candidate and coefficient of correlation and the like thereof, in a step of processing for classifying a kind of an unknown sample, for reporting probability of a measurement result to a user. Therefore, it is possible to allow a user to recognize timing of calibration and perform calibration.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7
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Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an analysis device and a display method for an analysis device. [Background technology]

[0002] Nowadays, used home appliances such as air conditioners, televisions, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, and clothes dryers are recycled. Used home appliances are crushed into small pieces at home appliance recycling plants, and then sorted and collected by material type using magnetism, wind power, or vibration, and are recycled as recyclable materials. Polypropylene (hereinafter referred to as PP), polystyrene (hereinafter referred to as PS), and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (hereinafter referred to as ABS) are widely used as resin materials in home appliances, and they are sorted and collected by resin type using a sorting device that uses the absorption characteristics of the near-infrared region (wavelength range 1 to 3 μm) due to the molecular structure of the resin.

[0003] Patent Document 1 (Patent Publication No. 4710012) discloses a spectroscopic analysis method that uses light in the wavelength range of 400 nm to 2500 nm to identify components in each sample and measure the characteristics of the components, and displays measurement results such as the validation error SEV and the validation correlation rVal.

[0004] Here, continuous use of the sorting device may cause degradation of the measurement accuracy due to temperature, etc. In such a case, the user needs to perform manual calibration.

[0005] However, conventional spectrometer systems, including the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, do not provide any indication or the like to instruct calibration, so when a user manually performs calibration, it is difficult to know when to perform the calibration, and there is room for improvement in terms of convenience. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a highly convenient analysis device and a display method for the analysis device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the present invention provides a device including a spectrometer having a light deflection unit that disperses reflected light when a sample is irradiated with light from a light source and a detection unit that detects the light dispersed by the light deflection unit, an information processing unit connected to the spectrometer and that analyzes the spectrum, and a display control unit that controls the display of the analysis results on a display unit, and the display control unit displays on the display unit candidate compositions of the sample and numerical values ​​of their likelihoods, as well as predetermined compositions other than the composition of the sample and numerical values ​​of their likelihoods. Effect of the Invention

[0008] The present invention provides an advantage in that the convenience of an analysis device can be improved. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a spectrometer system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the spectroscope. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the movable mirror. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a processing unit provided in the spectrometer. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the processing section of the spectrometer. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the resin determination process. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of the determination result. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a spectral waveform display screen, which is another display form of the determination result. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, a spectroscopic system according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0011] (overview) In the repeated measurements, the spectroscopic system of the embodiment displays the rank and likelihood of the composition candidates of the unknown sample, and notifies the user when the likelihood of a given composition for the composition candidate is quantified and exceeds a predetermined ratio compared to the number 1 value. This allows the user to recognize the timing of calibration and perform calibration, enabling accurate analysis.

[0012] (System Configuration) Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a spectrometer system according to an embodiment. In Fig. 1, the spectrometer system 100 includes a spectrometer 102 and a handheld device 110. Note that the spectrometer system 100 may include one spectrometer 102 for one handheld device 110, or may include multiple spectrometers 102 for one handheld device 110.

[0013] The spectrometer 102 includes a processor 106 that processes an output including the light intensity provided over time from a photodetector included in the infrared spectroscopic analysis unit 120. The communication circuit 104 outputs information associated with the output including the light intensity and the time of the light spectrum processed by the processor 106 to the outside.

[0014] The handheld device 110 includes an interface 114 and a processor 116. Note that a portable device such as a mobile phone or a smartphone can be used as the handheld device 110. The handheld device 110 may also include a camera function.

[0015] The processor 116 converts the time into the wavelength of light based on information relating to the time of the optical spectrum processed by the processor 106 of the spectrometer 102 and the output including the optical intensity, and the vibration frequency of the movable mirror of the spectrometer 102, to obtain spectroscopic spectrum information consisting of the relationship between the optical intensity for each wavelength of light.

[0016] The display 112 displays information on the optical spectrum measured by the spectrometer 102 and analysis results such as composition discrimination results.

[0017] In such a spectrometer system 100, the spectrometer 102 transmits data to the handheld device 110 via a communication circuit 104 using wireless serial communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). The handheld device 110 receives the data from the spectrometer 102 and processes and analyzes it using a processor 116. The results of this analysis, such as optical spectrum information and composition discrimination results, are then displayed on a display 112.

[0018] (Details of the spectrometer configuration) Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the spectrometer 102. As shown in Fig. 2, the spectrometer 102 includes a light source 216 and a processing unit 215a.

[0019] The light source 216 irradiates light in a desired wavelength region onto the sample 108 or the like that is the subject of spectroscopic analysis. For example, the light source 216 is an LED (light emitting diode) or a halogen lamp. The light source 216 is disposed outside the outer frame 210. As the light source 216, a light source that irradiates light in an appropriate wavelength band onto the subject of spectroscopic analysis is selected and disposed.

[0020] The processing unit 215a performs a calculation to obtain a spectrum based on the electrical signal input from the photodetector 214. The processing unit 215a also controls the movable mirror 203 to emit light of a desired wavelength to the photodetector 214, and further controls the irradiation of light by the light source 216, for example, the intensity of the light.

[0021] Spectrometer 102 also has entrance slit 201, concave diffraction grating 202, movable mirror 203, and exit slit 204. The dotted lines in the figure indicate a part of the light beam that enters spectrometer 102, is reflected and exits inside spectrometer 102, and exits photodetector 214.

[0022] The entrance slit 201 is a narrow rectangular opening, and guides the light incident from the tapered hole 212 of the outer frame 210 into the frame 209. The width of the opening in the short side direction of the entrance slit 201 is, for example, several tens to several hundreds of μm. The entrance slit 201 is formed by providing a rectangular through hole in a metal substrate such as nickel. However, the material of the substrate is not limited to metal, and may be a semiconductor, a resin, or the like. The entrance slit 201 is not limited to a rectangular opening, and may be a pinhole with a circular opening, or the like. The light incident from the entrance slit 201 into the inside of the spectroscope 102 is incident on the concave diffraction grating 202.

[0023] The concave diffraction grating 202 is an optical element in which fine lines are formed at equal intervals on the surface of a metallic concave mirror. However, the material of the base material of the concave diffraction grating 202 is not limited to metal, and may be semiconductor, glass, resin, or the like. The fine lines in the concave diffraction grating 202 may be formed directly on the base material, or may be formed on a thin layer of resin or the like formed on the base material. The concave diffraction grating 202 has a light dispersion function by the diffraction grating and a light collecting function by the concave mirror. The light incident on the concave diffraction grating 202 is diffracted and dispersed by the concave diffraction grating 202, and is collected toward the movable mirror 203. The dispersion of light refers to the phenomenon in which the incident light is separated into different wavelengths.

[0024] The movable mirror 203 is, for example, a MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) mirror in which a movable part provided with a mirror part is integrally formed on a substrate with an elastic beam part as a connection part. The mirror part reflects incident light. The movable part is rotated by the elastic motion of the elastic beam part, and the mirror surface provided on the movable part rotates accordingly.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the movable mirror 203. FIG. 3(a) is a side view of the movable mirror 203, and FIG. 3(b) is a plan view of the movable mirror 203. As shown in FIG. 3(a) and FIG. 3(b), the movable mirror 203 has a movable part 207 supported by a support part 206 via a connection part 208. The connection part 208 has a function of a torsion spring. When a driving force such as a piezoelectric drive, an electrostatic drive, or an electromagnetic drive is applied from the drive part, the movable part 207 rotates in the direction shown by the dashed arrow in FIG. 3(a) around the line AA' in FIG. 3(b) as an axis.

[0026] By monolithically forming a drive unit for rotating the movable unit 207 in the support unit 206, the movable unit 207 can be driven without using an external drive means such as a motor, and the movable unit 207 can be made smaller. As an example, the support unit 206 can be made of Si (silicon), glass, or the like. Using a semiconductor material such as Si for the support unit 206 enables highly accurate microfabrication by a semiconductor process.

[0027] 2, movable mirror 203 reflects the light dispersed by concave diffraction grating 202 toward exit slit 204. The reflection angle of the reflected light can be changed by rotating movable part 207 having a mirror.

[0028] The exit slit 204 is a narrow rectangular opening, and acts as an opening for allowing the dispersed light to exit the spectroscope 102. The material and shape of the exit slit 204 can be the same as those of the entrance slit 201.

[0029] Exit slit 204 is disposed at the imaging position of the light dispersed by concave diffraction grating 202. The imaging position of the light dispersed by concave diffraction grating 202 shifts laterally depending on the wavelength. Therefore, by changing the reflection angle of movable mirror 203 and changing the wavelength of the light passing through exit slit 204, it is possible to selectively emit light of a desired wavelength from the dispersed light to photodetector 214. Photodetector 214 is a photoelectric conversion element such as a Si photodiode, and outputs optical information as an electrical signal for spectroscopic analysis and the like.

[0030] (Hardware configuration of the spectrometer processing unit) Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the processing unit 215a provided in the spectrometer 102. As shown in Fig. 4, the processing unit 215a has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 351, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 352, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 353. The processing unit 215a also has an NVRAM (Non Volatile Memory) 154, an output interface (output I / F) 355, an A / D (Analog / Digital) conversion circuit 356, and a mirror driving circuit 357. These are connected to each other via a system bus 358.

[0031] The CPU 351 comprehensively controls the operation of the processing unit 215a. The CPU 351 also calculates a spectrum based on the electrical signal output by the photodetector 214.

[0032] The light source drive circuit 359 is electrically connected to the light source 216, and outputs a voltage or current indicating the intensity of the irradiated light to the light source 216. The light source 216 irradiates light with an intensity according to the voltage or current input from the light source drive circuit 359.

[0033] The processing unit 215a performs a calculation to obtain a spectrum based on the input electrical signal. The processing unit 215a also controls the movable mirror 203 via the mirror drive circuit 357 to selectively emit light of a desired wavelength.

[0034] (Functional configuration of the processing section of the spectrometer) Fig. 5 is a functional block diagram of the processing unit 215a of the spectrometer 102. Note that all or any part of the processing functions performed by each functional block shown in Fig. 5 may be realized by a program executed by the above-mentioned CPU 351, or may be realized by hardware such as wired logic.

[0035] 5, the processing unit 215a has an A / D conversion unit 461, a spectrum acquisition unit 462, a storage unit 463, an output unit 464, a drive control unit 465a, a mirror driving unit 466, and a light source driving unit 467.

[0036] The A / D conversion unit 461 receives the analog electrical signal output by the photodetector 214, converts it into a digital signal, and outputs it to the spectrum acquisition unit 462, the storage unit 463, etc. The A / D conversion unit 461 is realized by the A / D conversion circuit 356, etc.

[0037] The spectrum acquiring unit 462 receives the digital signal output by the A / D conversion unit 461, and calculates the spectrum of the light incident on the spectrometer 102. The calculation result is output to the storage unit 463, the output unit 464, etc. The spectrum acquiring unit 462 is realized by the CPU 351, etc.

[0038] The storage unit 463 stores the calculation results by the spectrum acquisition unit 462 and the digital data output from the A / D conversion unit 461, and outputs these to the output unit 464 upon request. The storage unit 463 is realized by the NVRAM 354 or the like.

[0039] The output unit 464 outputs the calculation result by the spectrum acquisition unit 462 or the digital signal data output by the A / D conversion unit 461 to an external device such as a personal computer device or a video device. The output unit 464 is realized by the output I / F 355 or the like.

[0040] The drive control unit 465a outputs a control signal to control the mirror drive unit 466 and the light source drive unit 467. The drive control unit 465a is realized by the CPU 351 and the like.

[0041] The mirror driver 466 outputs a voltage or current to the movable mirror 203 in response to the control signal, and rotates the movable part 207 so as to obtain a desired reflection angle. The mirror driver 466 is realized by the mirror driver circuit 357 and the like.

[0042] 2, the spectrometer 102 has a battery 218. The spectrometer 102 also has a housing 217 that houses the spectroscopic analysis unit 200, the processing section 215a, and the battery 218.

[0043] The battery 218 supplies power to the processing unit 215a, and is, for example, a lithium ion battery, a dry battery, or a PSU (Power Supply Unit).

[0044] The processing unit 215a may include a communication control unit, and may be capable of transmitting and receiving the calculation results of the optical spectrum, etc., by short-distance communication or communication via the Internet.

[0045] Further, the outer frame 210 and the housing 217 may be integrally formed. The outer frame 210 may be provided with a thermometer.

[0046] In this way, by providing the battery 18 for supplying power, it is not necessary to prepare and install a power source separately from the spectrometer 102. This makes it easier to perform spectroscopic analysis of various objects at any place or time.

[0047] (Testing procedure) Next, a test method for determining the composition of a sample 108 containing a resin using such a spectrometer system will be described.

[0048] First, the operator places the window portion 211 of the spectroscope 102 facing the sample 108 containing resin, and presses the measurement start button disposed on the housing 217 of the spectroscope 102. This causes the near-infrared light emitted by the light source 216 of the spectroscope 102 to irradiate the sample 108. (Irradiation Step)

[0049] This irradiation process may be performed by pressing a measurement start button provided on the housing 217, or by pressing a button on the handheld device 110, or by pressing a button displayed on the display 112 of the handheld device.

[0050] Next, reflected light generated by irradiating the sample 108 with the irradiation light is guided to the photodetector 214 via the entrance slit 201. An electrical signal output from the photodetector 214 is supplied to the processing unit 215a. This operation may be repeated multiple times to reduce repeated measurement errors. Repeated operations improve the measurement accuracy.

[0051] The processing unit 215a performs a calculation to obtain a spectrum based on the input electrical signal (obtains a spectrum). This spectrum is transmitted to the handheld device 110 by the communication circuit 104.

[0052] Next, the processor 116 of the handheld device 110 performs a “processing step” in which the spectrum received from the spectrometer 102 is processed, including averaging, smoothing, normalization, differentiation, scatter correction, baseline correction, peak shift correction, or a combination thereof, to calculate multiple parameter values ​​corresponding to each wavelength point.

[0053] The "processing step" is followed by an analysis step, in which a plurality of reference spectra stored in the memory of the processor 116 are applied to the parameter values ​​calculated in the processing step, respectively, to calculate a value representing the similarity, in other words, the likelihood, between the composition of the resin-containing sample 108 and a plurality of candidate compositions.

[0054] The similarity is, for example, a correlation function (CORREL function). The memory unit of the processor 116 stores reference spectra derived from resin materials mainly used in home appliances or office automation equipment. For example, the sample 108 as the resin material used in home appliances or office automation equipment is mainly general-purpose resin, such as PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PS (polystyrene), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), ABS (acrylonitrile, butadiene, styrene copolymer synthetic resin), and PC (polycarbonate). A mixture of PC and PS, or a mixture of PC and ABS is also common.

[0055] Next, a determination step is performed in which the processor 116 extracts the similarity closest to the target value from the similarities calculated in the analysis step, and determines the candidate composition corresponding to the regression equation from which the extracted similarity is derived as the composition of the resin-containing sample 108.

[0056] Next, the results of the analysis and judgment are displayed on the display 112 of the handheld device 110, for example, as shown in FIG. 7. As a judgment result, the composition of the sample 108 containing resin is highlighted. In the highlighted display, for example, when the composition of the sample 108 is judged to be PET resin, it is displayed in a blinking red font. In this way, the composition to be highlighted can be selected arbitrarily, and the display form such as the size of the characters, color, lighting / blinking, high brightness / low brightness, etc. can be arbitrarily set for the highlighting of the display. In FIG. 7, the display is highlighted by changing the size of the PED characters. By highlighting in this way, when a foreign object is mixed in while the worker is performing the work of repeatedly distinguishing, the worker can reliably separate the material according to the display result.

[0057] Furthermore, the discrimination result of the sample 108 may be displayed not only as text but also as an image registered in advance in a storage unit. The image shown in the lower part of FIG. 7 is this image registered in advance in the storage unit. In the example of FIG. 7, since the discrimination result is PET resin, an image of PET resin is displayed. By displaying the image in this way, the worker can easily and reliably separate the materials when repeatedly performing discrimination work.

[0058] In the display example of Fig. 7, a photographic image of a general substance is displayed, but the display is not limited to an image and may be text information such as general characteristics of the composition. The operator can visually determine the composition of the determined sample, such as the actual color or shape, and compare the information of the sample 108 with general information, which supports and facilitates the operator's work of distinguishing the sample 108.

[0059] Furthermore, next to the resin composition, which is the judgment result, and below the composition display of the judgment result on the same screen of display 112, in a font size different from that of the composition display, the similarity between multiple resins stored in the memory unit is displayed, for example, as a correlation function, for example, as a value to three decimal places.

[0060] Furthermore, when the similarity to the second most similar composition exceeds 90% of the first most similar composition, the second most similarity is highlighted in red. However, ABS and PS have very similar spectral spectra, so the similarity is displayed as exceeding 90%. When the similarity to the third most similar composition between ABS and PS exceeds 90% of the first most similar composition, the third most similarity is highlighted in red. In this example, the threshold for highlighting is set to 90%, but it is possible to arbitrarily set the threshold percentage to a specified value in order to highlight each of the first place candidate compositions.

[0061] It is also possible to set a threshold ratio for a given ranking target, whether it is the second or third most similar, for each first-rank candidate composition. In addition, for example, if the rankings of the current composition candidates from 1st to 3rd place differ from the rankings in the previous measurement or from the rankings when the same 1st candidate composition was displayed the previous time, it is possible to highlight the different parts.

[0062] In this way, by highlighting not only the first place candidate composition but also the second and third place candidates, workers can easily and reliably separate the components. The highlighting may include or be replaced by a sound generating means as a means for notifying the operator, or a vibration means for the housing.

[0063] (First Modification) As a first modified example, a threshold is set to highlight a predetermined composition, a composition different from the predetermined composition, and the ratio of similarity between those compositions, instead of ranking by similarity. For example, for ABS, the target is PET, and the threshold of similarity is set to 90%. When ABS is selected as the first candidate, the similarity of PET is highlighted when the similarity of PET exceeds 90% of the similarity of ABS.

[0064] The operator can know not only the determined composition but also the degree of similarity between the determined composition and the non-determined composition. This has the effect of supporting the operator in the determination task, for example, when the spectrometer 102 cannot be properly aimed at the sample 108 during repeated measurements, by giving the operator an opportunity to decide whether to perform the measurement again. Alternatively, it has the effect of making the operator aware that the reliability of the determination has deteriorated due to an increase in error caused by a change in the temperature of the measurement environment.

[0065] In addition, when the reliability of the discrimination deteriorates, the apparatus prompts the user to perform calibration, which has the effect of enabling the discrimination work to be continued while maintaining the measurement accuracy, and also has the effect of increasing the reliability of the results of discrimination and separation of the composition. When workers perform repetitive tasks, they perform the assembly line work by looking only at the discrimination results, so there is a possibility that they may misread the letters indicating the composition (for example, PS and PP) or overlook the correlation coefficient. Means such as sounding or vibrating the housing other than highlighting can be effective in making it easier to notice the deterioration of the reliability of the measurement.

[0066] (Second Modification) As a second modification, in addition to highlighting the similarity, a warning such as a display urging remeasurement or calibration is displayed. The warning may have a means for sounding in addition to highlighting, or may have a means for vibrating the housing. This has the effect of supporting the work by displaying what the operator should specifically do when the reliability of the measurement has deteriorated.

[0067] (Third Modification) As a third modification, in addition to highlighting the similarity, a means for automatically starting calibration may be provided, which has the effect of supporting the work since the operator does not have to perform manual calibration work when the reliability of the measurement deteriorates.

[0068] (Spectral waveform display operation) Next, the processor 116 displays the spectral waveform as shown in Fig. 8 as a second screen on the display 112 of the handheld device 110. The example of Fig. 8 is an example in which two spectral waveforms are simultaneously displayed on the display 112. In both of the graphs of the two spectral waveforms in Fig. 8(a) and Fig. 8(b), the horizontal axis indicates the wavelength from 1000 nm to 1600 nm, and the vertical axis indicates the value obtained by the calculation in the processor 116. Specifically, the vertical axis of Fig. 8(a) indicates the logarithmic value obtained by dividing the output by the output of a reference that does not contain resin, and the vertical axis of Fig. 8(b) indicates the logarithmic value obtained by further differentiating the second order of the above.

[0069] The screen display can be displayed by selecting one spectral waveform and can also be partially enlarged or reduced using the functions of the handheld device 110. The second screen shown in Fig. 8 can be used to determine the composition of an unknown sample in a simple and non-destructive manner, apart from repeatedly performing sample fractionation operations.

[0070] (Resin identification process) 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the resin identification process. First, in step S1, for example in a recycling operation, a plurality of unknown samples are provided, the resin type to be classified or identified being unknown.

[0071] In step S2, a spectrometer system 100 is provided, comprising a spectrometer 102 and a handheld device 110 having one or more infrared material classification models (multivariate classification models) stored in memory.

[0072] In step S3, the sample 108 is measured by the spectrometer system 100 to collect raw infrared data.

[0073] In step S4, multivariate processing of the raw data by the handheld device 110 is performed.

[0074] In step S5, the handheld device 110 identifies the composition of the sample as a particular type of resin-based composite material (consistent with the material model).

[0075] In step S6, the sample 108 is further processed (e.g., stored in an appropriate location for further recycling steps). These steps S1 to S6 can be repeated for a sample containing another resin in step S3.

[0076] For example, the composition of a resin-containing sample may be identified using the spectrometer system 100 through a classification model to determine which resins a particular resin-containing sample may contain. For example, recycling of a resin-containing sample may be based on determining the known types of resins present to determine appropriate subsequent processing, such as optimizing the processing conditions of a furnace used to process the material, to optimize reclamation of the material.

[0077] In one exemplary method, a resin-based composite material includes carbon fibers (e.g., CRFP) that have had the resin burned off (sintered) to regenerate the carbon fibers for reuse by known methods. The appropriate sintering temperature can be determined depending on the resin type included in the composite material.

[0078] (calibration) The spectrometers 102 in the spectrometer system 100 may vary from one another due to, for example, manufacturing variations. Such differences between the spectrometers 102 may result in significant variation in the spectral data of the same material obtained by each spectrometer 102.

[0079] In addition, in each spectrometer 102, there are variations in the emission intensity of the light source 216, the light receiving sensitivity of the photodetector 214, and the resonant frequency and amplitude of the movable mirror 203, which is the optical scanning unit, which can cause significant variations in the spectral data of the same substance.

[0080] The resonance frequency of movable mirror 203 , which is the optical scanning unit of spectrometer 102 , is found by evaluating the characteristics under predetermined conditions during the manufacture of spectrometer 102 , and is stored in the storage unit of processor 106 of spectrometer 102 .

[0081] When performing calibration, it is preferable that the reference object has a color with high reflectance for each wavelength, such as white (for example, white with a reflectance of 99% or more for each wavelength), and a white reference plate or the like is used. Specifically, the white reference plate is a member coated with a white paint of barium sulfate (BaSO4). A block-shaped white reference object may be provided. This reference object may be pressed against the window portion 211 (tapered hole 212) of the housing 217 during calibration, or may be placed on a part of the shutter provided in the window portion 211.

[0082] 3, which is the optical scanning unit of the spectrometer 102, may vary the amplitude of the movable unit 207 even if the same driving voltage is applied to the piezoelectric actuator (not shown) arranged at the connecting unit 208, due to, for example, fluctuations in the environmental temperature. Fluctuations in the amplitude of the movable unit 207 may lead to a decrease in the discrimination accuracy. Therefore, in order to make the amplitude of the movable unit 207 a desired amplitude, the voltage applied to the piezoelectric actuator (not shown) is adjusted so that the temporal distribution of the intensity of the signal reflected by the reference object and converted into an electrical signal by the optical detection unit 214 matches the temporal distribution of the intensity of a predetermined signal stored in advance.

[0083] On the other hand, the emission intensity of the light source 216 of the spectrometer 102 and the light receiving sensitivity of the photodetector 214 fluctuate due to changes in the environmental temperature during use and aging. Since these fluctuations cause significant fluctuations in the spectrum data of the same substance, calibration is performed before starting discrimination or as needed.

[0084] The spectral data for each wavelength reflected by the reference object and converted to an electrical signal by the photodetector 214 is stored in the memory of the processor 116 of the handheld device 110 .

[0085] As a means for dealing with temperature changes, if the temperature measurement value of a temperature sensor (not shown) arranged inside outer frame 210 or housing 217 in Fig. 2 varies by 0.5 degrees or more from the previous measurement, a display prompting the user to perform calibration is displayed or calibration is automatically performed. The temperature range that serves as a threshold for determining whether to display a prompting user to perform calibration or to perform automatic calibration can be set arbitrarily.

[0086] In this way, by performing calibration at appropriate times, it is possible to maintain the measurement precision and increase the accuracy of composition determination.

[0087] (Effects of the embodiment) As is clear from the above description, in the spectrometer system 100 of the embodiment, the processor 116 performs a calculation process to classify an unknown spectrum into an assignment class with the highest correlation from among classes belonging to known samples constructed from a plurality of known spectra. Then, the processor 116 displays the first and second most likely candidates in the process of classifying the type of the unknown sample and numerical values ​​of the likelihood of the correlation coefficients and the like, thereby notifying the user of the likelihood of the measurement results.

[0088] This allows the rank and likelihood of the composition candidates of the unknown sample to be displayed as a numerical value, and the user to be informed that the numerical value of the likelihood of a given composition for the composition candidate has exceeded a predetermined ratio compared to the number one value, allowing the user to recognize the timing of calibration and perform the calibration. In other words, the spectrometer system 100 of the embodiment prompts the operator to perform calibration, so that calibration is performed at an appropriate time and measurement accuracy can be maintained.

[0089] Finally, the above-described embodiment is presented as an example, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. This novel embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. In addition, the embodiment and modifications of the embodiment are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0090] 100 Spectrometer System 102 Spectrometer 104 Communication Circuit 106 processors 108 Samples 120 Infrared Spectroscopic Analysis Unit 110 Handheld Devices 112 Display 114 Interface 116 processors 201 Entrance slit 203 Movable Mirror 204 Exit slit 207 Moving parts 208 Support part 209 Frames 210 Outer Frame 211 Window 212 Tapered hole 214 Photodetector 215a Processing section 216 Light source 217 Cabinet 218 Batteries [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0091] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4710012

Claims

1. a concave diffraction grating that diffracts and disperses reflected light when light from a light source is irradiated onto a sample; a MEMS mirror that reflects the light dispersed by the concave diffraction grating; A detection unit that detects light reflected by the MEMS mirror; a communication circuit that transmits, by wireless communication, data on a spectrum based on the light detected by the detection unit; A spectrometer comprising: an information processing unit that determines candidates for the composition of the sample based on the spectral data received from the spectrometer and pre-stored reference spectral data; a display control unit that controls a display of a determination result determined by the information processing unit on a display unit; A handheld device comprising:

1. A spectroscopic system having: The display control unit displays, on the display unit, the first candidate composition of the sample and a value indicating its likelihood, and the second and subsequent candidate composition of the sample and a value indicating its likelihood, as the determination result. A spectrometer system comprising:

2. The display control unit displays the composition candidates of the sample, which are the determination results, and values ​​indicating their likelihoods, as well as the second and subsequent candidates of the composition of the sample and values ​​indicating their likelihoods, in order of decreasing likelihood.

2. The spectroscopic system of claim 1 .

3. The display control unit changes a display form of a predetermined candidate and value, or a predetermined candidate or value, among the candidates for the composition of each of the samples and the values ​​indicating the likelihood.

3. The spectrometer system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that

4. 4. The spectrometer system according to claim 1, wherein the sample is a resin material.

5. The display control unit, when a value indicating the likelihood of the second candidate composition of the sample exceeds a predetermined threshold value of the first candidate composition of the sample, highlights the value indicating the likelihood of the second candidate composition of the sample.

5. The spectroscopic system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second optical fibers are arranged in a first direction and a second direction, respectively.

6. The display control unit displays, as the judgment result, an image corresponding to a candidate for the composition of the judged sample, which is registered in advance in a storage unit.

6. The spectroscopic system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second optical fibers are arranged in a first direction and a second direction, respectively.

7. A display method for a spectrometer system including a spectrometer including a concave diffraction grating that diffracts and disperses reflected light when a sample is irradiated with light from a light source, and a MEMS mirror that reflects the light dispersed by the concave diffraction grating, and a handheld device, comprising: a detection step of detecting light reflected by the MEMS mirror by the spectroscope; a transmitting step of transmitting, by the spectrometer, spectral data based on the light detected by the detecting step to the handheld device via wireless communication; a determination step of determining candidates for the composition of the sample based on the spectroscopic spectrum data transmitted to the handheld device by the transmission step and pre-stored reference spectrum data by the handheld device; and a display control step of displaying, on a display unit, the first candidate composition of the sample and a value indicating its likelihood, and the second and subsequent candidate composition of the sample and values ​​indicating its likelihood, as determination results, using the handheld device. A method for displaying a spectrometer system, comprising:

8. In the display control step, the first candidate composition of the sample and a value indicating its likelihood, which are the judgment results, and the second and subsequent candidate composition of the sample and values ​​indicating its likelihood are displayed in order of decreasing likelihood.

8. The method for displaying a spectroscopic system according to claim 7, further comprising:

9. 9. The display method for a spectrometer system according to claim 7, wherein the sample is a resin material.