Ambient Light Spectroscopy with Reference Channel Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
The cost and size of traditional spectrometers, particularly due to expensive light sources that require substantial power and are prone to drift, limit their widespread adoption, especially for portable or disposable devices that need low-power, low-cost components.
Innovation Solution
The use of ambient light, such as sunlight or room light, as a source, combined with collimation optics and optional auxiliary light sources, to enable spectroscopic detection, along with innovative filtering and polarization techniques, allows for efficient and cost-effective operation of portable spectrometers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional light sources (laser, LED, broadband) are used in spectrometers, then spectroscopic detection capability is achieved, but cost and device size increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the light source function from the spectrometer system by utilizing ambient light (sunlight, room light) instead of incorporating traditional light sources. This removes the expensive, power-hungry light source component while maintaining spectroscopic detection capability through the relationship: I(λ) = I0(λ) * T(λ), where I0(λ) is ambient light intensity and T(λ) is sample transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the spectrometer universally applicable by using ambient light as a universal light source that eliminates the need for device-specific light sources. The system can operate in various environments (outdoor with sunlight, indoor with room light) without requiring different light source components, thereby reducing device complexity and cost.
2Illumination intensity
If traditional light sources are used, then sufficient light intensity for detection is provided, but power consumption increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by having the environment (sunlight, room lighting) provide the light source automatically. The spectrometer does not need to generate its own light but instead captures and utilizes existing ambient light, eliminating power consumption associated with light source operation while maintaining sufficient illumination intensity for spectroscopic detection.
3Reliability
If traditional light sources are used, then stable light output is achieved, but light intensity drift occurs over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using a reference channel that simultaneously measures ambient light intensity I0(λ) while the sample channel measures transmitted light I(λ). The system continuously monitors and normalizes the sample measurement against the reference measurement, compensating for any drift or variation in ambient light conditions and maintaining stable detection results.
4Weight of moving object
If portable spectrometers are designed with low-power components, then portability is improved, but detection sensitivity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical light generation system with a light capture and measurement system. Instead of using active light sources (lasers, LEDs) that require power and generate heat, the system passively captures ambient light and measures its interaction with the sample. This substitution maintains detection sensitivity through precise photodetector measurements while dramatically reducing power consumption and device weight for portability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces the need for expensive light sources, lowers power consumption, and enables reliable, portable spectroscopic analysis, making it suitable for various applications including health monitoring and environmental sensing.
Implementation Method 1
Spectrometers usually employ a source of electromagnetic energy, and various optical devices such as mirrors and gratings as optical filters for dispersing the light to the detector
Implementation Method 2
a detector to detect the light intensity as a function of wavelength
Implementation Method 3
The present disclosure relates to spectroscopic and other instrumentations and methods relying at least in part on ambient light as a light source
Data Source
AI summary
A spectroscopic device, which may be a handheld spectroscopic light source, which uses ambient light as a primary broadband light source, but which may be supplemented with an auxiliary light source to supplement band regions which may be deficient in the broad band source. The spectroscopic device makes use of a number of parallel control channels to monitor for sufficient light and to compensate for variations in the input light levels.