Contactless Spectrometer Positioning for Reliable Spectral Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spectrometer devices face challenges with sample interfaces that degrade due to aging, mechanical stress, scratches, and dirt, leading to disrupted spectral measurements, and require direct contact with the sample, which is undesirable in certain applications.
Innovation Solution
A spectrometer device with a portable design that uses a light source, detector, and evaluation unit to obtain spectroscopic information without direct contact, utilizing a phosphor LED for illumination and a detector array to measure spectral properties at varying angles, allowing precise positioning and reliable measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a sample interface (e.g., glass window) is used to ensure correct positioning of the sample, then positioning precision is improved, but the sample interface degrades due to aging, mechanical stress, scratches and dirt, leading to disrupted spectral measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the physical sample interface (glass window) from the measurement system. Instead of using a contact-based interface, the system employs a contactless optical measurement approach where light sources and detectors are positioned to measure spectral properties through the air gap, eliminating the interface that degrades over time and causes measurement disruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces air as an intermediary medium between the sample and the spectrometer device. By using optical paths through air rather than requiring direct contact through a glass window, the system maintains measurement capability while avoiding the degradation issues associated with physical interfaces. The air gap serves as a non-degrading intermediary that allows optical interaction without mechanical contact.
2Measurement precision
If a sample interface is used to ensure correct positioning, then positioning precision is improved, but direct contact with the sample is required, which is undesirable for hygienic or comfort reasons
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the physical contact requirement from the measurement system by removing the sample interface component. The system is redesigned to perform spectral measurements without requiring the sample to be in direct contact with any part of the device, enabling contactless operation that satisfies hygienic and comfort requirements while maintaining measurement functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based positioning system with an optical field-based measurement system. Instead of relying on mechanical contact through a glass window to ensure positioning, the system uses optical fields (light sources and detectors) that can interact with the sample through air, substituting mechanical interaction with electromagnetic field interaction that requires no physical contact.
3Productivity
If traditional spectrometer devices with sample interfaces are used, then spectral measurements can be obtained, but the devices are complex and require maintenance of the sample interface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the complex sample interface subsystem from the spectrometer device. By eliminating the glass window, seals, and associated positioning mechanisms required for contact-based measurement, the system achieves a simpler design with fewer moving parts and maintenance requirements, while retaining the core spectral measurement capability through contactless optical methods.
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
Enables precise and reliable spectroscopic measurements by ensuring correct positioning without direct contact, overcoming the limitations of degraded sample interfaces and contact requirements.
Implementation Method 1
uses a phosphor LED for illumination
Implementation Method 2
at least one detector configured for detecting detection light from the object, wherein the detector comprises a plurality of photosensitive elements
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4A
AI summary
A method and a spectrometer device (110) for obtaining at least one spectroscopic information on at least one object (112) are disclosed. The method comprises using at least one spectrometer device (110), wherein the spectrometer device (110) comprises - at least one light source (114) configured for generating illumination light (116) for illuminating the object (112); - at least one detector (122) configured for detecting detection light (124) from the object (112), wherein the detector (122) comprises a plurality of photosensitive elements (126), wherein each of the photosensitive elements (126) is configured for generating at least one detector signal in response to illumination by light, wherein the detector (122) is arranged to detect the detection light (124) at an angle with respect to the illumination light (116); and - at least one evaluation unit (128) configured for evaluating the detector signals. The method comprises the following steps: a) illuminating the object (112) by using the light source (114); b) generating a plurality of detector signals by using the detector (122), wherein the plurality of detector signals comprises at least one detector signal from each photosensitive element (126); c) evaluating, by using the evaluation unit (128), the plurality of detector signals to obtain at least one item of relative detector signal information; d) determining a distance (166) between the object (112) and the spectrometer device (110) using the item of relative detector signal information; and e) evaluating the plurality of detector signals from the photosensitive elements (126) to derive the spectroscopic information in case the distance (166) is within at least one predefined distance range.