Spectral Sensors Bring Material Analysis to the Real World

Material analysis is used across a wide spectrum of industries. Traditionally material analysis has been done in a lab with bench top spectrometers. Si-Ware Systems (SWS) has developed unique and proprietary technology to put discrete optical benches on silicon die, called SiMOST - Silicon Micro Optical Systems Technology.

 

A Michelson interferometer is the basis for an FT-IR spectrometer, a standard and widely used form of spectrometer. With SiMOST, SWS has put a Michelson interferometer on a MEMS die creating an FT-IR spectrometer module that is dramatically smaller and lower cost. With the main optical components on a MEMS die, a spectrometer is now highly integrated, scalable, and reliable. What was once a bench top device is now a sensor, a spectral sensor, which SWS has branded NeoSpectra.

 

The NeoSpectra spectral sensor enables new applications for material analysis that can occur in the field and inline, and by users who do not have to be specialists (spectroscopists). In agriculture, a handheld analyzer for farmers to do soil analysis is enabling real-time, in the field measurements of soil. In the oil and gas industry, a portable analyzer for oil refineries enables online measurements. The medical industry is also benefiting with a smart toilet that uses spectroscopy to do real-time urinalysis.

 

The NeoSpectra technology is scalable and further size and cost reduction will enable applications in the consumer market. SWS’ next generation spectral sensor, the NeoSpectra Micro, is a chip scale spectral sensor that can enable applications in consumer electronic devices for food, drug testing, and more. Wearables can benefit from a chip scale spectral sensor for noninvasive biochemistry measurements, including glucose and alcohol.

 

One can compare a MEMS spectral sensor to the first MEMS accelerometers and gyros that were small enough and low cost enough to be designed into consumer devices. Once this happened, use case and application development ensued increasing the volume for these sensors. A MEMS spectral sensor, such as NeoSpectra, that is small enough and low cost enough will enable the realization of highly unique and innovative use cases and applications and bring about an era of ubiquitous spectral sensing.

 

SWS will be presenting about NeoSpectra spectral sensors at Sensors Midwest in Chicago being held October 3rd through 4th: Ubiquitous Spectral Sensing – MEMS Spectral Sensors. Learn more about NeoSpectra spectral sensors.

 

Scott Smyser

EVP W/W Marketing and Business Development

1-818-790-1151

[email protected]