WO2023222742A1 - Dispositif de détection spectrale et procédé de détermination d'au moins une information spectrale - Google Patents

Dispositif de détection spectrale et procédé de détermination d'au moins une information spectrale Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2023222742A1
WO2023222742A1 PCT/EP2023/063216 EP2023063216W WO2023222742A1 WO 2023222742 A1 WO2023222742 A1 WO 2023222742A1 EP 2023063216 W EP2023063216 W EP 2023063216W WO 2023222742 A1 WO2023222742 A1 WO 2023222742A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
measurement object
sensing device
detector
signal
spectral
Prior art date
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PCT/EP2023/063216
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English (en)
Inventor
Stefan Hoos
Celal Mohan OEGUEN
Florian Proell
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Trinamix Gmbh
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Publication of WO2023222742A1 publication Critical patent/WO2023222742A1/fr

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01J—MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY
    • G01J3/00—Spectrometry; Spectrophotometry; Monochromators; Measuring colours
    • G01J3/02—Details
    • G01J3/0278—Control or determination of height or angle information for sensors or receivers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01J—MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY
    • G01J3/00—Spectrometry; Spectrophotometry; Monochromators; Measuring colours
    • G01J3/02—Details
    • G01J3/0205—Optical elements not provided otherwise, e.g. optical manifolds, diffusers, windows
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01J—MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY
    • G01J3/00—Spectrometry; Spectrophotometry; Monochromators; Measuring colours
    • G01J3/02—Details
    • G01J3/0264—Electrical interface; User interface
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01J—MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY
    • G01J3/00—Spectrometry; Spectrophotometry; Monochromators; Measuring colours
    • G01J3/02—Details
    • G01J3/027—Control of working procedures of a spectrometer; Failure detection; Bandwidth calculation
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01J—MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY
    • G01J3/00—Spectrometry; Spectrophotometry; Monochromators; Measuring colours
    • G01J3/28—Investigating the spectrum

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a spectral sensing device and a method for determining at least one item of spectral information about at least one measurement object.
  • the invention further relates to a computer program and a non-transient computer-readable medium.
  • Such methods, devices, computer programs and computer-readable media can, in general, be used for investigating and/or monitoring purposes, in particular in the infrared (IR) spectral region, especially in the near-infrared (NIR) and the mid-infrared spectral region.
  • IR infrared
  • NIR near-infrared
  • further kinds of applications are conceivable.
  • a distance between a measurement object and a spectral sensing device plays an important role for a reliability of at least one item of spectral information about the measurement object.
  • optical radiation as provided by a radiation source is reflected from the measurement object as diffuse reflection and, subsequently, received by a photosensitive detector.
  • an intensity of the optical radiation received by the photosensitive detector generally, decreases.
  • an irradiance on the measurement object is proportional to an inverse square of the distance between the radiation source and measurement object.
  • the optical radiation emitted by the radiation source can be directed to the measurement object by using a reflector
  • the diffuse reflection from the measurement object owing to sub-surface scattering on the surface of the measurement object can be approximated by Lambertian reflection. Consequently, the intensity of the optical radiation reflected by the measurement object towards the photosensitive detector decreases with the square of the distance between these elements.
  • a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the spectral sensing device depends on an intensity of the incident optical radiation on the photosensitive detector.
  • SNR signal-to-noise ratio
  • increasing the distance between the measurement object and the photosensitive detector could easily lead to unreliable measurement data concerning at least one item of spectral information about the measurement object.
  • a low signal-to-noise ratio may, nevertheless, lead to a higher uncertainty, resulting in unreliable measurement data.
  • a spectral sensing device may be subject to drifting effects which can, primarily, be caused by alterations that may be related to the spectral sensing device itself or that may have an effect onto the spectral sensing device.
  • the alterations may comprise at least one of a degradation of at least one of the radiation source or the photosensitive detector as comprised by the spectral sensing device; a temperature drift of at least one of the radiation source or the photosensitive detector; a variation of an ambient temperature affecting the spectral sensing device; a variation of a temperature inside the spectral sensing device, i.e.
  • the temperature at which the photosensitive detector and/or a corresponding electronics may operate a mechanical extension or contraction of at least one component comprised by the spectral sensing device, especially of at least one of a mechanical housing, a holder, or an optical element, in particular at least one of a dispersing element, such as a prism, a beam splitter, or a grating.
  • a mechanical extension or contraction of at least one component comprised by the spectral sensing device especially of at least one of a mechanical housing, a holder, or an optical element, in particular at least one of a dispersing element, such as a prism, a beam splitter, or a grating.
  • a dispersing element such as a prism, a beam splitter, or a grating.
  • the drifting effects are corrected, in practice, from time to time via a process, which is usually denoted by the term “calibration”, in particular to maintain a reliability of the measurement data, specifically by avoiding that the drifting effects may distort measurement data to such an extent that the results as determined by the spectral sensing device may become inconclusive.
  • at least one known type of calibration may be performed, which, typically, requires either a pre-defined reflection target (calibration target), or an empty radiation path in front of the photosensitive detector in order to ensure that no diffuse reflection reaches the photosensitive detector.
  • the distance between the measurement object and the photosensitive detector as well as a presence or an absence of the calibration target should, preferably, be monitored in order to ensure a correct operation of the spectral sensing device.
  • the information about the distance and an occupation of a volume in front of the at least one photosensitive detector can be monitored.
  • WO 2019/215323 A1 discloses a spectrometer device comprising at least one filter element adapted to separate at least one incident light beam into a spectrum of constituent wavelengths; at least one sensor element having a matrix of optical sensors, the optical sensors each having a light-sensitive area and being configured for generating at least one sensor signal in response to an illumination of the light-sensitive area by at least one light beam propagating from at least one object to the spectrometer, wherein at least one first optical sensor is adapted to generate a first sensor signal in response to illumination by a first constituent wavelength, and wherein at least one second optical sensor is adapted to generate a second sensor signal in response to an illumination by the first constituent wavelength; and at least one evaluation device configured for determining at least one longitudinal coordinate z of the object by evaluating a combined signal Q from the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal, and wherein the evaluation device is configured to evaluate at least one sensor signal generated by the optical sensors of the matrix of optical sensor by performing at least one spectroscopic analysis considering the determined longitudinal coordinate z.
  • the evaluation device is, particularly, configured for using at least one predetermined relationship between the combined signal Q and the longitudinal coordinate z of the object for determining the longitudinal coordinate z.
  • WO 2022/117611 A1 discloses a spectral sensing device and a method for measuring optical radiation.
  • the spectral sensing device comprises at least one photosensitive detector having at least one photosensitive region designated for receiving optical radiation, wherein at least one detector signal as generated by the at least one photosensitive detector is dependent on an illumination of the at least one photosensitive region; at least one radiation emitting element designated for emitting the optical radiation; at least one optical element designated to guide a first portion of the optical radiation to the at least one photosensitive detector; and at least one evaluation device configured to perform a calibration of the spectral sensing device by using at least one first detector signal as generated by the at least one photosensitive detector upon the illumination of the at least one photosensitive region by the first portion of the optical radiation, wherein the calibration refers to a process of correcting from time to time drifting effects occurring in the spectral sensing device, wherein the drifting effects are caused by alterations related to the spectral sensing device itself or having an effect onto the spectral sensing device.
  • the spectral sensing device further comprises at least one measurement unit designated for generating at least one measurement signal which is dependent on an occupation of a volume in front of the at least one photosensitive detector.
  • the at least one measurement unit may be or comprise at least one presence sensor, preferably, selected from at least one of a proximity sensor or a distance sensor.
  • US 2011/205535 A1 discloses sensors that include: (a) a circuit board that includes an electronic processor; (b) a plurality of radiation sources, each source being attached to the circuit board; and (c) a spectral detector attached to the circuit board, the spectral detector being configured to analyze radiation derived from one or more of the plurality of radiation sources.
  • the sensors are configured to be worn on a portion of a body of a subject.
  • the electronic processor is configured to cause two or more of the plurality of radiation sources to direct incident radiation to the subject, to cause the spectral detector to analyze radiation from the subject, and to determine one or more properties of the subject based on the radiation from the subject. Methods of making and using these sensors are also disclosed.
  • US 2012/056093 A1 discloses a handheld or portable detection system with a high degree of specificity and accuracy, capable of use at small and substantial standoff distances is utilized to identify specific substances and mixtures thereof in order to provide information to officials for identification purposes and assists in determinations related to the legality, hazardous nature and/or disposition decision of such substance(s).
  • the system uses a synchronous detector and visible light filter to enhance detection capabilities.
  • drifting effects of the optical detectors which often occur in practice during measurements, are still a problem.
  • users specifically on the consumer level, often do not have the technical expertise for acquiring reliable measurement data with regard to at least one item of spectral information about the measurement object.
  • the problem addressed by the present invention is that of providing a spectral sensing device and a method for determining at least one item of spectral information about at least one measurement object as well as a related computer program and a non-transient computer-readable medium, which at least substantially avoid the disadvantages of known devices and methods of this type.
  • a spectral sensing device which is configured to increase a reliability of measurement data with regard to at least one item of spectral information about the measurement object, especially by providing an approach for increasing the signal-to-noise ratio of the spectral sensing device, especially in a user-friendly manner.
  • a spectral sensing device for determining at least one item of spectral information about at least one measurement object. Accordingly, the spectral sensing device comprises:
  • At least one radiation emitting element configured to emit optical radiation designated for illuminating the at least one measurement object
  • the at least one photosensitive detector has at least one photosensitive region designated for receiving optical radiation from the at least one measurement object illuminated by the optical radiation, wherein at least one detector signal generated by the at least one photosensitive detector is dependent on an illumination of the at least one photosensitive region;
  • the at least one evaluation device is configured to o determine at least one signal indicator from evaluating the at least one detector signal generated by the at least one photosensitive detector upon the illumination of the at least one photosensitive region by the optical radiation received from the at least one measurement object, wherein the at least one signal indicator indicates whether the at least one detector signal is within a predefined interval; o determine the at least one item of spectral information about the at least one measurement object by using the at least one detector signal, thereby taking into account the at least one signal indicator; and o generate at least one item (154) of treatment data, wherein the at least one item (154) of treatment data is related to a proposed alteration of the spatial location of the at least one measurement object (112) with respect to the spatial location of the spectral sensing device (110); and
  • the at least one user interface (142) is configured to o provide signal information (148) about the at least one signal indicator (138) to at least one user of the spectral sensing device, wherein the signal information (148) comprises at least one piece of information about a spatial location of the at least one measurement object (112) with respect to the spatial location of the spectral sensing device (110); and o communicate the at least one item (154) of treatment data to the at least one user of the spectral sensing device.
  • optical radiation generally, refers to a partition of electromagnetic radiation which is, usually, referred to as “optical spectral range” and which comprises at least one of the visible, the ultraviolet, and the infrared spectral ranges.
  • optical spectral range generally, refers to electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of 1 nm to 380 nm, preferably of 100 nm to 380 nm.
  • visible generally, refers to a wavelength of 380 nm to 760 nm.
  • the term “infrared”, “abbreviated to I R”, generally refers to a wavelength of 760 nm to 1000 pm, wherein the wavelength of 760 nm to 3 pm is, usually, denominated as “near infrared”, abbreviated to “NIR”.
  • the optical radiation which is used for typical purposes of the present invention is IR radiation, more preferred, in NIR radiation, especially of a wavelength of 760 nm to 5 pm, preferably of 1 pm to 3 pm.
  • the optical radiation is provided by at least one radiation emitting element designated for emitting the optical radiation.
  • the spectral sensing device comprises at least one radiation emitting element which can be embodied in various ways.
  • the at least one radiation emitting element can be part of the spectral sensing device in a housing.
  • the at least one radiation emitting element can also be arranged outside a housing, e.g. as a separate radiation emitting element.
  • the at least one radiation emitting element may be configured to provide sufficient emission in the desired spectral range, preferably in the optical spectral range as defined above or at least one selected partition thereof.
  • the at least one radiation emitting element may, in particular, be comprised by at least one of a thermal radiator or a semiconductor-based radiation source.
  • the semiconductor-based radiation source may, especially, be selected from at least one of a light emitting diode (LED) or a laser, in particular a laser diode.
  • the thermal radiator may, especially, be selected from at least one of an incandescent lamp or a thermal infrared emitter:
  • the term “thermal infrared emitter” refers to a micro-machined thermally emitting device which comprises a radiation emitting surface as the radiation emitting element that emits the optical radiation to be monitored.
  • thermal infrared emitters are available as “emirs50” from Axetris AG, Schwarzenbergstrasse 10, CH-6056 Kagiswil, Switzerland, as “thermal infrared emitters” from LASER COMPONENTS GmbH, Werner-von- Siemens-Str. 15 82140 Olching, Germany, or as “infra-red emitters” from Hawkeye Technologies, 181 Research Drive #8, Milford CT 06460, United States.
  • further types of radiation emitting elements such as a type of a structured light source, may also be feasible.
  • the at least one radiation emitting element may be a continuous light source or, alternatively, a pulsed light source, wherein the pulsed light source may have a modulation frequency of at least 1 Hz, of at least 5 Hz, of at least 10 Hz, of at least 50 Hz, of at least 100 Hz, of at least 500 Hz, of at least 1 kHz, or more.
  • a modulation device can be used, which may be designated for modulating the illumination, preferably by generating a periodic modulation.
  • modulation refers a process in which a total power of the illumination is varied, preferably periodically, in particular with at least one modulation frequency.
  • a periodic modulation can be effected between a maximum value and a minimum value of the total power of the illumination.
  • the minimum value can be 0, but can also be > 0, such that, by way of example, complete modulation does not have to be effected.
  • the modulation can, preferably, be effected within the radiation source designated for generating the desired modulated illumination, preferably, by the at least one radiation emitting element itself having a modulated intensity and/or total power, for example a periodically modulated total power, and/or by the at least one radiation emitting element being embodied as a pulsed radiation source, for example as a pulsed laser.
  • WO 2021/ 110721 discloses at least one radiation emitting element which is designated for generating optical radiation upon being heated by an electrical current; a mount, wherein the mount carries the at least one radiation emitting element, and wherein the mount or a portion thereof is movable; and a heat sink, wherein the heat sink is designated for cooling the mount and the at least one radiation emitting element being carried by the mount upon being touched by the mount.
  • a different type of modulation device for example, a modulation device based on an electro-optical effect and/or an acousto-optical effect, can also be used.
  • at least one of a periodic beam interrupting device in particular a beam chopper, an interrupter blade or an interrupter wheel, can also be used.
  • the term “spectrum” refers to a partition of the optical spectral range, wherein the spectrum is constituted by an optical signal defined by a signal wavelength and a corresponding signal intensity.
  • the spectrum may comprise spectral information related to at least one measurement object, such as a type and composition of at least one material forming the at least one measurement object, which can be determined by recording at least one spectrum related to the at least one measurement object .
  • measurement object generally, refers to an arbitrary body, chosen from a living object and a non-living object, which comprises material for investigation by the spectral sensing device.
  • the terms “spectral sensing device” or “spectrometer” relate to an apparatus which is configured to determine at least one item of spectral information spectral information.
  • the term “determining” or any grammatical variation thereof refers to a process of generating at least one representative result, in particular, by evaluating the at least one detector signal as acquired by the at least one photosensitive detector.
  • the term “evaluating” or any grammatical variation thereof refers to an application of methods for deriving the at least one representative result from the at least one detector signal.
  • the term “spectral information” refers to at least one measured value which is obtained by recording at least one signal intensity related to at least one corresponding signal wavelength of the optical radiation and evaluating at least one detector signal which relates to the signal intensity.
  • the present invention refers to determining the at least one item of spectral information about the at least one measurement object which may, preferably, be placed in front of the spectral sensing device.
  • the spectral sensing device may, preferably, be configured to determine the at least one item of spectral information about at least one measurement object by spectrally analyzing the optical radiation which the at least one photosensitive detector may receive from the at least one measurement object.
  • the spectral sensing device may, preferably, be configured to determine the at least one item of spectral information about at least one measurement object by spectrally analyzing diffuse reflected optical radiation as generated by the at least one measurement object and directed towards the at least one photosensitive detector.
  • the spectral sensing device comprises at least one photosensitive detector.
  • the term “photosensitive detector” refers to an optical detector which comprises at least one photosensitive region that is, depending on the illumination of the at least one photosensitive region, designated for generating at least one detector signal, wherein the at least one detector signal may, in particular, be provided to the evaluation device for evaluation.
  • the at least one photosensitive region as comprised by the at least one photosensitive detector may, preferably, be a single, uniform photosensitive area which is configured to receive the emitted optical radiation that impinges on the photosensitive area.
  • more than one photosensitive area such as an array of pixel-sized photosensitive areas, may also be feasible.
  • the at least one photosensitive detector is designated for generating detector signals, preferably optical or electronic signals, which are associated with the intensity of the emitted optical radiation that impinges on the at least one photosensitive detector.
  • the detector signal may be an analogue signal and/or a digital signal.
  • the detector signal may be selected from an electrical current or an electrical voltage; however, using an optical signal as generated by the at least one photosensitive detector may also be feasible.
  • the at least one photosensitive detector may be or comprise an active sensor which may be adapted to amplify the electronic signals prior to providing it, for example, to the evaluation device.
  • the at least one photosensitive detector may comprise one or more signal processing devices, in particular one or more filters and/or analogue-digital-converters for processing and/or preprocessing the electronic signals.
  • the at least one photosensitive detector in particular the at least one photosensitive region, may, preferably, comprise a photoconductive material, in particular an inorganic photoconductive material, especially selected from lead sulfide (PbS), lead selenide (PbSe), germanium (Ge), indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs), indium antimonide (InSb), or mercury cadmium telluride (HgCdTe or MCT).
  • the at least one photosensitive detector may be configured as a photoconductor or photodiode.
  • the at least one photosensitive detector may be optically active. However, different kinds of materials or other types of photosensitive detectors may also be feasible. In general, the at least one photosensitive detector may generate an electrical signal when illuminated.
  • an integrated circuit may condition, amplify and/or digitize an optically induced electrical signal.
  • the at least one photodetector may comprise the evaluation device and/or a communication interface configured to transmit data at least one of from or to or within the evaluation device.
  • the at least one evaluation device may be at least partially cloud-based.
  • the at least one photodetector may comprise at least one readout circuit, specifically at least one resistance meter, which may be, via a wire-bound and/or a wireless connection, connected to at least one of the at least one evaluation device or the at least one communication interface.
  • the spectral sensing device comprises at least one evaluation device.
  • evaluation device refers to an apparatus which is designated for supporting the determining the at least one item of spectral information, i.e. information which is related to the spectrum of the at least one measurement object of which at least one spectrum has been recorded, in particular, by using the at least one photosensitive detector as described herein, wherein the at least one item of spectral information is obtained by evaluating the at least one detector signal as generated by the at least one photosensitive detector.
  • the evaluation device may be or may comprise at least one of an integrated circuit, in particular an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a data processing device, in particular at least one of a digital signal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a microcontroller, a microcomputer, a computer, or an electronic communication unit, specifically a mobile communication device, especially selected from a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, or a personal digital assistant. Further components may be feasible, in particular at least one preprocessing device or data acquisition device. Further, the evaluation device may comprise at least one data storage unit, in particular for storing at least one electronic table, such as at least one look-up table.
  • the at least one data storage unit may be or comprises a separate storage unit, wherein the separate storage unit may, especially, be comprised by the at the least one electronic communication unit.
  • the evaluation device may comprise at least one interface, in particular at least one of a wireless interface or a wirebound interface. Further, the evaluation device can be designed to, completely or partially, control or drive the spectral sensing device or a part thereof. The evaluation device can, in particular, be designed to carry out at least one measurement cycle in which a plurality of detector signals may recorded.
  • the evaluation device may, preferably, be configured to perform at least one computer program, in particular at least one computer program performing or supporting the step of generating the at least one item of spectral information.
  • one or more algorithms may be implemented which, by using the at least one detector signal as at least one input variable, may perform a transformation into at least one item of spectral information.
  • the evaluation device may, particularly, comprise at least one data processing device, in particular at least one of an electronic or an optical data processing device, which can be designed to generate the spectral information by evaluating the at least one detector signal.
  • the evaluation device is designed to use at least one detector signal as the at least one input variable and to generate the at least one item of spectral information by processing the at least one input variable.
  • the processing can be performed in a consecutive, in a parallel, or in a combined manner.
  • the evaluation device may use an arbitrary process for generating the at least one item of spectral information, in particular by calculation and/or using at least one stored and/or known relationship.
  • the at least one evaluation device is configured to determine, on one hand, at least one signal indicator and, on the other hand, the at least one item of spectral information about the at least one measurement object by taking into account both the at least one detector signal and the at least one signal indicator.
  • the term “taking into account” refers to a process of determining a particular result not only from using a particular value but by further considering a further value, wherein the further value is acquired independently from the particular value or wherein, as in the present invention, the further value comprises at least one of a quantity or a logical value which indicates a further property of the particular value that is, additionally, used for determining the particular result.
  • the at least one evaluation device is, in accordance with the present invention, configured to determine the at least one item of spectral information about the at least one measurement object by using, as known from the prior art, the at least one detector signal whereby, however, the at least one of the quantity or the logical value of the at least one signal indicator is, additionally, used.
  • the at least one evaluation device may, moreover, be configured to determine the at least one item of spectral information about the at least one measurement object only in an event in which the at least one signal indicator indicates that the at least one detector signal is within a predefined interval as described below in more detail.
  • the at least one signal indicator and the at least one item of spectral information may, preferably, be determined in a simultaneous manner, in particular as a pair of values, from the same at least one detector signal, wherein a value for the at least one detector signal may be used for determining the at least one item of spectral information if the at least one signal indicator is determined to be within a predefined interval; otherwise the value for the at least one detector signal may be discarded.
  • the at least one signal indicator may, initially, be determined and, depending on the result of this determination, the at least one detector signal may, subsequently, be acquired for being used in determining the at least one item of spectral information or not.
  • the at least one detector signal may, initially, be determined while the at least one signal indicator may, subsequently, be determined, wherein, depending on the result of this determination, the at least one detector signal may be used for determining the at least one item of spectral information or may be discarded.
  • further embodiments for performing a process for determining the at least one signal indicator and, optionally, the at least one item of spectral information are conceivable.
  • the at least one evaluation device is configured to determine the at least one signal indicator from evaluating the at least one detector signal which is generated by the at least one photosensitive detector upon the illumination of the at least one photosensitive region by the optical radiation received from the at least one measurement object.
  • the term “signal indicator” refers to at least one of a quantity or a logical value which is designed for indicating whether the at least one detector signal is within a predefined interval.
  • the term “indicating” or any grammatical variation thereof refers to a process of providing a result whether an assumption is appropriate or not or to a particular extent.
  • the term “predefined interval” refers to a range of values, wherein the range of the values comprises a series of values between a minimum value to a maximum value.
  • the series of values may be selected from at least one of a principally indefinite number of analogue values or a definite number of digital values between the minimum value and the maximum value.
  • the at least one signal indicator can be selected from a logical value, wherein the logical value refers to an observation whether the at least one detector signal is
  • the term “within” refers to an observation that the at least one detector signal assumes a value which is below the maximum value and above the minimum value of the predefined interval.
  • the term “above” refers to a value of the at least one detector signal which is larger than the maximum value, while the term “below” refers to a value of the at least one detector signal which is smaller than the minimum value.
  • the at least one signal indicator can be considered to be at or above the maximum value of the predefined interval in an event in which the at least one detector signal is overdriven.
  • the term “overdriven” refers to an observation that the at least one detector signal assumes the maximum value, however, only because the at least one photosensitive detector is not configured to measure a value which is above the maximum value.
  • the at least one signal indicator can be considered to be at or below the minimum value of the predefined interval in an event in which the at least one detector signal is underdriven.
  • underdriven refers to an observation that the at least one detector signal assumes the minimum value, however, only because the at least one photosensitive detector is not configured to measure a value which is below the minimum value.
  • a plurality of detector signals may be used for determining the predefined interval.
  • the at least one evaluation device may, preferably, be configured to determine the predefined interval by using respective amplitudes of the plurality of the detector signals.
  • the plurality of the detector signals may, preferably, be obtained from a plurality of photosensitive regions, wherein the plurality of the photosensitive regions could either belong to a single photosensitive detector or to a plurality of photosensitive detectors.
  • the plurality of the detector signals may be acquired from the plurality of the photosensitive regions within a common time interval, in particular in a simultaneous manner.
  • the plurality of the detector signals may be obtained from at least one photosensitive detector in a consecutive fashion by subsequently recording a detector signal within a time interval by using the same at least one photosensitive detector.
  • the predefined interval may, in this particularly preferred embodiment, be determined by using at least one of a minimum value, a maximum value, or a mean value, specifically an arithmetic or a geometric mean value, of the respective amplitudes of the plurality of the detector signals.
  • a plurality of weights may be used for placing a particular weight to a corresponding detector signal out of the plurality of the detector signals.
  • a further manner of modifying at least one detector signal out of the plurality of the detector signals may also be feasible.
  • At least one wavelength range from the plurality of the detector signals may be used, wherein the at least one wavelength range may be selected according to at least one piece of known material-related information as described below in more detail.
  • variations of the plurality of the detector signals over a time interval can be used for a training process in order to determine the predefined interval, wherein a robust predefined interval may be preferred.
  • the term “robust” refers to a predefined interval which is constant with respect to variations of the detector signals over a time interval.
  • At least one material which may be comprised by the at least one measurement object may be unknown, wherein, however, at least one of a known class or a known category of the at least one material may still be known.
  • the term “known class” refers to a group of objects having at least one common material property
  • the term “known category” refers to a group of objects having at least one further common property.
  • the at least one material comprised by an unknown measurement object may be a polymer or a particular class of polymers.
  • the at least one wavelength range may be selected in a manner that the at least one wavelength range comprises information about most or, preferably, all materials in question, in particular of a whole class of materials, especially of a whole class of polymers.
  • the predefined interval may be based on at least one previous determination of at least one item of spectral information about at least one known measurement object.
  • the predefined interval may, independently of the manner of determining the at least one signal indicator, be determined by performing at least one calibration.
  • the at least one evaluation device may, further, be configured to perform the at least one calibration.
  • calibration refers to a process of correcting from time to time drifting effects that may occur, in practice, in the spectral sensing device, primarily caused by alterations related to the spectral sensing device itself or having an effect onto the spectral sensing device.
  • the alterations may, especially, comprise at least one of: a degradation of at least one of the radiation emitting element or the photosensitive detector; a temperature drift of at least one of the radiation emitting element or the photosensitive detector; a variation of an ambient temperature affecting the spectral sensing device; a variation of a temperature related to the spectral sensing device, i.e. the temperature at which the at least one photosensitive detector and a corresponding electronics may operate; a mechanical extension or contraction of at least one component as comprised by the spectral sensing device, especially of at least one of a mechanical housing, a holder, or an optical element, specifically of the at least one optical window.
  • further kinds of alterations may also be feasible.
  • the term “performing a calibration” or any grammatical variation thereof refers to a conducting the process of generating at least one piece of calibration information, specifically, by correcting the drifting effects, particularly, in order to maintain a reliability of the measurement data, specifically by avoiding that the drifting effects may distort measurement data to such an extent that the results as determined by the spectral sensing device may become inconclusive.
  • the at least one piece of calibration information may be determined, in particular, in form of a calibration factor, a calibration curve, or calibration function, which may, preferably, be stored in a data storage unit as a calibration file, specifically, in form of at least one of a table, a set of values and associated functions, in parameterized form, or as a functional equation.
  • further manners of performing the calibration and storing or using the at one piece of least calibration information may also be conceivable.
  • the evaluation device may be configured to use at least one determination of at least one item of spectral information about at least one known measurement object, which could serve as a pre-defined reflection target, also denoted by the term ’’calibration target”.
  • the at least one calibration may a factory calibration which can be performed prior to a sale of the spectral sensing device at a manufacturing site.
  • the at least one calibration may be a repeated in situ calibration which can be performed at the site where the spectral sensing device may be, regularly used.
  • the at least one calibration may be performed in a laboratory that may, specifically, be configured for this purpose.
  • At least one value for the predefined interval can be determined hereby from observing and evaluating measurement data which have been acquired by using the at least one known measurement object.
  • diffuse reflected optical radiation is generated by a typical sample and/or a dummy sample and directed towards the at least one photosensitive detector.
  • at least one set of measurement data can be obtained in a series of measurements from which at least one value for the predefined interval can be determined by observing and evaluating the at least one set of measurement data.
  • further examples are feasible.
  • the spectral sensing device further, comprises at least one user interface.
  • the term “user interface” refers to a device which is designated for providing at least one item of information, in particular at least one signal information about the at least one signal indicator, to at least one user of a further device, in particular the spectral sensing device, preferably in a user-receptive manner, most preferred in a user-friendly manner.
  • the term “user-receptive manner” relates to a fashion of providing at least one item of information to a human person in such a manner that the human person is capable of comprehending the received piece of information in the desired fashion.
  • the term “user-friendly manner” relates to a fashion of providing the at least one item of information to the human person in such a manner that the human person can easily comprehend the received at least one item of information in the desired fashion.
  • the signal information further, comprises information about a spatial location of the at least one measurement object with respect to the spatial location of the spectral sensing device.
  • the information about the spatial location may refer to a distance from the at least one measurement object to the at least one photosensitive detector as comprised by the spectral sensing device.
  • the distance may refer to a length of a light path from the at least one measurement object to the at least one photosensitive detector.
  • the distance such as the length of the light path, from the at least one measurement object to the at least one photosensitive detector, may, as particularly preferred, not be indicated as an absolute value related to a distance, such as being indicated in meters or a fraction thereof, but rather as a qualitative value indicating a distance which still refers to the spatial location of the at least one measurement object with respect to the at least one photosensitive detector.
  • a classification scheme may, particularly, be used, wherein the classification scheme may comprise at least two, preferably three, distinguishable classes, such as
  • classifying or any grammatical variation thereof refers to assigning a particular parameter, such as a distance or a type of spatial alignment, to a predefined class of results, such as a class of distances or a class of spatial alignments.
  • classification scheme refers to a structure which is used when applying a particular classifying process.
  • each class may, preferably, be related, in particular in a unique fashion, to the logical value which refers to the at least one detector signal.
  • the distance may be appropriate if the at least one detector signal may be within the predefined interval, and vice-versa;
  • the distance may be too near if the at least one detector signal may be at or above the maximum value of the predefined interval , and vice-versa;
  • the distance may be too far if the at least one detector signal may be at or below the minimum value of the predefined interval, and vice-versa.
  • classification scheme for classifying information about a spatial alignment of the at least one measurement object with respect to the at least one photosensitive detector.
  • spatial alignment refers to a relative orientation of the at least one measurement object or a portion thereof, such as at least one of an edge or a border surface of the at least one measurement object, with respect to the at least one spectral sensing device or a portion thereof, such as to at least one photosensitive detector as comprised by the spectral sensing device.
  • at least two different classes may be provided which relate, preferably in a unique fashion, the relative orientation of the at least one measurement object with respect to the at least one photosensitive detector to the logical value referring to the at least one detector signal.
  • the spatial alignment may be appropriate if the at least one detector signal may be within the predefined interval, and vice-versa;
  • the spatial alignment may be inappropriate if the at least one detector signal may be outside the predefined interval, and vice-versa.
  • the signal information may, in particular, comprise at least one further piece of information about at least one property related to the at least one of the measurement object or the spectral sensing device.
  • the signal information may indicate that the at least one measurement object cannot be reliably measured by using the spectral sensing device.
  • the optical radiation which is reflected by and/or transmitted through and/or absorbed by the at least one measurement object may not be sufficient for the at least one detector signal to be within the predefined interval.
  • a reflection, transmission, or absorption grade of the measurement object may be too low or too high to generate at least one detector signal which may be within the predefined interval.
  • the classification scheme may, particularly, comprise at least two distinguishable classes, such as
  • the signal information may, in particular, comprise at least one further piece of information about at least one property related to the illumination of the measurement object.
  • the signal information may indicate that the illumination of the at least one measurement object may be too low or too high for adequately illuminating the at least one measurement object in order to obtain reliable measurement values about the at least one measurement object by using the spectral sensing device.
  • the classification scheme may, particularly, comprise at least two, preferably three, distinguishable classes, such as
  • a spectral distribution of an illumination source which is configured to provide the illumination of the at least one measurement object, may not be adequate for the desired measurements of the at least one measurement object by using the spectral sensing device.
  • the classification scheme may, particularly, comprise at least two distinguishable classes, such as
  • the signal information may, in particular, comprise at least one further piece of information, such a piece of information as referred to above, about at least one property related to at least one of the known measurement object or the spectral sensing device.
  • the signal information may indicate that insufficient optical radiation may reach the at least one photosensitive detector of the spectral sensing device in order to generate the at least one detector signal within the predefined interval.
  • a window of the spectral sensing device may be too dirty to generate at least one detector signal within the predefined interval.
  • the classification scheme may, particularly, comprise at least two distinguishable classes, such as
  • the classification scheme may, particularly, comprise at least two distinguishable classes, such as
  • it may, firstly, be determined by using an open-port arrangement, in which no object may be placed in front of the window of the spectral sensing device, whether the window of the spectral sensing device may be clean enough or too dirty to generate the at least one detector signal within the predefined interval, and it may, subsequently, be determined by using at least one known measurement object as a calibration target whether the calibration target may be ready for use or not to generate at least one detector signal within the predefined interval.
  • the signal information may, alternatively or in addition, be used for adjusting at least one parameter related to at least one property of the spectral sensing device by using at least one known measurement object.
  • at least one of an amplification or an integration time of the at least one detector signal or a power control of the illumination source can, preferably, be adjusted by determining whether the at least one detector signal as generated by the optical radiation originating from at least one known measurement object may be within the predefined interval or not.
  • the at least one item of information in particular at least one item of the signal information about the at least one signal indicator, may be provided to at least one user of the spectral sensing device in at least one of an electronic, a visual, an acoustic, or a tactile fashion.
  • the at least one item of information can, preferably, be provided to the user by using a visual output, in particular by using at least one visual indicator, especially by using at least one light-emitting diode, which may be configured to forward the at least one item of signal information to the user in a visual fashion, such as by using at least two, preferably three, distinguishable indicators, such as different colors of the at least one visual indicator, especially the at least one light-emitting diode, wherein each indicator may, preferably, be assigned to a particular logical value referring to the at least one detector signal as defined above.
  • a first indicator may indicate that the at least one detector signal may be within the predefined interval
  • a second indicator may indicate that the at least one detector signal may be outside the predefined interval
  • the second indicator may indicate that the at least one detector signal may be at or above the maximum value of the predefined interval
  • a third indicator may indicate that the at least one detector signal may be at or below the minimum value of the predefined interval.
  • the at least one item of information may be provided to the user by using an electronic output, in particular a display, which may be configured to forward the at least one item of information to the person in a visual fashion by displaying it to the user, in particular by displaying at least one of plain text in at least one language or a graphic symbol representing the at least one item of signal information.
  • the at least one item of information may be provided to the user by using at least one voice output, in particular a loudspeaker, which may be configured to forward the at least one item of signal information to the person in an acoustic fashion, in particular by using at least one loudspeaker.
  • a tactile output particularly comprising at least one vibration device
  • the at least one item of signal information may still reach the user even in an event in which the user does not observe a display or may not carry a mobile communication device.
  • the at least one item of signal information may be stored in at least one data storage medium, specifically in an internal data storage medium as comprised by the spectral sensing device, in particular by the at least one evaluation device, or in an external storage medium to which the information may be transmitted via the at least one user interface.
  • the at least one user interface may, preferably, be comprised by at least one of a monitor, such as a display as comprised by the spectral sensing device or an electronic communication unit, specifically a mobile communication device.
  • a monitor such as a display as comprised by the spectral sensing device or an electronic communication unit, specifically a mobile communication device.
  • the term “mobile communication device” relates to at least one of a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, or a personal digital assistant, which can be carried by the user and, thus, move together with the user.
  • the at least one mobile communication device may comprise the at least one evaluation device:
  • the at least one mobile communication device may comprise at least one communication interface which may be configured to perform a data exchange with at least one remote location. In the latter embodiment, at least one of a local server, a remote server, or a cloud server may be located at the at least one remote location.
  • the at least one evaluation device is, further, configured to generate at least one item of treatment data.
  • treatment data refers to at least one piece of data related to a proposed alteration of the spatial location of the at least one measurement object with respect to the spatial location of the spectral sensing device.
  • the illuminating of the at least one measurement object by the optical radiation may, particularly, be altered.
  • the proposed alteration of the spatial location of the at least one measurement object with respect to the spatial location of the spectral sensing device may, preferably, be selected from an alteration of at least one of a distance from the at least one measurement object to the at least one photosensitive detector, or, alternatively or in addition, a spatial alignment of the at least one measurement object with respect to the at least one photosensitive detector.
  • further items of treatment data may also be conceivable.
  • the at least one item of treatment data as generated by using the at least one evaluation device is provided to the at least one user of the spectral sensing device by using the at least one user interface.
  • the at least one signal indicator and the at least one item of treatment data may, preferably be provided to the at least one user of the spectral sensing device in a simultaneous manner, in particular as a pair of values as generated from the same at least one signal indicator.
  • the at least one item of treatment data may, preferably, be provided to the at least one user of the spectral sensing device in at least one of an electronic, a visual, or an acoustic fashion, in particular, in a manner similar as described above with respect to the providing the at least one signal indicator, however, being appropriate for communicating the at least one item of treatment data to the at least one user of the spectral sensing device.
  • the at least one item of treatment data may comprise at least one command, such as
  • the at least one item of treatment data may comprise at least one command, such as
  • the at least one item of treatment data may comprise at least one command, such as
  • change object which are intended to indicate whether the at least one measurement object may be able to provide at least one of a reflection, transmission, or absorption grade suitable for generating detector signals which are within the predefined interval or not, and which may, preferably, be used to request the at least one user of the spectral sensing device to maintain the at least one measurement object or to replace it by at least one different measurement object which may be better suited for this purpose.
  • the at least one item of treatment data may comprise at least one command, such as
  • the at least one item of treatment data may comprise at least one command, such as
  • replace illumination source which are intended to indicate to the at least one user of the spectral sensing device whether an illumination source configured to provide the illumination of the at least one measurement object may exhibit a spectral distribution of an illumination source, which may be adequate for the desired measurements of the at least one measurement object or not, and which may, if appropriate, be used to request the at least one user of the spectral sensing device to replace the at least one illumination source by at least one different illumination source exhibiting a different a spectral distribution.
  • the at least one item of treatment data may comprise at least one command, such as
  • clean window which are intended to indicate to the at least one user whether the spectral sensing device may be ready for use or whether the window through which incident light impinges onto the at least one photosensitive detector may require cleaning in order to be able to contribute to generating the at least one detector signal within the predefined interval.
  • the at least one item of treatment data may comprise at least one command, such as
  • “clean calibration target” which are intended to indicate to the at least one user whether at least one known measurement object, which may serve as a calibration target, may be ready for use or whether the calibration target may require cleaning in order to be able to contribute to generating the at least one detector signal within the predefined interval.
  • the spectral sensing device may further comprise at least one control interface.
  • control interface refers to a device which is configured to provide the signal information to at least one control device.
  • control device refers to a further device which is configured to control at least one property of at least one of the measurement object or the spectral sensing device, in particular at least one of a spatial location of the at least one measurement object with respect to the spatial location of the spectral sensing device, or an illumination of the at least one measurement object.
  • an alteration of the spatial location of the at least one measurement object with respect to the spatial location of the spectral sensing device can, preferably, comprise an alteration of at least one of
  • the at least one control device can be a movable fixing device which may be configured, on one hand, to hold the at least one measurement object and, on the other hand, to alter the spatial location of the at least one measurement object.
  • the at least one control device may be configured to adjust the illumination of the at least one measurement object, in particular an intensity of the illumination at the at least one measurement object.
  • the illumination reference can be made to the description above.
  • further kinds of control devices may also be conceivable.
  • the at least one control interface may be designated for providing the at least one item of treatment data to the at least one control device.
  • the at least one item of treatment data can, preferably, be provided to the at least one control device in a direct manner, such as via wire-bound or a wireless connection, or, alternatively or in addition, in an indirect manner, such as via at least one further processing device.
  • the spectral sensing device may, further, comprise at least one spectral transfer element.
  • spectral transfer element refers to an optical element which is configured to select at least one wavelength of the optical radiation to illuminate the at least one photosensitive region of the at least one photosensitive detector.
  • the at least one spectral transfer element may, especially, be selected from the group consisting of: at least one diffractive optical element; at least one angle dependent reflective element, at least one diffractive grating element, in particular a blaze grating element; at least one prism; at least one lens array, in particular at least one micro lens array; at least one optical filter element; at least one polarization filter element; at least one bandpass filter element; at least one liquid crystal filter element, in particular a liquid crystal tunable filter element; at least one short-pass filter element; at least one long-pass filter element; at least one notch filter element; at least one interference filter element; at least one transmission grating; at least one nonlinear optical element, in particular at least one birefringent optical element, or at least one tunable Fabry-Perot interferometer; at least one tunable Michelson interferometer; or at least one linear variable filter element.
  • a further kind of spectral transfer element may also be feasible.
  • a method for measuring optical radiation comprises the following steps a) to d), which may, preferably, be performed in a continuous fashion, wherein step a) to d) may, at least partially, be performed in a simultaneous manner. Further, additional steps whether listed herein or not can also be performed.
  • the method for measuring optical radiation comprises the following steps: a) emitting optical radiation by using at least one radiation emitting element, wherein the optical radiation illuminates the at least one measurement object; b) generating at least one detector signal by using at least one photosensitive detector, wherein the at least one photosensitive detector has at least one photosensitive region designated for receiving the optical radiation from the at least one measurement object illuminated by the optical radiation, wherein at least one detector signal as generated by the at least one photosensitive detector is dependent on an illumination of the at least one photosensitive region; c) determining at least one signal indicator from evaluating the at least one detector signal generated by the at least one photosensitive detector upon the illumination of the at least one photosensitive region by the optical radiation received from the at least one measurement object by using at least one evaluation device, wherein the at least one signal indicator indicates whether the at least one detector signal is within a predefined interval; and d) determining the at least one item of spectral information about the at least one measurement object by taking into account the at least one signal indicator; e) providing signal
  • optical radiation is emitted by using at least one radiation emitting element, in particular a radiation emitting element as described above or below in more detail, whereby the optical radiation illuminates the at least one measurement object.
  • At least one detector signal is generated by using at least one photosensitive detector.
  • the at least one photosensitive detector has at least one photosensitive region which is designated for receiving the optical radiation from the at least one measurement object illuminated by the optical radiation.
  • at least one detector signal is generated by the at least one photosensitive detector, wherein the at least one detector signal is dependent on an illumination of the at least one photosensitive region.
  • At least one signal indicator is determined by using at least one evaluation device, wherein the at least one signal indicator indicates whether the at least one detector signal is within a predefined interval.
  • the at least one detector signal which is generated by the at least one photosensitive detector upon the illumination of the at least one photosensitive region by the optical radiation received from the at least one measurement object is evaluated, in particular as described above and/or below in more detail.
  • the at least one item of spectral information about the at least one measurement object is determined, whereby the at least one signal indicator as determined according to step c) is taken into account, in particular as described above and/or below in more detail.
  • the at least one item of spectral information about the at least one measurement object may only be determined when the at least one signal indicator indicates that the at least one detector signal may be within the predefined interval.
  • the signal information about the at least one signal indicator is provided to a user of the spectral sensing device by using at least one user interface, in particular as described above and/or below in more detail.
  • the at least one item of treatment data is generated by further using the at least one evaluation device, wherein the at least one item of treatment data is related to a proposed alteration of the spatial location of the at least one measurement object with respect to the spatial location of the spectral sensing device, and communicated to the at least one user of the spectral sensing device by further using at least one user interface.
  • the at least one item of information in particular at least one item of the signal information about the at least one signal indicator, may be provided to at least one user of the spectral sensing device in at least one of an electronic, a visual, an acoustic, or a tactile fashion.
  • the present invention refers to computer program for determining at least one item of spectral information about at least one measurement object
  • the computer program comprises instructions which, when the computer program is executed by a computer or computer network, cause the computer or computer network to perform at least steps c) and d) of the method for determining at least one item of spectral information about at least one measurement object as described above.
  • the computer program comprising executable instructions may, preferably, fully or partially be integrated into the evaluation device, in particular into a data processing device, in particular a computer or an electronic communication unit, specifically a mobile communication device, especially as defined above in more detail.
  • the computer program may be capable of performing the method using at least one data processing unit already comprised by the evaluation device, in particular of the mobile communication device.
  • the method may be performed as an application, also denoted by the term “app”, on the mobile communication device.
  • a non-transient computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by a computer or computer network, cause the computer or computer network to perform at least steps c) and d) of the method for determining at least one item of spectral information about at least one measurement object according to the present invention, in particular according to any one of the embodiments disclosed above and/or according to any one of the embodiments disclosed below.
  • non-transient computer-readable medium also denoted as “computer- readable data carrier” refers to non-transitory data storage medium, such as a hardware storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions, such as one of a random-access memory (RAM) or a read-only memory (ROM).
  • the non-transient computer-readable medium may, further, comprise instructions which, when executed by the computer or computer network, cause the computer or computer network to perform at least steps c) and d) of the method for determining at least one item of spectral information about at least one measurement object as described elsewhere herein in more detail.
  • a use of a spectral sensing device according to the present invention is disclosed.
  • the use of the spectral sensing device for a purpose of determining information, in particular spectral information, which is related to the at least one measurement object is proposed.
  • the spectral sensing device may, preferably, be used for a purpose of use, selected from the group consisting of: an infrared detection application; a spectroscopy application; an exhaust gas monitoring application; a combustion process monitoring application; a pollution monitoring application; an industrial process monitoring application; a mixing or blending process monitoring; a chemical process monitoring application; a food processing process monitoring application; a food preparation process monitoring; a water quality monitoring application; an air quality monitoring application; a quality control application; a temperature control application; a motion control application; an exhaust control application; a gas sensing application; a gas analytics application; a motion sensing application; a chemical sensing application; a mobile application; a medical application; a mobile spectroscopy application; a food analysis application; an agricultural application, in particular characterization of soil, silage, feed, crop or produce, monitoring plant health; a plastics identification and/or recycling application.
  • further applications may also be feasible.
  • the spectral sensing device and the method for determining at least one item of spectral information about at least one measurement object as disclosed herein have considerable advantages over the prior art.
  • the spectral sensing device and the method according to the present invention is configured to determine whether the at least one detector signal is within an expected range.
  • a feedback denoted herein as “signal indicator” can be generated and, optionally, transmitted to a user of the spectral sensing device in order to indicate whether the measurement object may be correctly positioned or not, in particular with regard to a distance to the spectral sensing device and/or a spatial alignment with respect to the spectral sensing device.
  • the user of the spectral sensing device can be requested to correct a positioning of the measurement object, of required.
  • measurement data can be acquired, from which the desired at least one item of spectral information about at least one measurement object can be determined.
  • it is not required to determine an absolute value related to a distance, such as being indicated in meters or a fraction thereof, of the measurement object but rather a qualitative value which still indicates whether the spatial location of the at least one measurement object with respect to the at least one photosensitive detector is appropriate for generating highly reliable measurement data, in particular by increasing the signal-to-noise ratio of the spectral sensing device, especially in a user-friendly manner.
  • At least one measurement unit which preferably comprises at least one presence sensor, specifically a proximity sensor or a distance sensor, designated for generating at least one measurement signal that is dependent on an occupation of a volume in front of the at least one photosensitive detector
  • no additional measurement unit is required for determining whether the measurement object may be appropriately positioned in front of the spectral sensing device or not according to the present invention.
  • WO 2019/215323 A1 discloses determining at least one longitudinal coordinate z of the object by evaluating a combined signal Q from the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal and evaluating at least one sensor signal generated by the optical sensors of the matrix of optical sensor by performing at least one spectroscopic analysis considering the determined longitudinal coordinate z, especially, by using at least one predetermined relationship between the combined signal Q and the longitudinal coordinate z of the object for determining the longitudinal coordinate z, a determining of a value for a distance, such as a longitudinal coordinate z, between the measurement object and the spectral sensing device is not required according to the present invention.
  • the signal indicator of the at least one detector signal as generated by the at least one photosensitive detector is used herein to determine whether the measurement object may be appropriately positioned in front of the spectral sensing device or not.
  • This plausibility in form of the signal indicator can, on one hand, easily be determined and, on the other hand, be used in a straightforward and user-friendly manner in order to generate a high reliability of the measurement data, in particular by achieving a high signal-to-noise ratio of the spectral sensing device as disclosed herein.
  • the terms “have”, “comprise” or “include” or any arbitrary grammatical variations thereof are used in a non-exclusive way. Thus, these terms may both refer to a situation in which, besides the feature introduced by these terms, no further features are present in the entity described in this context and to a situation in which one or more further features are present.
  • the expressions “A has B”, “A comprises B” and “A includes B” may both refer to a situation in which, besides B, no other element is present in A (i.e. a situation in which A solely and exclusively consists of B) and to a situation in which, besides B, one or more further elements are present in entity A, such as element C, elements C and D or even further elements.
  • the terms “preferably”, “more preferably”, “particularly”, “more particularly”, “specifically”, “more specifically” or similar terms are used in conjunction with optional features, without restricting alternative possibilities.
  • features introduced by these terms are optional features and are not intended to restrict the scope of the claims in any way.
  • the invention may, as the skilled person will recognize, be performed by using alternative features.
  • features introduced by "in an embodiment of the invention” or similar expressions are intended to be optional features, without any restriction regarding alternative embodiments of the invention, without any restriction regarding the scope of the invention and without any restriction regarding the possibility of combining the features introduced in such a way with other optional or non-optional features of the invention.
  • Embodiment 1 A spectral sensing device for determining at least one item of spectral information about at least one measurement object, the spectral sensing device comprising:
  • At least one radiation emitting element configured to emit optical radiation designated for illuminating the at least one measurement object
  • the at least one photosensitive detector has at least one photosensitive region designated for receiving optical radiation from the at least one measurement object illuminated by the optical radiation, wherein at least one detector signal generated by the at least one photosensitive detector is dependent on an illumination of the at least one photosensitive region;
  • the at least one evaluation device is configured to determine o at least one signal indicator from evaluating the at least one detector signal generated by the at least one photosensitive detector upon the illumination of the at least one photosensitive region by the optical radiation received from the at least one measurement object, wherein the at least one signal indicator indicates whether the at least one detector signal is within a predefined interval; and o the at least one item of spectral information about the at least one measurement object by using the at least one detector signal, thereby taking into account the at least one signal indicator.
  • Embodiment 2 The spectral sensing device according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the at least one evaluation device is configured to determine the at least one item of spectral information about the at least one measurement object only when the at least one signal indicator indicates that the at least one detector signal is within the predefined interval.
  • Embodiment 3 The spectral sensing device according to any one of the preceding
  • the predefined interval is defined by a range of values for the at least one detector signal between a minimum value and a maximum value.
  • Embodiment 4 The spectral sensing device according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein at least one signal indicator is selected from being
  • Embodiment 5 The spectral sensing device according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the at least one detector signal is at or above the maximum value of the predefined interval when the at least one detector signal is overdriven.
  • Embodiment 6 The spectral sensing device according to any one of the two preceding
  • the at least one detector signal is at or below the minimum value of the predefined interval when the at least one detector signal is underdriven.
  • Embodiment 7 The spectral sensing device according to any one of the preceding
  • the at least one evaluation device is configured to determine the predefined interval by using respective amplitudes of a plurality of the detector signals.
  • Embodiment 8 The spectral sensing device according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the predefined interval is determined by generating at least one of a minimum value, a maximum value, a mean value, or a weight of the respective amplitudes of the plurality of the detector signals.
  • Embodiment 9 The spectral sensing device according to any one of the two preceding
  • determining the predefined interval comprises using at least one wavelength range from the plurality of the detector signals.
  • Embodiment 10 The spectral sensing device according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the at least one wavelength range is selected according to known material-related information.
  • Embodiment 11 The spectral sensing device according to any one of the two preceding Embodiments, wherein determining the predefined interval comprises using at least one item of spectral information about at least one material comprised by a known measurement object, a known class of measurement objects, or a known category of measurement objects.
  • Embodiment 12 The spectral sensing device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments, wherein the detector signal is selected from at least one of an analogue signal or a digital signal.
  • Embodiment 13 The spectral sensing device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments, wherein the detector signal is selected from an electrical current or an electrical voltage.
  • Embodiment 14 The spectral sensing device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments, further comprising at least one user interface.
  • Embodiment 15 The spectral sensing device according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the at least one user interface is configured to provide signal information about the at least one signal indicator to at least one user of the spectral sensing device.
  • Embodiment 16 The spectral sensing device according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the signal information comprises at least one piece of information about a spatial location of the at least one measurement object with respect to the spatial location of the spectral sensing device selected from at least one of
  • Embodiment 17 The spectral sensing device according to any one of the two preceding Embodiments, wherein the at least one user interface is configured to communicate the signal information to the user in at least one of an electronic, a visual, an acoustic, or a tactile fashion.
  • Embodiment 18 The spectral sensing device according to any one of the seven preceding Embodiments, wherein the at least one user interface is selected from at least one of
  • Embodiment 19 The spectral sensing device according to any one of the eight preceding Embodiments, wherein the at least one user interface is comprised by at least one of a monitor or an electronic communication unit.
  • Embodiment 20 The spectral sensing device according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the at least one electronic communication unit is or comprises a mobile communication device.
  • Embodiment 21 The spectral sensing device according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the at least one mobile communication device is selected from at least one of
  • Embodiment 22 The spectral sensing device according to any one of the three preceding Embodiments, wherein the at least one electronic communication unit comprises at least one of
  • At least one communication interface configured to perform a data exchange with at least one remote location.
  • Embodiment 23 The spectral sensing device according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein at least one of a local server, a remote server, or a cloud server is located at the at least one remote location.
  • Embodiment 24 The spectral sensing device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments, wherein the at least one evaluation device is further configured to generate at least one item of treatment data.
  • Embodiment 25 The spectral sensing device according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the at least one item of treatment data is related to a proposed alteration of the spatial location of the at least one measurement object with respect to the spatial location of the spectral sensing device.
  • Embodiment 26 The spectral sensing device according to any one of the two preceding Embodiments, wherein the proposed alteration of the spatial location of the at least one measurement object with respect to the spatial location of the spectral sensing device is selected from an alteration of at least one of
  • Embodiment 27 The spectral sensing device according to any one of the three preceding Embodiments, wherein the at least one user interface is further configured to communicate the at least one item of treatment data to the user in at least one of an electronic, a visual, an acoustic, or a tactile fashion.
  • Embodiment 28 The spectral sensing device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments, further comprising a control interface.
  • Embodiment 29 The spectral sensing device according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the at least one control interface is configured to provide the signal information to at least one control device.
  • Embodiment 30 The spectral sensing device according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the at least one control device is configured to control at least one property of at least one of the measurement object or the spectral sensing device.
  • Embodiment 31 The spectral sensing device according to any one of the two preceding Embodiments, wherein the at least one control device is further configured to control a spatial location of the at least one measurement object with respect to the spatial location of the spectral sensing device.
  • Embodiment 32 The spectral sensing device according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the at least one control device is configured to alter the spatial location of the at least one measurement object with respect to the spatial location of the spectral sensing device by performing an alteration of at least one of
  • Embodiment 33 The spectral sensing device according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the at least one control device is or comprises a movable fixing device.
  • Embodiment 34 The spectral sensing device according to any one of the five preceding Embodiments, wherein the at least one control device is further configured to control an illumination of the at least one measurement object.
  • Embodiment 35 The spectral sensing device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments, wherein the evaluation device is further designed to, completely or partially, control or drive the spectral sensing device or a part thereof.
  • Embodiment 36 The spectral sensing device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments, wherein the evaluation device is further configured to control at least one of the at least one radiation emitting element and the at least one photosensitive detector.
  • Embodiment 37 The spectral sensing device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments, wherein information determined by the evaluation device is stored in at least one data storage unit.
  • Embodiment 38 The spectral sensing device according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the at least one data storage unit is comprised by the spectral sensing device, in particular by the at least one evaluation device.
  • Embodiment 39 The spectral sensing device according to any one of the two preceding Embodiments, wherein the at least one data storage unit is or comprises a separate storage unit.
  • Embodiment 40 The spectral sensing device according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the separate storage unit is comprised by the at the least one electronic communication unit.
  • Embodiment 41 The spectral sensing device according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the at least one electronic communication unit is or comprises a mobile communication device.
  • Embodiment 42 The spectral sensing device according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the at least one mobile communication device is selected from at least one of
  • Embodiment 43 The spectral sensing device according to the four preceding Embodiments, wherein the information is transmitted to the separate storage unit via at least one interface, in particular via at least one of a wireless interface or a wire-bound interface.
  • Embodiment 44 The spectral sensing device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments, wherein the spectral sensing device is configured to determine the at least one item of spectral information about at least one measurement object by spectrally analyzing diffuse reflected optical radiation received from the at least one measurement object.
  • Embodiment 45 The spectral sensing device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments, wherein the least one photosensitive detector comprises at least one photoconductive material.
  • Embodiment 46 The spectral sensing device according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the at least one photosensitive region of the least one photosensitive detector comprises the at least one photoconductive material.
  • Embodiment 47 The spectral sensing device according to any one of the two preceding Embodiments, wherein the at least one photoconductive material is selected from at least one of PbS, PbSe, Ge, InGaAs, InSb, or HgCdTe.
  • Embodiment 48 The spectral sensing device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments, further comprising at least one spectral transfer element.
  • Embodiment 49 The spectral sensing device according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein at least one spectral transfer element is configured to select at least one wavelength of the optical radiation to illuminate the at least one photosensitive region of the at least one photosensitive detector.
  • Embodiment 50 The spectral sensing device according to any one of the two preceding Embodiments, wherein the at least one spectral transfer element is selected from the group consisting of: at least one diffractive optical element; at least one angle dependent reflective element, at least one diffractive grating element, in particular a blaze grating element; at least one prism; at least one lens array, in particular at least one micro lens array; at least one optical filter element; at least one polarization filter element; at least one bandpass filter element; at least one liquid crystal filter element, in particular a liquid crystal tunable filter element; at least one short-pass filter element; at least one long-pass filter element; at least one notch filter element; at least one interference filter element; at least one transmission grating; at least one nonlinear optical element, in particular at least one birefringent optical element, or at least one tunable Fabry-Perot interferometer; at least one tunable Michelson interferometer; or at least one linear variable filter element.
  • Embodiment 51 The spectral sensing device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments, wherein a spectral sensitivity of the at least one photosensitive detector is covered by a spectral range of the at least one radiation emitting element.
  • Embodiment 52 The spectral sensing device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments, wherein the emitted optical radiation comprises a wavelength of 760 nm to 1000 pm (infrared spectral range).
  • Embodiment 53 The spectral sensing device according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the emitted optical radiation comprises a wavelength of 760 nm to 3 pm (near-infrared spectral range).
  • Embodiment 54 The spectral sensing device according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the emitted optical radiation comprises a wavelength of 1 pm to 3 pm.
  • Embodiment 55 A method for measuring optical radiation, the method comprising the following steps: a) emitting optical radiation by using at least one radiation emitting element, wherein the optical radiation illuminates the at least one measurement object; b) generating at least one detector signal by using at least one photosensitive detector, wherein the at least one photosensitive detector has at least one photosensitive region designated for receiving the optical radiation from the at least one measurement object illuminated by the optical radiation, wherein at least one detector signal as generated by the at least one photosensitive detector is dependent on an illumination of the at least one photosensitive region; c) determining at least one signal indicator from evaluating the at least one detector signal generated by the at least one photosensitive detector upon the illumination of the at least one photosensitive region by the optical radiation received from the at least one measurement object by using at least one evaluation device, wherein the at least one signal indicator indicates whether the at least one detector signal is within a predefined interval; and d) determining the at least one item of spectral information about the at least one measurement object by taking into account the at least one signal indicator.
  • Embodiment 56 The method according to the preceding Embodiment, the method further comprising the following step: e) providing signal information about the at least one signal indicator to a user of the spectral sensing device by using at least one user interface.
  • Embodiment 57 The method according to any one of the two preceding Embodiments, the method further comprising the following step: f) generating at least one item of treatment data by further using the at least one evaluation device, wherein the at least one item of treatment data is related to a proposed alteration of the spatial location of the at least one measurement object with respect to the spatial location of the spectral sensing device.
  • Embodiment 58 A computer program for determining at least one item of spectral information about at least one measurement object, wherein the computer program comprises instructions which, when the computer program is executed by a computer or computer network, cause the computer or computer network to perform at least steps c) and d) of the method for determining at least one item of spectral information about at least one measurement object according to any one of the preceding method Embodiments.
  • Embodiment 59 A non-transient computer-readable medium including instructions that, when executed by a computer or computer network, cause the computer or computer network to perform at least steps c) and d) of the method for determining at least one item of spectral information about at least one measurement object according to any one of the preceding method Embodiments.
  • Embodiment 60 A use of a spectral sensing device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments referring to a spectral sensing device or to a spectral sensing device, for a purpose of use, selected from the group consisting of: an infrared detection application; a spectroscopy application; an exhaust gas monitoring application; a combustion process monitoring application; a pollution monitoring application; an industrial process monitoring application; a mixing or blending process monitoring; a chemical process monitoring application; a food processing process monitoring application; a food preparation process monitoring; a water quality monitoring application; an air quality monitoring application; a quality control application; a temperature control application; a motion control application; an exhaust control application; a gas sensing application; a gas analytics application; a motion sensing application; a chemical sensing application; a mobile application; a medical application; a mobile spectroscopy application; a food analysis application; an agricultural application, in particular characterization of soil, silage, feed, crop or produce, monitoring plant health; a plastics identification
  • Figure 1 illustrates a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a spectral sensing device for determining at least one item of spectral information about at least one measurement object according to the present invention
  • Figure 2 illustrates a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a method for determining at least one item of spectral information about at least one measurement object according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates, in a highly schematic fashion, an exemplary embodiment of a spectral sensing device 110 according to the present invention.
  • the spectral sensing device 110 is an apparatus which is configured to determine at least one item of spectral information about at least one measurement object 112.
  • the measurement object 112 may be or comprise an arbitrary body, chosen from a living object and a non-living object, which comprises material for investigation or monitoring by the spectral sensing device 110.
  • the spectral sensing device 110 may be adapted for recording a spectrum, particularly in the infrared (I R) spectral region, especially in the nearinfrared (NIR), specifically for a wavelength of 760 nm to 3 pm, preferably of 1 pm to 5 pm, more preferred of 1 pm to 3 pm, or in the mid-infrared spectral region which covers wavelengths from 5 pm to 15 pm.
  • I R infrared
  • NIR nearinfrared
  • the spectral sensing device 110 can be used for monitoring or investigation purposes, such as spectroscopy, gas sensing, or concentration measurements.
  • further applications of the spectral sensing device 110 may also be feasible.
  • the spectral sensing device 110 comprises a housing 114 which encompasses the components of the spectral sensing device 110.
  • the housing 114 can, preferably, be filled with an optically transparent medium, wherein the optically transparent medium 134 may, especially, be selected from ambient air, an inert gas or vacuum, especially in order to facilitate a propagation of the light beam within the housing 114.
  • the optically transparent medium 134 may, especially, be selected from ambient air, an inert gas or vacuum, especially in order to facilitate a propagation of the light beam within the housing 114.
  • different kind of materials may also be feasible.
  • further kinds of arrangements of the components of the spectral sensing device 110 may also be conceivable.
  • the exemplary spectral sensing device 110 as schematically depicted in Figure 1 comprises a radiation emitting element 116 which is configured to emit the optical radiation 118.
  • the radiation emitting element 116 may comprise by a semiconductor-based radiation source, preferably, selected from at least one of a light emitting diode (LED) or a laser, in particular a laser diode.
  • LED light emitting diode
  • the radiation emitting element 116 may be continuously emitting, or generating modulated optical pulses, as described above in more detail.
  • the radiation emitting element 116 may be configured for emitting the optical radiation 118 isotropically in all spatial directions.
  • the radiation emitting element 116 may, preferably, be designed for emitting the optical radiation 118 anisotropically in at least one spatial direction, specifically towards the at least one measurement object 112, such as by generating at least one light beam.
  • the exemplary spectral sensing device 110 as schematically illustrated in Figure 1 comprises a photosensitive detector 120.
  • the photosensitive detector 120 has a single photosensitive region 122, however, using more than one photosensitive region 122, such as an array of photosensitive regions 122, may also be feasible.
  • the photosensitive region 122 is designed for receiving the optical radiation 118 from the at least one measurement object 112 and for generating therefrom at least one detector signal which depends on an illumination of the at least one photosensitive region 122.
  • the photosensitive region 120 may, preferably, comprise at least one photoconductive material, particularly, selected from lead sulfide (PbS), lead selenide (PbSe), germanium (Ge), indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs, including but not limited to ext. InGaAs), indium antimonide (InSb), or mercury cadmium telluride (HgCdTe or MCT). Further kinds of photoconductive materials or different types kinds of photosensitive detectors may also be feasible.
  • PbS lead sulfide
  • PbSe lead selenide
  • Ge germanium
  • InGaAs indium gallium arsenide
  • InGaAs indium gallium arsenide
  • InSb indium antimonide
  • HgCdTe or MCT mercury cadmium telluride
  • the exemplary spectral sensing device 110 as illustrated in Figure 1 further, comprises an optical window 124.
  • the at least one window 124 may be at least partially, preferably fully, transparent for the optical radiation 118.
  • at least one transparent material as comprised by the optical window 124 may, preferably, be selected from glass or silicon and may, therefore, preferably be at least partially, preferably fully, transparent in at least a partition of a wavelength range covered by the optical radiation 118.
  • the optical window 124 may, especially be located in a portion of the housing 114 of the spectral sensing device 110, specifically in a portion of a beam path of the optical radiation 118 between the radiation emitting element 116 and the at least one measurement object 112 and, further, in a further portion of the beam path of the optical radiation 118 between the at least one measurement object 112 and the photosensitive detector 120.
  • the spectral sensing device 110 may, further, comprise a filter element 126, such as a polarization filter element or a bandpass filter element, however, a further kind of filter element 126 may also be feasible.
  • the filter element 126 may, especially, be designed for filtering the optical radiation 118 or, more specifically, selected wavelengths of the optical radiation 118.
  • the filter element 126 may, specifically, be positioned in the beam path of the optical radiation 118 in front of the at least one photosensitive region 122. In further embodiments (not depicted here), the filter element 126 may also be dispensable.
  • the spectral sensing device 110 further comprises at least one of an evaluation device 128 or a communication interface 130 configured to transmit data at least one of from or to or within the evaluation device 128.
  • the photosensitive detector 120 may comprise at least one readout circuit, specifically at least one resistance meter (not depicted here), which may have a connection 132, such as a wire-bound connection and/or a wireless connection, to the at least one evaluation device 128 and/or the communication interface 130.
  • the at least one evaluation device 128 may at least partially be cloud-based. In other words, the at least one evaluation device 128 may at least partially be distributed in at least one cloud 134 used for at least one of cloud computing or cloud storage.
  • the at least one cloud 134 may specifically comprise at least one external device 136, e.g. a computer or a computer network.
  • the at least one evaluation device 128 may at least partially be distributed within the photosensitive detector 120, e.g. for an initial signal processing of the at least one detector signal, such as for a signal filtering or a signal smoothening. Further signal processing or signal evaluation may be performed in a part of the at least one evaluation device 128 distributed over the at least one external device 136 of the at least one cloud 134.
  • the at least one external device 136 may, specifically, comprise more computing power or data storage volume.
  • the at least one external device 136 may be or comprise an electronic communication unit, specifically a mobile communication especially at least one of a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, or a personal digital assistant, in particular to allow a more user- friendly and/or mobile access.
  • the different parts of the at least one evaluation device 128 may at least partially be interconnected by the at least one communication unit 128.
  • the communication interface 130 may be at least one of a wireless or a wire-bound interface.
  • the evaluation device 128 is configured to determine, on one hand, at least one signal indicator 138 and, on the other hand, an item 140 of spectral information about the at least one measurement object 112.
  • the at least one detector signal which is generated by the photosensitive detector 120 upon the illumination of the at least one photosensitive region 122 of the photosensitive detector 120 by the optical radiation 118 that is received from the at least one measurement object 112, is, on one hand, evaluated in a manner that the at least one signal indicator 138 indicates whether the at least one detector signal is within a predefined interval or not and is, on the other hand, evaluated to provide at least one item 140 of spectral information about the at least one measurement object 112, wherein both the at least one detector signal and the at least one signal indicator 138 are taken into account.
  • the at least one evaluation device 128 is configured to determine the at least one item 140 of spectral information about the at least one measurement object 112 by using the at least one detector signal and, additionally, the at least one signal indicator 138
  • the at least one evaluation device 128 may, in particular, be configured to determine the at least one item 140 of spectral information about the at least one measurement object 112 only when the at least one signal indicator 138 indicates that the at least one detector signal is within a predefined interval.
  • the at least one signal indicator 138 and the at least one item 140 of spectral information may, preferably, be determined simultaneously from the same at least one detector signal.
  • the at least one signal indicator 138 and the at least one item 140 of spectral information may form a pair of values.
  • a value for the at least one detector signal may be used for determining the at least one item 140 of spectral information only if the at least one signal indicator 138 is within a predefined interval; otherwise the value for the at least one detector signal may be discarded.
  • the at least one signal indicator 138 may, initially, be determined and, depending on the result of this determination, the at least one detector signal may, subsequently, be acquired for being used in determining the at least one item 140 of spectral information or not.
  • the at least one detector signal may, initially, be determined while the at least one signal indicator 138 may, subsequently, be determined, wherein, depending on the result of this determination, the at least one detector signal may be used for determining the at least one item 140 of spectral information or may be discarded.
  • the at least one signal indicator 138 indicates whether the at least one detector signal is within a predefined interval or not.
  • the predefined interval refers to a range of values comprising a series of values between a minimum value to a maximum value, wherein the series of values may be selected from
  • the series of values may be a current or a voltage range between a minimum current or voltage value, such as 1 mV or 10 nA, and a maximum current or voltage value, such as 100 mV or 1 mA, which can be measured in an analogue fashion.
  • the series of values may be a number of a particular channel within a range of channels, such as channel 12 to channel 224, wherein each channel is configured for receive a particular current or voltage in a digital manner.
  • a minimum current or voltage value such as 1 mV or 10 nA
  • a maximum current or voltage value such as 100 mV or 1 mA
  • the at least one signal indicator 138 can be selected from a logical value, wherein the logical value refers to an observation whether the at least one detector signal is
  • the at least one signal indicator 138 is considered to be at or above the maximum value of the predefined interval when the at least one detector signal is overdriven. Similarly, the at least one signal indicator 138 is considered to be at or below the minimum value of the predefined interval when the at least one detector signal is underdriven.
  • the at least one signal indicator 138 may be considered as being within the predefined interval if the current value of the at least one detector signal may be 120 nA if the minimum current value has been defined as 10 nA and the maximum current value as 1 mA. Further, the at least one signal indicator 138 may be considered as overdriven if the current value of the at least one detector signal may be at the maximum value of 1 mA. Still further, the at least one signal indicator 138 may be considered as underdriven if the current value of the at least one detector signal may be at the minimum value of 10 nA.
  • the at least one signal indicator 138 may be considered as being within the predefined interval if the voltage value of the at least one detector signal may be 60 mV if the minimum voltage value has been defined as 1 mV and the maximum voltage value as 100 mV. Further, the at least one signal indicator 138 may be considered as overdriven if the voltage value of the at least one detector signal may be at the maximum value of 100 mV. Still further, the at least one signal indicator 138 may be considered as underdriven if the voltage value of the at least one detector signal may be at the minimum value of 1 mV.
  • the at least one signal indicator 138 may be considered as being within the predefined interval if a particular current or voltage may be received by channel 96 if the minimum channel has been set to 12 and the maximum channel to 224. Further, the at least one signal indicator 138 may be considered as underdriven if the particular current or voltage may be received by channel 12 while the at least one signal indicator may be considered as overdriven if the particular current or voltage may be received by channel 224.
  • a single detector signal or a plurality of detector signals can be used for determining the predefined interval.
  • the at least one evaluation device 128 may, further, be configured to determine the predefined interval by considering the respective amplitudes of the plurality of the detector signals.
  • the plurality of the detector signals may, preferably, be obtained from a plurality of photosensitive detectors 120 or a plurality of photosensitive regions 122 on a single or a plurality of photosensitive detectors 120 (not depicted here), wherein the plurality of the detector signals is acquired within a common time interval, in particular in a simultaneous manner.
  • the plurality of the detector signals may be obtained from a single photosensitive detector 120 in a consecutive fashion by subsequently recording a detector signal by using the same at least one photosensitive detector.
  • the predefined interval may be determined by using at least one of a minimum value, a maximum value, or a mean value, specifically an arithmetic or a geometric mean value of the respective amplitudes of the plurality of the detector signals.
  • determining the predefined interval may comprise using at least one item of spectral information about at least one material comprised by a known measurement object, a known class of measurement objects, or a known category of measurement objects, especially by using at least one wavelength range from the respective amplitudes of the detector signals taken into account for this purpose.
  • a plurality of weights may be used for placing a particular weight to a corresponding detector signal out of the plurality of the detector signals.
  • a particular weight may be used in this fashion for each channel between a minimum channel and a maximum channel to be applied to the corresponding detector signal as acquired by the respective channel.
  • a further manner of modifying the detector signals may also be feasible.
  • the predefined interval may be based on at least one previous determination of at least one item 140 of spectral information about at least one known measurement object.
  • a factory calibration can, preferably, be performed prior to a sale of the spectral sensing device 110 at a manufacturing site.
  • a repeated in situ calibration can be performed at the site where the spectral sensing device 110 may be, regularly used.
  • a laboratory calibration can, specifically, be performed for this purpose.
  • at least one value for the predefined interval can be determined hereby from observing and evaluating measurement data that have been acquired by using the at least one known measurement object.
  • At least one set of measurement data can be obtained by performing a series of measurements during which a spatial location of the at least one measurement object 112 with respect to the spatial location of the spectral sensing device 110, especially at least one of a distance from the at least one measurement object 112 to the at least one photosensitive region 122 or a spatial alignment of the at least one measurement object 112 with respect to the at least one photosensitive region 122, is altered, especially in a predefined fashion.
  • at least one value for the predefined interval can be determined from observing and evaluating the at least one set of measurement data which may be acquired in this fashion.
  • further examples are feasible.
  • the spectral sensing device 110 further, comprises a user interface 142, which is configured to communicate with a user of the spectral sensing device 110, preferably, in at least one of an electronic, a visual, an acoustic, or a tactile fashion.
  • the user interface 142 is implemented here as a display 144 of a mobile communication device, specifically of a smartphone 146.
  • a monitor of a stand-alone computer or of another electronic communication unit especially of a different type of mobile communication device, such as a tablet, a laptop, or a personal digital assistant, may also be feasible.
  • the user interface 142 can, as an alternative or in addition, be a light-emitting diode, a loudspeaker, or a vibration device; however, further alternatives are still conceivable.
  • the user interface 142 as used herein is configured to provide signal information 148 about the at least one signal indicator 138 to the user of the spectral sensing device 110.
  • the signal information 148 comprises at least one piece of information about a spatial location of the at least one measurement object 112 with respect to the spatial location of the spectral sensing device 110.
  • the signal information 148 may, especially, be selected from
  • the spatial alignment may, in particular, be indicated by an angle 152 of an incident light beam impinging the photosensitive region 122 compared to a vertical line with respect to a surface of the photosensitive region 122.
  • using a further kind of signal information 148 may also be feasible.
  • the evaluation device 128 is, further, configured to generate at least one item 154 of treatment data while the user interface 142 is, further, configured to provide the at least one item 154 of treatment data, in addition to or as an alternative to the signal information 148 about the at least one signal indicator 138, to the user of the spectral sensing device 110, preferably, in at least one of an electronic, a visual, an acoustic, or a tactile fashion, such as depicted in Figure 1 , especially by using the display 144 of the smartphone 146.
  • alternatives for providing the at least one item 154 of treatment data to the user of the spectral sensing device 110 are feasible.
  • the at least one item 154 of treatment data is related to a proposed alteration of the spatial location of the at least one measurement object 112 with respect to the spatial location of the spectral sensing device 110.
  • the at least one item 154 of treatment data may comprise an indication about a proposed alteration of - the distance 150 of the at least one measurement object 112 to the photosensitive region 122; and/or
  • the spectral sensing device 110 may, further, comprise at least one control interface which may be configured to provide the signal information 148 to at least one control device.
  • the at least one control device may, further, be configured to control the spatial location of the at least one measurement object 112 with respect to the spatial location of the spectral sensing device 110, especially by implementing the proposed alteration of the spatial location of the at least one measurement object 112 with respect to the spatial location of the spectral sensing device 110.
  • the at least one control interface may provide the signal information 148 to the at least one control device which is configured to alter
  • the at least one control device may, especially, be implemented as a movable fixing device, preferably being attached to the spectral sensing device 110, however, further implementations may also be conceivable.
  • the at least one control device may further be configured to control an illumination of the at least one measurement object 112, in particular, an intensity of the illumination of the at least one measurement object 112.
  • Figure 2 illustrates, in a highly schematic fashion, a view of an exemplary embodiment of a method 180 for determining at least one item 140 of spectral information about at least one measurement object 112 according to the present invention.
  • the optical radiation 118 is emitted by using the radiation emitting element 116 in a manner that at least a portion of the optical radiation 118 illuminates the at least one measurement object 112.
  • the at least one detector signal is generated by using at the least one photosensitive detector 120 having at least one photosensitive region 122, which is designated for receiving the optical radiation 118 from the at least one measurement object 112 being illuminated by the optical radiation 118.
  • the at least one detector signal which is generated by the at least one photosensitive detector 120, depends on an illumination of the at least one photosensitive region 122 by the optical radiation 118 from the at least one measurement object 112.
  • the at least one detector signal is, therefore, suitable for determining the at least one item 140 of spectral information about at least one measurement object 112.
  • the at least one signal indicator 138 is determined from evaluating the at least one detector signal, which is generated by the at least one photosensitive detector 120 upon the illumination of the at least one photosensitive region 122 by the optical radiation 118 received from the at least one measurement object 112, by using the at least one evaluation device 128. As already indicated above, the at least one signal indicator 138 indicates whether the at least one detector signal is within a predefined interval or not.
  • the at least one item 140 of spectral information about the at least one measurement object 112 is determined by taking into account the at least one signal indicator. For further information about the taking into account of the at least one signal indicator 138 when determining the at least one item 140 of spectral information about the at least one measurement object 112, reference may be made to the corresponding description above.
  • the signal information 148 about the at least one signal indicator is provided to a user of the spectral sensing device 110 by using at least one user interface 142, especially the user interface 142 as schematically illustrated Figure 1 and described above in connection therewith.
  • the at least one item 154 of treatment data is generated by further using the at least one evaluation device 128, wherein the at least one item of treatment data is related to a proposed alteration of the spatial location of the at least one measurement object with respect to the spatial location of the spectral sensing device.
  • the user interface 142 is, further, configured to provide the at least one item 154 of treatment data, in addition to or as an alternative to the providing step 190 configured for providing the signal information 148 about the at least one signal indicator 138, to the user of the spectral sensing device 110 by further using the at least one user interface 142, especially the user interface 142 as schematically illustrated Figure 1 and described above in connection therewith.
  • spectral sensing device measurement object housing radiation emitting element optical radiation photosensitive detector photosensitive region optical window filter element evaluation device communication interface connection cloud external device signal indicator item of spectral information user interface display smartphone signal information distance angle item of treatment data method for measuring optical radiation emitting step generating step determining step further determining step providing step further generating step

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  • Investigating Or Analysing Materials By Optical Means (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un dispositif de détection spectrale (110) et un procédé (180) pour déterminer au moins un élément (140) d'informations spectrales concernant au moins un objet de mesure (112), ainsi qu'un programme informatique et un support lisible par ordinateur non transitoire. Le dispositif de détection spectrale (110) comprend : au moins un élément d'émission de rayonnement (116), le ou les éléments d'émission de rayonnement (116) étant conçus pour émettre un rayonnement optique (118) conçu pour éclairer le ou les objets de mesure (112) ; - au moins un détecteur photosensible (120), le ou les détecteurs photosensibles (120) ayant au moins une région photosensible (122) conçue pour recevoir un rayonnement optique (118) à partir du ou des objets de mesure (112) éclairés par le rayonnement optique (118), au moins un signal de détecteur généré par le ou les détecteurs photosensibles (120) dépendant d'un éclairage de la ou des régions photosensibles (122) ; au moins un dispositif d'évaluation (128), le ou les dispositifs d'évaluation (128) étant configurés pour déterminer o au moins un indicateur de signal (138) à partir de l'évaluation du ou des signaux de détecteur générés par le ou les détecteurs photosensibles (120) lors de l'éclairage de la ou des régions photosensibles (122) par le rayonnement optique (118) reçu en provenance du ou des objets de mesure (112), le ou les indicateurs de signal (138) indiquant si le ou les signaux de détecteur se trouvent dans un intervalle prédéfini ; et o le ou les éléments (140) d'informations spectrales concernant le ou les objets de mesure (112) à l'aide du ou des signaux de détecteur, en prenant ainsi en compte le ou les indicateurs de signal (138) et o générer au moins un élément (154) de données de traitement, le ou les éléments (154) de données de traitement étant associés à une modification proposée de l'emplacement spatial du ou des objets de mesure (112) par rapport à l'emplacement spatial du dispositif de détection spectrale (110) ; et au moins une interface utilisateur (142), la ou les interfaces utilisateur (142) étant configurées pour o fournir des informations de signal (148) concernant le ou les indicateurs de signal (138) à au moins un utilisateur du dispositif de détection spectrale, les informations de signal (148) comprenant au moins un élément d'informations concernant un emplacement spatial du ou des objets de mesure (112) par rapport à l'emplacement spatial du dispositif de détection spectrale (110) ; et o communiquer l'au moins un article (154) de données de traitement à l'au moins un utilisateur du dispositif de détection spectrale.
PCT/EP2023/063216 2022-05-19 2023-05-17 Dispositif de détection spectrale et procédé de détermination d'au moins une information spectrale WO2023222742A1 (fr)

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Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110205535A1 (en) 2008-08-07 2011-08-25 University Of Massachusetts Spectroscopic sensors
US20120056093A1 (en) 2006-06-29 2012-03-08 Cdex, Inc Substance detection, inspection and classification system using enhanced photoemission spectroscopy
WO2019215323A1 (fr) 2018-05-11 2019-11-14 Trinamix Gmbh Dispositif de spectromètre
WO2021110721A1 (fr) 2019-12-03 2021-06-10 Trinamix Gmbh Dispositif et procédé de génération de rayonnement
WO2022117611A1 (fr) 2020-12-02 2022-06-09 Trinamix Gmbh Dispositif de détection spectrale et procédé de mesure de rayonnement optique

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20120056093A1 (en) 2006-06-29 2012-03-08 Cdex, Inc Substance detection, inspection and classification system using enhanced photoemission spectroscopy
US20110205535A1 (en) 2008-08-07 2011-08-25 University Of Massachusetts Spectroscopic sensors
WO2019215323A1 (fr) 2018-05-11 2019-11-14 Trinamix Gmbh Dispositif de spectromètre
WO2021110721A1 (fr) 2019-12-03 2021-06-10 Trinamix Gmbh Dispositif et procédé de génération de rayonnement
WO2022117611A1 (fr) 2020-12-02 2022-06-09 Trinamix Gmbh Dispositif de détection spectrale et procédé de mesure de rayonnement optique

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