Low-cost spectrometry system for end-user food analysis

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9377396-B2
Application number	US-201214356144-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2012
Priority date	Nov 3, 2011
Publication date	Jun 28, 2016
Grant date	Jun 28, 2016

Abstract

A compact spectrometer is disclosed that is suitable for use in mobile devices such as cellular telephones. In preferred embodiments, the spectrometer comprises a filter, at least one Fourier transform focusing element, a micro-lens array, and a detector, but does not use any dispersive elements. Methods for using the spectrometer as an end-user device for performing on-site determinations of food quality, in particular, by comparison with an updatable database accessible by all users of the device, are also disclosed.

First claim

We claim:

1. A compact spectrometer system for obtaining a spectrum of a sample, comprising:
an optical detector for detecting light emanating from said sample;
an optical filter located between said sample and said detector; and,
a first Fourier transform focusing element between said filter and said detector; and
a diffuser disposed between said sample and said optical filter;
wherein light of different wavelengths arrives at the detector as a series of circles of different radii proportional to wavelength.

2. The compact spectrometer system according to claim 1 , wherein said optical filter comprises a plurality of sub-filters with different center wavelengths; and wherein said optical filter comprises a plurality of substantially rectangular surface areas, each of which comprises a sub-filter.

3. The compact spectrometer system according to claim 1 , wherein said optical filter is chosen from the group consisting of (a) Fabry-Perot filter, (b) thin-film filter, and (c) interference filter.

4. The compact spectrometer system according to claim 1 , further comprising a micro-lens array.

5. The compact spectrometer system according to claim 4 , wherein said micro-lens array is located in a focal plane of said first Fourier transform focusing element.

6. The compact spectrometer system according to claim 4 , wherein said detector is located at a plane substantially perpendicular to an optical axis such that the micro-lens array forms multiple images of said optical filter on said optical detector.

7. The compact spectrometer system according to claim 4 , wherein said optical filter comprises a plurality of sub-filters with different center wavelengths.

8. The compact spectrometer system according to claim 4 , further comprising a second Fourier transforming focusing element, wherein said micro-lens array comprises an array of cylindrical lenses and is located at a focal plane of the first of two said focusing elements and said optical detector is located at a focal plane of the second of two said focusing elements.

9. The compact spectrometer system according to claim 1 , further comprising a light source adapted to illuminate said sample.

10. The compact spectrometer system according to claim 9 , wherein said light source is a laser.

11. The compact spectrometer system according to claim 9 , wherein said light source is a light-emitting diode.

12. The compact spectrometer system according to claim 9 , further comprising a focusing system adapted focus light from said light source at a predetermined location relative to said sample.

13. The compact spectrometer system according to claim 12 , wherein said focusing system is an autofocus system.

14. The compact spectrometer system according to claim 12 , wherein said focusing system controls the position of a lens that focuses light produced by said light source onto said sample.

15. The compact spectrometer system according to claim 12 , wherein said focusing system controls the optical properties of a lens that focuses light produced by said light source onto said sample.

16. The compact spectrometer system according to claim 12 , wherein said focusing system comprises a voice-coil motor.

17. The compact spectrometer system according to claim 12 , wherein said focusing system comprises a piezoelectric motor.

18. The compact spectrometer system according to claim 12 , wherein said focusing system comprises a micro-electrical-mechanical-system (MEMS) motor.

19. The compact spectrometer system according to claim 1 , further comprising means for communicating with a communication network.

20. The compact spectrometer system according to claim 19 , wherein said communication network is a wireless communication network.

21. The compact spectrometer system according to claim 19 , wherein said compact spectrometer system is enclosed within a mobile communication device associated with said communication network.

22. The compact spectrometer system according to claim 21 , wherein said mobile communication device is a cellular telephone.

23. The compact spectrometer system according to claim 19 , further comprising a database of spectral information in communication with said communication network.

24. The compact spectrometer system according to claim 23 , wherein said database is continuously updatable in real time.

Assignees

• Verifood Ltd
• Verifood Ltd

Inventors

• Goldring Damian
• Sharon Dror

Classifications

• G01J3/26

  using multiple reflection, e.g. Fabry-Perot interferometer, variable interference filters · CPC title

• G01J3/0208

  using focussing or collimating elements, e.g. lenses or mirrors; performing aberration correction · CPC title

• G01J3/0256 Primary

  Compact construction · CPC title

• G01J3/2803

  using photoelectric array detector · CPC title

• G01J2003/1226

  Interference filters · CPC title