Originally Published EMDM January/February 2003
TECHNOLOGY NEWS
Analytical EquipmentFibre-Optic Spectroscopy Provides Flexible, Low-Cost Solutions
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| Modularity, flexibility, and low cost are three major benefits of AvaSpec, the new multichannel fibre-optic spectroscopy platform from Avantes. |
A new fibre-optic spectroscopy platform is designed to respond to market demands for multichannel high-speed data sampling.
"The AvaSpec platform supports the newest detector types with the best signal-to-noise performance on the market," says Benno Oderkerk, technical director at Avantes (Eerbeek, Netherlands). "It has eight-channel simultaneous data-sampling capability, and has digital I/O to directly control in-line process applications."
AvaSpec is well suited for noninvasive blood parameter measurement and OEM applications in blood analysis systems, according to Oderkerk. The platform can be configured as a multichannel instrument, integrating spectra from up to eight channels at once in only 2 milliseconds. In addition, 14 programmable digital I/O ports can be used for external triggering, control of external light sources, shutters, or process applications.
This new family of spectrometers is based on an electronics design with a 14-bit multichannel A/D converter, an onboard microprocessor, and a USB/RS-232 interface. The flexibility of the electronics allows different detector arrays, such as photodiode, CCD, and CMOS arrays with 102– 2048 pixels, to be used in the company's optical bench design.
Available in 45- or 75-mm focal lengths, AvaSpec's optical benches can be used for measurements from 200 to 1100 nm, with a resolution of up to 0.1 nm. Options such as UV-enhanced detector coatings, slits, filters, and detector collection lenses optimize system performance in specific applications.
The platform is supported by AvaSoft software, and add-on applications are available for colour and irradiance measurements, process control, and export to an Excel spreadsheet.
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