Abstract: Broadband light, for example, from a Fabry-Perot quantum cascade laser, is shone onto a sample, and spectral data concerning the broadband light reflected from the sample is collected. The spectral data is analyzed to determine information about one or more substances in the sample. For example, if the sample contains micro-organisms, such as bacteria or fungus, the biological classification(s) (e.g., species) of the micro-organisms can be determined from the spectral data. As another example, if the sample contains virus, the biological classification(s) (e.g., species) of the virus(es) can be determined from the spectral data. As yet another example, if the sample contains particles, size, location and velocity can be determined from the spectral data.

Abstract: Broadband light, for example, from a Fabry-Perot quantum cascade laser, is shone onto a sample, and spectral data concerning the broadband light reflected from the sample is collected. The spectral data is analyzed to determine information about one or more substances in the sample. For example, if the sample contains micro-organisms, such as bacteria or fungus, the biological classification(s) (e.g., species) of the micro-organisms can be determined from the spectral data. As another example, if the sample contains virus, the biological classification(s) (e.g., species) of the virus(es) can be determined from the spectral data. As yet another example, if the sample contains particles, size, location and velocity can be determined from the spectral data.

Abstract: Broadband light, for example, from a Fabry-Perot quantum cascade laser, is shone onto a sample, and spectral data concerning the broadband light reflected from the sample is collected. The spectral data is analyzed to determine information about one or more substances in the sample. For example, if the sample contains micro-organisms, such as bacteria or fungus, the biological classification(s) (e.g., species) of the micro-organisms can be determined from the spectral data. As another example, if the sample contains virus, the biological classification(s) (e.g., species) of the virus(es) can be determined from the spectral data. As yet another example, if the sample contains particles, size, location and velocity can be determined from the spectral data.

Abstract: A sensor (200, 900) comprising an illuminator (212, 500, 804, 832, 858, 904), a receiver (216, 400, 420, 460, 480, 808, 836, 862, 924) and an analyzer (240) for detecting and identifying an analyte having a characteristic absorption band that is present in a sample region (208, 812, 824, 874, 922). The illuminator includes an illumination source (220) for illuminating the sample region with spectral energy across at least a portion of the characteristic absorption band. The receiver includes a detector (228, 404, 424, 460, 484, 866, 928) for sensing predetermined portions of the spectral energy band and for creating a sample spectral data vector (236). The analyzer uses the spectral data vector and known characteristic data to detect and identify the analyte.

Abstract: A sensor (200, 900) comprising an illuminator (212, 500, 804, 832, 858, 904), a receiver (216, 400, 420, 460, 480, 808, 836, 862, 924) and an analyzer (240) for detecting and identifying an analyte having a characteristic absorption band that is present in a sample region (208, 812, 824, 874, 922). The illuminator includes an illumination source (220) for illuminating the sample region with spectral energy across at least a portion of the characteristic absorption band. The receiver includes a detector (228, 404, 424, 460, 484, 866, 928) for sensing predetermined portions of the spectral energy band and for creating a sample spectral data vector (236). The analyzer uses the spectral data vector and known characteristic data to detect and identify the analyte.