Abstract: A monitoring device for determining the concentration of a dielectric insulation fluid such as a perfluoroketones in a room housing at least one high-voltage electrical apparatus and being accessible by humans essentially without modifying the room conditions, for example the room being a part of an air-insulated substation, with the monitoring system including one or more sensors for determining an emission and/or absorption of the dielectric insulation fluid molecules at at least one wavelength or wavelength band of the electromagnetic wave spectrum.

Abstract: Systems, devices and techniques are disclosed for optically detecting single molecules using nanoscale chip configurations. In one aspect, a sensing device includes a composite membrane having an array of nanochannels that form openings at opposing sides of the membrane, a first and second substrate each including channels to carry a fluid containing particles, a fluidic module that is fluidically coupled to the channels to supply the fluid, a plurality of electrodes located along the channels, and an electrical module to generate an electric field via the electrodes to effectuate an electrokinetic force within the channels to steer the particles toward the openings of the nanochannels to immobilize the particles, in which the nanochannels operate as resonant structures to amplify localized fields produced in an optical interrogation of the immobilized particles.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for improving the resolution of a spectrometer configured to provide a frequency spectrum of a radiation incoming from a sample. The system comprises an optical medium configured so that the radiation incoming from the sample be transferred through the optical medium, the optical medium having a predetermined tunable spectral transmission curve; an operating unit connectable to the optical medium and configured to operate the optical medium so as to shift the spectral transmission curve of the optical medium over a predetermined spectral range; and a processing unit connectable to the spectrometer and configured to process a set of shifted frequency spectra provided by the spectrometer and obtainable by transferring the radiation incoming from the sample through the optical medium while shifting the spectral transmission curve of the optical medium so as to obtain a super resolved frequency spectrum of improved spectral resolution.

Abstract: An apparatus for the calibration of optical measuring instruments with a carrier includes a calibration body having a glass body which has at least one scattering element, wherein the scattering element is completely surrounded by the glass body, and wherein a degree of transmission of the scattering element and of the glass body differ from one another.

Abstract: An optical emission spectroscopic (OES) instrument includes a spectrometer, a processor and an adjustable mask controlled by the processor. The adjustable mask defines a portion of an analytical gap imaged by the spectrometer. The instrument automatically adjusts the size and position of an opening in the mask, so the spectrometer images an optimal portion of plasma formed in the analytical gap, thereby improving signal and noise characteristics of the instrument, without requiring tedious and time-consuming manual adjustment of the mask during manufacture or use.

Abstract: Provided herein are Raman active particles and methods for their preparation and use. The particles can include a SERS-active material that is at least partially encased within a spherical porous hollow casing. In some embodiments, this can be especially advantageous when employed for water analysis and/or being employed in combination with silica particles.

Abstract: Systems and methods for differentiating the spectral response of various optical coatings between a transmitter and receiver. The system is effective in determining if an optical coating produces an authorized spectral response for determining if a product having that optical coating is authorized to be used with another product.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for calibrating spectral measurements taken of one or more targets from an aerial vehicle. Multiple photo sensors may be configured to obtain spectral measurements of one or more ambient light sources. The obtained spectral measurements of the one or more ambient light sources may be used to calibrate the obtained spectral measurements of the target.

Abstract: Device for detecting the position of at least a first and a second hand of an electromechanical watch, said first and second hands moving above a dial, the detection device including a single light source emitting a light beam towards the first and second hands, and a first and a second light detection system, the light source and the first and second light detection systems being mounted on or underneath the dial, the light source and the first and second light detection systems being arranged so that, in a determined position of the first hand, the light beam emitted by the light source is reflected by the first hand towards the first detection system, and in a determined position of the second hand, the light beam emitted by the light source is reflected by the second hand towards the second detection system.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems and methods for using an article in connection with an optical device. Some systems may include an article configured to receive the optical device into a main body of the article. The main body may also include an access opening configured to receive a hand of the user to allow the user to operate the optical device while the device is received within the main body. The main body may include an optical aperture to allow the optical device to capture one or more spectrums of light from within the main body. The main body may also include a viewing aperture to allow a user to view a display of the optical device from outside of the main body. Some systems include an alignment apparatus configured to maintain an orientation of the optical device within the main body such that the optical device remains in alignment with both the optical and viewing apertures.

Abstract: A system includes an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) that injects a first OTDR signal at a first optical wavelength, a first power level and a first polarization state into an optical fiber. The system further includes an OTDR monitor that monitors multi-band optical signals on the optical fiber, selects a second power level and a second polarization state based on the monitoring of the multi-band optical signals, and determines parameters associated with the optical fiber based on the monitoring. The OTDR injects a second OTDR signal at the first optical wavelength, the selected second power level and the selected second polarization state into the optical fiber. The system operates to allow un-balanced power levels across multiple wavelength bands to be balanced due to inter-channel Raman power shift.

Abstract: A reflectance spectroscopy measuring and sampling system for gemstone testing is disclosed. The system includes a first light source (1), a second light source (2), a light filtering element, an integrating sphere (S), an optical fiber (9), a spectroscopic detection module (10), an analog-digital conversion module (11) and a data processing terminal (12), wherein the integrating sphere (S) is provided with an entrance port, a sampling opening (6) and a reflected light exit port (7). A reflectance spectroscopy measuring and sampling method for gemstone testing is also disclosed. The system and the method have an excellent performance and can be widely used in the gemstone identification.

Abstract: A system for measuring a characteristic of a solar cell is disclosed and includes a light source irradiating an optical signal having a spectral range from about 100 nm to about 3000 nm, a wavelength selector configured to selectively narrow the spectral range of the optical signal, a beam splitter, a reference detector in optical communication with the beam splitter and configured to measure a characteristic of the optical signal, a specimen irradiated with the optical signal, a reflectance detector in optical communication with the specimen via the beam splitter and configured to measure an optical characteristic of the optical signal reflected by the specimen, a multiplexer in communication with at least one of the reference detector, specimen, and reflectance detector, and a processor in communication with at least one of the reference detector, specimen, and reflectance detector via the multiplexer and configured to calculate at least one characteristic of the specimen.

Abstract: An apparatus for the calibration of optical measuring instruments with a carrier includes a calibration body having a glass body which has at least one scattering element, wherein the scattering element is completely surrounded by the glass body, and wherein a degree of transmission of the scattering element and of the glass body differ from one another.

Abstract: The present invention belongs to a technical field of optical microscopic imaging and spectral measurement, and discloses a laser differential confocal mapping-spectrum microscopic imaging method and device. The core concept of the present invention is to combine the differential confocal detection and the spectrum detection techniques and use a dichroic beam splitting system (13) to separate the Rayleigh light for geometric position detection from the Raman scattering light for spectrum detection, by mean of the property that the zero-cross point of the differential confocal curve (43) accurately corresponds to the focus of the objective, the spectral information at focus of the excitation spot being accurately captured by the zero trigger to accomplish the spectrum detection with high spatial resolution. Therefore, the present invention provides a method and device that may be able to accomplish the spectrum detection with high spatial resolution to a micro-area of a sample.

Abstract: An optical absorption gas sensor for detecting an analyte gas comprises a gas sample receiving chamber, at least one light emitting diode (LED) and a photodiode or other photosensor. A plurality of light pulses are generated by passing pulses of current through the at least one LED. The current through the at least one LED is measured a plurality of times during each pulse and taken into account when generating a compensated output signal. The transfer ratio between LED current and photodiode output signal is calculated a plurality of times during each pulse. An ADC measures the LED and photodiode currents alternately. The LED pulses are generated by inductor discharge flyback and the period of time for which current is supplied to the inductor prior to each pulse is selected so that the photodiode output current is at an optimal region within the input range of the ADC. At least the temperature of the at least one LED is measured and taken into account when generating the compensated output signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for non-invasive optical imaging are provided. One or more time-lenses can be utilized to perform an optical Fourier transform, and the time-to-wavelength conversion can generate a wavelength-encoded image of optical scattering, analogous to optical coherence tomography. This optical Fourier transform provides improved axial resolution and simplifies digital signal processing after data acquisition.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting target chemicals are disclosed. A system includes a chemical sensor configured to filter light. The chemical sensor includes a referencing arm configured to output light at a first intensity level and a sensing arm sensitive to a target chemical. The sensing arm is configured to output light at a second intensity level. A difference between the first intensity level and the second intensity level indicates a presence of the target chemical.

Abstract: A handheld LIBS analyzer includes a laser source for generating a laser beam and a spectrometer subsystem for analyzing a plasma generated when the laser beam strikes a sample. A nose section includes an end plate with an aperture for the laser beam, a purge cavity behind the aperture fluidly connected to a source of purge gas, and a shield covering the purge cavity. A vent removes purge gas from the purge cavity when the end plate is placed on the sample.

Abstract: Various embodiments of an apparatus for measuring a characteristic parameter of an optical fiber are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus for testing an optical fiber comprises: a light source enclosed within a housing and configured to couple to a first end of the optical fiber; a detector enclosed within the housing and configured to couple to a second end of the optical fiber; and a non-planar table defining a curved path, the non-planar table attached to the housing and configured to guide the optical fiber along the curved path in three dimensions. In this way, an optical fiber may be deployed for testing with minimal manual manipulation of the optical fiber.