Abstract: A fiber optic input receives light reflected from an unknown compound. An input mask encodes the light received with a one-dimensional input code. A spectral imaging subsystem images the input coded mask and disperses the image. An output mask receives the dispersed image on a row and, at each time step of a plurality of time steps, changes the code of the row to further encode the image. An illumination subsystem collects the additionally encoded light from the row at each time step. A point detector receives the collected light from the illumination subsystem and converts it to an electrical signal at each time step. A memory stores the electrical signal at each time step. A processor calculates a spectral signature for the unknown compound from the electrical signals stored, the one-dimensional input code, and the different additional one-dimensional codes applied.

Abstract: A system for increasing light collection in a spectrometer includes a detector and a processor. The detector detects zero order diffraction light from a diffractive element of a spectrometer and measures an intensity of the zero order diffraction light. A processor continuously receives the intensity measurement from the detector and automatically adjusts a parameter of the spectrometer until a maximum intensity measurement is received from the detector. A parameter of the spectrometer can include an optical path between an aperture of the spectrometer and a sample, an exposure time of the spectrometer, or an intensity of a light source for the spectrometer. The optical path between an aperture of the spectrometer and a sample can be adjusted by moving an objective lens of the spectrometer with respect to the sample or moving the sample with respect to the spectrometer.