Abstract: Aspects relate to a self-calibrated and self-referenced spectral sensor. The spectral sensor includes an optical head that includes a light source configured to produce input light, an optical window above the light source and through which the input light is directed towards a sample in a sample measurement mode, and a reflection flag (for self-calibration and self-referencing) that is moveable between a first position beneath the optical window within a light path of the input light in a reference measurement mode and a second position away from the light path in the sample measurement mode. The spectral sensor further includes an optical core module and a processor configured to produce a reference PSD in the reference measurement mode and a sample PSD in the sample measurement mode. The processor is further configured to correct the sample PSD based on the reference PSD to produce a sample spectrum.

Abstract: Aspects relate to mechanisms to control the effective optical path length through skin tissue for non-invasive optical spectroscopy measurements. An apparatus can include a path length control part configured to control the effective optical path length of diffusely scattered light transmitted through skin tissue to produce a target effective optical path length. The apparatus may further include a spectral sensor, a detector, and a light source configured to produce input light directed towards the path length control part or the spectral sensor. The detector is configured to obtain a spectrum of an analyte under test based on the diffusely scattered light. The spectral sensor is configured to either receive the input light, produce modulated light based on the input light, and direct the modulated light to the skin tissue, or to receive the diffusely scattered light from the skin tissue and obtain the spectrum using the detector.

Abstract: Aspects relate to an optical device providing a large spot size spectrometer. The optical device includes an optical head, an optical window, and a spectrometer. The optical head includes a plastic molded part having an aperture and a plurality of reflectors around the aperture formed therein. Each reflector may include a respective lamp assembled therein. The optical window is configured to receive a sample, to pass input light from the lamps to the sample and to pass scattered light from the sample towards the aperture. The aperture is configured to filter a first portion of scattered light containing unusable sample information and to pass a second portion of the scattered light to the spectrometer.

Abstract: Aspects relate to mechanisms for enhancing the coupling of scattered light from a sample under test into a spectrometer. An optical device can include a reflective surface positioned apart from the sample and configured to receive a first portion of scattered light from the sample and to redirect the first portion of the scattered light back to one or more discrete spots on the sample in a non-random manner to produce redirected scattered light from the sample. The spectrometer may then be configured to receive coupled light from the sample including at least a portion of the redirected scattered light.

Abstract: Aspects relate to an optical device providing a large spot size spectrometer. The optical device includes an optical head, an optical window, and a spectrometer. The optical head includes a plastic molded part having an aperture and a plurality of reflectors around the aperture formed therein. Each reflector may include a respective lamp assembled therein. The optical window is configured to receive a sample, to pass input light from the lamps to the sample and to pass scattered light from the sample towards the aperture. The aperture is configured to filter a first portion of scattered light containing unusable sample information and to pass a second portion of the scattered light to the spectrometer.

Abstract: Aspects relate to mechanisms for increasing the field of view of a spectrometer. An optical device may be configured to simultaneously couple light from different locations (spots) on a sample to the spectrometer to effectively increase the spectrometer field of view. The optical device can include a beam combiner and at least one reflector to reflect light beams from respective spots on the sample towards the beam combiner. The beam combiner can combine the received light beams from the different spots to produce a combined light beam that may be input to the spectrometer.

Abstract: Aspects relate to mechanisms for increasing the field of view of a spectrometer. An optical device may be configured to simultaneously couple light from different locations (spots) on a sample to the spectrometer to effectively increase the spectrometer field of view. The optical device can include a beam combiner and at least one reflector to reflect light beams from respective spots on the sample towards the beam combiner. The beam combiner can combine the received light beams from the different spots to produce a combined light beam that may be input to the spectrometer.