Optical Sensor Array

In the field of data processing and communication, long existing limits of standalone devices have been overcome by the networking of different systems. The possibility to compute large amounts of data enables the analysis of complex phenomena in a very fast and secure manner. Consequently, the next step is the connection of these sensing systems within a network, as has already happened with data analyzing systems. In the future, networks will consist of many single sensors which are connected to each other in order to be able to acquire data sets of complex processes. Thus, the opportunity to obtain such data sets will allow detailed analysis of phenomena that could not be analyzed before. The use of the described sensors in vast quantities in complex networks requires them to be very small and to be manufactured with low production costs. Scientists at the INA are researching in exactly this direction in the development of a highly miniaturized spectrometer.
It will be able to detect the concentration of different substances without getting into contact with them. Conventional spectrometers have already hit the boundary of miniaturization. This is due to the fact that there is a necessity for a finite optical path length between a dispersive element and the detector. This length influences the resolution of the spectrometer as much as the ability of the dispersive element to spread the light. A further miniaturization automatically worsens the resolution achievable.