SPECTROSCOPIC SENSOR ON MOBILE PHONE

• US 20060279732A1
• Filed: 05/23/2006
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BWT Property, Inc.
• Original Assignee: BWT Property, Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Sean Xiaolu, Zhou, Xin Jack
• Granted Patent: US 7,420,663 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/326
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0256 Compact construction
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0264 Electrical interface; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0272 Handheld
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0291 Housings; Spectrometer accessories; Spatial arrangement of elements, e.g. folded path arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/31 Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry G01N21/72 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/64 Fluorescence; Phosphorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/65 Raman scattering
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/658 enhancement Raman, e.g. surface plasmons
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/718 Laser microanalysis, i.e. with formation of sample plasma
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0221 Portable; cableless; compact; hand-held

Abstract

This invention discloses a spectroscopic sensor that is integrated with a mobile communication device, such as a mobile phone. The spectroscopic sensor is capable of measuring the optical spectra of a physical object for purposes of detection, identification, authentication, and real time monitoring. Through the mobile communication device, the obtained spectral information can be transmitted, distributed, collected, and shared by utilizing all the functions of the known or existing wireless communication networks.

Claims

1. A portable device comprising:

a mobile communication device associated with a mobile communication network; and

a spectroscopic sensor integrated with said mobile communication device for measuring an optical spectrum of an object;

whereby said spectroscopic sensor utilizes said wireless communication network for sensed data processing or transmitting/receiving.

2. The portable device of claim 1, wherein said mobile communication device is a mobile phone.

3. The portable device of claim 1, wherein said spectroscopic sensor share a key pad, a display unit, and a central processing unit with said mobile communication device.

4. The portable device of claim 1, wherein said spectroscopic sensor comprises:

a. a plurality of optical components to collect optical signal from said object;

b. at least one wavelength selective element for separating wavelength components of said optical signal in spatial and/or time domains; and

c. an array of photo sensors to measure an intensity of said separated wavelength components to obtain an optical spectrum.

5. The portable device of claim 4, wherein said plurality of optical components comprise an aperture.

6. The portable device of claim 4, wherein said plurality of optical components comprises at least one lens.

7. The portable device of claim 4 wherein said wavelength selective elements comprise a set of fixed filters.

8. The portable device of claim 4, wherein said wavelength selective elements comprise at least one tunable filter.

9. The portable device of claim 4, wherein said wavelength selective elements comprise at least one dispersive optical component.

10. The portable device of claim 4, further comprising a light source.

11. The portable device of claim 10, wherein said light source is a light emitting diode (LED).

12. The portable device of claim 10, wherein said light source is a laser.

13. The portable device of claim 4, further comprising a fiber optic probe for remote optical signal collection.

14. The portable device of claim 2, wherein said mobile phone comprises a built-in digital camera, which comprises a set of components comprising an aperture, a group of lens, a flash lamp, and a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor)/CCD (charge coupled device) image sensor;

whereby said set of components are used for optical spectrum measurement.

15. The portable device of claim 1, wherein said optical spectrum is an emission spectrum.

16. The portable device of claim 1, wherein said optical spectrum is a reflection spectrum.

17. The portable device of claim 1, wherein said optical spectrum is an absorption spectrum.

18. The portable device of claim 1, wherein said optical spectrum is a scattering or diffusion spectrum.

19. The portable device of claim 1, wherein said optical spectrum is a fluorescence spectrum.

20. The portable device of claim 1, wherein said optical spectrum is a Raman spectrum.

21. The portable device of claim 1, wherein said optical spectrum is a laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) spectrum.

22. A method for integrating a spectroscopic sensor with a mobile communication device, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a mobile communication device associated with a mobile communication network; and

providing a spectroscopic sensor integrated with said mobile communication device for measuring an optical spectrum of an object;

whereby said spectroscopic sensor utilizes said wireless communication network for sensed data processing or transmitting/receiving.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said mobile communication device is a mobile phone.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein said spectroscopic sensor share a key pad, a display unit, and a central processing unit with said mobile communication device.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein said spectroscopic sensor comprises:

a. a plurality of optical components to collect optical signal from said object;

b. at least one wavelength selective element for separating wavelength components of said optical signal in spatial and/or time domains; and

c. an array of photo sensors to measure an intensity of said separated wavelength components to obtain an optical spectrum.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said plurality of optical components comprise an aperture.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein said plurality of optical components comprises at least one lens.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein said wavelength selective elements comprise a set of fixed filters.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein said wavelength selective elements comprise at least one tunable filter.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein said wavelength selective elements comprise at least one dispersive optical component.

31. The method of claim 25, further comprising a light source.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said light source is a light emitting diode (LED).

33. The method of claim 31, wherein said light source is a laser.

34. The method of claim 25, further comprising a fiber optic probe for remote optical signal collection.

35. The method of claim 23, wherein said mobile phone comprises a built-in digital camera, which comprises a set of components comprising an aperture, a group of lens, a flash lamp, and a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor)/CCD (charge coupled device) image sensor;

whereby said set of components are used for optical spectrum measurement.

36. The method of claim 22, wherein said optical spectrum is an emission spectrum.

37. The method of claim 22, wherein said optical spectrum is a reflection spectrum.

38. The method of claim 22, wherein said optical spectrum is an absorption spectrum.

39. The method of claim 22, wherein said optical spectrum is a scattering or diffusion spectrum.

40. The method of claim 22, wherein said optical spectrum is a fluorescence spectrum.

41. The method of claim 22, wherein said optical spectrum is a Raman spectrum.

42. The method of claim 22, wherein said optical spectrum is a laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) spectrum.

43. A portable device comprising:

a means for mobile communication associated with a mobile communication network; and

a spectroscopic sensor means integrated with said a means for mobile communication for measuring an optical spectrum of an object;

whereby said spectroscopic sensor means utilizes said wireless communication network for sensed data processing or transmitting/receiving.