Spectroscopic sensor on mobile phone

• US 7,420,663 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2006
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): EVANS, FANNIE L
• Application Number:
  US11/419,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20060279732A1
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 356/72, 356/301, 356/326, 356/328, 356/317, 356/318
• US Class Current: 356/72
• 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 spectroscopic sensing device for measuring an optical spectrum of an optical signal, the device comprising:

at least one wavelength selective element for separating the optical signal into a plurality of wavelength components; and

a mobile communication device associated with a wireless communication network, said mobile communication device comprising a built-in digital camera for measuring the separated optical signal comprising the plurality of wavelength components and obtaining the optical spectrum of the optical signal;

wherein the optical spectrum is transmitted through the wireless communication network;

wherein said mobile communication device is a mobile phone.

2. The portable spectroscopic sensor of claim 1, wherein the wavelength selective element comprises a set of fixed filters.

3. The portable spectroscopic sensor of claim 1, wherein the wavelength selective element comprises at least one tunable filter.

4. The portable spectroscopic sensor of claim 1, wherein the wavelength selective element comprises at least one dispersive optical component.

5. The portable spectroscopic sensor of claim 1, further comprising a light source.

6. The portable spectroscopic sensor of claim 5, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode (LED).

7. The portable spectroscopic sensor of claim 5, wherein the light source is a laser.

8. The portable spectroscopic sensor of claim 1, further comprising a fiber optic probe for remote optical signal collection.

9. A method for measuring an optical spectrum of an optical signal, the method comprising the steps of:

providing at least one wavelength selective element for separating the optical signal into a plurality of wavelength components; and

providing a mobile communication device associated with a wireless communication network, said mobile communication device comprising a built-in digital camera for measuring the separated optical signal comprising the plurality of wavelength components and obtaining the optical spectrum of the optical signal;

wherein the optical spectrum is transmitted through the wireless communication network;

wherein the mobile communication device is a mobile phone.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the wavelength selective element comprises a set of fixed filters.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the wavelength selective element comprises at least one tunable filter.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the wavelength selective element comprises at least one dispersive optical component.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a light source.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode (LED).

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the light source is a laser.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a fiber optic probe for remote optical signal collection.