System and method for integrated sensing and control of industrial processes

Abstract

An integrated spectral sensing engine is based on a combination of energy sources (illumination) and detectors housed within an integrated package that includes the sample interfacing optics and acquisition and processing electronics. The focus is on a miniaturized sensor system that can be optimized for specific measurements and can be integrated into a manifold-based sample handling system. Design and fabrication components are selected to support high volume manufacturing of the sensors. Spectral selectivity is provided by either continuous variable optical filters or fabricated filter matrix components. The spectral response of the primary sensors covers the range from the visible (400 nm) to the near-infrared (1100 nm), as defined by the availability of suitable low-cost solid-state detector devices. Provision is made to extend the range into longer wavelengths, and to shorter wavelengths for filter-matrix devices. A broad selection of measurement modes is defined and these include transmittance/absorbance, turbidity (light scattering) and fluorescence. On board data processing not only provides the primary data acquisition, as well as data massaging and the display and output of computed results. The targeted application of the spectral sensing devices are for water, pulp and paper, chemical and petroleum based industries. Alternative packaging regimes and the production of lower cost sensing devices can lead to the use of the spectral sensing devices in the medical, clinical, forensic and consumer based areas of application.

1 . An optical spectral sensing device, for determining properties of a sample, said device comprising: 
 an integrated energy source and an integrated spectral sensing detector package,    an optimized sample chamber or cell dimensionally designed to match the active area of the spectral detection device without the aid of additional interfacing optics;    integrated electronics for providing energy for said source and for receiving a signal generated by said spectral detector in response to energy coupled to said detector by said sample chamber or cell, said integrated electronics providing direct output of sample properties of said sample;    on-board computer processing means including memory storage for data, calibration coefficients, methods and results;    on-board data communications including the output to a visual display and communications of results to a process monitoring computer; and    a manifold-based sampling system to provide the primary interface to said spectral sensing system, and to provide necessary support for the analytical system in terms of sample conditioning and reagent interfacing.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said optical structure is formed in configurations that allow for at least one of transflectance, transmittance/absorption, fluorescence, or light scattering measurements.