New service assures spectral radiance accuracy, saves time and money

Light testing specialist Labsphere can now perform on-site calibration services directly at customer facilities for all brands of integrating sphere Uniform Source Systems. The cost-effective service includes a professional assessment of the overall system condition, re-lamping the sphere with before and after measurements, optional power supply calibration and Labsphere’s certified calibration with NIST-traceable measurements.

On-Site Integrating Sphere Calibrations from Labsphere

Service is recommended if the system lamps have been operated for more than 50 hours, the uniform source system is more than two years old or the system has been used in a dusty environment. It should also be performed if a company’s Quality Management System mandates annual calibrations on critical measurement equipment, or if the monitor detector disagrees with the original calibration certificate.

Product Manager Richard Corbyn explains, “Having this service done on-site at the customer’s facility is a huge advantage: less downtime, no expensive dismantling or transit costs and flexible scheduling to meet the customer’s needs.”

Labsphere’s Uniform Light Source systems can provide uniform radiance or irradiance, with applications that include the test and calibration of focal-plane arrays and cameras for areas such as pixel gain normalization, photographic sensitometry and remote-observation system calibration. Sources are used in the ultraviolet, visible and near infrared regions of the spectrum.

For further information please contact:
Makarand Wadhavekar
Labsphere India Sales Manager
Halma India
B1-401 Boomerang, Chandivali
Andheri (East), Mumbai 400072
Tel: +91 22 67080400, Fax: +91 22 67080405
E-mail:  mwadhavekar@labsphere.com
Website: www.labsphere.com

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EMBED offers OEMs simplicity and robustness

Ocean Optics has expanded its line of customised products for optical sensing with the EMBED miniature spectrometer. EMBED is a small-footprint optical bench with minimal electronics targeted at industrial process control and OEM optical measurement systems.

EMBED miniature spectrometer from Ocean Optics.

Designed around a next-generation optical bench, EMBED provides excellent thermal stability and measurement reliability, yet is packaged with only essential electronics to reduce footprint and simplify integration. The on-board electronics provide fundamental spectral pre-processing and multi-channel capability, as well as native SPI communication support that establishes a direct, stable and fast interface with microcontrollers and industrial control systems. Like all Ocean Optics spectrometers, EMBED’s design allows for extensive optical component customisation to support a wide variety of applications, while maintaining excellent quality in high volume production.

In its standard configuration, the EMBED includes a robust 2048-element CCD-array detector and selectable optical bench components – including entrance apertures, gratings, order sorting filters and more – that make it possible for the EMBED to support low-light and high-throughput measurements. Its design provides the EMBED exceptional thermal and environmental stability – attractive features for process and other applications where temperature and environmental factors can affect measurements. In addition, the EMBED design supports multichannel functionality allowing users to make simultaneous or timed-gated measurements from multiple EMBED spectrometers within a single system. This is essential to applications such as reference monitoring, dissolution testing, multiple point sampling and process end-point detection.

The EMBED was designed specifically for seamless integration with simplicity and ease-of-incorporation as the primary design drivers. It is a true embedded spectrometer for OEM and industrial customers, communicating directly to a host processor and allowing direct access to the spectrometer’s electronics. These features help reduce overall instrument footprint and improve system stability without compromising the performance or capabilities of the spectrometer.

To complement the EMBED, Ocean Optics also offers light sources, spectrometers, sub-assemblies and complete systems, to help OEM customers bring products to market faster. A diverse offering of components allows industrial customers to build a complete system optimized around specific requirements. Ocean Optics’ dedicated team of integration support engineers provides complete system design capability, from choice of spectrometers and light sources to system integration and application support. Ocean Optics is ISO 9001:2008 certified and can support component, integrated system and sub-system high-volume manufacturing needs.

For more information please contact:
Hemchandra Sane
India Sales Manager (Ocean Optics)
Halma India Pvt. Ltd
B1-401, Boomerang, Chandivali, Andheri East
Mumbai – 400072
India
Tel: +91 22 67650444, Fax: +91 22 67650405
Mobile: +91 9819301256
E-mail: hemchanda.sane@oceanoptics.com
Website: www.oceanoptics.eu

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Ventana’s optical design and components maximise throughput for superior sensitivity

Ocean Optics has expanded its Elite Series of high-performance modular spectrometers (www.elitespectrometers.com) with the introduction of the Ventana line of high throughput spectrometers. Ventana spectrometers combine an optical bench configuration with very high collection efficiency and a high-efficiency volume phase holographic (VPH) grating to provide unprecedented throughput and sensitivity for low light level applications. Three preconfigured Ventana spectrometers are available: 532 nm and 785 nm excitation wavelength Raman models, and a visible to near-IR model for general purpose fluorescence applications.

Ventana line of high throughput spectrometers from Ocean Optics

With its high sensitivity performance and compact size, Ventana is ideal for academic and corporate research, OEMs and system integrators seeking a cost-effective alternative to traditional integrated systems. It is well suited for applications in life sciences, pharmaceuticals, materials analysis and more.

The 785 nm Ventana system has a spectral range of 250-2000 cm-1 and resolution of 10 cm-1; the 532 nm version covers 35-4300 cm-1 with 20 cm-1 resolution. The VIS-NIR Ventana spectrometer is configured for fluorescence measurements from 430-1100 nm with a resolution of 4.0 nm (FWHM). Also, the 785 nm Raman Ventana spectrometer can be configured with an integrated laser with free space collection optics for the highest throughput possible. Additionally, complete Raman sampling systems including laser, probe and software are available.

For more information please contact:
Hemchandra Sane
India Sales Manager (Ocean Optics)
Halma India Pvt. Ltd
B1-401, Boomerang, Chandivali, Andheri East
Mumbai – 400072
India
Tel: +91 22 67650444, Fax: +91 22 67650405, Mobile: +91 9819301256
E-mail: hemchanda.sane@oceanoptics.com
Website: www.oceanoptics.eu

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Highest diffuse reflectance material with most Lambertian properties

Labsphere products have met NVLAP ISO 17025 technical competence and management system requirements that demonstrate its ability to routinely deliver technically valid test results and calibrations. Labsphere’s chemically inert standards offer the highest diffuse reflectance values of any known substance.

Labsphere Earns NVLAP Accreditation for Calibration of Spectralon Diffuse Reflectance Standards and Targets

Labsphere has received accreditation for its Spectralon® Diffuse Reflectance Standards and Targets as an NVLAP ISO 17025 calibration laboratory. Previously, Labsphere earned accreditation as an NVLAP Lab 200951-0 for calibrated Spectral Flux Lamp Standards and Calibrated Forward Spectral Flux Standards. All were the result of rigorous on-site assessments and technical evaluations of the company’s engineering, manufacturing and calibration departments. The National Institute of Standards and Technology governs the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP).

Spectralon Standards and Targets offer the highest diffuse reflectance values of any known substance and are available in grey, white and various colours. Durable, chemically inert Spectralon is spectrally flat over the UV-VIS-NIR spectrum. It is optically flat to +/- 4 percent over the range of 250 – 2500 nm and +/- 1 percent over the photopic region of the spectrum. Spectralon Diffuse Reflectance Standards and Targets are the most Lambertian reflectors available for use over the wavelength range from 250 – 2500 nm.

NVLAP accreditation signifies that Labsphere operates in accordance with stringent guidelines pertaining to quality systems, engineering expertise, technical personnel, test and calibration methods, laboratory equipment and environment, measurement traceability, handling of test and calibration items and accuracy in test and calibration reports.

For further information please contact:
Makarand Wadhavekar
Labsphere India Sales Manager
Halma India
B1-401 Boomerang, Chandivali
Andheri (East), Mumbai 400072
Tel: +91 22 67080400, Fax: +91 22 67080405
E-mail:  mwadhavekar@labsphere.com
Website: www.labsphere.com

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New source for OEM multispectral device development and manufacture

Ocean Thin Films announces its new PIXELTEQ™ spectral sensing and imaging solutions focused on creating innovative multispectral devices for aerospace, biomedical, industrial, laboratory and security applications.

Ocean Thin Films announces its new PIXELTEQ™ spectral sensing and imaging solutions focused on creating innovative multispectral devices for aerospace, biomedical, industrial, laboratory and security applications.

The patented technology behind PIXELTEQ is an exclusive micro-patterned optical coating coupled with electro-optical integration expertise to deliver high-performance OEM multispectral cameras, sensors and optical coatings. The PIXELTEQ portfolio includes PixelCam™ and SpectroCam™ cameras, PixelSensor™ narrow-band photodiodes, and patterned optical filters purpose-built for OEM applications.  The company has unveiled a new website, www.pixelteq.com, featuring the full portfolio of PIXELTEQ products – from thin film coatings to integrated electro-optical devices.

“PIXELTEQ is a natural extension of our unique patterned-coating capability into the multispectral space,” explains Phil Buchsbaum, president of Ocean Thin Films.  “At the heart of each multispectral device is an array of micro-patterned optical filters engineered to meet our clients’ exacting requirements.”  The recently launched PixelCam, for example, is an application-specific multispectral camera built around precise spectral bands and ready for integration into instrumentation, handheld, mobile and aerial devices.

“What the digital camera has done for conventional photography, PixelCam can do for mainstream application-specific imaging,” said Randel Mercer, VP of Business Development at Ocean Thin Films.  “Our clients are combining spectroscopy and imaging by using targeted spectral bands from the UV through SWIR ranges to create live, data-rich images.  From microscopy to aerial imaging, some of the impacts can be life-changing: detecting cancer earlier, improving agricultural yields, keeping food and water safe or solving crimes and providing better security,” Mercer added. “It’s exciting to be a part of the solutions that our customers are creating.”

About PIXELTEQ
PIXELTEQ provides OEM spectral sensing and imaging products, patterned optical filters and custom electro-optical devices for a variety of aerospace, biomedical, industrial, scientific and security applications.  At the heart of each multispectral device is an array of pixel-level spectral filters purpose-built for applications.  Leveraging comprehensive know-how in thin film coating, micro-patterning and electro-optical integration, PIXELTEQ’s specialists collaborate with client teams to provide expert design assistance and custom-engineered solutions from rapid prototyping through high-volume OEM production.  PIXELTEQ solutions are provided by Ocean Thin Films, Inc. a subsidiary of Halma plc.

Company contact:
Bhushan Dhakras
Business Development Manager – Ocean Thin Films / SeaChanger
Halma India Pvt. Ltd.
B1- 401, Boomerang,
Chandivali, Andheri (E), Mumbai – 400072
Tel: +91 22 67080400, Fax: +91 22 67080405
Mobile: 99300 21866
E-mail: bhushan.dhakras@oceanthinfilms.com
Website: www.pixelteq.com / www.oceanthinfilms.com

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New features on device driver software for high-speed data acquisition, spectral processing and data analysis

Ocean Optics has released an update to its OmniDriver Spectroscopy Development Platform. The platform-neutral Java based OmniDriver Version 2.20 provides a simple interface for programming of USB spectrometers, accessories and devices in optical sensing systems, and is available with an optional set of spectral processing math algorithms. New features have improved the platform’s high-speed data acquisition, spectral processing, data analysis, data visualization and data transfer options.

Ocean Optics OmniDriver Spectroscopy Development Platform Updated

With native libraries included for a variety of Linux, Macintosh and Windows operating systems, OmniDriver users can develop robust control applications without knowing Java; the wrapper libraries provide an interface for most languages to link against. The OmniDriver’s platform- and spectrometer- independent programming means the same code works with any Ocean Optics USB spectrometer. With Version 2.20’s new “SpeedTest” feature, users can determine the maximum performance possible for a spectrometer model on the Windows operating system.

Also, OmniDriver Version 2.20 has more robust algorithms for photometry and colourimetry. This is an especially useful feature when measuring samples with sharp peaks, such as in narrowband sources like those used in laser projection systems.

For OEMs, two new command line parameters have been added to the installer for customisation of the company and driver name. Drivers for three additional Ocean Optics’ devices have now been certified by Windows Hardware Quality Labs, meaning drivers for most of the company’s devices will install automatically when connected to a Windows 7 PC.

The OmniDriver’s wrapper libraries include Dynamic Link Library (Windows), Shared Object (Linux) and a .NET object (Windows). The software is compatible with a variety of operating systems: Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, 64-bit versions of XP, Vista, and Windows 7; Mac OSX 10.3 or later; plus many Linux x86 distributions (Kernel 2.4.20 and libusb 0.1.10 or later are required).

For more information please contact:
Hemchandra Sane
India Sales Manager (Ocean Optics)
Halma India Pvt. Ltd
B1-401, Boomerang, Chandivali, Andheri East
Mumbai – 400072
India
Tel: +91 22 67650444, Fax: +91 22 67650405, Mobile: +91 9819301256
E-mail: hemchanda.sane@oceanoptics.com
Website: www.oceanoptics.eu

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Design reduces stress in fibre core

Universal Clad (UniClad) optical fibre from Fiberguide is designed for integration into fibre based lasers and OEM systems performing high power transmission. The fibre uses a large core-to-clad ratio to reduce stress transfer to its core, maintaining laser beam quality and improving focal ratio degradation in lasers used for cutting, welding, drilling, soldering and marking.

New UniClad High Power Optical Fibres from Fiberguide

UniClad fibre has a pure fused silica core and doped fused silica cladding with a polymer coating. The fibre has a fixed 500µm cladding diameter for 100-400µm core sizes, and proportionately larger cladding for 600-800µm core sizes, to make laser alignment and splicing easier. Complete high power laser assemblies are also available.

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Vibrant coloured lighting minimizes energy consumption, heat load on fragile artefacts

France’s natural history museum has renovated its lighting system to include SeaChanger’s Light Emitting Plasma (LEP) Colour Engines, citing the product’s incredible colour palette and high-energy efficiency.

SeaChanger’s Light Emitting Plasma Technology Featured in Historic Paris Museum

The Grande Galerie de l’Evolution of the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris has origins dating back more than 375 years. Its previous lighting system had extremely high maintenance and daily use costs, said Pierre de Cazenove, the museum’s head of operations and planning for exhibits. The move to SeaChanger LEP is part of the museum’s effort to conserve energy and use long-lasting light sources that won’t harm delicate museum pieces.

SeaChanger’s colour engine, designed to be utilized with ETC Source Four optical components, provides professional lighting for theatres, museums and architectural installations around the world. The LEP can crisply illuminate the museum’s artefacts from throw distances of 35 meters, a range not reachable by LED products without significant loss of illumination. The SeaChanger Plasma’s light source puts out low ultraviolet and infrared light that does not damage the displays, and its energy-efficient plasma source reduces energy consumption and heat load, a necessity when displaying artefacts dating back to the late 1600s.

“Light Emitting Plasma is a real alternative to conventional light sources: halogen, LED or discharge lamps,” said Jean Louis Pernette, managing director of AVAB, a SeaChanger and ETC distributor. “The compromise between light output, power used and lamp life is unique and perfectly meets the museum’s specifications.”

The museum illuminates some of its biggest attractions with SeaChanger LEP such as its large caravan of African animals; desert, marine and polar spaces; and a whale skeleton. The museum is continuing to convert its lighting to SeaChanger units. When complete, savings will total more than $38,000 per year because of infrequent re-lamping and reduction of electricity consumption.

SeaChanger’s Light Emitting Plasma 320-watt lamp produces 10,000 lumens of light performing at more than 31 lumens per watt with a lamp lifespan of 15,000 hours. It is convection-cooled and silent, with smooth, swipe-free colour transitions and a colour rendering index of 92. The dichroic filters provide better colour re-creation than coloured LEDs that will colour degrade over time, and their resistance to temperature and humidity assures colour consistency for the life of the fixture.

Company contact:
Bhushan Dhakras
Business Development Manager – Ocean Thin Films / SeaChanger
Halma India Pvt. Ltd.
B1- 401, Boomerang,
Chandivali, Andheri (E), Mumbai – 400072
Tel: +91 22 67080400, Fax: +91 22 67080405
Mobile: 99300 21866
E-mail: bhushan.dhakras@oceanthinfilms.com
Website: www.oceanthinfilms.com / seachangeronline.com

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Apex 785 first in the company’s new Elite Series

Ocean Optics has introduced the Apex 785 Raman Spectrometer – the first in the Elite Series of high-performance spectrometers, light sources and accessories (www.elitespectrometers.com). Apex is a modular, small-footprint spectrometer that rivals bench-top instruments. Apex provides maximum resolution and exceptional sensitivity that combine to create superior performance.

Apex 785 - a Small Footprint, Modular Raman Spectrometer from Ocean Optics

Apex eliminates the compromise typically made to achieve either high sensitivity or maximum resolution. Using a unique optical design and high throughput virtual slit, licensed from Tornado Spectral Systems, the Apex spectrometer eliminates this trade-off between sensitivity and resolution. The result is a powerful tool for low light applications such as Raman spectroscopy.

Apex’s higher resolution enables better resolved peaks and observation of spectral features not seen previously. Its high sensitivity affords shorter integration times for faster measurements and lower excitation power to minimise sample degradation.

“Since we launched our first miniature spectrometer over 20 years ago, Ocean Optics has been the world leader in modular spectroscopy solutions,” said Richard Pollard, President of Ocean Optics Inc. “The Apex spectrometer and the creation of our new Elite series demonstrate our commitment to innovation necessary to maintain leadership in the industry.”
The launch of the Apex spectrometer represents the perfect partnership of sophisticated, industry-leading technical innovation and the flexible, modular and applications-based approach, pioneered by Ocean Optics. Joining technology with application support enables Ocean Optics customers to better solve problems and find answers to challenging research questions.

For more information please contact:
Hemchandra Sane
India Sales Manager (Ocean Optics)
Halma India Pvt. Ltd
B1-401, Boomerang, Chandivali, Andheri East
Mumbai – 400072
India
Tel: +91 22 67650444, Fax: +91 22 67650405, Mobile: +91 9819301256
E-mail: hemchanda.sane@oceanoptics.com
Website: www.oceanoptics.eu

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Ocean Thin Films has introduced PixelCam™, the first commercially available “snapshot” multispectral cameras for shortwave infrared (SWIR) analysis from 700-1700 nm. The cameras harness SWIR’s powerful imaging by simultaneously acquiring four or more standard and custom spectral bands with a single camera, enabling extraction of spectral information not noticeable with panchromatic SWIR devices. This feature makes the PixelCam especially useful for applications in biomedical imaging, process control and high-contrast security and surveillance environments.

New PixelCam Cameras Capture Real-Time SWIR Multispectral Images

The breakthrough to provide these compact multispectral camera platforms is combining PixelTec’s precision micro-patterned optical coating technology with robust SWIR area sensor cameras manufactured by Sensors Unlimited of UTC Aerospace Systems. High-transmission dichroic filter arrays are aligned directly over corresponding pixels in the imaging array for optimal spectral and spatial resolution. Standard PixelCam cameras come preconfigured with three and four bands, and custom cameras are available with additional application-specific bands – providing greater versatility and contrast than traditional multi-sensor devices.

“PixelCam makes this sophisticated multispectral SWIR technology – which used to be limited to highly specialized projects – now much more accessible, portable and practical for all kinds of research and production applications,” said Randel Mercer, Vice President of Business Development for Ocean Thin Films. “Its unique pixel-level filters make PixelCam the first commercial ‘snapshot’ camera that can be customized and scaled for your specific multispectral application.”

At the heart of each PixelCam multispectral camera is a custom filter array integrated into a solid-state InGaAs imager with a full resolution of 640×512.  Its sturdy platform provides simultaneous 12-bit Camera Link® digital and RS170 analogue outputs and an external trigger. The form factor, frame rates, operating temperature and power requirements are unchanged by the passive spectral filters – enabling easy integration into handheld, mobile, and aerial devices.

Ends

Company contact:
Bhushan Dhakras
Business Development Manager – Ocean Thin Films / SeaChanger
Halma India Pvt. Ltd.
B1- 401, Boomerang,
Chandivali, Andheri (E), Mumbai – 400072
Tel: +91 22 67080400, Fax: +91 22 67080405
Mobile: 99300 21866
E-mail: bhushan.dhakras@oceanthinfilms.com
Website: www.oceanthinfilms.com

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