Ocean Optics News - www.oceanoptics.com

OceanView’s customizable interface puts the user in control
Dunedin, Fla., USA (May 14, 2013) – Ocean Optics has released OceanView spectroscopy software, combining powerful data processing capabilities with a clear graphical user interface for use with the company’s miniature spectrometers. OceanView is highly customizable and includes a schematic view that provides a visual roadmap of data flow from spectral inputs to processed results.

Ocean Optics OceanView software manages multiple spectrometers and devices.

OceanView displays and utilizes spectral data from Ocean Optics spectrometers with the added flexibility of integrating temperature, voltage and other input data, allowing users to capture and visualize data from multiple sources. In addition, OceanView saves and reloads previous experiments and has a persistence of settings feature that conveniently recalls acquisition parameters and file locations. Users can customize the OceanView interface once and later access those same settings without having to rebuild them with each new session.

Inspired by customer feedback across a variety of applications, OceanView delivers a high level of experimental control. Its schematic view – a flow chart with each step of the process represented – functions as both a blueprint of the data process from inputs to results and a tool to inspect and modify the process on the fly. It delivers results in the form of an answer, rather than just a simple waveform. More than 70 schematic nodes, or connection points, can be mapped in the schematic view. Other experiment control functions such as spectral splicing, interpolation and device output control are available.

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Compact IDRaman unit is ideal for authentication and counterfeit detection
Dunedin, Fla. (May 7, 2013) – Ocean Optics has released the IDRaman mini handheld Raman spectrometer, a small, powerful instrument with exceptional performance for sample authentication and counterfeit detection, identification and verification. The palm-sized IDRaman mini is rugged and dependable, delivering fast, accurate Raman analyses ranging from chemical and explosive agent detection in the field to quality assurance and quality control sampling routines in the laboratory.

IDRaman mini from Ocean Optics for sample authentication and counterfeit detection, identification and verification.

The IDRaman mini overcomes many of the limitations of current handheld Raman instruments – especially size, sample measurement and power supply needs. At just 9.1 x 7.1 x 3.8 cm (3.6 x 2.8 x 1.5 in.) and weighing only 330 g (11 oz.), the IDRaman mini is not much larger than the typical mobile phone. To ensure simple and dependable operation during long field missions or manufacturing shifts where recharging is impossible, the IDRaman mini runs on two easily-replaced AA batteries.

The small size of the IDRaman mini does not limit its sample measurement performance. The unique Raster Orbital Scanning (ROS) mode scans a tightly focused beam over a wide sample area, dramatically improving the quality of the Raman measurement. ROS has benefits for liquid and solid samples, in particular solid samples that are inhomogeneous and irregularly shaped. Also, ROS is a dramatic improvement over stationary beam systems. The low average power needed eliminates sample damage and the possible ignition of explosive samples. In ROS mode, most compounds can be identified in less than nine seconds.

Featuring a bright 7.1 cm (2.8 in.) resistive touchscreen display, the IDRaman mini is easy to operate in bright sunlight and while wearing restrictive personal protection equipment. The straightforward, graphical interface is easy to navigate and allows operators of all skill levels to quickly acquire data. Sampling can be accomplished using either small vials or with a stand-off accessory for powders, residues, and solid samples.

The IDRaman mini helps make the power of Raman analysis more accessible, improving efficiency and saving on measurement costs.

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Open innovation program rewards outstanding technology contributions
Dunedin, Florida (April 12, 2013) – Ocean Optics has announced the winners of this year’s Phase I Blue Ocean Grants (http://www.oceanoptics.com/corporate/blue_ocean_grants.asp). The open innovation program seeks novel ideas and technologies with the potential to change the world for the better and lead to eventual market commercialization. In its second year, the program has grown increasingly competitive with exceptional applications received from all over the world.

The Blue Ocean Grants are divided into two phases. Phase I grants are issued to fund initial evaluation and development of ideas and technologies to the proof-of-concept phase. These $10,000 awards help applicants design and develop new photonics technologies and applications. Phase II grants will be issued to nurture a proposed technology through proof-of-concept in a way that enables the potential of market commercialization. Phase II awards are much larger – up to $100,000 USD – and will be announced later this year.

This year’s Phase I winners are:
Anthony M. Filippi, Ph.D., and Burak Güneralp, Ph.D., from the Department of Geography, Texas A&M University; College Station, Texas, and Lee Tarpley, Ph.D., from the Texas AgriLife Research & Extension Center; Beaumont, Texas, for their proposal entitled “Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function Effect on Arsenic and Water-Stress Detection in Rice”

Dr. Damian Gardiner and Dr. Philip Hands from the Centre of Molecular Materials for Photonics and Electronics (CMMPE) at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom for their proposal entitled “Printable Laser Sources for Anti-Counterfeiting Applications”

Dr. Zheng Peichao, from the College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing, China for the proposal entitled “Low-Cost On-line Spectra Measurement Device for Metal Ions in Water”

Recipients were chosen by Ocean Optics and an independent panel of photonics industry experts based on potential to change the world for the better, out of the box thinking, technical merit and potential commercial viability.

“The quality of this year’s entries was exceptional and the interest in this program has continued to grow each year,” said David Creasey, Ocean Optics Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “The high quality of the applications made the selection process very competitive. The winners demonstrate the power of open innovation and drive to change the world through diverse application pathways. We’re excited and honored to help facilitate development at both the Phase I and Phase II levels of funding.”

For more information on the program, including full abstracts on the award-winning ideas, visit http://www.oceanoptics.com/corporate/blue_ocean_grants.asp

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EMBED offers OEMs simplicity and robustness 
Dunedin, Fla. (April 10, 2013) – Ocean Optics has expanded its line of customized 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 small-footprint miniature spectrometer for industrial process control and OEM optical measurement systems

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 onboard 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 customization 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.

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In-line gumball sorter demonstrates remarkable range of optical sensing techniques
Dunedin, Fla. (March 19, 2013) – Ocean Optics recently unveiled what has been hailed as a clever and original trade show display – a fully functional, in-line gumball sorting machine. Debuted in February at the 2013 SPIE Photonics West Conference and Exhibition, a prestigious photonics industry event that drew 20,000 attendees to the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, the exhibit proved a hit. The same display will be featured at the PITTCON Conference & Expo from March 18-21, in Philadelphia, Pa., and LASER World of PHOTONICS in Munich, Germany, May 13-16.

Ocean Optics’ new trade show display demonstrates the versatility of spectroscopy with gumballs.

Despite its fanciful look, the Ocean Optics gumball sorter is a sophisticated optical measurement system comprising nearly a dozen spectroscopy measurement stations positioned throughout an 8-foot-tall, 6-sided structure. A series of stainless steel rails mounted to the structure delivers the gumball samples to each station, where spectrometer setups determine gumball sample characteristics such as chemical composition, color and reflectivity. Additional stations throughout the 900-square-foot booth measure absorbance and fluorescence of food coloring and flavorants, transmission characteristics of plastic containers and oxygen content in packaging. In all, nearly a dozen measurements using techniques as varied as Raman analysis, fluorescence, UV-Vis absorption and NIR spectroscopy are represented.

Each station in the gumball sorter acts as an independent analyzer: a measurement is made and the result registers the response in software, which then triggers a second device – a motorized gate – to direct the sample to the next measurement or a sorting bin. By the end of the three-day Photonics West show, more than 5,000 gumballs had been measured and sorted using spectroscopy technologies.

Ocean Optics has a long history of trade show displays distinguished by engaging presentations, live experiments and relevance to the photonics industry. And while a gumball sorter is whimsical, the science it demonstrates is serious: Every Ocean Optics instrument in the display and each technique it demonstrates can today be implemented into a process stream, used in a lab or field setting or incorporated into another sensing device.

Read the detailed Application Note.

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Ventana’s optical design and components maximize throughput for superior sensitivity
Dunedin, Fla. (February 20, 2013) – 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 high-throughput spectrometer-part of the Elite Series 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.

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Cash prize and grant awarded during SPIE BiOS/Photonics West 2013 conference
Dunedin, Fla. (February 12, 2013) – Ocean Optics, the industry leader in miniature photonics, has named Christian F. Gainer of the University of Arizona as winner of the 2013 Ocean Optics Young Investigator Award.

The Young Investigator Award is presented to a researcher who has completed his or graduate work in the last five years and is the primary author of the best juried paper submitted as part of the “Colloidal Quantum Dots for Biomedical Applications V” session of the 2013 BiOS/Photonics West conference. The honor includes a $1,000 investigator reward and a company grant to the investigator’s advisor.

Gainer was honored for his work with his advisor, Marek Romanowski, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Arizona, presented in the paper “Multiphoton imaging of three-dimensional cancer models using upconverting lanthanide nanoparticles.” Their work describes the use of multiphoton scanning microscopy for three-dimensional modeling of colon and ovarian cancer.

Ocean Optics has sponsored the Young Investigator Award since 2008, part of a long tradition of supporting young scientists and educators from around the world. “We are energized and inspired by the efforts and discoveries of researchers early in their careers,” said Michael Allen, Ocean Optics Director, Marketing and Product Development. “Our support for these young men and women underscores our commitment to the vision of changing the world for the better through optical sensing.”

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Jeff Throckmorton, Ph.D. appointed of Vice President Engineering
Dunedin, FL (February 4, 2013) – Ocean Optics has appointed Jeff Throckmorton, Ph.D., Vice President of Engineering to lead the development of its line of end-user and OEM optical sensing products.

Jeff Throckmorton, Ph.D., Vice President of Engineering, Ocean Optics

With offices in the US, Europe and Asia, Throckmorton will have responsibility for the company’s global engineering resources. His goal is to increase and enhance Ocean Optics current line of spectrometers, chemical sensors, analytical instrumentation, and accessories through both internal engineering and open innovation initiatives. He and his team will work closely with customers to solve measurement challenges not met by current products. Additionally, Throckmorton will be a member of the Ocean Optics’ board of directors, helping to shape company strategy.

Throckmorton comes to Ocean Optics from technology solutions provider Eltron Research & Development Company (Boulder, Colo.), where he served as Vice President of Technology. He has previously held multiple positions with subsidiaries of Danaher Corporation (Washington, D.C.) including Vice President Global Innovation for Hach-Lange, Vice President of Research & Development for Hach, and President of Hach Homeland Security Technologies. Earlier in his career held positions with HF Scientific, Inc. and BTG Process Control Sensors, Inc.

Throckmorton earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, Va.). He also holds Masters in Chemical Engineering and Doctorate in Engineering degrees from University of South Florida (Tampa, Fla.).

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Apex 785 first in the company’s new Elite Series
Dunedin, Fla. (December 18, 2012) – 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.

Ocean Optics Apex 785 Modular Raman Spectrometer

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 tradeoff 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 minimize 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.

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Dunedin, FL (December 4, 2012) – Ocean Optics has recently been recognized with an “OFweek 2012 Best LED Service Supplier Award” by China’s high technology portal OFweek photonics news (www.ofweek.com).

Since its entry into the Chinese market, Ocean Optics has contributed to the growth of China’s LED industry. The inventor of the world’s first miniature spectrometer provides photometry and colorimetry solutions to the complete LED manufacturing chain. Established in 2007, Ocean Optics Asia supports the company’s distributors and customers in the Pacific Rim with a team of application, sales and software engineers.

Ocean Optics was chosen for the OFweek honor from a pool of 200 nominated companies selected by the editors of OFweek. A total of 38 companies were recognized with awards in 10 categories, chosen by a panel of LED experts as well as online voting by LED professionals. Winners were announced during the 9th LED Pioneering Technology & Marketing Seminar at the 2012 Best LED Enterprises & Products Award Ceremony organized by OFweek photonics news.

Dr. Sun Ling, Vice President of Ocean Optics Asia said, “We feel so proud to be conferred the Best LED Service Supplier Award by OFweek. This honor encourages our expert team to strive towards ever-higher standards and deliver even better services to our customers in China and Asia Pacific.”

“China’s LED industry has enjoyed fast growth with ever higher demand for testing speed and diversity. This makes it imperative for us to work more closely with system integrators and end users,” Dr. Sun added.

Ocean Optics’ solutions for quantifying light meet a number of parameter measurement and quality monitoring challenges on factory production lines. Its products cover the complete LED manufacturing chain – from epitaxial wafer and wafer material probing, to chip sorting, to the testing of finished LEDs – accurately and efficiently measuring and controlling wavelength, thinness, reflectance, transmittance, color temperature, and color purity.

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