STTR Phase I: MicroMiniature Spectrometer

This Small Business Technology TransferResearch (STTR) Program project aims to resolve if LEDs can provide properly formed light spectra and identify the appropriate LED control needed to resolve if COTS photodetectors can detect the full spectral character of analytes in-situ and identify the optimized sampling control needed and to innovate an LED(s) and photodetector(s) integrated functional design which achieves or exceeds the range and sensitivity of current spectrometer designs. This project will also help in the understanding of the cost to produce and build the business plan to market a micro-miniature spectrometer. with UW DMS. Develop committed business plan, based on resolving DFM issues. A spectrometer that significantly improves upon current specifications will be received well in markets ranging from remote oceanographic or atmospheric monitoring services to point-of-care diagnostic services in health care to national defense applications for water or airborne contaminant clouds. A micro-miniature spectrometer is proposed that will achieve half the size of current instruments, draw <1 watt of power, provide data over a USB interface to open source analyses tools (Matlab, Excel), enable multiple simultaneous measurements, and be affordably priced.