Summary of World’s 1st Spectrometer On-a-Chip
Si-Ware Systems unveiled the world's first MEMS spectrometer on-a-chip at Photonics West, offering palm-sized, lower-cost spectroscopy that brings analysis to the sample. The device matches bench spectrometer functions at a fraction of the price ($2,000 for small orders; $500 at 100,000 units) and will be adapted to various form factors, including a near-infrared, baseball-bat-like soil analyzer for agricultural use with wireless data transmission and location/time stamping via collaborators like Dutch Sprouts (SoilCares).
Parts used in the MEMS Spectrometer Project:
- MEMS spectrometer on-a-chip
- Complete module housing (first marketed model)
- Near-infrared sensing components (for agricultural variant)
- Wireless transmitter for data transmission
- Time and location stamping module (GPS/timekeeping)
- Battery/power source (portable operation)
- Baseball-bat-like form factor casing (agricultural variant)
PORTLAND, Ore. — The world’s first microelectromechanical system (MEMS) spectrometer on-a-chip was shown today at at Photonics West (San Francisco, February 10-12) by Si-Ware Systems (SWS, Cairo, Egypt with offices in La Canada, Calif.) Instead of transporting materials across sometimes great distances to be analyzed with a normal bench-top spectrometer, Si-Ware’s MEMS-powered spectrometer fits in the palm of your hand and thus can be taken to the material to be analyzed.
“Spectrometers are usually bench sized, so your have to take the object to the bench, but now with our MEMS sized you can can take the spectrometer to the object,” said executive vice president, worldwide marketing and business development of Si-Ware, Scott Smyser.
(Source: Si-Ware)
The MEMS-powered spectrometer is not only smaller than a bench sized units, but is also much lower in cost.
“Typical prices are upwards of $10,000 for a high-quality bench-sized spectrometer, but our MEMS spectrometer is just $2000 for quantities of 1-to-100 and only $500 for 100,000 unit orders,” Smyser told us.
The first marketed model is being supplied in a compete module, but Si-Ware’s business plan is to adapt the form-factor to the application. For instance, for agricultural applications, instead of taking soil samples, label them by location, then sending them off to a lab. They are working with companies like Dutch Sprouts (Wageningen, The Netherlands) to create a baseball-bat-like form factor that uses near-infrared to do instant analysis of soil samples in the field, then wirelessly transmit them back to the farmer’s computer complete with time and location stamps. Dutch Sprouts initiative is called SoilCares.
For more detail: World’s 1st Spectrometer On-a-Chip
- What is special about Si-Ware's MEMS spectrometer?
It is the world's first spectrometer on-a-chip, small enough to fit in the palm and able to take the spectrometer to the object instead of the reverse. - How does the cost compare to bench-sized spectrometers?
Typical high-quality bench spectrometers cost upwards of $10,000, while Si-Ware's MEMS spectrometer is $2,000 for 1-to-100 units and $500 for 100,000 unit orders. - Does the MEMS spectrometer perform the same functions as bench spectrometers?
Yes, the MEMS-powered spectrometer combines all the same functions as bench-mounted spectrometers according to the article. - What form factors will Si-Ware offer?
The first model is a complete module, and Si-Ware plans to adapt the form factor to applications, such as a baseball-bat-like tool for soil analysis. - Can the device be used for agricultural soil analysis?
Yes; Si-Ware is working with Dutch Sprouts on a near-infrared, baseball-bat-like form factor to analyze soil samples in the field. - How will soil analysis data be conveyed to farmers?
The agricultural variant will wirelessly transmit results back to the farmer's computer with time and location stamps. - Who is collaborating with Si-Ware on the agricultural initiative?
They are working with Dutch Sprouts of Wageningen, The Netherlands, on the SoilCares initiative.
