Microscope-Spectrometer for Reflectance and Transmission

Combined UV-NIR analysis in one workstation

Not every laboratory differentiates between highly specialized microscopes for dedicated applications like fibers, paints, glass or documents. Often economic aspects dictate that one microscope-spectrometer workstation has to cover the analysis of multiple forensic applications.

The SpectraVision Microscope-Spectrometer for Reflectance and Transmission combines the diverse requirements of forensic UV-NIR spectroscopy in one workstation and provides solutions for the most common methods in microscope spectroscopy.

UV-NIR-Spektrometer Set

Technical Features

  • use of the microscope's integrated light source as illumination module. The illumination can be either manually controlled or via the individual manufacturer's toolbox function.
  • external access to the microscope's image-enhancing optical elements such as illumination aperture, filter wheels or reflector-revolver
  • easy to operate apertures to minimize a performance loss due to over illumination of small sample areas
  • a good mix of lenses for reflected light and transmitted light, to ensure that appropriate conditions for the established microscopic requirements and contrasting techniques are available
  • selected cooled CCD sensor that covers a broad spectral range with good resolution of a minimum of 0.8 nm
Microscope fiber collimation system

Flexible Adaptions

The SpectraVision Microscope-Spectrometer is designed for measurements in transmission and reflected light mode, so that forensic fiber measurements as well as measurements of color or surface structures are possible. In the basic configuration the system is designed for spectral range from 320 nm to 900 nm. This fulfils the requirements of colorimetric measurements following CIE- Lab. Another benefit of capturing the range around 320 nm is, to precisely display spectral components without the use of glycerin lenses and quartz cover glasses.

The SpectraVision UV-NIR Microscope-Spectrometer Set can be retrofitted to any routine or research microscope. The mechanical and optical components from A.S. & Co individual workstation connect to the cmount adaptors of the individual microscopes. These are optimized individually by each microscope manufacturer, thus ensuring the best imaging qualities for the succeeding signal transmission chain.

Even fully-manual microscopes can be upgraded via an external controller box to control shutter, filter and the spectrometer measurement from the PC.

Furthermore typical research microscopes have the option to integrate an additional TV output. This allows integrating additional hardware like a FTIR or Raman modules for advanced analysis.

Microscope controller

Motorized Microscope Functions simplify the Measurement

The SpectraVision Microscope-Spectrometer for Reflectance and Transmission are available with various comfort levels. In combination with simple routine microscopes only the evaluation of the dark current is automated. When using motorized research microscopes, the SpectraVision software can control the illumination, the use of light-reduction filters and the switch of a prism in phototubes or camera ports.

The use of light-reduction filters allows the adaption of the illumination for measurement, without the need to change the intensity of the illumination system itself; this guarantees the most stable and clearly defined intensity at all times. Motorized phototubes allow automated switching between a splitted observation beam path to the eyepiece and the 100% redirection of the light to the sensor, especially for the observation of samples that show weak intensity.

High Sensitivity also with Fluorescence Measurement

In its basic configuration the SpectraVision Microscope-Spectrometer for Reflectance and Transmission includes a Peltier cooled CCD array with 1024x80 pixels as a spectral sensor. Combined with monofibers and appropriate adaptors from A.S. & Co. a high sensitivity workstation becomes available, suitable to analyze samples with dark field and fluorescence.

An important criterion for the sensitivity is the pixel size of the sensor. With 24x24 micron, it is about 120 times larger in comparison with photo-arrays, which are used in modern mobile phone to the image recording.

Fluorescence spectra

Fast Operation via Online Monitoring Function from a single Window

A fast and reliable check of the illumination and measurement condition is important to get the maximum dynamic range and the highest precision for the measurement. The Autoadjust function in software is a valuable tool for the independent definition of the optimal measurement duration and the evaluation of the best dark current signal. The objective to measure a spectrum is achieved with a few simple steps.

Monitoring window