Optoelectronics
Feature Category Optical engine
Wavelength range Performance Sensors and gratings Data integrity Processing Integration
Specifi cation / Capability Compact and rigid
Czerny-Turner-based design. 180–1100nm.
High resolution (down to 0.2nm), high SNR (up to 500).
>8 sensor types (CCD, CMOS), >30 grating options.
Practical Benefi t
Exceptional stability against shock, vibration, and temperature changes, ensuring reliable data in harsh environments.
Versatility to analyse a wide spectrum of materials, from UV to Near-Infrared, in a single device.
Ability to distinguish between very similar substances and detect faint signals with high confi dence.
Highly customisable to optimise performance for specifi c applications (e.g., speed, sensitivity, cost).
Proprietary stray light calibration algorithm. Eliminates up to 99.99% of optical noise, leading to cleaner, more accurate measurements.
On-board 32-bit RISC Controller/8051 CPU. Enables fast calculations and high-speed data acquisition modes, ideal for process control and rapid testing.
USB, 6 I/Os, optional WiFi module.
Flexible communication options for easy integration into industrial control systems, portable devices, or wireless networks.
fruits and vegetables. Spectrometers can non-destructively determine ripeness and quality, ensuring produce is harvested at the absolute peak of flavour and shelf life. Effective environmental monitoring is made practical with the ability to detect and respond to pollution events in real time. Rugged UV-Vis spectrometers can be integrated into water treatment pipelines or deployed on autonomous buoys to continuously monitor for nitrates, dissolved organic compounds and traces of heavy metals. This provides an early warning system that enables a rapid response. Similarly, in air quality monitoring, compact spectrometers can now be deployed in ground-based stations and on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to measure atmospheric pollutants and generate high-resolution pollution maps.
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Industry 4.0: In modern manufacturing, rugged spectrometers are indispensable tools for Process Analytical Technology (PAT), providing real-time insights directly on the production line. Instead of relying on intermittent batch testing, an in-line spectrometer can continuously monitor the chemical composition of products such as pharmaceuticals or polymers, allowing for immediate correction of any process aberrations. In the metallurgical industry, portable spectrometers can instantly determine the elemental composition of metals, essential to the rapid sorting of scrap for recycling or incoming material verification.
Research: The same attributes that make compact spectrometers ideal for industry – robustness, versatility, and cost-effectiveness – also make them
exceptional tools for practical scientific research, whether in the laboratory or field. Researchers have access to powerful analytical technology, allowing them to carry out valuable experiments in a range of contexts
Technical excellence by design The SmartEngine series from OtO Photonics is based on a highly configurable platform. All devices have a broad spectral range, some from 180 nm to 1100 nm, meaning that a single device can be used to analyse an enormous variety of materials, from UV-absorbing compounds in water to near-infrared reflecting properties in agricultural products.
These spectrometers are not one- size-fits-all solutions. The modular design allows models to use numerous
sensor types and grating specifications, so permitting devices to be optimised for a specific task, whether it requires high speed for in-line quality control or maximum sensitivity for detecting trace elements. The table to the left summarises the core features of the SmartEngine series, translating its technical specifications into practical benefits.
SmartEngine vs competitor instruments
When tested side by side with a spectrometer from a leading well-known competitor – both featuring the same linear sensor – the SmartEngine demonstrated superior performance.
When one of our customers carried out a similar test, they reported the OtO product demonstrated superior wavelength drift and FWHM resolution under temperature and humidity cycling, shock and vibration.
Conclusion
Innovative engineering is fundamentally changing chemical analysis, allowing for laboratory-quality measurements to be performed reliably in the fi eld. Instruments like the OtO Photonics SmartEngine resolve the traditional trade-off between precision and robustness, offering a genuine strategic advantage through enhanced reliability and superior performance under harsh conditions. AP Technologies provides these advanced solutions and supports system developers with tools like the PKG spectral measurement kit, a complete package with a spectrometer, light source, and accessories designed to simplify prototyping and initial system design. To learn more about how to enhance your applications with rugged spectral analysis or to arrange a demonstration, contact AP Technologies: Email:
info@aptechnologies.co.uk or visit:
www.aptechnologies.co.uk
Components in Electronics September 2025 39
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