What does remote infrared sensing mean?

Most substances contain infrared light absorbing molecules and thus have characteristic absorptions in the infrared spectral area, which allow their clear identification. Having been a lab method only for a long time, infrared spectroscopy - especially the part using the wavelength area of the near infrared (800 nm - 2500 nm) - has now, after about 20 years of continuous growth, matured into a widespread and powerful sensor technology. The basic principle is always the irradiation of a sample and the analysis of the transmitted or reflected light. The complete system contains a light source (e.g. halogen bulbs in the near IR), a light-selecting part (optical filters, gratings..), a detector and an interpreting unit (separate or integrated in existing arrangements). The exact design of an individual sensor system depends on the given task of analysis and will be individually and optimally developed to the specific needs of your application. The measurement itself is always nondestructive and contactfree. This makes the method very advantageous for controlling sensitive processes or substances. The near-IR area allows the application of optical fibers for information transport over long distances, and also the application of low cost techniques.



Where can you use infrared sensor techniques?

The fields of application are widespread. Possible applications are in environmental analysis [example: smog detection], in industrial production [examples: process control, layer thickness], in the recycling area [examples: polymer identification, construction waste, carpet-recycling], in food industry [example: meat], agriculture [example: protein content of grain] and medicine [example: body fat] on to consumer goods. Our aim is the development of new application fields and the replacement of traditional at-line-analytics by fast and precise low-cost sensors.