SWS' MEMS FTIR spectrometer wins Prism award
Si-Ware Systems (SWS), a provider of IC- and MEMS-based solutions for industrial and consumer applications, has won the Prism award for its MEMS FTIR spectrometer in the category of 'Test, Measurement, Metrology'.
With a single-chip MEMS based monolithic Michelson interferometer, innovative dedicated circuitry, and versatile software, SWS' MEMS FTIR spectrometer is the world's first single-chip FTIR spectrometer.
The miniature, low cost module can be integrated into a wide variety of systems for applications that require qualitative and/or quantitative material analysis.
The Prism Awards for Photonics Innovation is a leading international competition that honours the best new photonic products on the market. Over the years, the Prism awards has received applications from more than thirty five countries across the globe.
Applications are judged by a panel of leading industry experts, venture capitalists, luminaries and visionaries. The Prism Awards, named the "Photonics Oscar" by OptecNet Deutschland, is a celebration of the best of the photonics industry.
SWS was a finalist in two categories: 'Optics and Optical Components' and 'Test, Measurement, Metrology'. The awards were announced and given out last night at a banquet during the Photonics West conference in San Francisco.
The FTIR spectrometer consists of a MEMS chip that measures 1 x 1 cm2 and contains all of the optical components. The electronics interface is a separate ASIC that is designed and produced by SWS's ASIC Solutions Division.
The additional components of the system are a photodetector, optical fibre, and software. The initial system is contained in a module that is powered through USB interface and consumes less than 150 mA. The module measures 8 x 6 x 3 cm3 and weighs less than 150 g. All of this makd it one of the smallest and lowest power consuming FTIR spectrometers in the world.
"SWS is proud to receive this award and have its MEMS FTIR spectrometer recognized as a leading new product in the industry," says Bassam Saadany, Optical MEMS Technology Division Manager at SWS. "This recognition validates that SWS' FTIR spectrometer represents a paradigm shift for spectroscopy and offers the realization of a true portable and handheld spectrometer"
The FTIR spectrometer is the first product to be developed and released based on SWS's Silicon integrated Micro Optical System Technology (SiMOST). SiMOST is a complete platform that enables the creation of monolithic optical systems using validated MEMS components.
Multiple optical MEMS structures can be patterned and etched on SOI wafers using Deep Reactive Ion Etching (DRIE). The structures are then wafer level packaged and diced to create a one-chip optical system.
Evaluation modules for the FTIR spectrometer, the SWS62211-P, are available now from SWS.
