New high-end spectroscopy technology from Princeton
that it claims will revolutionise the world of spectroscopy and
triple the speed of current devices.
The new technology, known as Hybrid Sensor Technology, combines the key benefits of the sensitivity of charged coupled devices (CCDs), with the high speed, low noise, analog and digital signal processing capabilities of complimentary metal-oxide semiconductors (CMOs).
The result is a dedicated spectroscopy detector, which combines almost 100 per cent quantum efficiency, speed, independent sub-electron readout noise and negligible dark current with virtually unlimited dynamic range.
Most current spectroscopy detectors use either CCDs or CMOs but both methods come with disadvantages.
With CCDs, reader noise increases with speed. Although this is not the case with CMOs, the sensitivity with CMOs is not as good as with CCDs.
Therefore the combination of the two methods eliminates these disadvantages and provides the "best of both worlds," Marc Neglia, senior product manager of spectroscopy, told LabTechnologist.com.
"No other spectroscopy device combines CCD with CMO and this technology is unparalleled," said Neglia.
"In addition, the technology provides the ability to take true quantitative measurements, as opposed to just qualitative measurements, unlike current devices using EMCCD," he said.
The company is now using the technology to design a new camera device that will provide the capability to achieve thousands of spectra per second at sub-electron readout noise, compared to the 300-400 that current devices achieve.
Princeton Instruments/Acton hopes to have the new camera on the worldwide market by the beginning of 2007.
"Hybrid Sensor Technology heralds a completely new era in high end spectroscopy," said John Knapton, vice president of sales & marketing.
"For the first time researchers will not have to compromise quantitative experimental measurements or speed in extremely low light conditions," he said.
