Tech@Lunch - Optical detection in industrial applications: from imaging to spectroscopy

The topic of the fifth Tech@Lunch session of 2023 is "Optical detection in industrial applications: from imaging to spectroscopy." Optical spectroscopy studies the interaction between light and matter and provides valuable information about the structure and composition of tested samples. To improve data processing and extract the most information from spectroscopic data, machine learning provides a powerful tool for product identification and matter composition determination, respectively.

In this session, we will demonstrate through examples how light technology and optical spectroscopy can be used as an optical detection tool, focusing on UV-VIS-NIR reflectance spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy. Examples include the evaluation of the color contrast of push buttons, seal inspection of food packaging, turf field monitoring and in-line detection of foreign objects in food. The entire supply chain is discussed, from broadband spectroscopic characterization, to spectral data processing and industrial integration, focusing on the optimization of both the detection equipment and the processing algorithm to achieve unprecedented performance.

This integration and optimization of optical spectroscopic sensors can be accelerated by the "PhotonHub Europe" project, a full-service pan-European digital innovation hub for photonics, driving innovation and competitiveness in Europe.