A Spectrometer measures light similar to how a camera takes a picture. The spectrometer takes a quick snap shot of the light and provides an image (or graph) of the light output. It does this by letting in light in for a short period of time, breaking down the incoming signal and spreading it across a sensor array which separates out each wavelength and then scales it based on the sensors sensitivity and the incoming signals amplitude.
Radiometers are similar in that they measure the lights output/amplitude, but differ in that they cannot tell you which wavelength(s) were emitted or their individual amplitude. A Radiometer typically measures the incoming current or voltage from the sensor which is proportional to the light level that reaches the sensor. The meter then applies a correction/calibration factor to the incoming signal to provide a calibrated light level measurement. The meter provides a single reading for all wavelengths of light reaching the sensor in one combined result.
The Spectrometer is the base unit of a Spectroradiometer. Spectroradiometers include input optics and calibrations that allow the spectrometer to take calibrated readings of power, intensity, and irradiance/radiance in optical units or lux/nm, lumens/nm, watts/nm, W/cm2/sr/nm etc. Though to be clear, many people interchange the terms calibrated spectrometer, spectrometer and spectroradiometer.
Spectrometers have internal sensors that can instantaneously measure the light and divide the incoming signal across a detector array which measures the signal in small bands or individual wavelengths based on the resolution of the system. (ie. 1 nm, 5 nm or 10 nm resolution). This is done through the use of CCD (charge coupled device) arrays, or CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) image sensors.
Calibration is then applied to each wavelength to convert the signal of each pixel in counts to a calibrated reading of both amplitude and wavelength that is typically plotted in a graph on the internal display or on a PC. These calibrated wavelength and light level readings are then converted by numerous algorithms to calculate color temperature, duv, and CRI.
Spectrometers are most commonly sold to measure UV to VIS or NIR in a single scan. There are systems that are capable of measuring UVC and well as IR though typically the accuracy of these outer wavelengths is reduced especially for a broad band system.
Spectrometers can provide a highly accurate calibrated wavelength and light level reading provided the signal is strong enough across the full spectrum that is to be measured. Spectrometers do have issues with stray light and noise when the signal is weak in general or when the VIS/ NIR output is significantly stronger than the UV/IR.
A Radiometer or light meter typically consist of a meter body that measures current of voltage from an internal or external detector. The detector (sensor or photo-diode) is designed to measure a specific band of light as shown in the sensitivity curves below. (ie SiC (silicon carbide) 215-355, SI (silicon) 200-1100nm, InGaAs 850-1700 nm...)
Des filtres sont ensuite ajoutés au capteur pour laisser passer la lumière à mesurer et bloquer les longueurs d'onde indésirables des mesures. La combinaison du filtre du capteur crée la courbe de sensibilité souhaitée, souvent appelée courbe en forme de cloche. Vous trouverez ci-dessous trois filtres différents affichés sur la même photo-diode au silicium pour créer 3 courbes de sensibilité différentes pour les UVA/VIS, les UVA et les VIS.
There are also filters that are designed to offer more uniform sensitivity over a specific band which is especially useful for measuring LED's, lasers and other narrow band sources.
Les capteurs sont généralement calibrés à l'intensité maximale et mesurent toute la lumière sous la courbe pour fournir une lecture combinée en unités telles que lux, W/cm2, Lumens, Watts, Candela, etc.
Radiometers offer a more simple operation, and are less prone to noise and stray light when properly filtered. Since radiometers rely on the filter to create a match to the light source, variation in filters from different light meter manufactures add some difficulty when comparing results of light meters from different suppliers. Also the bell shaped curve of the filter can increase the total error for light sources that have numerous peaks or a peak that is not at the center wavelength of the filter. Some of these errors can be corrected with custom wavelength calibration and algorithms, while others are too difficult to correct with a single filter design. Many radiometers can be used with numerous sensors to cover many different bands of light such as UVA, 250-400, VIS etc.
