PARISS® Modular Hyperspectral
Imaging Spectrometer Systems
The PARISS imaging spectroscopy system is
modular and designed for laboratory-based
spectral and hyperspectral analysis.
PARISS®: Prism And Reflector Imaging
Spectroscopy System Basics
The PARISS Prism: The Unique Curved
Sides Dramatically Increases Sensitivity
In order to increase instrument sensitivity,
diffraction grating designs were discarded in
favor of a prism-based system.
The PARISS design was originally
developed by The Aerospace Corporation
for airborne remote sensing.
After redesign, the PARISS imaging
spectrometer emerged as an ideal
instrument for use in any laboratory.
The curved sides of the prism add optical
power to deliver near aberration-free
imaging, from 365 up to 1,000-nm.
The net result is a highly significant
improvement in signal to noise ratio (S/N)
when compared to diffraction grating
solutions.
Enhanced sensitivity extends into the near
IR where detectors and visible diffraction
gratings are at their lowest efficiency.
Spectrum cameras: Located at the focus of
the imaging spectrometer, the camera
records the sample spectra. Spectrum
cameras are chosen as a function of
anticipated signal strength.
LightForm partners with camera
manufacturers that supply the appropriate
camera consistent with an application.
Zoom light-collection optics: LightForm
integrates lenses optimized for the
application.
For example, microscope objectives may be
necessary for biopsy samples, while
telephoto lenses would be used to image
ponds polluted with deadly cyanobacteria.
There is no one lens solution that fits all
applications.
LightForm specializes in developing zoom
magnification optics that eliminate the need
for multiple lenses or objectives.
While zoom camera lenses are
commonplace most, if not all de-magnify a
field of view (FOV).
PARISS zoom magnification optics
accommodates objects that are less than
one micron in size.
Software: PARISS software is written in
Python, with spectroscopy utilities that
include: %reflection, absorption,
%transmission, fluorescence,
luminescence…
Math functions include smoothing,
background subtraction, division,
multiplication, noise reduction…
Spectral classification: Spectra present
that can be associated with objects or
conditions are assembled into classes.
Selected classes can then be added to a
“Reference Spectral Library.”
Correlation functions enable the extent of a
class to be controlled and optimized.
Reference spectral libraries (RSL): RSLs
consist of a collection of spectral classes
consistent with a given application or sample
type.
RSLs can be created, added to, or edited.
Spectral classes can be named and pseudo-
colored
Spectra recognition algorithms: Enables
objects in new samples to be “recognized”
by correlating their spectra with those in an
RSL. A recognized object acquires the
pseudo-color of the associated RSL
component class.
Imaging Spectroscopy Requires a Highly
Efficient Imaging Spectrometer
The PARISS imaging spectroscopy system is
based on a prism imaging spectrometer:
Unlike a diffraction grating that splits light into
multiple diffraction orders, a prism delivers
90% of spectral intensity directly to the
detector.
This ensures the highest possible signal to
noise ratio (S/N).