MantiSpectra B.V.
MantiSpectra is the vertically integrated spin-off of the Eindhoven University of Technology.
Our Mission: Making Spectral Analysis Possible For The Masses.
These sensors will be employed directly where needed: on the field by farmers, in the process line on conveyor belts, along the full production chain, at the point-of-care.
At MantiSpectra, we believe that integrating spectroscopy at a wafer level will open up new applications where volume, robustness and ease-of-integration are key.
From distributed sensors for quality measurements and material identification in process control and agriculture to portable scanners or standalone IoT nodes.
What Is NIR Spectroscopy?
Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy is based on the absorption of molecules in the near-infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
The core principle is simple: light is emitted by a light source such as a tungsten lamp and its spectrum is selectively absorbed by the molecules of a target object resulting in a 'fingerprint' of the material. The light that interacts with the object is measured via a spectrometer, an instrument that typically contains a moving grating, and a single detector to resolve the spectrum.
The spectrum is then compared to a database and the properties of the object can be quantified and/or the material classified.
After its first application in the agricultural sector starting in the 1960s, NIR spectroscopy has been used in many fields: ranging from process analysis to pharmaceuticals and quality control. However, current spectrometers are still bulky and expensive which currently limits their application to labs and industrial control.
MantiSpectra's near-infrared spectral sensors
In-situ analysis has recently driven the development of portable spectroscopy that does not require bringing a sample to a dedicated lab.
In this regard, mini-spectrometers have been realized based on various technologies such as micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), Fourier-transformed interferometers (FTIR) or dispersive gratings and waveguides.
However, most of these solutions are affected by mechanical vibrations, have limited spectral range, need re-calibration, or have a limited signal-to-noise ratio. This motivated us to ask the following question: Can we find a much simpler solution?
Getting inspired by nature
Vision systems found in the animal kingdom use a limited set of photodetectors to distinguish different materials and objects. Our eyes are extraordinary examples: they contain only three color photoreceptors with overlapping spectral responses. However, they their spectral range is limited to the visible, and most chemical information is encoded at longer wavelengths.
That's why we developed ChipSense™: a multi-pixel array containing sixteen detectors. This is fabricated with standard semiconductor processing and they have high responsivity in the NIR region from 850 to 1700 nm.
By co-integrating filters and detectors at a wafer level, mass manufacturing is possible, allowing to scale volume and reduce the price.
Competitive Advantages Of Our Technology
MantiSpectra's unique innovation relies on a breakthrough technology developed at the Eindhoven University of Technology and is based on integration on the Indium Phosphide platform.
Our innovation fills a gap in previous spectral sensing technologies, extending the detection range up to 1700 nm. In addition it features a series of technological advantages over competing solutions:
No moving parts
Low dark current and high signal to noise ratio (~10000 SNR)
Fast: multi-pixel read-out in less than few seconds
Scalable to large volume production
