# US 11,441,945 B2 · Distance measurements using spectrometer systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,441,945 B2 - Document ID: US11441945B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/290,066 - Filed: 2019-11-13 - Published: 2021-12-23 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-11-15 - Assignees: ams Sensors Singapore Pte. Ltd. - Applicants: ams Sensors Singapore Pte. Ltd. - Inventors: James Eilertsen; Javier Miguel Sánchez - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11441945B2 ## CPC - G01J 3/0278: {Control or determination of height or angle information for sensors or receivers} - G01J 3/0256: {Compact construction} - G01J 3/0264: {Electrical interface; User interface} - G01J 3/0272: {Handheld} - G01J 3/0275: {making use of sensor-related data, e.g. for identification of sensor parts or optical elements} - G01J 3/0289: {Field-of-view determination; Aiming or pointing of a spectrometer; Adjusting alignment; Encoding angular position; Size of measurement area; Position tracking} - G01J 3/0294: {Multi-channel spectroscopy} - G01J 3/0297: {Constructional arrangements for removing other types of optical noise or for performing calibration} - G01J 3/10: Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for spectrometry or colorimetry - G01J 3/28: Investigating the spectrum (using colour filters G01J3/51) - G01J 3/2803: {using photoelectric array detector} - G01J 3/36: Investigating two or more bands of a spectrum by separate detectors - G01J 2003/104: {Monochromatic plural sources} - G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N) ## Abstract An example system includes a light source, a first spectrometer, a second spectrometer, and an electronic control module. The light source is operable to emit light within a first range of wavelengths in a field of illumination. The first spectrometer is operable to measure first sample light reflected from an object within a second range of wavelengths and in a first field of detection. The second spectrometer is operable to measure second sample light reflected from the object within a third range of wavelengths and in a second field of detection. The electronic control module operable to determine, based on the measured first sample light and the measured second sample light, a distance between the system and the object, and determine, based on the measured first sample light and the measured second sample light, a spectral distribution of light corresponding to the object. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a light source operable to emit light within a first range of wavelengths in a field of illumination; a first spectrometer operable to measure first sample light reflected from an object within a second range of wavelengths and in a first field of detection, the second range of wavelengths being a subset of the first range of wavelengths; a second spectrometer operable to measure second sample light reflected from the object within a third range of wavelengths and in a second field of detection, the third range of wavelengths being a subset of the first range of wavelengths, the third range of wavelengths at least partially overlapping the second range of wavelengths, and the second field of detection being different from the first field of detection; and an electronic control module operable to: determine, based on the measured first sample light and the measured second sample light, a distance between the system and the object, and determine, based on the measured first sample light and the measured second sample light, a spectral distribution of light corresponding to the object. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first spectrometer is operable to measure the first sample light concurrently with the second spectrometer measuring the second sample light. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first spectrometer is operable to measure the first sample light incrementally with respect to the second range of wavelengths, and wherein the second spectrometer is operable to measure the second sample light incrementally with respect to the third range of wavelengths. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the second spectrometer is disposed between the first spectrometer and the light source along an axis of the system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first field of detection partially overlaps the second field of detection. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the field of illumination at least partially overlaps the first field of detection and the second field of detection. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic control module operable to determine the distance by: determining a first intensity value indicating an intensity of the first sample light with respect to a fourth range of wavelengths, the fourth range of wavelengths being common to the second range of wavelengths and the third range of wavelengths; and determining a second intensity value indicating an intensity of the second sample light with respect to the fourth range of wavelengths. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic control module is operable to: generate a data record indicating the spectral distribution of light and the distance. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic control module is operable to: transmit the data record to a remote computer system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the electronic control module is operable to: retrieve, from the remote computer system, one or more additional data records, each additional data record indicating a respective sample spectral distribution of light and a respective sample distance associated with that sample spectral distribution of light; and determine at least one of: a similarity between the distance and one or more sample distances, or a similarity between the spectral distribution of light and one or more sample spectral distributions of light. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the electronic control module is operable determine a composition of the object based on at least one of: the similarity between the distance and one or more sample distances, or the similarity between the spectral distribution of light and one or more sample spectral distributions of light. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic control module is operable to determine a reflectivity of the object, and determine the spectral distribution of light corresponding to the object based further on the reflectivity of the object. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the reflectivity of the object is determined based on at least one of a power of the first sample light or a power of the second sample light. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein determining the spectral distribution of light comprises calibrating at least one of the first spectrometer or the second spectrometer based on the reflectivity of the object. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the system is a mobile device. ### Claim 16 A method comprising: emitting, using a light source of a system, light within a first range of wavelengths in a field of illumination; measuring, using a first spectrometer of the system, first sample light reflected from an object within a second range of wavelengths and in a first field of detection, the second range of wavelengths being a subset of the first range of wavelengths; measuring, using a second spectrometer of the system, second sample light reflected from the object within a third range of wavelengths and in a second field of detection, the third range of wavelengths being a subset of the first range of wavelengths, the third range of wavelengths at least partially overlapping the second range of wavelengths, and the second field of detection being different from the first field of detection; determining, using an electronic control module, a distance between the system and the object based on the measured first sample light and the measured second sample light; and determining, using the electronic control module, a spectral distribution of light corresponding to the object based on the measured first sample light and the measured second sample light. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the first sample light and the second sample light are measured concurrently. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the first sample light is measured incrementally with respect to the second range of wavelengths, and wherein the second sample light is measured incrementally with respect to the third range of wavelengths. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the first field of detection partially overlaps the second field of detection. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the field of illumination at least partially overlaps the first field of detection and the second field of detection.