Device and method for optical analysis using multiple integrated computational elements

An apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to,
• generate a plurality of integrated computational element (ICE) models, each of the ICE models including a plurality of layers;
• determine, starting with the plurality of ICE models, a plurality of modified ICE models, wherein the determination of the plurality of modified ICE models is performed by the processor in an iterative manner, wherein the instructions for each iteration include cause the apparatus to:
• determine a sensor response from a projection of a plurality of ICE transmission vectors associated with the plurality of ICE models and a convolved spectrum associated with a sample library, wherein the convolved spectrum is determined by convolving fluid sample characteristics from the sample library with characteristics of an optical path of an optical computing device;
• determine a regression vector based on a multilinear regression that targets a sample characteristic from the sample library and the sensor response;
• determine a plurality of regression coefficients in a linear combination of the plurality of ICE transmission vectors that results in the regression vector;
• determine a difference between the regression vector and an optimal regression vector associated with the sample characteristic;
• modify the plurality of ICE models, wherein modification of the plurality of ICE models comprises, for each iteration, modifying either or both a number of layers of at least one of the ICE models or a thickness of one or more layers of the plurality of layers of at least one of the ICE models to generate a modified plurality of ICE models, and
• continue to the next iteration until the difference between the regression vector and the optimal regression vector is within a selected tolerance, wherein the plurality of modified ICE models act as the plurality of ICE models for the next iteration;
• and
• provide the plurality of ICE models to fabricate a plurality of ICEs based on the plurality of ICE models.