Light source for variable path length systems

A wavelength selection mechanism for use in sample analysis, the wavelength selection mechanism comprising:

• a spectrometer for receiving light from a light source and for outputting light at a plurality of different wavelengths;
• an optical receiving component (ORC) for receiving the light outputted by the spectrometer;
• and
• an actuator configured to selectively adjust a relative position along first and second axes between the ORC and the spectrometer such that the ORC receives light from a selected one of the plurality of light outputs at a location within the selected one of the plurality of light outputs at which a desired light intensity exists, the selected one of the plurality of light outputs having a wavelength for determining a characteristic of the sample.

A method for determining a characteristic of a sample, comprising:

• directing a light into an input of a spectrometer;
• at the spectrometer, splitting the light into a plurality of light outputs each having a different wavelength;
• moving at least one of the spectrometer and an optical receiving component (ORC) of an active wavelength selection module AWSM with respect to each other along a scanning direction and in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction such that the ORC receives light from a selected one of the plurality of light outputs at a location within the selected one of the plurality of light outputs at which a desired light intensity exists;
• directing the received light to a sample;
• collecting a quantity of the received light that passes through the sample and directing the collected light to an analysis module;
• and
• at the analysis module, correlating the collected light with a characteristic of the sample.