Optical temperature compensation of spectral modulation sensors by spectrographic interrogation having a dispersive element

An optical temperature compensation system for spectral modulation sensors, comprising:

• a plurality of spectral modulation sensors;
• a light director optically coupled to said plurality of spectral modulation sensors for receiving excitation light and for delivering respective sensor portions of the excitation light to said spectral modulation sensors;
• and
• an optical processing component for receiving modulated light from said plurality of spectral modulation sensors and for receiving a source portion of excitation light from said light director, said optical processing component comprising:
• a dispersive element for dispersing said source portion of excitation light and said modulated light from said plurality of spectral modulation sensors;
• and
• a charge transfer device for converting the dispersed portions of light into electrical signals.

An optical temperature compensation system for spectral modulation sensors, comprising:

• means for splitting excitation light into first and second excitation portions;
• means for spectrally modulating said first excitation portions;
• means for dispersing the modulated first excitation portion and said second excitation portion;
• means for converting the dispersed, modulated first excitation portion into a detection electrical signal and the dispersed second excitation portion into a source electrical signal;
• and
• means optically coupled to said converting means for calculating a detected ratio of said source and detection electrical signals.

A method of optical temperature compensation for spectral modulation sensors, comprising the steps of:

• splitting excitation light into two excitation portions;
• spectrally modulating one of said two excitation portions of said excitation light;
• dispersing the modulated portion of said excitation light;
• converting the dispersed, modulated portion of said excitation light into detection electrical signals;
• dispersing the second excitation portion of said excitation light;
• converting the dispersed second excitation portion of said excitation light into a source electrical signal;
• and
• calculating a detected ratio of said source and detection electrical signals.