**interesting to see a Medical Application for the BeST-SLED, and the timing of the supply and strategic partnership with Luxmux being at the same time that Thomas Mika joins Poet, him coming from a healthcare technology background. (Rennova Health Inc & Nanovibronix)

full article found here https://www.photonics.com/Article.aspx?AID=61376

The industry is primed and ready for Photonics West 2017. It’s a time for networking, sharing products and research, and learning. It’s a time to recognize the world’s top innovators, as well.

This largest conference and expo in the photonics industry gives companies and researchers from around the world the chance to bring their advances to center stage, by way of the Prism Awards for Photonics Innovation. To be held Feb. 1, and sponsored by SPIE and Photonics Media, this annual event recognizes the industry’s top companies and products. This year’s finalists, chosen from hundreds of entries, were determined by a panel of judges who represent all fields of photonics. And the competition is fierce.

Detectors and sensors

The new MIRA analyzer, developed by Aeris Technologies Inc., represents a disruptive advance in the laser-based gas analysis space, achieving “gold standard” ppb-level performance comparable to systems that are 10 to 15× larger and heavier.

The gas sensing device is based on simple and robust direct absorption spectroscopy that uses solid-state lasers in the mid-IR region, where molecular absorption is typically thousands of times stronger than the commonly used near-IR. Combined with compact custom electronics, “this miniature sensor core enables the world’s smallest autonomous, ppb-level analyzer on the market.” For natural gas leak detection, the device is able to measure both methane and ethane simultaneously at the 2 ppb level, discriminating methane from fossil fuels versus biogenic sources.

GoSpectro, from Alphanov, is a universal device that connects to any smartphone or tablet, turning it into a compact, easy-to-use, cost-effective light spectrometer. It makes possible the characterization of light sources (LEDs, etc.), displays, tunable lasers, optical filters or fluorescent dyes in a matter of seconds. It is a handheld tool that also measures emission and absorption peak wavelengths, cut-off wavelengths or spectral bandwidth, and enables material analysis (e.g., gemstones, crystals), or chemical analysis in liquids associated with color-based reagents for assessing water or food quality.v GoSpectro users can measure spectra, adjust acquisition parameters, display and save spectral data. Spectra are measured from 400 to 750 nm, with a resolution of
Hesai Photonics Technologies Co.’s Drone-mounted Natural Gas Surveillance System is the first drone-mounted methane remote sensor for indoor natural gas leakage inspection. It has the ability to cover thousands of households a day, making it 50 times more efficient than conventional sensing methods. The company says its new system “makes enormous contributions to preventing accidents and saving lives.”

The system features a very light methane remote sensor with high sensitivity detection, range and response — “0.5 kg, compared to 4.5 kg from major competitor.” It takes advantage of wavelength-scanned, wavelength-modulation-absorption spectroscopy with multiple harmonic detections.

By using its own algorithm, the sensor can identify false alarms due to the etalon interference from windows or other occasions where parallel optical surfaces are present. These false alarms have occurred frequently during operations in other products.

Developed by Luxmux Technology, the BeST-SLED light source will ultimately reduce greenhouse gas emissions and water usage through detection efficiencies. It is already being used in the medical and manufacturing industries through increased visiblilty in OCT.

BeST-SLED’s main component is the butterfly package, which is a multiple superluminescent diode light source. It allows integrators to put the power of laboratory-grade photonics into their solutions, while providing “unparalleled spectral coverage.” This butterfly package provides 500 nm (1230 to 1730 nm) with up to 50 mW of optical power from a single-mode fiber. The system’s miniaturization is achieved without sacrifice of quality or performance.