Patent ID: 7852474

Claim:
A spectral analysis unit for acting on a parallel light bundle having a range of wavelengths, the spectral analysis unit comprising: a diffraction grating configured to spectrally split through diffraction the different wavelengths of an incident parallel light bundle having a range of wavelengths into an uncycled first order light bundle in a first direction, and into an uncycled zero order light bundle in a second direction, a detector line made up of a plurality of individual elements, a deflecting device oriented and positioned to reflect the uncycled zero order light bundle back to the diffraction grating to spectrally split through diffraction the different wavelengths of the reflected zero order light bundle into a first cycle first order light bundle in the first direction, and into a first cycle zero order light bundle in the second direction, wherein the deflecting device comprises a prism section which has a minimum of first, second, third, and fourth optically effective surfaces perpendicular to a dispersion plane of the diffraction grating, wherein the first optically effective surface constitutes a light entry surface for the incident parallel light bundle and lies opposite to the diffraction grating, the second optically effective surface constitutes a light exit surface for the first order light bundles and the third optically effective surface constitutes a first mirroring surface for reflection of the zero order light bundles, wherein the diffraction grating constitutes another surface of the prism, first optic means for focusing the same parts of the wavelength range of the uncycled first order light bundle and the first cycle first order light bundle onto respective individual elements of the detector line, and evaluation electronics connected to the detector line for obtaining data related to a created spectrum.