Patent ID: 7280204

Claim:
A spectral detection system for detection, analysis, and classification of micro-particles, comprising: an observation region, where a targeted sample luminesces when excited by a light source; a multi-channel photodetector array having a plurality of photodetectors, each photodetector configured to receive a particular band of light from a spectrum of light collected from the observation region; a light-dispersion element configured to disperse the luminescence collected from the observation region and project the spectrum onto photodetectors in the photodetector array; a detector configured to detect the luminescence and transmit a triggering signal upon detection; a multi-channel collection system configured to receive a signal in parallel from each photodetector in the multi-channel photodetector array upon the triggering signal, digitize the signal into a multi-bit word digital signal, process the digital signal, form a spectral signature by combining each digital signal, and transmit the spectral signature; and a processor configured to receive the spectral signature and process the spectral signature and store the spectral signature for a subsequent analysis.