| abstract |
A sensor ( 200, 900 ) comprising an illuminator ( 212, 500, 804, 832, 858, 904 ), a receiver ( 216, 400, 420, 460, 480, 808, 836, 862, 924 ) and an analyzer ( 240 ) for detecting and identifying an analyte having a characteristic absorption band that is present in a sample region ( 208, 812, 824, 874, 922 ). The illuminator includes an illumination source ( 220 ) for illuminating the sample region with spectral energy across at least a portion of the characteristic absorption band. The receiver includes a detector ( 228, 404, 424, 460, 484, 866, 928 ) for sensing predetermined portions of the spectral energy band and for creating a sample spectral data vector ( 236 ). The analyzer uses the spectral data vector and known characteristic data to detect and identify the analyte. |