Next-Generation Digital High-Bandwidth Spectroscopy Sensor Systems

A key barrier to the forward progress of modern fluorescence sensor systems is their relatively large and bulky nature. As inexpensive digital signal processors (DSPs) and as solid state components, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) and photodiodes (PDs), become available this will foster an environment that will continue to allow a paradigm shift in which digital systems replace analog ones, thus reducing many costs and improving performance (including reduced power). The goal of this activity is to provide contributions to the emerging field of high bandwidth fluorescence sensor systems for in situ monitoring and analysis. While this area is rapidly expanding in scope, this paper will provide basic research in high bandwidth all-digital sensor front-ends, which forms the interface between the "real-world" and the computational intelligence of the sensor system. The expected outcomes are: fundamental research that will provide new insight into the architecture and quantization problems of this front-end, thus providing reduced weight, power consumption, and computing resource utilization.