Optical sensor device and method for spectral analysis

1. Optical detection device for spectroscopic measurements comprising several input apertures, an imaging device, several diffraction gratings, each grating being associated with a corresponding input aperture and a linear detection array, wherein the grating lines of the diffraction gratings extend at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the linear detection array, and wherein the diffraction gratings cause spectra from each input aperture to impinge on different portions of the linear detection array.

2. Optical detection device according to claim 1 , wherein the first order diffractions of the diffraction gratings abut one another on the linear detection array.

3. Optical detection device according to claim 1 , wherein the acute angle is substantially 45°.

4. Optical detection device according to claim 1 , wherein the detection array has a single linear array of light sensitive detection pixels and wherein an axis of the linear array is offset with respect to an optical axis of the optical detection device.

5. Optical detection device according to claim 1 , wherein the diffraction grating has a preferential direction maximizing power diffraction into an order intercepted by the linear detection array.

6. Optical detection device according to claim 1 , wherein the imaging device is a lens array.

7. Optical detection device according to claim 1 , wherein an optical anti-aliasing means is arranged in front of the input apertures to provide anti-aliasing in at least one direction.

8. Optical detection device according to claim 1 , wherein illumination means is arranged to provide a stripe-like illuminated area on an object to be analyzed.

9. Optical detection device according to claim 8 , wherein the illumination means has a continuous broad band spectrum in the visible and/or the infrared range.

10. Optical detection device according to claim 8 , wherein the illumination means comprises a multiplicity of sources and an imaging device for projecting the light of the sources to a stripe-like illumination area.

11. Optical detection device according to claim 1 , wherein a fiber bundle maps areas of an object on the input apertures.

12. Device for validating bank notes comprising;

a) a bank note transport path for sequentially feeding bank notes; and

b) an optical detection device according to claim 1 .

13. Optical detection device according to claim 6 , wherein the lens array is a GRIN lens array.

14. Optical detection device according to claim 7 , wherein the optical anti-aliasing means is a cylinder lens.

15. Optical detection device according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one direction is a direction parallel to the detection array.

16. Optical detection device according to claim 10 , wherein the imaging device for projecting the light of the sources is a cylinder lens.

17. Method for the spectral analysis of an area of detection of an object, comprising:

a) limiting the area of detection by at least one input aperture;

b) further limiting the area of detection by:

1) associating a diffraction grating to each input aperture of the at least one input aperture; and

2) selecting an angle of rotation, a pitch of each input aperture and a pitch of the associated diffraction grating in such a way that the spectra of multiple points in the area of detection are contiguously mapped onto a linear detection array, enabling the spectra of multiple points to be measured simultaneously;

c) imposing a diffraction effect on the light limited by the at least one input aperture; and

d) detecting a first and/or higher order diffraction effect by means of the linear detection array,

wherein a rotation relative to the orientation of the linear detection array is imposed on the diffraction effect.