Method and device for correcting a spectrum

1. A method for correcting at least one portion of a spectrum by eliminating a baseline which is due to a perturbing spectrum superimposed on said spectrum to be corrected, comprising a sequence of steps:

i) collecting from a spectrometer, spectral data representing the spectrum to be corrected,

ii) storing the spectral data in a memory,

iii) adding data generated from a convex function f to said stored spectral data at least in said portion to be corrected, wherein the convex function f is a function whose tangents at any point of its function curve lie below its function curve at least in said portion to be corrected,

iv) determining data representing a convex envelope of said stored spectral data at least in said portion of said spectrum to be corrected, after said convex function f data has been added to said stored spectral data in said portion to be corrected, and

v) subtracting that part of said convex envelope data which lies below said spectrum from said stored spectral data in said portion to be corrected so that the stored spectral data represents a corrected spectrum.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said function f is determined in said portion to be corrected such that said function f is centered at least approximately with respect to the center of said portion to be corrected.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said function f is determined in said portion to be corrected such that function values of said function f at ends of said portion to be corrected are greater than the function value of the function f in a center of said portion to be corrected by about 5% to 15% of a difference between a maximum value of the stored spectrum data and the minimum value of the stored spectrum data.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said function f is determined in said portion to be corrected such that function values of said function f at ends of said portion to be corrected are greater than the function value of the function f in a center of said portion to be corrected by about 10% of a difference between a maximum value of the stored spectrum data and the minimum value of the stored spectrum data.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said function f is of the form f(x)=F·|x−x O | n /N in said portion to be corrected, where n>1 and x O is a center of said portion of said spectrum which is to be corrected.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one portion is the entire range of interest of said spectrum to be corrected.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said sequence of steps i), ii) and iii) is iterated repeatedly until a desired baseline is obtained.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein F is determined as a fraction of the difference between a maximum (Y MAX ) and a minimum (Y MIN ) of said spectrum in said portion to be corrected.

9. The method of claim 5 , wherein N is determined as |x E −x O | n , where x E is an end of said portion to be corrected.

10. The method of claim 5 , wherein n =2.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein F is determined as (Y MAX −Y MIN )/10.

12. A device for correcting at least one portion of a spectrum by eliminating a baseline which is due to a perturbing spectrum superimposed on said spectrum to be corrected, comprising a computer unit which is configured so as to carry out a method comprising a sequence of steps:

i) adding a convex function f to said spectrum to be corrected at least in said portion to be corrected, wherein the convex function f is a function whose tangents at any point of its function curve lie below its function curve at least in said portion to be corrected,

ii) determining a convex envelope of said spectrum at least in said portion of said spectrum to be corrected, after said convex function f has been added to said spectrum in said portion to be corrected, and

iii) subtracting that part of said convex envelope which lies below said spectrum from said spectrum in said portion to be corrected.

13. The device of claim 12 , further comprising a controller for adjusting a number of iterations of said sequence of steps i), ii), iii) and therefore a degree of correction of said baseline via said controller.

14. The device of claim 13 , further comprising a display device for displaying said spectrum and for tracking said degree of correction of said baseline set via said controller.

15. A spectrometer device, comprising a spectrometer and a device for correcting at least one portion of a spectrum by eliminating a baseline which is due to a perturbing spectrum superimposed on said spectrum to be corrected, said device for correcting comprising a computer unit which is configured so as to carry out a method comprising a sequence of steps:

i) adding a convex function f to said spectrum to be corrected at least in said portion to be corrected, wherein the convex function f is a function whose tangents at any point of its function curve lie below its function curve at least in said portion to be corrected,

ii) determining a convex envelope of said spectrum at least in said portion of said spectrum to be corrected, after said convex function f has been added to said spectrum in said portion to be corrected, and

iii) subtracting that part of said convex envelope which lies below said spectrum from said spectrum in said portion to be corrected.

16. A computer-readable storage medium on which a program which can carry out a method for correcting at least one portion of a spectrum by eliminating a baseline which is due to a perturbing spectrum superimposed on said spectrum to be corrected is stored, said method comprising a sequence of steps:

i) adding a convex function f to said spectrum to be corrected at least in said portion to be corrected, wherein the convex function f is a function whose tangents at any point of its function curve lie below its function curve at least in said portion to be corrected,

ii) determining a convex envelope of said spectrum at least in said portion of said spectrum to be corrected, after said convex function f has been added to said spectrum in said portion to be corrected, and

iii) subtracting that part of said convex envelope which lies below said spectrum from said spectrum in said portion to be corrected.