Charging
How do I charge my sensor? Where is the charging cable?
The sensor does not come with a cable, but you can use any ordinary micro-USB cable, such as is used with many smartphones. The rightmost (red) LED will light, indicating that it is charging. That LED goes out when the sensor is fully charged. You can check the charge level in the app, in the Settings screen. The sensor may not work well if the level is below 35%. It should do about 1,000 scans on a full charge.
Do not scan while charging; that can cause electrical interference with the scan.
Calibration
Do I have to do a "calibration scan"?
A calibration scan was done before the sensor was shipped, and you can actually go a very long time without a new calibration scan (over 10,000 scans). The app may prompt you for a “Calibration scan” if you have not done one in a while.
If you do have a proper calibration material you can do a new calibration scan (see the answer about what to use), but you can always skip the calibration and continue scanning.
What should I use for a "calibration scan"?
You must use a special material called an NIR diffuse reflectance standard. That is porous polymer material that reflects infrared light in all directions. One such material is Spectralon 99% from Labsphere. It is highly reflective of the invisible infrared light the sensor uses. The one you want is SRS-99-010, and it need not be of the “calibrated” type for this use.
The material is easily contaminated by contact with the sensor, so see the answer about dirt on the sensor.
Do not use something else that looks white, like paper. It will cause all your results to be wrong.
How do I clean my calibration material?
Do not use alcohol or other solvents! There is a page about cleaning Spectralon here, but in short you sand down the material under running water. Using alcohol will cause contaminants to be absorbed into the material.
If you dry your calibration material with an air jet, be certain that it is air. Canned products for cleaning electronics typically contain substances which may damage the Spectralon.
Protection and Cleaning
How do I clean the sensor?
You can wipe it with a damp lint-free cloth, or with an alcohol swab. The window and its surround are the most important parts to keep clean. When scanning a material which might transfer to the sensor you can use a thin transparent plastic film to protect the sensor, or a very thin bag such as is used to store food. It should be completely clean, transparent, and not translucent or foggy as some such bags are. Don’t stretch the film tight, but don’t allow bubbles under it either. A bag can be used with either the sample or the sensor inside.
Is the Tellspec Enterprise Sensor water resistant?
The Tellspec Enterprise Sensor is not watertight. Simply take the same precautions with your sensor as you would with an ordinary smart phone.
Can I use the Tellspec Enterprise Sensor every day?
Yes, the sensor is designed to be used daily. It can do about 1,000 scans on a fully charged battery.
Is the Tellspec Enterprise Sensor eye-safe?
Yes, the sensor uses an ordinary incandescent tungsten light bulb which is as safe as other household light bulbs.
Do I have to worry about dirt or liquids getting into the sensor?
Yes, the sensor is not fully sealed. If dirt or liquids get inside via small areas such as the space between the window and the rubber around it, or the space between the rubber and the case, they cannot be removed. You can use a thin transparent plastic film to protect the sensor, or a very thin bag such as is used to store food. It should be completely clean, transparent, and not translucent or foggy as some such bags are. Don’t stretch the film tight, but don’t allow bubbles under it either.
My device is not working. What should I do?
Please contact info@tellspec.com with a description of the problem. Please include the Model and S/N information from the bottom of the sensor. The Model starts with NIR, and the S/N starts with TS.
Pairing
How do I pair my sensor with my phone?
When you launch any Tellspec app, after you log in it will show a list of nearby sensors. Just tap yours and it will pair and connect.
The app does not recognize my Tellspec Enterprise Sensor. What should I do?
Make sure the sensor is turned on (!) and that its battery has enough charge. When the sensor is on several LEDs are lit, including the leftmost (green) one indicating power. Plug it in using a micro USB cable, and the rightmost (red) LED should light, indicating that it is charging. That LED goes out when the sensor is fully charged. The sensor info available in the Settings menu of the apps includes the charge level. If it is less than 35 % the sensor may not work well.
Scanning
What materials can I scan?
You can scan anything which is not transparent. And some things that look transparent my actually reflect the near-infrared light which the Tellspec Sensor uses. The only way to be sure is to scan a sample and see the spectrum which is displayed. If the absorbance value (the vertical axis) is less than 3 it is reflecting enough light.
How do I scan a sample?
Bring the Enterprise Sensor’s window into close contact with the sample and press the button on the sensor or the one on the screen of the app you are using. You may be able to see a light coming from the sensor. When the scan is finished, your screen will say that it is receiving the data. In apps which do analysis, when you tap on your screen for results, Tellspec sends relevant information to your smartphone about your sample.
How do I scan things like grains or beans?
Put them into a thin, clear plastic bag. It should be completely clean, transparent, and not translucent or foggy as some such bags are. Scan in several different spots, so as to average over the differences between being close to a piece and between pieces. It may take some experimentation to figure out how many scans to do for any particular material. You should have enough material so that there is at least 1 cm over the sensor window.
How do I scan liquids?
Put it into a thin, clear plastic bag. It should be completely clean, transparent, and not translucent or foggy as some such bags are. You should have enough liquid so that there is at least 1 cm over the sensor window. You can scan at the bottom of the bag, but please avoid any seam which may be there.
At what distance should I put the sensor to the sample?
The sensor needs to touch the sample being scanned. You can use a thin transparent plastic film to protect the sensor, or a very thin bag such as is used to store food. It should be completely clean, transparent, and not translucent or foggy as some such bags are. Don’t stretch the film or bag tight, but don’t allow bubbles under it either. Avoid any seams in the bag.
How long does a scan take?
The scan itself will take about 6 seconds, and information will be displayed on your smartphone a few seconds after you ask for results. The total process should be less than 10 seconds. Many things are better scanned several times in different places, so as to average out differences from place to place.
Can Tellspec scan through paper, plastic, and glass?
Tellspec Enterprise Sensor will not scan through opaque or thick packaging, but it is able to scan through thin clear plastic.
Can I scan liquids in a glass bottle?
That tends to produce poor results. The sensor needs to be very close to what you are scanning, so you should put the liquid in a thin plastic transparent bag. Glass will typically be too thick, which causes the light from the sensor to miss the spot being scanned. Also, ordinary glass absorbs the infrared light which the sensor uses, so the results will not be good. See the answer about scanning liquids.
Can I scan powders, such as flour?
Yes. Put it into a thin, clear plastic bag, and scan in several different spots, so as to average over any inhomogeneity of the material. It may take some experimentation to figure out how many scans to do for any particular material. You should have enough material so that there is at least 1 cm over the sensor window.
Can I scan a plate of food, such as spaghetti carbonara?
Since you must bring the sensor into contact with the food (through thin plastic, in this case) you would need to scan each component separately, and combine the results according to the amount of each present. For this example you would need to scan the spaghetti, meat, and sauce separately. But we don’t have the ability to analyse just any food. Adding new ones is a special project.
Can I scan a sample when charging the device?
Do not scan while charging; that can cause electrical interference with the scan.
Can Tellspec Enterprise Sensor penetrate into a food?
Yes, Enterprise can penetrate below the surface of a food. Typically it will be able to penetrate up to a maximum of 15 to 20 mm below the surface, but how deep depends on how translucent the food is to infrared light.
What happens after I scan the sample?
Once the smartphone receives the digital spectrum of the sample, it transmits it to the cloud. When you tap the screen button for results (in apps which do analysis), Tellspec’s algorithms, residing in the cloud, analyze the spectrum for information about the sample, and send the results back to your phone for you to see. Our algorithms are based on machine learning, but we also use several bio-informatics techniques. The combination of machine learning, bio-informatics techniques, and traditional spectroscopy gives Tellspec the ability to extract various information from a spectrum, the unique fingerprint of the material scanned.
Where does Tellspec store the data on the scans?
Most of our apps store the scans in our cloud. The DC&M 2 app when used in basic mode stores them only on the mobile device. The advanced mode stores them both on the device and in the cloud. When used offline, the scans stored in the device are uploaded to the cloud when back online.
What does "scan config" means? What does "TSH20X9" mean?
A scanning configuration sets certain parameters about the scan taken. Choosing a configuration involves various tradeoffs.
TSH means a Tellspec Enterprise scan done with Hadamard patterns. That is a way to get more light onto a dark sample, but not lose too much spectral resolution. Hadamard patterns read several separate wavelengths in each step of a scan, and combine them later to get the proper spectrum.
TSC means to use a simple one-wavelength-band at a time to do the scan. It may be used for materials which reflect more light, and do not need brightening.
20X9 means to average 20 separate scans to make the final result. The full spectrum involves taking light from adjacent bands 9 nanometres wide. In the case of Hadamard, there are several bands totalling more than 9 nm at each step, which are later mathematically combined to give an effective width of 9 nm. The actual resolution is slightly less than that obtained in column mode, but the spectrum’s intensity is higher.
Averaging more scans reduces noise in the result, but the scan takes longer and may heat the sample too much.
Wider columns shine more light on the sample, increasing the spectrum’s intensity, but reduce the spectral resolution of the spectrum taken.
Preemie Sensor FAQ
Charging
How do I charge my sensor? Where is the charging cable?
The sensor does not come with a cable, but you can use any ordinary micro-USB cable, such as is used with many smartphones. The rightmost (red) LED will light, indicating that it is charging. That LED goes out when the sensor is fully charged. You can check the charge level in the app, in the Settings screen. The sensor may not work well if the level is below 35%. It should do about 1,000 scans on a full charge.
Do not scan while charging; that can cause electrical interference with the scan.
Calibration
Do I have to do a "calibration scan"?
A calibration scan was done before the sensor was shipped, and you can actually go a very long time without a new calibration scan (over 10,000 scans). The app may prompt you for a “Calibration scan” if you have not done one in a while.
If you do have a proper calibration material you can do a new calibration scan (see the answer about what to use), but you can always skip the calibration and continue scanning.
What should I use for a "calibration scan"?
There is no special calibration material. Simply perform the scan with nothing inserted into the sensor, not even an empty cuvette.
Protection and Cleaning
How do I clean the sensor?
You can wipe it with a damp lint-free cloth, or with an alcohol swab. The window and its surround are the most important parts to keep clean. When scanning a material which might transfer to the sensor you can use a thin transparent plastic film to protect the sensor, or a very thin bag such as is used to store food. It should be completely clean, transparent, and not translucent or foggy as some such bags are. Don’t stretch the film tight, but don’t allow bubbles under it either. A bag can be used with either the sample or the sensor inside.
How do I clean the cuvette?
After scanning, the cuvette slides should immediately be separated, cleaned with 99% isopropanol, and dried with a lint-free microfibre cloth. Inspect the slides for streaks or spots, and polish with a dry microfibre cloth as needed.
Is the Tellspec Preemie Sensor water resistant?
The Tellspec Preemie Sensor is not watertight. Simply take the same precautions with your sensor as you would with an ordinary smart phone.
Can I use the Tellspec Preemie Sensor every day?
Yes, the sensor is designed to be used daily. It can do about 1,000 scans on a fully charged battery.
Is the Tellspec Preemie Sensor eye-safe?
Yes, the sensor uses an ordinary incandescent tungsten light bulb which is as safe as other household light bulbs.
Do I have to worry about dirt or liquids getting into the sensor?
Yes, the sensor is not fully sealed. If dirt or liquids get inside via small areas such as the space between the window and the rubber around it, or the space between the rubber and the case, they cannot be removed. You can use a thin transparent plastic film to protect the sensor, or a very thin bag such as is used to store food. It should be completely clean, transparent, and not translucent or foggy as some such bags are. Don’t stretch the film tight, but don’t allow bubbles under it either.
My device is not working. What should I do?
Please contact info@tellspec.com with a description of the problem. Please include the Model and S/N information from the bottom of the sensor. The Model starts with NIR, and the S/N starts with PS.
Pairing
How do I pair my sensor with my phone?
When you launch any Tellspec or Preemie app, after you log in it will show a list of nearby sensors. Just tap yours and it will pair and connect.
The app does not recognize my Preemie Sensor. What should I do?
Make sure the sensor is turned on (!) and that its battery has enough charge. When the sensor is on several LEDs are lit, including the leftmost (green) one indicating power. Plug it in using a micro USB cable, and the rightmost (red) LED should light, indicating that it is charging. That LED goes out when the sensor is fully charged. The sensor info available in the Settings menu of the apps includes the charge level. If it is less than 35 % the sensor may not work well.
Scanning
What materials can I scan?
You can scan liquids which are sufficiently transparent to near-infrared light, of 1350 nm to 2150 nm. More opaque substances may require a cuvette with a path length shorter than the standard 10 mm. For milk, we use a 0.1 mm demountable cuvette.
How do I scan a sample?
Fill a cuvette to at least the half-way point, with no bubbles present, and place it into the sensor’s cuvette holder. Press the button on the sensor or the one on the screen of the app you are using. You may be able to see a light coming from the sensor. When the scan is finished, your screen will say that it is receiving the data. In apps which do analysis, when you tap on your screen for results, Tellspec sends relevant information to your smartphone about your sample.
How long does a scan take?
The scan itself will take about 16 seconds, and information will be displayed on your smartphone a few seconds after you ask for results. The total process should be less than 20 seconds.
What happens after I scan the sample?
Once the smartphone receives the digital spectrum of the sample, it transmits it to the cloud. When you tap the screen button for results (in apps which do analysis), Tellspec’s algorithms, residing in the cloud, analyze the spectrum for information about the sample, and send the results back to your phone for you to see. Our algorithms are based on machine learning, but we also use several bio-informatics techniques. The combination of machine learning, bio-informatics techniques, and traditional spectroscopy gives Tellspec the ability to extract various information from a spectrum, the unique fingerprint of the material scanned.
Where does Tellspec store the data on the scans?
Most of our apps store the scans in our cloud. The DC&M 2 app when used in basic mode stores them only on the mobile device. The advanced mode stores them both on the device and in the cloud. When used offline, the scans stored in the device are uploaded to the cloud when back online.
What does "scan config" mean? What does "PSC10x10E5" mean?
A scanning configuration sets certain parameters about the scan taken. Choosing a configuration involves various tradeoffs.
PSC means to use a simple one-wavelength-band at a time to do the scan. It may be used for materials which reflect more light, and do not need brightening.
10×10 means to average 10 separate scans to make the final result. The full spectrum involves taking light from adjacent bands 10 nanometres wide.
E5 means that each wavelength is exposed for a total of 5 ms.
Averaging more scans reduces noise in the result, but the scan takes longer and may heat the sample too much.
Wider columns shine more light on the sample, increasing the spectrum’s intensity, but reduce the spectral resolution of the spectrum taken.
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