Concept of a high-resolution miniature spectrometer using an integrated filter array

A high-resolution miniature spectrometer has been demonstrated by utilizing a 128-channel integrated filter array, fabricated by using the combinatorial deposition technique, as a dispersive component whose passbands range from 722.0 to 880.0 nm with a bandwidth (or spectral resolution) from 1.7 to 3.8 nm and an average channel interval of 1.2 nm. The miniature spectrometer is smaller than 1 cm3 without any moving parts. This kind of miniature spectrometer has the advantages of very low payload, high resolution, and high reliability simultaneously, which are especially urgently needed for space applications.