Abstract
The design and performance of a low-cost no-moving-parts handheld NIR spectrometer are discussed. Dubbed the TWmeter, this device was conceived for use by researchers and others in developing countries unable to afford more costly technology found in developed countries. Two design features contribute to the novelty of this spectrometer: (1) three unfiltered light emitting diodes (LEDs) with peak emissions at 700, 880, and 940 nm for measuring chlorophyll in plant tissue and moisture in paper, and (2) a silicon intensity-to-frequency detector (a silicon detector with an integral voltage-to-frequency converter). The latter feature allows an ordinary microcomputer to obtain intensity measurements by counting for a fixed length of time, thus avoiding the need for higher-priced analog-to-digital hardware. Performance tests, using multiple linear regression for calibration, demonstrate that chlorophyll and moisture can be determined with a root mean squared standard error of prediction of 0.99 mg/cm2 of leaf surface for a range of 1–8 mg/cm2 and 1.04% (wet basis) for a range of 30–65% moisture, respectively. Development of the TWmeter (costing less than $300 US), demonstrates that spectrometry need not be costly.
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