Spectroscopic system and spectrometers including an optical bandpass
filter unit having a plurality of bandpass regions and a spatial encoding
unit for encoding discrete frequencies of light passing through the
optical filter. The incorporation of the encoding unit allows the
spectrometer system to use a detector having one or a small number of
elements, rather than using a more expensive detector array typically
used with filter-based spectrometers. The system can also include an
integrating chamber that collects the light that is not transmitted
through the bandpass filter unit, and redirects this light to strike the
filter unit again, resulting in a significant increase in the optical
power passing through the filter. The integrating chamber maximizes the
return of the reflected light to the filter assembly and minimizes
optical losses. The integrating chamber may be an orthogonal design to
preserve the optical geometric characteristics of the light entering the
chamber.