Ocean Optics Teams Up With Centice

DUNEDIN, Fla. & RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Jan. 23 -- Ocean Optics, a Florida-based supplier of optical sensing systems for research, development and OEM markets, and Centice Corp., a sensor technology developer, announced a joint agreement under which Ocean Optics will add to its spectroscopy portfolio through the co-branding and distribution of Centice MMS-based Raman spectrometer systems. The companies made the announcement at Photonics West 2006, being held this week at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, Calif.

Spectroscopy is used in a wide variety of research and process applications, including material identification, quantitative analysis, purity analysis, quality control and material inspection. Centice's MMS technology uses a coded wide-area aperture, instead of the conventional pinhole or slit entrance, to sample and mathematically process up to 500 measurement channels simultaneously. Its computational sensor technology was originally developed at Duke University.

"The optical-sensing market is always looking for better ways to measure weak, scattering and diffuse sources with the highest possible sensitivity," said Mike Morris, president of Ocean Optics. "The Centice MMS technology is the sort of novel, high-performance and affordable technology that makes high sensitivity Raman spectroscopy more accessible to a wider range of users."

Steve Kaye, president and CEO of Centice, said, "Our MMS technology is going to change what people expect from an optical sensor because it offers 10X to 100X higher optical throughput without affecting the resolution of the measurement. This is a new paradigm for spectroscopy and will enable researchers and industry to address a broader set of new applications."

Ocean Optics will distribute the MMS-based product family, consisting of two spectrometer models. The company is holding demonstrations at Photonics West at booth 615.

For more information, visit: www.oceanoptics.com

See Photonics.com's Photonics West 2006 coverage and Photonics West 2006 Product Showcase