AIO 2017: Focus on Dr. Michael Schmidberger, OSRAM GmbH, Germany
Cushla McGoverin
What do you think people will learn from your talk as a take-home lesson?
While spectrometers have continuously decreased in size from rotating grating devices to handheld CCD-arrays, conventional incandescent excitation sources rendered a true miniaturization of NIR-spectroscopy devices impossible. OSRAM’s research regarding phosphor converted broadband NIR light-emitting diodes will unlock all advantages of LEDs to the field of NIR spectroscopy and beyond.
This enables spectroscopic sensors, which are by far cheaper, more robust and feature a much smaller footprint for the professional market and even allows such devices to enter the cost-driven consumer market.
What do you spend most of your time doing?
I spend most of my time thinking about all the fine details of the characterization of the various aspects of light sources with a particular focus on LED phosphors. A usual project consists of coming up with a characterization method for a quantity that cannot be measured by devices on the market and implementing it. That obviously includes many discussions with colleagues and external partners.
When are you most fully yourself?
I truly enjoy doing things that are new to me in some way independent of the area. This could be a new experiment in the lab, a new programming technique or even a new strategy for having efficient and productive meetings.
Where would you like to see your research in 5 years?
My wildest dreams are that our miniaturized broadband LED sources may trigger another revolution in spectroscopy. Smaller & cheaper sensor units could ultimately be permanently integrated into a multitude of end-customer products and allow for a continuous surveillance of key parameters of the operation of the system.
Which companies should be interested in your research and why?
Anyone dealing with spectroscopic analysis could benefit from our broadband NIR source since it allows the whole device to become considerably smaller, cheaper, and more robust and reduces power consumption.
Let me name a few fields of application:
- Agriculture and food industry
- Polymer industry
- Materials science
- Hyperspectral imaging
- Pharma- & medical industry
“Curious” is the first word that comes to my mind …
What motivates you to do what you do?
Seeing that my work can have real impact on my colleagues and the related feedback, even in case of critical feedback, is what drives me to perform.
Where does your passion come from?
I really enjoy two things, which are inherent to any R&D project:
- Exploring new things
- Intense exchange with colleagues, particularly concerning topics that are not yet understood
Many valuable partnerships are established at conferences, but people usually hesitate to publicly reveal that they are interested in working together with other experts in the field. I would encourage anyone to be more open in this respect and address such ideas right after a talk.
