Detect
Optical sensing measures how the material absorbs IR and UV light. Pulling a signal from substrates so dark they hide it from everything else.
Embedded Systems Engineering
Detect. Identify. Authenticate.
We do portable identification and traceability using our technology that reads where light is invisible, bringing certainty to the darkest, hardest-to-measure materials.
Pocket Reader
The Product
A laboratory
in your pocket.
The Pocket Reader is a small, lightweight portable device for identification and traceability, purpose-built for low-concentration detection in materials that defeat ordinary readers.
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Reads dark substrates
Sees through carbon black, sulphur and indigo dyes that absorb the light other readers rely on.
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Low-concentration detection
Tuned to surface the faintest signal, detecting and quantifying markers at dilutions as low as 1 ppm.
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IR / UV absorption
A reflective spectrometer measuring near-infrared and ultraviolet absorption across 900–1100 nm, linking pigment to the darkness of the substrate.
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Stand-alone & connected
Works on its own or paired with the companion Android app for live readings, history and calibration.
The Technology
DIA: one signal,
three certainties.
Every reading passes through the same disciplined sequence. It is how a faint trace of pigment on a dark surface becomes a decision you can trust.
Identify
The absorption fingerprint is matched against known markers, linking pigment to substrate to reveal exactly what and how much is present.
Authenticate
A confident verdict of genuine or not, traceable, repeatable, and delivered in the field, whether the device stands alone or reports to the app.
Specifications
The numbers behind
every reading.
A near-infrared and ultraviolet reflective spectrometer, engineered in Aveiro and CE-certified: here is what it reads, how faint a trace it catches, and how it connects.
Sensing & optics
- Sensor
- NIR + UV reflective spectrometer
- Operating range
- 900–1100 nm
- Illumination
- Integrated, stabilised module
- Sensor type
- Solid-state, for fast scanning
Detection & output
- Detection limit
- Dilutions down to 1 ppm
- Readings
- Identification and quantification
- Substrates
- Carbon black and sulphur black
- Carriers
- Materials, inks and varnishes
Connectivity & build
- Host
- Android via USB (example app)
- Data
- Remote database integration
- Dimensions
- 52 × 52 × 8.5 mm
- Certification
- CE approved
Coming soon
- API for iOS and Android (iPhone, iPad, Android)
- Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), API or USB
- 680 mAh Li-ion battery pack
- FCC approval
Features marked “coming soon” are in development; specifications may change.
Services
End to end, under one roof.
Beyond our own products, we work with clients across the full embedded stack, from the first electronic component to production-ready hardware, firmware and software.
Hardware Development Solutions
Support from electronic component selection through to pre- and post-production, engineered for manufacture from day one.
- Designed for mass production from the requirements phase
- Surface-mount technology to minimise manual assembly
- PCB layouts optimised for signal integrity and cost
- Prototypes assembled in-house, keeping us close to clients
- Iterative development cycles through to production-ready hardware
Software Consultancy
Built on years of developing the software and firmware behind our own products, offered as consultancy across a range of areas.
- Embedded firmware for sensing and real-time control
- Application and mobile software, including Android
- Architecture, feasibility and R&D consulting
- From proof of concept to a working product
FAQ
Questions, answered.
The essentials on the Pocket Reader, our DIA method and how we work.
What is the Pocket Reader?
The Pocket Reader is a small, lightweight portable device for identification and traceability, purpose-built for low-concentration detection in materials that defeat ordinary readers. It works stand-alone or paired with a companion Android app for live readings, history and calibration.
What materials can the Pocket Reader read?
It reads dark, light-absorbing substrates that defeat ordinary optical readers, including carbon black and sulphur black, plus the inks, varnishes and coatings that carry taggant markers. Using near-infrared (NIR) and ultraviolet (UV) reflective spectroscopy across the 900–1100 nm range, it detects and quantifies markers at dilutions as low as 1 ppm.
What does DIA mean?
DIA stands for Detect, Identify, Authenticate: the three-step sequence every reading follows. Optical sensing detects how a material absorbs IR and UV light, the absorption fingerprint is matched against known markers to identify what is present, and the result is a repeatable, traceable verdict of genuine or not.
Does the Pocket Reader need a phone to work?
No. It works on its own, or paired with the companion Android app for live readings, history and calibration.
Does Spin & Turn offer custom development beyond the Pocket Reader?
Yes. We work across the full embedded stack: hardware development from component selection through to production-ready boards, and software and firmware consultancy including embedded firmware, Android and mobile software, and architecture and R&D consulting.
How do I get a quote?
Use the quote form on this page with your application and requirements, and our team will review them and get back to you with a tailored quote.
Quote
Request a quote
Please provide your details below. Our team will review your requirements and get in touch to discuss a tailored solution.
Contact
Have something
worth reading?
Tell us about the material, the marker or the traceability problem you're facing.
Company
SPIN & TURN, LDA
Address
Mirador Business Center
Av. Europa 702
3800-012 Aveiro, Portugal
Phone
Email