Asymmetric Versus Symmetric Filter Wheels and Associated Processing Algorithms: Results from Asynchronous Fluorescence Imaging Photometer Measurements of Phytoplankton

The use of rotating filter wheels is common in photometric applications. Traditional filter wheel designs typically exhibit a number of filter openings spaced evenly about the circumference of the wheel. In this work we examine a number of shortcomings of this traditional filter design in measurements of phytoplankton fluorescence made with our fluorescence imaging photometer (FIP). We present an alternative asymmetric wheel design that offers a number of advantages over the traditional design as well as a new processing algorithm designed to accommodate convolution of signals from adjacent channels inherent in measurements collected with the asymmetric design. This approach eliminates the need for a separate signal to establish timing and wheel position, unambiguously establishes filter order even when the direction of rotation is unknown, allows for better estimates of signal baseline, and is more resilient to effects of vibration and other dynamic processes that could occur on the time scale of wheel rotation. We demonstrate performance improvements for phytoplankton fluorescence measurements associated with the new wheel design and algorithm compared with previously published methods using the FIP. Both the improved image processing algorithm and filter wheel design were found to reduce noise in our measurements significantly.