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US 10,240,978 B2Granted
Optical spectrometer
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsCharles M. Santori, Alexander Govyadinov
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided in one example is an apparatus, including a microfluidic channel supported by a substrate. An optical spectrometer includes a waveguide supported by the substrate. The waveguide includes a coupler and outcouplers. A light source directs light to the coupler of the waveguide. Optical sensors are supported by the substrate. Each of the optical sensors is optically coupled to one of the outcouplers.
Claims15
An apparatus comprising:
- a microfluid sensor to detect characteristics of a fluid, the microfluid sensor including a substrate;
- a light source supported by the substrate to direct light to an input coupler of a waveguide;
- a microfluidic channel supported by the substrate to direct the fluid, the microfluidic channel comprising:
- an optical spectrometer integrated with the microfluidic channel as a part of a chip;
- the waveguide supported by the substrate, the waveguide comprising the input coupler and outcouplers;
- and
- optical sensors supported by the substrate, each of the optical sensors optically coupled to one of the outcouplers;
- and
- a reference microfluidic channel supported by the substrate, the reference microfluidic channel comprising a fluid input having a pillar filter to provide a reference fluid, wherein the reference fluid is compared to the fluid directed by the microfluidic channel to determine the characteristics of the fluid.
6 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a microfluid sensor to detect characteristics of a fluid, the microfluid sensor including a substrate;
- a light source supported by the substrate to direct light at a coupler of a waveguide;
- a microfluidic channel supported by the substrate to direct the fluid, the microfluidic channel comprising:
- an optical spectrometer integrated with the microfluidic channel as a part of a chip;
- optical sensors supported by the substrate;
- and
- the waveguide formed on the optical sensors, the waveguide including the coupler and outcouplers, each of the outcouplers are operably coupled to one of the optical sensors;
- and
- a reference microfluidic channel supported by the substrate, the reference microfluidic channel comprising a fluid input having a pillar filter to provide a reference fluid, wherein the reference fluid characteristics are compared to the characteristics of the fluid directed by the microfluidic channel.
6 more elements
A method comprising:
- forming optical sensors on a substrate;
- forming a microfluidic channel on the substrate to direct a fluid;
- forming an optical spectrometer integrated with the microfluidic channel as a part of a chip;
- forming a waveguide on the substrate, the waveguide having a coupler and outcouplers, wherein the outcouplers are optically coupled to the optical sensors during their formation using a photo-mask process;
- providing a light source to direct light to the coupler of the waveguide;
- and
- forming a reference microfluidic channel supported on the substrate, the reference microfluidic channel comprising providing a reference fluid to a fluid input having a pillar filter, wherein the reference fluid characteristics are compared to the characteristics of the fluid directed by the microfluidic channel.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.