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US 2015/0308950 A1Published application
Optical sensing apparatus and a method for detecting characteristics of a sample
AssigneesThe Chinese University of Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong
InventorsHo Pui Ho, Shu Yuen Wu, Chi-Man Lawrence Wu, Siu Pang Ng, Siu Kai Kong
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Abstract
An optical sensing apparatus and a method for detecting characteristics of a sample.
Claims20
An optical sensing apparatus comprising:
- a broadband source configured to generate a first light beam containing a p-polarized component and an s-polarized component;
- an interferometer configured to direct the p-polarized component and the s-polarized component to a first path and a second path, respectively, wherein the first path has a different length than the second path such that the p-polarized component and the s-polarized component are reflected and then recombined to provide a second light beam with interference between the p-polarized component and the s-polarized component;
- a reference device configured to receive a part of the second light beam to extract a reference optical characteristic variation induced by the interference;
- a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor configured to receive the other part of the second light beam and to introduce an SPR effect associated with a sample to the second light beam, such that a third light beam with a probe optical characteristic variation induced by the SPR effect is generated;
- and
- a determiner configured to extract the probe optical characteristic variation from the third light beam and to compare the reference optical characteristic variation and the probe optical characteristic variation to determine characteristics of the sample.
3 more elements
A method for detecting characteristics of a sample, comprising:
- generating, from a broadband source, a first light beam containing a p-polarized component and an s-polarized component;
- directing the p-polarized component and the s-polarized component to a first path and a second path, respectively, wherein the first path has different length from the second path such that the p-polarized component and the s-polarized component are reflected and then recombined to provide a second light beam with a interference between the p-polarized component and s-polarized component;
- extracting a reference optical characteristic variation induced by the interference between the p-polarized component and the s-polarized component of a part of the second light beam;
- introducing a SPR effect associated with a sample to the other part of the second light beam, such that a third light beam with a probe optical characteristic variation induced by the SPR effect is generated;
- extracting the probe optical characteristic variation induced by the SPR effect of the third light beam;
- and
- comparing the reference optical characteristic variation and the probe optical characteristic variation to determine characteristics of the sample.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.