# US 2025/0093265 A1 · Optical sensor and detection device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0093265 A1 - Document ID: US20250093265A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/965,135 - Filed: 2024-12-02 - Published: 2025-03-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-06-10 - Assignees: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Yasuo FUJII - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250093265A1 ## CPC - G01N 21/6428: {Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" (in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53)} - G01N 21/77: by observing the effect on a chemical indicator - C12M 41/00: {Means for regulation, monitoring, measurement or control, e.g. flow regulation (controlling or regulating chemical, physical or physicochemical processes B01J19/0006; heating or cooling apparatus for laboratory use B01L7/00; electro optical investigation of individual particles, flow cytometers G01N15/14; automatic analysis G01N35/00; controlling or regulating in general G06N)} - G01N 2021/6432: {Quenching} - G01N 2021/6439: {with indicators, stains, dyes, tags, labels, marks} - G01N 2021/7786: {Fluorescence} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS} ## Abstract An optical sensor that includes a fluorescent unit containing a plurality of kinds of quantum dots, enzymes, and quenchers in a hydrogel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An optical sensor comprising: a fluorescent unit containing a plurality of kinds of quantum dots, enzymes, and quenchers in a hydrogel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The optical sensor according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of kinds of quantum dots, enzymes, and quenchers include: a first quencher having a first LUMO energy level combined with a first quantum dot having a first energy level at a lower end of a conduction band thereof, and a second quencher having a second LUMO energy level combined with a second quantum dot having a second energy level at a lower end of a conduction band thereof, wherein the first LUMO energy level is higher than the second LUMO energy level, and the first energy level is higher than the second energy level. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The optical sensor according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of kinds of quantum dots, enzymes, and quenchers include: a first quencher having a first LUMO energy level combined with a first quantum dot having a first band gap, and a second quencher having a second LUMO energy level combined with a second quantum dot having a second band gap, wherein the first LUMO energy level is lower than the second LUMO energy level, and the first band gap is lower than the second band gap. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The optical sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a reference quantum dot in the hydrogel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The optical sensor according to claim 1, wherein the fluorescent unit comprises a fluorescent layer, and the optical sensor further comprises a support member having optical transparency on a first principal surface side of the fluorescent layer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The optical sensor according to claim 5, further comprising a light shielding layer on a second principal surface side of the fluorescent layer opposite the first principal surface side of the fluorescent layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The optical sensor according to claim 6, further comprising a reflection layer between the fluorescent layer and the light shielding layer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The optical sensor according to claim 1, wherein, among the plurality of the kinds of quantum dots, enzymes, and quenchers, at least one quantum dot and enzyme are conjugated. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The optical sensor according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogel is nonionic. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A detection device comprising: a container having optical transparency; a sensor unit comprising the optical sensor according to claim 1 arranged inside the container; and a light emitting element and a light receiving element arranged outside the container so as to face the sensor unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The detection device according to claim 10, further comprising a communication unit that transmits data acquired from the sensor unit to an external device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The detection device according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of kinds of quantum dots, enzymes, and quenchers in the optical sensor include: a first quencher having a first LUMO energy level combined with a first quantum dot having a first energy level at a lower end of a conduction band thereof, and a second quencher having a second LUMO energy level combined with a second quantum dot having a second energy level at a lower end of a conduction band thereof, wherein the first LUMO energy level is higher than the second LUMO energy level, and the first energy level is higher than the second energy level. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The detection device according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of kinds of quantum dots, enzymes, and quenchers in the optical sensor include: a first quencher having a first LUMO energy level combined with a first quantum dot having a first band gap, and a second quencher having a second LUMO energy level combined with a second quantum dot having a second band gap, wherein the first LUMO energy level is lower than the second LUMO energy level, and the first band gap is lower than the second band gap. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The detection device according to claim 10, wherein the optical sensor further comprises a reference quantum dot in the hydrogel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The detection device according to claim 10, wherein the fluorescent unit of the optical sensor comprises a fluorescent layer, and the optical sensor further comprises a support member having optical transparency on a first principal surface side of the fluorescent layer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The detection device according to claim 15, wherein the optical sensor further comprises a light shielding layer on a second principal surface side of the fluorescent layer opposite the first principal surface side of the fluorescent layer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The detection device according to claim 16, wherein the optical sensor further comprises a reflection layer between the fluorescent layer and the light shielding layer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The detection device according to claim 10, wherein, among the plurality of the kinds of quantum dots, enzymes, and quenchers of the optical sensor, at least one quantum dot and enzyme are conjugated. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The detection device according to claim 10, wherein the hydrogel of the optical sensor is nonionic.