US 6,787,110 B2 · Optical sensor and optical process for the characterization of a chemical and/or bio-chemical substance

Abstract

The optical sensor contains an optical waveguide (1) with a substrate (104), waveguiding material (105), a cover medium (106) and a waveguide grating structure (101-103). By means of a light source (2), light can be emitted to the waveguide grating structure (101-103) from the substrate side and/or from the cover medium side. (101-103). With means of detection (11), at least two differing light proportions (7-10) radiated from the waveguide (1) can be detected. For carrying out a measurement, the waveguide can be immovably fixed relative to the light source (2) and the means of detection (11). The waveguide grating structure (101-103) itself consists of one or several waveguide grating structure units (101-103), which if so required can be equipped with (bio-)chemo-sensitive layers. The sensor permits the generation of absolute measuring signals.

Claims74

Dependent claims

An optical sensor for the characterization or the detection or the detection and characterization of at least one chemical or bio-chemical substance comprising:

at least one optical waveguide with substrate, a waveguiding material, a cover medium and at least one waveguide grating structure,
at least two sensing pads comprising at least one unidiffractive or multidiffractive grating, at least one of the sensing pads acting as sensor pad and comprising a sensor chemosensitive or bio-chemosensitve substance, and least one of the sensing pads acting as reference pad and comprising a reference chemosensitive or bio-chemosensitive substance,
light source means for the illumination of gratings of the sensor pad and of the reference pad;
detection means for detection of positions or of intensities or of positions and of intensities of at least two light distribution proportions, which, on the detection means, are not superimposed on one another and which are emitted or coupled out or emitted and coupled out from the waveguide grating structure into the substrate or into the cover medium or into the substrate and into the cover medium;
means for the generation of a referenced sensor signal through the evaluation of the detected light distribution, of the detected positions or of intensities of the at least two light distribution proportions or of a combination of these.

2 more elements

An optical process for the characterization or for the detection or the detection and characterization of at least one chemical or bio-chemical substance in a specimen by means of a waveguide grating structure containing at least one waveguide grating structure unit, wherein the specimen is brought into contact with the waveguide structure in at least one contact zone comprising a sensor chemosensitive or bio-chemosensitive substance and a reference chemosensitive or bio-chemosensitive substance,

in the waveguide structure in the region of the at least one contact zone, exciting at least two light waves through the waveguide grating structure unit or at least one grating of the sensor pad and one grating of the reference pad of the waveguide grating structure unit are illuminated, and bringing at least one light wave into interaction with the specimen,
wherein the light waves differ in at least one of their polarization, their mode number, their wavelength and of their position on the waveguide grating structure, or the sensor chemosensitive or bio-chemosensitive substance and the reference chemosensitive or bio-chemosensitive substance are different, or where at least one light wave is brought into interaction with a first specimen and a second light wave is brought into interaction with a second specimen;
detecting light in at least two differing proportions, which are not superimposed on the detection means and of which at least one proportion originates from the at least one contact zone,
generating at least one referenced measured signal by the evaluation of the detected light.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Optical sensor and optical process for the characterization of a chemical and/or bio-chemical substance

Life of this patent

Optical sensor and optical process for the characterization of a chemical and/or bio-chemical substance

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims74