Integrated optical sensor incorporating sets of diffractive elements

A method, comprising:

• receiving into a sensing region of an optical element a sample material;
• receiving into the optical element via an input optical port an input optical signal, the optical element having at least one set of diffractive elements collectively arranged so as to comprise spectral and spatial transformation information, the diffractive elements of the set being collectively arranged so as to transform at least a portion of the input optical signal into an output optical signal according to the spectral and spatial transformation information so that a spatial wavefront of the input optical signal differs from a spatial wavefront of the output optical signal, the input optical signal or the output optical signal propagating within the optical element so as to be successively incident on the diffractive elements of the set, the sensing region being arranged so that the input optical signal or the output optical signal at least partly spatially overlaps a portion of the sample material in the sensing region, the diffractive element set and the sensing region being arranged so that the spectral or spatial transformation information varies according to at least one optical property of the received sample material;
• and
• receiving from the optical element via an output optical port the output optical signal.

An optical apparatus, comprising an optical element having at least one set of diffractive elements and a sensing region, wherein:

• the diffractive elements of the set are collectively arranged so as to comprise spectral and spatial transformation information;
• the diffractive elements of the set are collectively arranged so as to transform at least a portion of an input optical signal into an output optical signal according to the spectral and spatial transformation information so that a spatial wavefront of the input optical signal differs from a spatial wavefront of the output optical signal, the input optical signal propagating from an input optical port, the output optical signal propagating to an output optical port, the input optical signal or the output optical signal propagating within the optical element so as to be successively incident on the diffractive elements of the set;
• the sensing region is arranged for receiving a sample material so that the input optical signal or the output optical signal at least partly spatially overlaps a portion of the sample material in the sensing region;
• and
• the optical element is arranged so that the spatial and spectral transformation information is substantially invariant with respect to optical properties of the sample material.

An optical apparatus, comprising an optical element having at least one set of diffractive elements, a reference set of diffractive elements, and a sensing region, wherein:

• the diffractive elements of the at least one set are collectively arranged so as to comprise spectral and spatial transformation information;
• the diffractive elements of the at least one set are collectively arranged so as to transform at least a portion of an input optical signal into an output optical signal according to the spectral and spatial transformation information, the input optical signal propagating from an input optical port, the output optical signal propagating to an output optical port, the input optical signal or the output optical signal propagating within the optical element so as to be successively incident on the diffractive elements of the at least one set;
• the sensing region is arranged for receiving a sample material so that the input optical signal or the output optical signal at least partly spatially overlaps a portion of the sample material in the sensing region;
• and
• the at least one set of diffractive elements and the sensing region are arranged so that the spectral or spatial transformation information varies according to at least one optical property of the received sample material;
• the diffractive elements of the reference set are collectively arranged so as to comprise reference spectral and spatial transformation information;
• the diffractive elements of the reference set are collectively arranged so as to transform at least a portion of a reference input optical signal into a reference output optical signal according to the reference spectral and spatial transformation information, the reference input optical signal propagating from a reference input optical port, the reference output optical signal propagating to a reference output optical port, the reference input optical signal or the reference output optical signal propagating within the optical element so as to be successively incident on the diffractive elements of the set;
• and
• the optical element is arranged so that the reference spatial and spectral transformation information is substantially invariant with respect to optical properties of the sample material.

A method, comprising:

• receiving into a sensing region of an optical element a sample material;
• receiving into the optical element via an input optical port an input optical signal, the optical element having at least one set of diffractive elements collectively arranged so as to comprise spectral and spatial transformation information, the diffractive elements of the set being collectively arranged so as to transform at least a portion of the input optical signal into an output optical signal according to the spectral and spatial transformation information, the input optical signal or the output optical signal propagating within the optical element so as to be successively incident on the diffractive elements of the set, the sensing region being arranged so that the input optical signal or the output optical signal at least partly spatially overlaps a portion of the sample material in the sensing region, the diffractive element set and the sensing region being arranged so that the spectral or spatial transformation information varies according to at least one optical property of the received sample material;
• receiving from the optical element via an output optical port the output optical signal;
• receiving into the optical element via a reference input optical port a reference input optical signal, the optical element having a reference set of diffractive elements collectively arranged so as to comprise reference spectral and spatial transformation information, the diffractive elements of the reference set being collectively arranged so as to transform at least a portion of the reference input optical signal into a reference output optical signal according to the reference spectral and spatial transformation information, the reference input optical signal or the reference output optical signal propagating within the optical element so as to be successively incident on the diffractive elements of the reference set, the diffractive element reference set and the sensing region being arranged so that the reference spectral and spatial transformation information is substantially invariant with respect to optical properties of the received sample material;
• and
• receiving from the optical element via a reference output optical port the reference output optical signal.