# US 7,609,376 B2 · Method and apparatus for pixel display and SERS analysis > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,609,376 B2 - Document ID: US7609376B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/968,427 - Filed: 2005-01-05 - Published: 2006-07-06 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2005-01-05 - Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Inventors: Shih-Yuan Wang; M. Saif Islam - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7609376B2 ## CPC - G01N 21/658: {enhancement Raman, e.g. surface plasmons} - G01J 3/02: Details - G01J 3/021: {using plane or convex mirrors, parallel phase plates, or particular reflectors} - G01J 3/0256: {Compact construction} - G01J 3/10: Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for spectrometry or colorimetry - G01J 3/44: Raman spectrometry; Scattering spectrometry {; Fluorescence spectrometry} - H01S 5/18302: {comprising an integrated optical modulator} - G02B 2006/1213: {comprising photonic band-gap structures or photonic lattices} - H01S 5/1032: {Coupling to elements comprising an optical axis that is not aligned with the optical axis of the active region} - H01S 5/11: Comprising a photonic bandgap structure - H01S 5/18394: {Apertures, e.g. defined by the shape of the upper electrode} - H01S 5/2027: {Reflecting region or layer, parallel to the active layer, e.g. to modify propagation of the mode in the laser or to influence transverse modes} - 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) - G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N) - H01S: DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract Irradiation devices and methods of amplification and irradiation are disclosed for displaying pixels and Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) analysis. The devices include an optical modulator, which may be configured for operation in a variably transmissive state. An active region may be formed in an optical waveguide with the optical modulator configured substantially adjacent at least one surface of the active region. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An irradiation device, comprising: an optical waveguide comprising an active region disposed therein, wherein the optical waveguide is configured for generating an amplified radiation; an optical modulator disposed adjacent to at least one surface of the active region and configured for operation in a variably transmissive state; an exposure region disposed adjacent to the optical modulator and configured to be illuminated with a variable intensity of the amplified radiation transmitted through the optical modulator when the optical modulator is configured in the variably transmissive state; and an area configured to receive a medium of interest within the exposure region and configured to receive an excitation radiation of the amplified radiation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The irradiation device of claim 1, wherein the exposure region is substantially obscured from the amplified radiation when the variably transmissive state of the optical modulator is configured as substantially non-transmissive. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The irradiation device of claim 1, wherein the optical waveguide is optically pumped by an incident pump radiation impinging on the optical waveguide. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the active region includes at least one quantum well. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the active region comprises a two-dimensional photonic crystal material including at least one defect forming a high-Q cavity therein. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the optical waveguide comprises a first Bragg reflector, a second Bragg reflector in a plane substantially parallel to the first Bragg reflector, and the active region disposed between the first Bragg reflector and the second Bragg reflector. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein the active region includes at least one quantum well. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein the active region comprises a two-dimensional photonic crystal material including at least one defect forming a high-Q cavity therein. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein the optical modulator is disposed in the first Bragg reflector. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein the optical modulator is disposed in the second Bragg reflector. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The irradiation device of claim 6, wherein the first Bragg reflector comprises a P-doped material, the second Bragg reflector comprises an N-doped material and the optical waveguide is electrically pumped by an electrical signal operably coupled between the first Bragg reflector and the second Bragg reflector. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The irradiation device of claim 6, wherein the first Bragg reflector comprises an N-doped material, the second Bragg reflector comprises a P-doped material and the optical waveguide is electrically pumped by an electrical signal operably coupled between the first Bragg reflector and the second Bragg reflector. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the optical modulator is disposed in the active region. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the optical modulator further comprises a modulation signal, and wherein the optical modulator operates in the variably transmissive state with a transmission rate proportional to a magnitude of the modulation signal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The device of claim 14, wherein the modulation signal comprises an electrical signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the medium of interest comprises a photo-luminescent compound disposed within the exposure region and configured to emit a selected light wavelength when exposed to an excitation radiation of the amplified radiation. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The device of claim 16, wherein the photo-luminescent compound is selected from the group consisting of a compound that emits substantially red light, a compound that emits substantially green light, and a compound that emits substantially blue light. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The device of claim 16, wherein the optical modulator further comprises a modulation signal, wherein the optical modulator operates in the variably transmissive state with a transmission rate proportional to a magnitude of the modulation signal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The device of claim 18, wherein the photo-luminescent compound emits a variable intensity of the selected light wavelength proportional to the transmission rate of the optical modulator. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a SERS-active structure disposed within the exposure region and configured to accept an analyte thereon, wherein the SERS-active structure and the analyte are configured to emit a Raman scattered radiation when exposed to the amplified radiation. ### Claim 21 An irradiation array, comprising a plurality of irradiation devices formed on a substrate, wherein each irradiation device of the plurality of irradiation devices comprises: an optical modulator configured for operation in a variably transmissive state; an active region formed in an optical waveguide, wherein the optical modulator is adjacent to at least one surface of the active region and is configured for generating an amplified radiation derived from an incident pump radiation impinging on the optical waveguide when the variably transmissive state of the optical modulator is configured as substantially non-transmissive; an exposure region adjacent to the optical modulator and configured to be illuminated by the amplified radiation when the optical modulator is configured in the variably transmissive state; and an area configured to receive a medium of interest within the exposure region and configured to receive an excitation radiation of the amplified radiation. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The irradiation array of claim 21, wherein the active region of each of the plurality of irradiation devices includes at least one quantum well. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The irradiation array of claim 21, wherein the active region of each of the plurality of irradiation devices comprises a two-dimensional photonic crystal material disposed in the optical waveguide of that device, the two-dimensional photonic crystal material including at least one defect forming a high-Q cavity therein. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The irradiation array of claim 21, wherein the optical waveguide of each of the plurality of irradiation devices comprises a first Bragg reflector, a second Bragg reflector in a plane substantially parallel to the first Bragg reflector, and the active region disposed between the first Bragg reflector and the second Bragg reflector. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The irradiation array of claim 24, wherein the active region of each of the plurality of irradiation devices includes at least one quantum well. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The irradiation array of claim 24, wherein the active region of each of the plurality of irradiation devices comprises a two-dimensional photonic crystal material disposed in the optical waveguide, the two-dimensional photonic crystal material including at least one defect forming a high-Q cavity therein. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The irradiation array of claim 24, wherein the optical modulator of each of the plurality of irradiation devices is disposed in the first Bragg reflector of that irradiation device. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The irradiation array of claim 24, wherein the optical modulator of each of the plurality of irradiation devices is disposed in the second Bragg reflector of that irradiation device. ### Claim 29 (depends on 21) The irradiation array of claim 21, wherein the optical modulator of each of the plurality of irradiation devices is disposed in the active region of that irradiation device. ### Claim 30 (depends on 21) The irradiation array of claim 21, wherein the optical modulator of each of the plurality of irradiation devices further comprises a modulation signal, wherein the optical modulator of each of the plurality of irradiation devices operates in the variably transmissive state with a transmission rate proportional to a magnitude of the modulation signal for that optical modulator. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The irradiation array of claim 30, wherein the modulation signal of each of the plurality of irradiation devices comprises an electrical signal. ### Claim 32 (depends on 21) The irradiation array of claim 21, wherein the medium of interest comprises a photo-luminescent compound disposed within the exposure region of each of the plurality of irradiation devices, and configured to emit a selected light wavelength when exposed to the amplified radiation. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The irradiation array of claim 32, wherein the photo-luminescent compound of each of the plurality of irradiation devices emits a variable intensity of the selected light wavelength proportional to the transmission rate of the optical modulator for that irradiation device. ### Claim 34 (depends on 21) The irradiation array of claim 21, wherein; a first portion of the plurality of irradiation devices further comprises a first photo-luminescent compound, disposed within the exposure region of the first portion of the plurality of irradiation devices, and configured to emit a first light wavelength when exposed to the amplified radiation; a second portion of the plurality of irradiation devices further comprises a second photo-luminescent compound, disposed within the exposure region of the second portion of the plurality of irradiation devices, and configured to emit a second light wavelength when exposed to the amplified radiation; and a third portion of the plurality of irradiation devices further comprises a third photo-luminescent compound, disposed within the exposure region of the third portion of the plurality of irradiation devices, and configured to emit a third light wavelength when exposed to the amplified radiation. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The irradiation array of claim 34, wherein the first photo-luminescent compound emits substantially red light, the second photo-luminescent compound emits substantially green light, and the third photo-luminescent compound emits substantially blue light. ### Claim 36 (depends on 21) The irradiation array of claim 21, further comprising a SERS-active structure disposed within the exposure region of at least one of the plurality of irradiation devices and configured to accept an analyte thereon, wherein the SERS-active structure and the analyte are configured to emit a Raman scattered radiation when exposed to the amplified radiation from the at least one of the plurality of irradiation devices. ### Claim 37 An amplification and irradiation method, comprising: generating an amplified radiation in an active region of an optical waveguide; transmitting a variable intensity of the amplified radiation through an optical modulator disposed adjacent to at least one surface of the active region by configuring the optical modulator in a variably transmissive state; illuminating an exposure region disposed adjacent to the optical modulator with the variable intensity of the amplified radiation; and exposing a photo-luminescent compound to the amplified radiation to emit a selected light wavelength. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The method of claim 37, wherein generating the amplified radiation further comprises stimulating the optical waveguide with an electrical pump. ### Claim 39 (depends on 37) The method of claim 37, wherein generating the amplified radiation further comprises illuminating the optical waveguide with an incident pump radiation. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, wherein generating the amplified radiation further comprises generating additional amplification by way of a two-dimensional photonic crystal material including a defect forming a high-Q cavity therein. ### Claim 41 (depends on 37) The method of claim 37, further comprising varying an intensity of the amplified radiation in proportion to a varying transmissivity of the optical modulator. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41, further comprising varying the transmissivity of the optical modulator in proportion to a modulation signal controlling the varying transmissivity of the optical modulator. ### Claim 43 (depends on 37) The method of claim 37, further comprising varying an intensity of the amplified radiation in proportion to a varying transmissivity of the optical modulator. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43, further comprising varying an intensity of the selected light wavelength emission from the photo-luminescent compound in proportion to the intensity of the amplified radiation. ### Claim 45 (depends on 37) The method of claim 37, wherein the photo-luminescent compound is selected from the group consisting of a compound that emits substantially red light, a compound that emits substantially green light, and a compound that emits substantially blue light. ### Claim 46 (depends on 37) The method of claim 37, further comprising causing emission of a Raman scattered radiation when the amplified radiation illuminates a SERS-active structure disposed within the exposure region and an analyte disposed on the SERS-active structure.