Optical sensor employing a refractive index engineered metal oxide material

US10457596B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education · US

Inventors

• Peng Chen · Pittsburgh, US
• Jacob Lorenzi Poole · Pittsburgh, US
• Paul R. Ohodnicki · Washington, US
• Michael P. Buric · Pittsburgh, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 17, 2018
• Grant date: Oct 29, 2019
• Expiry date: Jan 17, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N21/774
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An optical sensor device includes an optical waveguide portion having a core, the core having a first refractive index, and a functional material layer coupled to the optical fiber portion, the functional material layer being made of a metal oxide material, the functional material layer being structured to have a second refractive index, the second refractive index being less than the first refractive index. The functional material layer may be a nanostructure material comprising the metal oxide material with a plurality of holes or voids formed therein such that the functional material layer is caused to have the second refractive index.