Integrated optical compensating refractometer apparatus
US5377008A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 2, 1992 |
| Grant date | Dec 27, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 2, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B2006/12159
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus useful in immunoassay of a fluid, light is directed to an optical sensor wherein the light is transmitted to a replaceable optical device that is responsive to index of refraction in a sensing region thereof that is exposed to the fluid. One portion of the light is transmitted via a compensation path that includes the sensing region to a first detector. Another portion of the light is transmitted via a sensing path that includes the sensing region to another detector. In one embodiment a ratioing device receives an output from each detector and provides a signal responsive to the ratio of the outputs. The replaceable optical device typically comprises a pair of channel waveguides in directional coupling arrangement, or a pair of channel waveguides in an interferometer arrangement, or a ridge waveguide having a curved or serpentine path configured so that nonspecific sensing effects are compensated.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.