Optical sensor having optimized surface profile
US5986762A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 15, 1998 |
| Grant date | Nov 16, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 15, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N21/4788
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for optically assaying a targeted substance in a sample using a sensor having an optimized groove profile. The optical sensor has a grooved surface defined by a first sinusoidal component superposed with one or more additional sinusoidal components such that a reflectance anomaly occurs at multiple resonance angles. A measure of the targeted substance in the sample can more precisely calculated as a function of a change in angular distance between the resonance angles. Advantages of the present invention include increased sensitivity and less susceptibility to system drifts due to mechanical motion and thermal changes than conventional diffraction grating sensors.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.