Encoded particle having a grating with variations in the refractive index
US7872804B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 10, 2006 |
| Grant date | Jan 18, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 29, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03H2270/24
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Microparticles 8 includes an optical substrate 10 having at least one diffraction grating 12 disposed therein. The grating 12 having a plurality of colocated pitches Λ which represent a unique identification digital code that is detected when illuminated by incident light 24. The incident light 24 may be directed transversely from the side of the substrate 10 with a narrow band (single wavelength) or multiple wavelength source, in which case the code is represented by a spatial distribution of light or a wavelength spectrum, respectively. The code may be digital binary or may be other numerical bases. The micro-particles 8 can provide a large number of unique codes, e.g., greater than 67 million codes, and can withstand harsh environments. The micro-particles 8 are functionalized by coating them with a material/substance of interest, which are then used to perform multiplexed experiments involving chemical processes, e.g., DNA testing and combinatorial chemistry.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.