Optical sensor apparatus to detect light based on the refractive index of a sample
US9024252B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 21, 2012 |
| Grant date | May 5, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 24, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2021/437
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical sensor apparatus includes an optically transmissive structure having planar first, second, and third faces, two or more light sources located outside the structure adjacent the first face, and a photodetector array located outside the prism adjacent the first face. The structure, light sources, and photodetector array are configured such that light from the light sources that is totally internally reflected at an optical interface between the prism and a sample outside the structure proximate the second face is reflected at the third face and incident on a portion of the photodetector array that depends on a refractive index of the sample. The light sources are positioned with respect to the structure and photodetector array such that the totally internally reflected light from each light source corresponds to a different range of refractive index of the sample and maps to a corresponding portion of the photodetector array.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.