Wave-guided miniature spectrophotometer transducer

• US 20020071625A1
• Filed: 12/07/2000
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Bartholomew, Dwight Urban, Arbuthnot, Diane L.
• Application Number:
  US09/732,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20020071625A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/12
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/134 Chemical systems, e.g. with detection by vapour analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7713 in core
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/7703 using reagent-clad optical fibres or optical waveguides using measurement of total internal reflection or attenuated total reflection G01N21/552; optical fibres or waveguides per se G02B

Abstract

A spectrophotometer transducer is disclosed that includes a chemically sensitive wave-guiding thin film and a light detector coupled to the wave-guiding thin film. The light detector is adapted to respond to light transmitted through the wave-guiding thin film. Vapors reacting with the wave-guiding thin film reflect light transmitted through the wave-guiding thin film. The light detector recognizes changes in the transmitted light to identify the vapor that reacted with the wave-guiding thin film.

Claims

1. A spectrophotometer transducer comprising:

a chemically sensitive wave-guiding thin film; and

a light detector, coupled to said wave-guiding thin film, and adapted to respond to light transmitted through said wave-guiding thin film.

2. The spectrophotometer transducer of claim 1 wherein said wave-guiding thin film is self-supporting.

3. The spectrophotometer transducer of claim 1 further comprising a light focusing element to focus light from said wave-guiding thin film into said light detector.

4. The spectrophotometer transducer of claim 1 further comprising a light wavelength filter element to filter said transmitted light.

5. The spectrophotometer transducer of claim 1 wherein said wave-guiding thin film has a reflective region.

6. The spectrophotometer transducer of claim 1 wherein said wave-guiding thin film contains Jeffamine.

7. The spectrophotometer transducer of claim 1 further comprising a light source to direct light through said wave-guiding thin film.

8. A wave-guided spectrophotometer transducer comprising:

a chemically sensitive waveguide; and

a light detector, coupled to said waveguide, and adapted to generate a signal corresponding to light transmitted through said waveguide.

9. The transducer of claim 8 wherein said waveguide is self-supporting.

10. The transducer of claim 8 wherein said transducer includes a light focusing element to focus light from said waveguide into said light detector.

11. The transducer of claim 8 further comprising a light wavelength filter element to filter said transmitted light.

12. The transducer of claim 8 wherein said waveguide has a reflective region.

13. The transducer of claim 8 wherein said waveguide contains Jeffamine.

14. The transducer of claim 8 further comprising a light source to direct light through said waveguide.

15. The transducer of claim 8 wherein said waveguide reacts to radiation.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of fabricating said waveguide to be self-supporting.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of providing a light focusing element.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of providing a light wavelength filter element.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of providing a waveguide further comprises providing a reflective region coupled to said waveguide.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of providing a waveguide further comprises providing Jeffamine in said waveguide.

16. A method of producing a vapor detector, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a chemically sensitive waveguide; and

coupling said waveguide to a light detector.