Chemical sensor based on the optical superprism effect in photonic crystals
First Claim
1. A sensor for detecting the presence of an analyte in a solution, comprising:
- a photonic crystal;
a light source capable of illuminating the crystal with a light beam having a predetermined wavelength and direction; and
a position sensing detector positioned so as to detect the position of the light beam after it is transmitted by the crystal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor comprising at least one photonic crystal, at least one light source capable of illuminating the crystal with a light beam having a predetermined wavelength and direction, and at least one position sensing detector positioned so as to detect the position of said light beam after it is transmitted by the crystal. Sensing is achieved by saturating the crystal with a liquid so as to produce a saturated crystal having a first refractive index, calculating for the crystal a dispersion surface and using the dispersion surface to calculate a effective incident light vector; and illuminating the saturated crystal with at least one light beam, the beam being incident substantially along the calculated effective incident light vector such that if the saturated crystal is modified to have a second refractive index, the position-sensing detector will detect a change in position of the transmitted light beam.
25 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A sensor for detecting the presence of an analyte in a solution, comprising:
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a photonic crystal;
a light source capable of illuminating the crystal with a light beam having a predetermined wavelength and direction; and
a position sensing detector positioned so as to detect the position of the light beam after it is transmitted by the crystal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A kit capable of being assembled to provide a sensor for detecting the presence of an analyte in a solution, comprising:
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a photonic crystal or kit for making a photonic crystal;
a light source capable of illuminating the crystal with a light beam having a predetermined wavelength and direction; and
a position sensing detector capable of being positioned so as to detect the position of a light beam from the light source after it is transmitted by the crystal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for sensing, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a sensor comprising at least one photonic crystal, at least one light source capable of illuminating the crystal with a light beam having a predetermined wavelength and direction, and at least one position sensing detector positioned so as to detect the position of said light beam after it is transmitted by the crystal;
b) saturating the crystal with a liquid so as to produce a saturated crystal having a first refractive index;
c) calculating for the photonic crystal a dispersion surface and using the dispersion surface to calculate a effective incident light vector; and
c) illuminating the saturated crystal with at least one light beam, the beam being incident along substantially the calculated effective incident light vector such that if the saturated crystal is modified to have a second refractive index, the position-sensing detector will detect a change in position of the transmitted light beam. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification