Miniscule-Size Photo-Spectrometer Units

• US 20090097025A1
• Filed: 05/01/2007
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Medingo Ltd. (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Iddan, Gavriel J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,089,626 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/319
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0259 Monolithic
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0291 Housings; Spectrometer accessories; Spatial arrangement of elements, e.g. folded path arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/12 Generating the spectrum; Monochromators
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/2803 using photoelectric array detector

Abstract

Device and method for implementing a photo-spectrometer unit, PSU (20), for use with a spectrometry system (100) having optical means (12), and electronic means (13) including detection means (15, 25, 25j) and processing means (16, 26, 26k). The PSU is formed in a first manufacturing process step into a monolithic structure as a chip of substrate material (30) including integrally formed optical means, and has a first input surface (301) separated from a second receiving surface (302) by a substrate material thickness (t). Electronic means are formed onto the PSU structure in a second manufacturing process step. The substrate material is selected as a material transparent to electromagnetic radiations, and the PSU has at least one optical deflecting element (32) configured for guiding received radiations through the thickness of the substrate material, for establishing direct optical path coupling between both an element formed on one surface and an element formed on another surface of the substrate material.

Claims

1-40. -40. (canceled)

41. A method for manufacturing a photo-spectrometer unit for use with a spectrometry system, said photo-spectrometer unit having an upstream side and a downstream side, and said spectrometry system having a source of radiation illuminating a sample and an optical guide for guiding radiations exiting from the sample into the photo-spectrometer unit, said photo-spectrometer unit comprising:

at least one optical element for receiving input radiations exiting from the sample, and

electronic elements including;

a detector formed downstream of at least one optical element and configured for receiving radiation exiting from the sample and for outputting electrical measurable signals, and

a processor configured for processing the electrical measurable signals received from the detector, and for outputting spectrometry result output signals,

the method comprising the steps of;

forming the photo-spectrometer unit as a chip of a substrate material, said chip having a monolithic structure with the at least one optical element formed integrally therefrom, and said chip having a first surface on which said at least one optical element is formed, said first surface being separated by a substrate material thickness from a second surface, and

forming the electronic elements on said second surface of said chip.

42. The method according to claim 41, wherein:

the electronic elements include circuits selected alone and in combination from the group consisting of electronic circuits and wireless transmission circuits.

43. The method according to claim 41, wherein:

the substrate material is transparent to electromagnetic radiations, and

the at least one optical element includes at least one optical deflecting element configured for guiding received radiations through the substrate material for establishing direct optical path coupling between an optical element formed on the first surface and an electronic element formed on the second surface.

44. The method according to claim 41, wherein:

the at least one optical element includes optical elements selected alone and in combination from the group consisting of optical couplers, collimating optics, focusing optics, wavelength separation means, optical prisms, and optical deflecting elements.

45. The method according to claim 41, wherein:

the detectors selected alone and in combination from the group consisting of a single common detector, an array of detectors, and separate single wavelength dedicated optical detectors.

46. The method according to claim 41, wherein:

the processor is selected alone and in combination from the group consisting of a single processor, an array of processors, and electronic circuits.

47. The method according to claim 41, wherein:

the photo-spectrometer unit further comprises a signal output coupling for outputting the spectrometry output signals.

48. The method according to claim 41, wherein:

at least the photo-spectrometer unit is formed out of a bio-compatible material and is configured as a releasably skin-adherable pad.

49. A photo-spectrometer unit for use with a spectrometry system, said spectrometry system having an upstream side and a downstream side, and having a source of radiation for illuminating a sample and an optical guide for guiding radiations exiting from the sample into the photo-spectrometer unit, said photo-spectrometer unit comprising:

at least one optical element for receiving input radiations exiting from the sample, and

electronic elements including;

a detector formed downstream of at least one optical element, the detector being configured for receiving radiations exiting from the sample and for outputting electrical measurable signals, and

a processor configured for processing the electrical measurable signals received from the detector, and for outputting spectrometry result output signals,

said photo-spectrometer unit being formed as a chip of a substrate material, said chip having a monolithic structure with the at least one optical element formed integrally therefrom, and said chip having a first surface and a second surface separated therefrom by a substrate material thickness, said at least one optical element being formed on said first surface and said electronic elements being formed on said second surface.

50. The photo-spectrometer unit according to claim 49, wherein:

the electronic elements include circuits selected alone and in combination from the group consisting of electronic circuits and wireless transmission circuits.

51. The photo-spectrometer unit according to claim 49, wherein:

the substrate material is transparent to electromagnetic radiations, and

the at least one optical element includes at least one optical deflecting element configured for guiding received radiations through the thickness of the substrate material for establishing direct optical path coupling between both an element formed on one surface and an element formed on another surface of the substrate material.

52. The photo-spectrometer unit according to claim 49, wherein:

the at least one optical element includes optical elements selected alone and in combination from the group consisting of optical couplers, collimating optics, focusing optics, wavelength separation means, optical prisms, and optical deflecting elements.

53. The photo-spectrometer unit according to claim 49, wherein:

the detector is selected alone and in combination from the group consisting of a single common detector, an array of common detectors, and separate single wavelength dedicated optical detectors.

54. The photo-spectrometer unit according to claim 49, wherein:

at least the photo-spectrometer unit is formed out of bio-compatible material and is configured as a releasably skin-adherable pad.

55. The photo-spectrometer unit according to claim 49, wherein:

at least the photo-spectrometer unit is implemented as a disposable component of a medical system.