Optical environmental sensor and method for the manufacturing of the sensor

• US 20090263071A1
• Filed: 04/08/2009
• Published: 10/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CSEM Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique SA Recherche et Développement
• Original Assignee: CSEM Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique SA Recherche et Développement
• Inventors: Schnieper, Marc, Stuck, Alexander, Walter, Harald
• Granted Patent: US 8,923,662 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7723 Swelling part, also for adsorption sensor, i.e. without chemical reaction
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7783 Transmission, loss
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/7743 the reagent-coated grating coupling light in or out of the waveguide

Abstract

A sensor which reacts on influences from an environment. The sensor includes a zero-order diffractive color filter. The zero-order diffractive color filter includes a high-index waveguide layer, a zero-order diffractive grating structure and a layer of an reactive material, wherein the reactive material is in contact with the environment and wherein the reactive material changes its optical properties upon interaction with the environment. The reactive material is embedded in the waveguide layer and/or the reactive material is located at a maximum distance d from the waveguide layer. The distancing is effected by an intra layer having a low index of refraction.

Claims

1. A sensor reacting on influences from an environment, said sensor comprising:

a zero-order diffractive color filter, said zero-order diffractive color filter comprising;

a high index of refraction waveguide layer;

a zero-order diffractive grating structure; and

a layer of a reactive material, wherein said reactive material contacts said environment and said reactive material is adapted to change optical properties upon a change of said environment.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein said reactive material is embedded in said high-index waveguide layer.

3. The sensor of claim 1, wherein said reactive material is located at a maximum distance d from said high-index waveguide layer.

4. The sensor of claim 1, wherein said reactive material constitutes said high-index waveguide layer.

5. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein said high-index waveguide layer and said zero-order diffractive grating structure comprise a single layer.

6. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein said high-index waveguide layer and said zero-order diffractive grating structure comprise at least two distinct layers.

7. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein said zero order diffractive color filter is mounted on a low refractive index material base of one of the group of:

a substrate that is bulky in form, and a layer.

8. The sensor according to claim 3, wherein said maximum distance d is 2000 nm.

9. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein a period of said zero-order diffractive grating structure is in a range of 300 nm to 500 nm.

10. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein said reactive layer in contact with the environment is capable of interaction with at least one of the following components of the environment:

gaseous components, liquid components, solid components, and electromagnetic radiation pervading the environment.

11. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein at least some of said reactive material in contact with the environment has a porous structure in order to enhance the optical responsiveness of said reactive material.

12. The sensor according to claim 11, wherein said reactive material comprises a swelling material.

13. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is in a form of pigments.

14. The sensor according to claim 1, further comprising interaction-promoting molecules enabling a selective binding of corresponding molecules.

15. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is used for detecting environmental changes by observing the spectrum change of reflected and/or transmitted radiation spectrum.

16. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is used for detecting environmental changes by observing a corresponding response of said sensor to potential changes in color of reflected light and/or transmitted light.

17. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is used by sensing or utilizing the colored reflected light from a backside of said sensor.

18. The sensor according to claim 13, wherein the sensor is used in printing inks.

19. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein said reactive material comprises a swelling material.