Integrally formed surface plasmon resonance sensor
First Claim
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1. A surface plasmon sensor comprising, in combination:
- a source of electromagnetic radiation having a given frequency range;
a housing transparent to said electromagnetic radiation in said frequency range;
a thin surface plasmon resonance layer, the layer having a interior surface disposed on an exterior surface of said housing and an outer surface;
an array of photodetectors disposed closely adjacent the surface of said housing and substantially coplanar with said source;
said surface plasmon resonance layer and said photodetectors being disposed relative to each other so that said radiation from said source reflects off said interior surface and strikes at least some of said photodetectors,whereby said radiation'"'"'s intensity varies as a function of which said photodetector is struck, said intensity variation function being affected by the index of refraction of a material that comes in contact with said outer surface.
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Abstract
A surface plasmon resonance sensor includes a light source 10 and a polarizer 18 for producing polarized light which passes through a transparent body 12 and strikes a thin conductive film 26 disposed on the exterior surface of the body 12. The film 26 exhibits surface plasmon resonance when the light strikes the film at a "resonance angle". By determining the angle at which surface plasmon resonance occurs, the refractive index of the material on the side of the film 26 opposite to the side which reflects the polarized light can be measured.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A surface plasmon sensor comprising, in combination:
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a source of electromagnetic radiation having a given frequency range; a housing transparent to said electromagnetic radiation in said frequency range; a thin surface plasmon resonance layer, the layer having a interior surface disposed on an exterior surface of said housing and an outer surface; an array of photodetectors disposed closely adjacent the surface of said housing and substantially coplanar with said source; said surface plasmon resonance layer and said photodetectors being disposed relative to each other so that said radiation from said source reflects off said interior surface and strikes at least some of said photodetectors, whereby said radiation'"'"'s intensity varies as a function of which said photodetector is struck, said intensity variation function being affected by the index of refraction of a material that comes in contact with said outer surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A surface plasmon sensor comprising, in combination:
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a source of electromagnetic radiation; a housing surrounding said source of electromagnetic radiation and transparent to said electromagnetic radiation; a polarizer disposed in said housing for producing polarized radiation from said electromagnetic radiation; a thin surface plasmon resonance layer disposed on an exterior surface of said housing; an array of photodetectors disposed in said housing and substantially coplanar with said source; the polarized radiation from said polarizer, said surface plasmon resonance layer and said photodetectors being disposed relative to each other so that said polarized radiation reflects off said surface plasmon resonance layer and strikes at least some of said photodetectors.
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23. A surface plasmon sensor comprising, in combination:
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a housing transparent to electromagnetic radiation in a given frequency range; a source of electromagnetic radiation in said given frequency range and disposed within said housing; a polarizer for producing polarized radiation from said electromagnetic radiation and disposed within said housing; a thin electrically conductive layer disposed on an exterior surface of said housing; an array of photodetectors disposed closely adjacent the surface of said housing; the polarized radiation from said polarizer, said electrically conductive layer and said photodetectors being disposed relative to each other so that said polarized radiation reflects off said electrically conductive layer and strikes at least some of said photodetectors. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification