Optical waveguide microcantilever with differential output and associated methods of cantilever sensing
First Claim
1. A microcantilever sensing system having at least one microcantilever sensor, said microcantilever sensor comprising:
- a waveguide cantilever permitting an optical signal to propagate through an endface of the cantilever; and
a receiver waveguide in optical communication with the waveguide cantilever endface such that the optical signal is communicated between the waveguide cantilever and the receiver waveguide; and
a differential beamsplitter for splitting the optical signal based on a deflection of the waveguide cantilever.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A microcantilever sensing system includes a waveguide cantilever that permits an optical signal to propagate through an endface of the cantilever. The propagated signal is received by a receiver waveguide across a gap from the cantilever. The receiver waveguide provides the optical signal to a differential beamsplitter. The signal is differentially split according to the position of the optical signal incident upon the receiving waveguide. A method of determining a deflection waveguide microcantilever is also disclosed. An optical signal is transmitted from the endface of a waveguide microcantilever and received by the receiver waveguide. The optical signal is differentially split and then each split signal is compared to determine beam deflection. A method of fabricating a microcantilever sensor provides a differential beamsplitter in optical communication with a waveguide cantilever.
30 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A microcantilever sensing system having at least one microcantilever sensor, said microcantilever sensor comprising:
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a waveguide cantilever permitting an optical signal to propagate through an endface of the cantilever; and a receiver waveguide in optical communication with the waveguide cantilever endface such that the optical signal is communicated between the waveguide cantilever and the receiver waveguide; and a differential beamsplitter for splitting the optical signal based on a deflection of the waveguide cantilever. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A microcantilever sensing system, comprising:
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an optical signal source for providing an optical signal; a plurality of beamsplitters for splitting the optical signal into portions; a plurality of waveguide branches for receiving a portion of the split optical signal; and a plurality of waveguide microcantilever sensors, each microcantilever sensor receiving the respective portion of the optical signal from at least one of the plurality of beamsplitters, each microcantilever sensor comprising, a waveguide cantilever permitting the portion of the optical signal to propagate through an endface of the cantilever; a receiver waveguide in optical communication with the waveguide cantilever endface such that the portion of the optical signal is communicated between the waveguide cantilever and the receiver waveguide; and a differential beamsplitter for splitting the optical signal based on a deflection of the waveguide cantilever. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of determining a deflection of a waveguide microcantilever, comprising:
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transmitting an optical signal from an endface of a waveguide microcantilever; receiving the transmitted optical signal; differentially splitting the transmitted optical signal; comparing the power of each of the differentially split signals; and determining microcantilever beam deflection based upon the comparison of power. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of determining analyte adsorption, the analyte being disposed upon the waveguide microcantilever, comprising:
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transmitting an optical signal from an endface of a waveguide microcantilever; receiving the transmitted optical signal; differentially splitting the transmitted optical signal; comparing the power of each of the differentially split signals; and determining analyte adsorption based upon the comparison of power. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A microcantilever sensing system having at least one microcantilever sensor, said microcantilever sensor comprising:
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a cantilever having a first waveguide; a second waveguide positioned to optically communicate with the first waveguide; and a differential beamsplitter positioned within a path of an optical signal communicated between the first waveguide and the second waveguide such that the differential beamsplitter receives and differentially splits the optical signal after communication of the optical signal between the first and second waveguides. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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38. A method for use in a microcantilever sensor, comprising:
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communicating an optical signal between a first waveguide and a second waveguide, the first waveguide on a cantilever of the sensor; differentially splitting the optical signal into at least a first split signal and second spilt signal; and determining a deflection of the cantilever based on the first and second split signals. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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Specification