Patent ID: 9297955
Filing Date: 2016-03-29
CPC Classification: B82Y,G01N,G02B

Claim Text:
1. A plasmonic interferometer sensor comprising: a transparent substrate; and a first conductive layer disposed over an upper surface of the transparent substrate, the first conductive layer defining at least one groove inwardly extending along an upper surface and defining an aperture that is spaced apart from the at least one groove, wherein an interface between the upper surface of the first conductive layer and an ambient medium defines a first optical branch along which surface plasmon polariton modes are excited in response to at least partially coherent light being received by the optical device; a second conductive layer disposed over and directly in contact with the upper surface of the transparent substrate; and a dielectric layer disposed between the first and second conductive layers such that a lower surface of the dielectric layer is directly in contact with an upper surface of the second conductive layer, and an upper surface of the dielectric layer is directly in contact with a lower surface of the first conductive layer; wherein the at least one groove defines a ring in the first conductive layer, and the aperture has a circular shape; wherein the at least one groove extends entirely through the dielectric layer and through the first and second conductive layers such that a portion of the upper surface of the transparent substrate is exposed, and wherein the aperture extends entirely through the first conductive layer such that a portion of the upper surface of the dielectric layer is exposed.