Patent ID: 9733188
Date: 2017-08-15
CPC Classifications: G01N

Claim:
1. An apparatus for signal detection, comprising: an excitation signal enhancing structure configured to generate an enhanced excitation signal in response to receipt of an incident excitation signal comprising electromagnetic radiation, wherein the enhanced excitation signal exhibits an intensity that is higher than an intensity of the incident excitation signal; a dielectric layer comprising a first side and a second side, wherein the excitation signal enhancing structure is formed on the first side of the dielectric layer; a microfluidic channel comprising a first side and a second side, wherein the first side of the microfluidic channel is formed on the second side of the dielectric layer, and wherein the microfluidic channel comprises one or more samples configured to emit one or more fluorescence response signals in response to being excited by the enhanced excitation signal; wherein the dielectric layer separates the one or more samples from the excitation signal enhancing structure; an optical filter comprising a first side and a side second, wherein the first side of the optical filter is formed on the second side of the microfluidic channel; and a photodetector structure formed on the second side of the optical filter; wherein the optical filter is configured to reflect the incident excitation signal and allow passage of the one or more fluorescence response signals to the photodetector structure.