Patent ID: 6785433
Filing Date: 2004-08-31
Classification: G01N,G02B,Y10S

Abstract:
An optical sensor with a reduced temperature dependency for a parallel determination of substances in a sample or a matrix of samples according to a one of a marking-free method and marking method, comprising:a laser light source for producing an incident light beam; beam diverging optics adapted to be arranged in front of the laser light source; a (bio)chemo-functional waveguide grating structure with (bio)chemo-functional waveguide grating structure units arranged in a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array-like manner or with (bio)chemo-functional sensor locations arranged in a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array-like manner; wherein the (bio)chemo-functional waveguide grating structure comprises at least one (bio)chemo-functional reference path; and wherein the laser light source, the beam diverging optics, and the waveguide grating structure are designed, dimensioned and arranged such that a light beam produced by the laser light source illuminates several (bio)chemo-functional waveguide grating structure units or several (bio)chemo-functional sensor locations simultaneously; a detector device comprising a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array of detectors or a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array of position-sensitive detectors; a lens system or an array of lens systems for deflecting light exiting the waveguide grating structure onto the detector device; and means for varying an angle of incidence of the incident light beam according to an incident angle scanning mode method and/or the wavelength of the incident light beam according to a wavelength scanning mode method and/or means for determining the out-coupling angle at least of one out-coupled light beam according to an out-coupling angle scanning mode method; whereby a series of averaged and/or referenced and/or non-referenced measurement signals may be generated, the angle of incidence and/or the wavelength of the incident light beam is varied in a large dynamic measuring range, and/or the out-coupling angle at least of one out-oupled light beam is determined according to a out-coupling angle scanning mode method.