Patent ID: 6211954
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An integrated-optical luminescence sensor for a sample, said integrated-optical luminescence sensor comprising:a light source operable to output an excitation light beam having a first optical axes;a planar waveguide operable to receive the excitation light beam and to form a guided wave from the excitation light beam and further operable to create an evanescent field which interacts with the sample to create luminescence light;a detector operable to detect at least a portion of the luminescence light; andat least one of (a) a detection beam path along which travels at least a portion of the luminescence light, said detection beam path having a second optical axis projecting from said planar waveguide, and (b) a coupling-out grating operable to couple out at least a portion of the luminescence light in said waveguide,wherein the luminescence light is physically separated from the excitation light beam by at least one of the following:a skew geometric arrangement of the first and second optical axis;at least one polarization-selective component being located in the detection beam path;at least one polarization-selective component being located in a path of the luminescence light coupled out from said coupled-out grating; andat least one polarization-selective component being located in the portion of the luminescence light coupled out from said coupled-out grating, wherein a coupled-in grating operable to couple in the excitation light beam into said planar waveguide is further operable to act as said couple-out grating.