Patent ID: 6455004
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: G01N,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
An optical sensor for the characterization or detection or characterization and detection of a chemical or biochemical or chemical and bio-chemical substance comprisingat least one optical waveguide with a substrate, a waveguiding material, a cover medium and at least one waveguide grating structure, at least two sensing pads comprising at least one waveguide grating for acting as in-coupling grating, at least one of the sensing pads acting as sensor pad and being at least partially coated by a sensor chemosensitive or bio-chemosensitve layer, and at least one of the sensing pads acting as reference pad and being coated at least partially by a reference chemosensitive or bio-chemosensitive layer, light source means for the simultaneous illumination of at least the in-coupling gratings of the sensor pad and of the reference pad from the substrate side or from the cover medium side or from the substrate side and from the cover medium side, detection means for simultaneous detection of positions or intensities or positions and intensities of at least two light distribution proportions, which, on the detection means, are not superimposed on one another and which are emitted or coupled out or emitted and coupled out from the waveguide grating structure into the substrate or into the cover medium or into the substrate and into the cover medium, means for the generation of a referenced sensor signal through the evaluation of the detected light distribution, or of the detected positions or of intensities of the at least two light distribution proportions or of a combination of these, and means for the immovable fixation of the waveguide grating structure relative to the light source means and the means of detection for the purpose of carrying out a measurement.