Patent ID: 7969422

Claim:
A detection system, comprising: a substrate having a first side surface located opposite a second side surface and an upper surface located opposite a lower surface, wherein the substrate is transparent, an image sensor array adjacent to the lower surface, wherein the array comprises multiple photosensitive elements; and a reflective layer over the upper surface, wherein the substrate is configured to receive light through the first side surface, wherein the light has a pre-selected wavelength, wherein the second side surface is configured to reflect the received light onto the upper surface at a pre-selected angle of incidence, wherein the second side surface is angled to be non-perpendicular with respect to the upper surface to reflect the received light onto the upper surface, wherein the reflective layer is configured such that the light creates surface plasmons whenever a first dielectric having a first refractive index is adjacent to the outer surface of the reflective layer, wherein the surface plasmons produce a pattern that is imaged by the image sensor array for detection, wherein the reflective layer is configured to reflect the light onto the image sensor array whenever a second dielectric having a second refractive index is adjacent to the outer surface of the reflective layer, and wherein the first refractive index differs from the second refractive index.