Patent ID: 8279445

Claim:
Planar optical waveguide interferometer ( 15 , 25 , 35 , 45 ) comprising: a substrate ( 8 , 28 , 38 , 48 ); a bimodal waveguide ( 10 , 20 , 20 ′, 30 , 40 ) comprising at least one layer ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) deposited on said substrate ( 8 , 28 , 38 , 48 ), said bimodal waveguide ( 10 , 20 , 20 ′, 30 , 40 ) being designed for supporting a zero-order and a first-order transverse propagating modes, said transverse propagating modes having different dispersion; a sensor plate ( 21 , 31 , 41 , 51 ) located in a specific area of the upper side of said bimodal waveguide ( 10 , 20 , 20 ′, 30 , 40 ), said sensor plate ( 21 , 31 , 41 , 51 ) being configured for receiving a chemical, biological or physical input stimulus, said stimulus being capable of changing the effective refractive index of said bimodal waveguide ( 10 , 20 , 20 ′, 30 , 40 ); characterized in that said bimodal waveguide ( 10 , 20 , 20 ′, 30 , 40 ) further comprises confining means ( 9 ) designed for confining light in lateral direction, the bimodal waveguide ( 10 , 20 , 20 ′, 30 , 40 ) being thus designed for supporting one lateral mode.