Optical Biosensor Chip Scanning With Specular Reflection Rejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical sensing technologies face challenges in efficiently and accurately detecting and identifying substances on biosensor chips, particularly due to issues with specular reflection and noise interference, which affect the precision of wavelength scanning and resonance peak detection.
Innovation Solution
The use of a tunable laser system with optical couplers and detectors, combined with a free-space optical system and scanning mirrors, allows for precise wavelength tuning and spatial scanning of biosensor chips, while rejecting specular reflection and utilizing optical identification markers for unique sensor identification, and incorporating a wavelength referencing system to correct for laser velocity variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If optical probing is used to detect substances on biosensor chips, then detection capability is improved, but specular reflection and noise interference increase, reducing measurement precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful specular reflection into a beneficial feature by using the reflected light path to identify and locate optical elements on the chip. The specular reflection, which was previously causing noise interference, is now utilized to provide precise spatial information about sensor and waveguide positions, thereby improving measurement precision without sacrificing detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces optical identification markers as intermediary elements that mediate between the probe light and the optical sensors. These markers provide reference information about the spatial location of optical elements, enabling precise wavelength scanning and resonance peak detection by serving as intermediaries for spatial registration and alignment
2Productivity
If multiple biosensors are interrogated at high speed, then productivity is improved, but noise and specular reflection increase, reducing detection accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the biosensor chip into multiple independently addressable optical elements, each with its own optical identification marker. This segmentation allows for parallel interrogation of multiple biosensors at high speed while maintaining detection accuracy by using the markers to precisely locate and identify each sensor's resonance peaks without interference from noise or specular reflection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes optical identification markers with distinct optical properties (analogous to color changes) to differentiate and identify various optical sensors on the chip. These markers provide unique optical signatures that enable accurate identification and location of each sensor during high-speed interrogation, maintaining detection precision while increasing productivity
3Ease of operation
If optical identification markers are added to locate sensors, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs optical identification markers that serve multiple functions simultaneously: they act as spatial reference points for locating optical elements, provide unique identification codes for sensor differentiation, and serve as alignment references for wavelength scanning. This multi-functionality improves ease of operation while minimizing the increase in device complexity by consolidating multiple needs into single structural elements
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables fast and accurate optical sensing by minimizing noise and specular reflection, allowing for high-speed interrogation of multiple biosensors with improved precision in detecting resonance peaks and identifying specific sensors on the chip.
Implementation Method 1
an objective lens oriented relative to the chip platform at an angle to block the specular reflection of the probe light from the sensor chip outside an optical aperture of the objective lens and to receive the returned probe light from the sensor chip at a direction different from the specular reflection of the probe light from the sensor chip
Implementation Method 2
a tunable laser that produces a laser beam of the probe light and operates to tune a wavelength of the probe light over different wavelengths
Implementation Method 3
an optical detector in communication with the optical system to receive a portion of the returned probe light and to detect responses of each optical sensor on a sensor chip over different wavelengths of the tunable laser
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus, sensor chips and techniques for optical sensing of substances by using optical sensors on sensor chips.