Diffractive Biosensor Curved Grating Signal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing diffractive biosensors face challenges in cost-effective production and sensitivity due to complex manufacturing processes and low signal strength from double weak coupling mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A diffractive biosensor design featuring a planar waveguide with a curved grating that focuses collimated light onto a detection area, utilizing a biolattice formed by adsorbed biomolecules, which simplifies lithographic production and enhances signal intensity through constructive interference of partial beams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an optical grating is etched into the substrate or waveguide to couple light in or out, then light coupling efficiency is improved, but manufacturing effort and complexity increase significantly due to the fine structures required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the physical etched grating structure with a biologically formed grating pattern. Biomolecules are allowed to self-assemble or be deposited in a periodic arrangement on the waveguide surface, creating an optical grating effect without requiring lithographic etching. This biological copying approach achieves the desired light coupling while avoiding complex manufacturing steps.
2Measurement precision
If a separate decoupling grating is added to the waveguide to direct light to the detector, then light detection capability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing effort increase due to additional lithography steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the coupling and decoupling grating functions into a single biologically formed grating structure. The same periodic biomolecule arrangement that couples light into the waveguide also serves to couple it out towards the detector, eliminating the need for separate decoupling grating structures and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The biologically formed grating structure performs multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both the coupling grating for light input and the decoupling grating for light output. This multi-functional design simplifies the overall sensor architecture by eliminating redundant components.
3Measurement precision
If lattice-structured receptors are used to detect biomolecules through diffraction, then detection sensitivity is improved, but the zero signal level increases and areal application of biomolecules reduces sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent concentrates the biomolecule receptors at specific localized positions along the waveguide rather than distributing them uniformly across the entire surface. This localized arrangement ensures that only light interacting with the specific grating region contributes to the signal, reducing background noise and improving the signal-to-noise ratio while maintaining detection sensitivity.
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 design allows for cost-effective and sensitive detection of biomolecules with reduced manufacturing effort and improved signal strength, facilitating efficient biomolecule analysis.
Implementation Method 1
Incident light is coupled into the waveguide by means of an optical grating... the efficiency of the coupling and thus the intensity of the light arriving in the detection area depending on the mass coverage of the grating with the biomolecules to be detected
Implementation Method 2
the light incident on the grating is collimated... the grating has receptors for the biomolecules arranged periodically on the waveguide and the light incident on the grating is collimated
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4a
Figure 4b~5
AI summary
A diffractive biosensor for the selective detection of biomolecules is disclosed, comprising a substrate (S) and a planar waveguide (W) arranged on the substrate (S). Incident light (L) is coupled into the waveguide (W) by means of an optical grating (G) and directed to a detection region (D) located behind an edge (K) of the waveguide (W). The coupling efficiency, and thus the intensity of the light (L) arriving at the detection region (D), depends on the mass distribution of the biomolecules to be detected on the optical grating (G). The grating (G) has periodically arranged receptors (R) for the biomolecules on the waveguide (W), and the light (L) incident on the optical grating (G) is collimated.