Optomechanical Sensor With Optical Insulation for Species Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optomechanical sensors for detecting biological species in a liquid medium suffer from degradation of optical mode quality due to mass deposition, requiring complex closed-loop wavelength monitoring and limited service life, as the sensitive and optical active areas are not adequately separated.
Innovation Solution
A sensor design with an optical insulation layer covering the optical resonator to confine the optical mode, minimizing surface disturbances and using an optomechanical resonator with a mechanical resonator coupled to a waveguide, allowing selective detection of species through vibration frequency changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If mass is deposited over the optical active area to detect species concentration, then detection sensitivity is improved, but optical mode quality is degraded and wavelength offset occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor surface is divided into two distinct areas: an optical active area for confining the optical mode and a sensitive area for mass deposition. This segmentation allows the optical mode to be maintained in a stable region while the detection area experiences mass accumulation without compromising optical performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful effect of mass deposition on optical mode is extracted and isolated by restricting mass deposition to areas outside the optical active area. The optical mode is taken out from the region susceptible to mass disturbances, thereby preserving its quality while maintaining detection capability.
2Reliability
If the optical mode is localised on the periphery of the disk to improve optical confinement, then optical resonance quality is improved, but the sensitive area and optical active area overlap causing wavelength offset
Solution Approach 1:
The disk structure is segmented into a central optical active area for optical confinement and peripheral sensitive areas for mass detection. This spatial segmentation ensures that the optical mode remains confined to the stable central region while mass deposition occurs in the peripheral regions, eliminating wavelength offset and simplifying the system.
3Measurement precision
If adhesion layers are deposited on the optical resonator surface to improve mass attachment, then detection capability is improved, but optical mode is disturbed
Solution Approach 1:
The resonator surface is segmented into an optical active area where no adhesion layer is deposited to maintain optical mode stability, and sensitive areas outside the optical active area where adhesion layers are deposited to enable mass attachment. This selective segmentation resolves the conflict between optical stability and detection capability.
4Device complexity
If the optical active area and sensitive area are made to correspond to the same surface region, then device simplicity is improved, but optical mode quality degrades with mass deposition
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor surface is segmented into distinct optical active and sensitive areas, with the optical active area positioned in the disk periphery where optical mode is confined and the sensitive area positioned in the disk center or other regions outside the optical active area. This spatial segmentation maintains optical mode quality while enabling mass detection.
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
The sensor maintains optical mode integrity and extends service life by isolating the optical mode from surface conditions, enabling sensitive and selective detection of species with improved accuracy and durability.
Implementation Method 1
an optical insulation layer formed at the surface of the optical resonator so as to at least cover the optical mode and insulate the optical mode from the surface of the optical resonator
Implementation Method 2
at least one mechanical resonator coupled to each other... allowing selective detection of species through vibration frequency changes
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor for sensing the concentration of at least one biological species in blood includes a support, at least one waveguide, and an optomechanical resonator hanging to the support. The optomechanical resonator is optically coupled to the waveguide. The optomechanical resonator is configured to vibrate in a volume mode and includes at least one face extending in the plane of the sensor and is configured to receive molecules of the given species. The optical resonator includes a body comprising an optical active area and an optical insulation layer deposited at least in line with the optical active area so as to confine at least partially an electromagnetic wave in the body.