Planar Waveguide Chromophore Support via Photoluminescent Intermediary
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for supporting chromophore elements face significant practical difficulties in coupling excitation light into the guiding layer due to precise mechanical and optical requirements, particularly with methods involving gratings or edge illumination.
Innovation Solution
A device with a substrate forming a planar waveguide that includes photoluminescent constituents to generate excitation light internally, allowing broad tolerance in illumination and improving signal-to-noise ratio through wavelength filtering and reflective structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If coupling is achieved by illuminating a grating on the surface of the guiding layer, then excitation light can be coupled into the waveguide, but the equipment requires very great mechanical and optical accuracy with angle of incidence varying with wavelength
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces photoluminescent constituents as an intermediary between the external light source and the chromophore elements. These constituents are embedded in the waveguide and convert externally applied light into guided modes through photoluminescence, eliminating the need for precise grating coupling. The intermediary absorbs external light and re-emits it as guided photons that can efficiently excite the chromophore elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical precision-based grating coupling system with an optical conversion system. Instead of relying on precise mechanical alignment and angle control for grating illumination, the system uses photoluminescent materials to convert externally applied light into the desired guided modes, substituting mechanical precision requirements with material-based optical conversion.
2Reliability
If the beam illuminating the edge of the guiding layer is used to couple light, then excitation light can be coupled into the waveguide, but the beam must be of dimension corresponding to effective height or width of guided mode (1 μm or less) with tolerance of less than 1 μm
Solution Approach 1:
The photoluminescent constituents serve as an intermediary that absorbs light over a larger area and converts it into guided modes. This intermediary approach allows external light sources with much larger beam dimensions and relaxed positioning tolerances to effectively couple energy into the waveguide, eliminating the need for sub-micrometer precision beam positioning at the waveguide edge.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from edge-coupling (one-dimensional coupling at the waveguide boundary) to volume coupling by embedding photoluminescent constituents throughout the waveguide structure. This dimensional change allows light to be coupled into the waveguide from a much larger spatial region, dramatically relaxing positioning tolerance requirements.
3Ease of operation
If photoluminescent constituents are used to generate excitation light internally in the planar waveguide, then coupling problems are avoided and broad tolerance in illumination is achieved, but additional components and structure are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the excitation light generation function directly into the waveguide structure by embedding photoluminescent constituents within the guiding layer. This integration combines the waveguide's light guidance function with the photoluminescent materials' light conversion function, creating a unified structure that eliminates separate coupling components while achieving broad illumination tolerance.
Solution Approach 2:
The waveguide structure is given multiple functions: it serves both as the light guidance medium and as the host for photoluminescent constituents that generate excitation light. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate coupling components and simplifies the overall device architecture while maintaining ease of operation with relaxed alignment tolerances.
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 solution enables efficient excitation of chromophore elements with improved signal-to-noise ratio and reduced mechanical and optical precision requirements, enhancing the fluorescence emission and detection process.
Implementation Method 1
the planar waveguide contains photoluminescent constituents suitable for emitting luminescence at the excitation wavelength(s) of the chromophore elements when said constituents are themselves excited by primary excitation light
Implementation Method 2
this luminescence being guided in the planar waveguide to excite the chromophore elements
Data Source
AI summary
A device for supporting chromophore elements suitable for emitting fluorescence in response to light excitation, the device comprising a substrate having a surface layer carrying the chromophore elements, forming a planar waveguide, and containing photoluminescent constituents which emit guided luminescence at the excitation wavelength(s) of the chromophore elements when they are excited by primary excitation light illuminating the surface layer. The invention is particularly applicable to biochip type devices.