Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
An optical sensor for testing a biochemical sample, the optical sensor comprising means for providing a beam of light, a polarizer arranged in the path of the beam of light to linearly polarize said beam of light with coherent TE and TM components, an optical evanescent wave sensor device arranged in the path of said polarized beam of light, said sensor device having a dielectric cavity and a sensing layer which is at least partly sensitized by said sample, the beam of light being polarized at approximately 45° at the surface of the cavity, coupling means for coupling said beam of light with coherent TE and TM components to said sensor device and an analyzer arranged to receive said components of the beam of light reflected from the device for producing at least one of a bright band and a dark band, when at least one of said components excites resonance in said device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
An optical sensor for testing a biochemical sample, the optical sensor comprising means for providing a beam of light, a polarizer arranged in the path of the beam of light to linearly polarize said beam of light with coherent TE and TM components, an optical evanescent wave sensor device arranged in the path of said polarized beam of light, said sensor device having a dielectric cavity and a sensing layer which is at least partly sensitized by said sample, the beam of light being polarized at approximately 45° at the surface of the cavity, coupling means for coupling said beam of light with coherent TE and TM components to said sensor device and an analyzer arranged to receive said components of the beam of light reflected from the device for producing at least one of a bright band and a dark band, when at least one of said components excites resonance in said device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A sensor as claimed in claim 1, including a lens arranged in the path of said beam of light for focusing the beam of light onto the device, thereby providing simultaneously a range of angles of incidence at which said beam of light is coupled into said device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A sensor as claimed in claim 1, in which said coupling means is one of a prism and a diffraction grating.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A sensor as claimed in claim 3, in which said device is fabricated on a surface of one of said prism and said diffraction grating.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A sensor as claimed in claim 4, in which one of said prism and said diffraction grating together with said device is mounted on a manually operable Vernier rotor stage so that angles of resonance can be measured.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A sensor as claimed in claim 1, including a compensator disposed adjacent said analyzer to remove any off resonance phase difference which is introduced between the TE and TM components.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A sensor as claimed in claim 1, including a CCD array for monitoring one of said bright band and said dark band.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of testing a biochemical sample, the method comprising providing a beam of light, linearly polarizing said beam of light with coherent TE and TM components, arranging in the path of said polarized beam of light, an optical evanescent wave sensor device having a dielectric cavity and a sensing layer which is at least partly sensitized by said sample, the beam of light being polarized at approximately 45° at the surface of the cavity, coupling said beam of light with coherent TE and TM components to said sensor device to excite resonance in said device for at least one of said components and arranging an analyzer to receive said components of the beam of light reflected from the device for producing at least one of a bright band and a dark band.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of testing a biochemical sample, the method comprising providing a beam of light, linearly polarizing said beam of light with coherent TE and TM components, arranging in the path of said polarized beam of light, an optical evanescent wave sensor device having a dielectric cavity and a sensing layer which is at least partly sensitized by said sample, the beam of light being polarized at approximately 45° at the surface of the cavity, coupling said beam of light with coherent TE and TM components to said sensor device to excite resonance in said device for at least one of said components and arranging an analyzer to receive said components of the beam of light reflected from the device for producing at least one of a bright band and a dark band.