Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Frederick A Stawitcke

Richard D Pering

David A King

Edward D Verdonk

Richard J Pittaro

Shahida Rana

Don Alden

Frank W Ingle

Michael Greenstein

Datong Chen

Ganapati R Mauze

Mark Andrew Troll

Shalini Venkatesh

Richard Earl Haven

David James Anvar

Vladimir J Drbal

Olaf Soerensen

Rick Pittaro

Klaus Stefan Drese

Hans-Joachim Hartmann

Ed Verdonk

A method and miniature analytical device with thermal regulation of reactant using a localized heat source capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation, such as light emitting diodes ('LED's) and vertical cavity surface emitting lasers ('VCSEL's), generating internal heat, such as resistive, inductive and Peltier heaters, or external heating. The miniature analytical device comprises of array of temperature-controlled zones to restrict the volume heated and localize the heating by having the localized heat source comprise an array of emitters or heaters.

Thermal regulation of fluidic samples within a diagnostic cartridge

The disclosure is directed toward an optical excitation/detection device that includes an arrayed plurality of photodetectors and separately formed photoemitters, as well as a method for making such a device. A CMOS fabricated photodetector array including a plurality of individual photoreceptors is selectively etched back between photoreceptor locations to reveal a plurality of recessed regions having a certain geographic profile. A plurality of semiconductor blocks, each having light emitting capability and each having a certain geometric profile that is complementary in size and shape to the certain geometric profile of the recessed regions, are separately fabricated. These blocks are included within a fluid to form a slurry. The slurry is then flowed over the CMOS fabricated photodetector array in accordance with a fluidic self-assembly technique, and the included semiconductor blocks are individually deposited within each of the plurality of recessed regions in the CMOS fabricated photodetector array. The deposited blocks are then attached within the recessed regions to form the optical excitation/detection device from an arrayed plurality of photodetectors and separately formed photoemitters.

Optical excitation/detection device and method for making same using fluidic self-assembly techniques

The disclosure is directed toward an optical excitation/detection device that includes an arrayed plurality of photodetectors and discrete photoemitters, as well as a method for making such a device. A CMOS fabricated photodetector array includes an arrayed plurality of photoreceptor areas and photoemitter areas, wherein each photoreceptor area includes a CMOS integrated photoreceptor and each photoemitter area includes at least two buried electric contact pads. The CMOS array is selectively etched back at the locations of the photoemitter areas for regions to reveal the buried contact pads. A plurality of discrete semiconductor photoemitter devices (such as, for example, light emitting diodes) are inserted into, and mechanically retained within, the regions of the CMOS fabricated photodetector array. The inserted discrete semiconductor photoemitter devices make electrical contact with the buried electric contact pads that are revealed within each of the regions to form the optical excitation/detection device from an arrayed plurality of photodetectors and discrete semiconductor photoemitters.

Optical excitation/detection device and method for making same using discrete photoemitter devices

Bubble stability within an optical switch is enhanced by controlling the expansion or movement of a bubble from a liquid-containing trench into available adjacent spacing. Typically, the adjacent spacing is formed between an optical waveguide substrate and a heater substrate, where the heater substrate includes a microheater for forming the bubble. The bubble enhancement is provided by intentionally altering surface features along at least one of the substrates.

Bubble stability in an optical switch

A biochemical assay device optically scans individual biological sample containing wells in an assay plate. The device includes an imaging system overlaying the assay plate wherein a scanning light propagates by total internal reflection within an optical waveguide. The waveguide includes a plurality of pixel locations, each aligned with a well in the assay plate, at which total internal reflection is selectively frustrated to output an incident beam of light. That light illuminates the well and causes generation of an emission beam of light that is detected by a photoreceptor. The device further includes a driver circuit that controls the selective frustration of total internal reflection at each pixel location in order to scan each well in the assay plate. A processor is also included in the device to process the detected emission beams of light generated by the scanned wells for purposes of assaying the biological sample contained in each scanned well.

Biochemical assay device using frustrated total internal reflection modulator with an imaging optical waveguide

Optical excitation/detection device using discrete photoemitter devices

The present invention is directed to a micromirror optical multiplexer for directing light to an array of sensors. The micromirror optical multiplexer directs light from one or more sources onto multiple, coplanar sensors for the purpose of exciting fluorescence. The micromirror optical multiplexer includes at least one light source and a micromirror array having a top face and up to four side faces. Pivotable mirrors of the micromirror array are arranged in a multiple row, multiple column format on the top face. In addition, each of the side faces of the micromirror array has at least one row of pivotable mirrors. By pivoting one side face mirror and one top face mirror, a light source entering at one corner of the micromirror array can be directed to exit near normal incidence anywhere on the bottom of the device.

Micromirror optical multiplexer and method for directing light towards an array of sensors

A sensor array is bonded to or molded together with a micro-lens array to form a sensor cartridge. The micro-lenses of the micro-lens array are configured to focus light incident on the sensors, into the sensors. An alignment structure has a mating profile that receives and engages one or more micro-lenses from the micro-lens array to laterally align the cartridge to enable repeatable precise positioning of the cartridge.

Self aligning sensor array system

Growing community of inventors

Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Frederick A Stawitcke