Texas Instruments Corporation

Fci-fiberchem, Inc.

Kirk S Laney

Richard A Carr

Jose L Melendez

Lester L Hodson

Devinder P Saini

A miniaturized integrated sensor ( ) useful for indicating the presence of a sample analyte is disclosed. The sensor ( ) has a platform ( ) with an upper surface ( ) and a detector ( ), light source ( ), waveguide ( ), and reflective fixtures ( ) embedded in the platform ( ). The light source ( ) is preferably a light emitting diode and sits in a cup-shaped dimple ( ) that directs light from the light source ( ) toward one of the reflective fixtures ( ) to uniformly distribute light across the waveguide ( ). The waveguide ( ) is coupled to an upper surface ( ) of the sensor platform ( ) and is coated with a thin film of indicator chemistry ( ) which interacts with the sample analyte to produce optic signal changes that are measurable by the detector ( ). A lead frame ( ) in the platform ( ) has pins ( ) which provide the interface to the outside world. In one embodiment, sensor package ( ) has a unique shape that requires a predetermined insertion and removal into an instrument harness or other similar application.

Miniaturized integrated sensor platform

A miniaturized integrated sensor (,) useful for indicating the presence of a sample analyte is disclosed. The sensor (,) has a platform (,) with an upper surface (,) and a detector (,), light source (,), waveguide (,), and reflective fixtures (,) embedded in the platform (,). The light source (,) is preferably a light emitting diode and sits in a cup-shaped dimple (,) that directs light from the light source (,) toward one of the reflective fixtures (,) to uniformly distribute light across the waveguide (,). The waveguide (,) is coupled to an upper surface (,) of the sensor platform (,) and is coated with a thin film of indicator chemistry (,) which interacts with the sample analyte to produce optic signal changes that are measurable by the detector (,). A lead frame (,) in the platform (,) has pins (,) which provide the interface to the outside world. In one embodiment, sensor package (,) has a unique shape that requires a predetermined insertion and removal into an instrument harness or other similar application.

Method of making and connecting a miniaturized integrated sensor

A miniaturized integrated sensor (50) useful for indicating the presence of a sample analyte is disclosed. The sensor (50) has a platform (52) with an upper surface (53) and a detector (62), light source (60), waveguide (58), and reflective fixtures (60,62) embedded in the platform (52). The light source (60) is preferably a light emitting diode and sits in a cup-shaped dimple (68) that directs light from the light source (60) toward one of the reflective fixtures (64) to uniformly distribute light across the waveguide (58). The waveguide (58) is coupled to an upper surface (53) of the sensor platform (52) and is coated with a thin film of indicator chemistry (70) which interacts with the sample analyte to produce optic signal changes that are measurable by the detector (62). A lead frame (51) in the platform (52) has pins (54, 55, 56) which provide the interface to the outside world. In one embodiment, sensor package (100) has a unique shape that requires a predetermined insertion and removal into an instrument harness or other similar application.

A gas detector, preferably for carbon monoxide detection, which includes a light detector(5), a light source (1) for providing a light beam which travels along a light path to the detector and detection chemistry (3) disposed in the light path for altering the light beam responsive to the impingement of a predetermined gas thereon. The detection chemistry includes a plurality of spaced apart members, each disposed in the light path. Each member includes a chemistry responsive to the impingement of the predetermined gas thereon for reversibly altering the light transmissive properties of the detection chemistry. The chemistry of any one of the members can differ from the chemistry of one or more of the other members if more than two members are present. The detection chemistry can, in part, act as a filter to light from the light beam. The detection chemistry is disposed in a gas ambient, the gas ambient being disposed between the spaced apart members.

Multi-plate thin film carbon monoxide sensor

Waveguide sensors are formed on a chip package which contains at least one source and at least one detector. Simple waveguide elements are mounted on the chip. Waveguide defining elements can also be formed integrally with the chip package so that simple waveguide bodies can be inserted or removed. Various geometries of source, reference detector, and sensing detector can be produced. A liquid waveguide sensor is formed by filling a waveguide channel with a liquid reagent.

Chip level waveguide sensor

An optical coupler (10) and method of manufacturing the optical coupler (10) are disclosed. The optical coupler (10) includes a light emitter (12), a light detector (18, 22), an inner mold material (30), and a precision reflector (32) for efficiently reflecting light from the emitter (12) to the light detector (18, 22). In manufacturing the coupler (10), the light emitter (12) is coupled to a first mount lead (14) and the light detector (18) is coupled to a second mount lead (20). There may be more than one light emitter (12) or light detector (18,22). A transparent inner mold material (30) surrounds and encases the light emitter (12) and light detector (18) along with a portion of the first and second mount leads (14, 20) and forms a precision molded reflector (32) over the light emitter (12) and light detector (18). The precision molded reflector (32) may be a precision molded dome (38) or a precision molded multifaceted vault (44). The precision molded reflector (32) has a reflective coating (34) for returning light from the light emitter (12) to the light detector (18, 22). The light emitter (12), light detector (18, 22), a portion of the mount leads (14, 20), and the inner mold material (30) are encased by an opaque overmold (36).

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Plano, TX, United States of America

Kirk S Laney