The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 04, 2003
Filed:
Nov. 21, 2001
Edward Verdonk, San Jose, CA (US);
David A. King, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Richard D. Pering, Mountain View, CA (US);
Richard J. Pittaro, San Carlos, CA (US);
Shahida Rana, Fremont, CA (US);
Frederick A. Stawitcke, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Agilent Technologies, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
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.