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:
Sep. 21, 2010
Filed:
Aug. 17, 2007
Carlos J. Bustamante, Berkeley, CA (US);
Steven B. Smith, Berkeley, CA (US);
Carlos J. Bustamante, Berkeley, CA (US);
Steven B. Smith, Berkeley, CA (US);
The Regents of the University of California, Oakland, CA (US);
Abstract
An optical trap (and alignment device) having a light source for generating first and second light beams, and a pair of lenses for focusing the light beams to a trap region in a counter-propagating manner for trapping a particle in the trap region. A light source illuminates the trap region with a third beam of light, and a camera is positioned for capturing a portion of each of the first, second and third light beams. Actuators exert forces on generally rigid portions of optical fiber used to deliver the first and second light beams to the trap region, such that the generally rigid portions pivot about pivot points located at supported members from which the optical fibers extend. Position sensitive detectors measure the position of the beams leaving the optical fibers, and feed position signals back to the actuator drivers to ensure proper positioning of the beams.