Abstract: Optical sensors for use in examining and analyzing a fluid material are described. The optical sensors include a channel configured to transport a fluid material to be examined and analyzed, a first waveguide positioned adjacent to the channel and configured to guide radiation through the channel and a first tunable grating defined on the first waveguide and configured to variably define a cavity for selecting a first wavelength of the radiation.

Abstract: An SPR sensor comprising a thin conducting layer comprising at least one conductive element formed on a surface of a transparent substrate, a light source that illuminates an interface between the conducting layer and the substrate, a photosensitive surface that generates signals from light reflected from the interface, a flow cell formed with at least one flow channel having a lumen defined by a wall formed from an elastic material and from a region of the conducting layer, and at least one hollow fluid-providing flow control apparatus having a lumen and an orifice communicating with its lumen. Fluid flow is enabled between the flow channel and the lumen of the flow control apparatus by forcing an end of the flow control apparatus through the elastic material so that the orifice communicates with the flow channel lumen.

Abstract: A system and method for performing Raman spectroscopy using a heterodyne detection scheme are described. The heterodyne detection scheme can combine a modulated portion of radiation having passed through a sample to be analyzed with a reference radiation to produce a combined frequency signal. At least a portion of the reference radiation can be filtered out of the combined frequency signal, resulting in a filtered frequency signal. Information related to the sample can be determined based upon the filtered signal. The determined information can then be analyzed to determine a chemical composition of the sample.

Abstract: An SPR sensor comprising a thin conducting layer comprising at least one conductive element formed on a surface of a transparent substrate, a light source that illuminates an interface between the conducting layer and the substrate, a photosensitive surface that generates signals from light reflected from the interface, a flow cell formed with at least one flow channel having a lumen defined by a wall formed from an elastic material and from a region of the conducting layer, and at least one hollow fluid-providing flow control apparatus having a lumen and an orifice communicating with its lumen. Fluid flow is enabled between the flow channel and the lumen of the flow control apparatus by forcing an end of the flow control apparatus through the elastic material so that the orifice communicates with the flow channel lumen.

Abstract: A system and method for performing Raman spectroscopy using a heterodyne detection scheme are described. The heterodyne detection scheme can combine a modulated portion of radiation having passed through a sample to be analyzed with a reference radiation to produce a combined frequency signal. At least a portion of the reference radiation can be filtered out of the combined frequency signal, resulting in a filtered frequency signal. Information related to the sample can be determined based upon the filtered signal. The determined information can then be analyzed to determine a chemical composition of the sample.

Abstract: An autofocus zoom miniature MEMS camera module includes a housing defining an aperture, one or more lenses that are fixed relative to the housing, a MEMS actuator, and one or more movable optical elements coupled to the MEMS actuator. An object disposed an arbitrary distance from the camera module is automatically focused at a determined zoom onto the image sensor by MEMS actuation of the one or more movable optical elements.

Abstract: A miniature MEMS autofocus camera module includes an image sensor and an optical assembly including a movable lens group that comprises one or more lenses and that is coupled to a MEMS actuator such that the movable lens group is movable relative to the image sensor, the optical assembly further including at least a first fixed lens group that comprises one or more lenses and that is fixed relative to the image sensor. In operation of the miniature MEMS autofocus camera module, a registration of de-center between the one or more fixed lenses and the one or more moving lenses comprises approximately seven microns or less.

Abstract: A MEMS auto focus miniature camera module includes an image sensor and an optical train including at least one movable lens and one or more fixed lenses or fixed lens groups on either side of the movable lens. The movable lens provides an auto focus feature of the camera module. A MEMS actuator translates the movable lens through an auto focus range to adjust focus.

Abstract: A MEMS auto focus miniature camera module includes an image sensor and an optical train including at least one movable lens and one or more fixed lenses or fixed lens groups on either side of the movable lens. The movable lens provides an auto focus feature of the camera module. A MEMS actuator translates the movable lens through an auto focus range to adjust focus.

Abstract: A miniature MEMS-actuated camera module includes one or both of a camera module housing or a rigid substrate that either defines an aperture or is coupled to an aperture, or both. An image sensor is coupled to the one or both of the camera module housing or rigid substrate. A first lens group is coupled to the housing and fixed relative to the image sensor or coupled directly to the image sensor or both. A MEMS actuator is coupled to the housing or rigid substrate. A second lens group is coupled to the actuator and movable relative to the image sensor.

Abstract: A miniature MEMS autofocus camera module includes a MEMS actuated movable lens group and at least one fixed lens group defining an optical axis within a camera module housing. Objects disposed an arbitrary distance from the camera module are automatically focused at a determined zoom to an image sensor. MEMS actuation of the movable lens group is performed to accomplish autofocus functionality.

Abstract: An autofocus zoom miniature MEMS camera module includes a housing with an aperture for capturing digital images, an image sensor, and an optical assembly. The optical assembly includes at least one fixed lens group, at least one movable lens group, and a MEMS actuator that is configured to move the movable lens group along an optical axis of the camera module relative to the image sensor and the fixed lens group. The MEMS actuation of the movable lens group automatically focuses an object at a determined zoom disposed an arbitrary distance from the camera module onto the image sensor.

Abstract: A miniature MEMS autofocus camera module includes a housing, an image sensor coupled to the housing, and an autofocus optical module coupled within the housing and including a MEMS actuator that is configured to move one or more movable lenses relative to one or more fixed lenses along an optical axis of the camera module to adjust a focusing distance of the autofocus optical module to automatically focus an object disposed an arbitrary distance from the camera module onto the image sensor. The autofocus optical module includes one or more pairs of adjacent lens surfaces that include abutting registration features to aid in alignment.

Abstract: A miniature MEMS autofocus camera module includes an image sensor and an optical assembly including a movable lens group that comprises one or more lenses and that is coupled to a MEMS actuator such that the movable lens group is movable relative to the image sensor. The optical assembly further includes at least a first fixed lens group that comprises one or more lenses and that is fixed relative to the image sensor. A processor is programmed to control an autofocus method designed to adjust a focus distance to an object disposed an arbitrary distance from the miniature MEMS autofocus camera module by actuating the MEMS actuator that is coupled with the movable lens group.

Abstract: Optical sensors for use in examining and analyzing a fluid material are described. The optical sensors include a channel configured to transport a fluid material to be examined and analyzed, a first waveguide positioned adjacent to the channel and configured to guide radiation through the channel and a first tunable grating defined on the first waveguide and configured to variably define a cavity for selecting a first wavelength of the radiation.

Abstract: An SPR sensor comprising a thin conducting layer comprising at least one conductive element formed on a surface of a transparent substrate, a light source that illuminates an interface between the conducting layer and the substrate, a photosensitive surface that generates signals from light reflected from the interface, a flow cell formed with at least one flow channel having a lumen defined by a wall formed from an elastic material and from a region of the conducting layer, and at least one hollow fluid-providing flow control apparatus having a lumen and an orifice communicating with its lumen. Fluid flow is enabled between the flow channel and the lumen of the flow control apparatus by forcing an end of the flow control apparatus through the elastic material so that the orifice communicates with the flow channel lumen.

Abstract: This invention describes a vacuum interface for a mass spectrometer system formed from a diverging nozzle. The vacuum interface may be used to transfer a beam of ions from an atmospheric pressure ionization source into a vacuum chamber for analysis by a mass analyser.

Abstract: Provided is a method for determining one or more kinetic parameters of binding between a first binding member and a second binding member. The method includes adsorbing the first binding member to a surface at a plurality of microspots. The second binding member is then presented to the first binding member at each of the microspots, there being a plurality of combinations of first binding member surface density and second binding member concentration among the plurality of microspots. Data indicative of a binding reaction between the first of microspots are then obtained and analyzed so as to obtain one or more kinetic parameters of the binding between the first and second binding members. Also provided is a system for carrying out the method. A method for localizing a molecular species at microspots on a surface, and a probe array produced by the method are also provided.

Abstract: An SPR sensor comprising a thin conducting layer comprising at least one conductive element formed on a surface of a transparent substrate, a light source that illuminates an interface between the conducting layer and the substrate, a photosensitive surface that generates signals from light reflected from the interface, a flow cell formed with at least one flow channel having a lumen defined by a wall formed from an elastic material and from a region of the conducting layer, and at least one hollow fluid-providing flow control apparatus having a lumen and an orifice communicating with its lumen. Fluid flow is enabled between the flow channel and the lumen of the flow control apparatus by forcing an end of the flow control apparatus through the elastic material so that the orifice communicates with the flow channel lumen.

Abstract: An SPR sensor comprising a thin conducting layer comprising at least one conductive element formed on a surface of a transparent substrate, a light source that illuminates an interface between the conducting layer and the substrate, a photosensitive surface that generates signals from light reflected from the interface, a flow cell formed with at least one flow channel having a lumen defined by a wall formed from an elastic material and from a region of the conducting layer, and at least one hollow fluid-providing flow control apparatus having a lumen and an orifice communicating with its lumen. Fluid flow is enabled between the flow channel and the lumen of the flow control apparatus by forcing an end of the flow control apparatus through the elastic material so that the orifice communicates with the flow channel lumen.