Abstract: An optically-powered integrated microstructure pressure sensing system for sensing pressure within a cavity. The pressure sensing system comprises a pressure sensor having an optical resonant structure subject to the pressure within the cavity and having physical properties changing due to changing pressures within the cavity. A substrate supports the optical resonant structure. An input optical pathway evanescently couples light into the optical resonant structure. An output optical pathway collects light from the optical resonance structure. A light source delivers a known light input into the input optical pathway whereby the known light input is evanescently coupled into the optical resonant structure by the input optical pathway and a portion of such light is collected from the optical resonant structure by the output optical pathway.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting the optical spectrum of an optical input signal. The system includes a tunable optical filter having a microresonator that is tunable across a plurality of states and a processor. The input signal is coupled into the microresonator, which is continuously tuned across a spectral range that is narrow relative to the targeted detection range. Signal information such as center wavelength, power distribution, and power strength are extracted from the measured output intensities resulting from the interaction of the unknown input signal with the tunable resonator at various tuned states. The processor includes a transfer function database with the resonant spectra of the tunable optical filter at predefined states. The processor applies an iterative non-linear deconvolution algorithm, and preferably an accelerated Richardson-Lucy algorithm, to calculate the spectrum of the input signal using the transfer function information and the intensity measurements.

Abstract: An optically-powered integrated microstructure pressure sensing system for sensing pressure within a cavity. the pressure sensing system comprises a pressure sensor having an optical resonant structure subject to the pressure within the cavity and having physical properties changing due to changing pressures within the cavity. A substrate supports the optical resonant structure. An input optical pathway evanescently couples light into the optical resonant structure. An output optical pathway collects light from the optical resonance structure. A light source delivers a known light input into the input optical pathway whereby the known light input is evanescently coupled into the optical resonant structure by the input optical pathway and a portion of such light is collected from the optical resonant structure by the output optical pathway.

Abstract: An optically-powered integrated microstructure pressure sensing system for sensing pressure within a cavity. the pressure sensing system comprises a pressure sensor having an optical resonant structure subject to the pressure within the cavity and having physical properties changing due to changing pressures within the cavity. A substrate supports the optical resonant structure. An input optical pathway evanescently couples light into the optical resonant structure. An output optical pathway collects light from the optical resonance structure. A light source delivers a known light input into the input optical pathway whereby the known light input is evanescently coupled into the optical resonant structure by the input optical pathway and a portion of such light is collected from the optical resonant structure by the output optical pathway.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting the optical spectrum of an optical input signal. The system includes a tunable optical filter having a microresonator that is tunable across a plurality of states and a processor. The input signal is coupled into the microresonator, which is continuously tuned across a spectral range that is narrow relative to the targeted detection range. Signal information such as center wavelength, power distribution, and power strength are extracted from the measured output intensities resulting from the interaction of the unknown input signal with the tunable resonator at various tuned states. The processor includes a transfer function database with the resonant spectra of the tunable optical filter at predefined states. The processor applies an iterative non-linear deconvolution algorithm, and preferably an accelerated Richardson-Lucy algorithm, to calculate the spectrum of the input signal using the transfer function information and the intensity measurements.

Abstract: A method for measuring the optical absorbance of a sample medium with a microfluidic chip that includes a substrate defining a microfluidic channel, a microresonator positioned within the microfluidic channel, and at least one waveguide or coupling surface evanescently coupled to the microresonator such that only supported Whispering Gallery Mode (WGM) resonance frequencies are transmitted from the waveguide or coupling surface into the microresonator. A sample medium is disposed into the microfluidic channel to substantially envelop the microresonator and a reader is provided to measure at least a portion of the WGM frequencies transmitted out of the microresonator.

Abstract: An optically-powered integrated microstructure pressure sensing system for sensing pressure within a cavity. the pressure sensing system comprises a pressure sensor having an optical resonant structure subject to the pressure within the cavity and having physical properties changing due to changing pressures within the cavity. A substrate supports the optical resonant structure. An input optical pathway evanescently couples light into the optical resonant structure. An output optical pathway collects light from the optical resonance structure. A light source delivers a known light input into the input optical pathway whereby the known light input is evanescently coupled into the optical resonant structure by the input optical pathway and a portion of such light is collected from the optical resonant structure by the output optical pathway.

Abstract: A microfluidic chip that includes a substrate, a microresonator, and at least one waveguide or coupling surface. The substrate defines a microfluidic channel. The microresonator is positioned within the microfluidic channel. The at least one waveguide or coupling surface receives light having a frequency bandwidth greater than the spacing between the whispering gallery mode resonance frequencies supported by the microresonator. The at least one waveguide or coupling surface is evanescently coupled to the microresonator such that supported whispering gallery mode resonance frequencies are coupled from the at least one waveguide or coupling surface into the microresonator and light at frequencies not resonant with the microresonator are not coupled into the microresonator.