Abstract: A microelectronic sensor device and a method for making optical examinations at a carrier for the detection of magnetic particles, for example, at a contact surface of the carrier by frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR), include a light source with a laser modulator for emitting an input light beam into the carrier. The input light beam is modulated such that optical interferences with reflections of the input light beam from the entrance window, or from other components of the carrier, are reduced or minimized. This can be achieved by a pulsed on/off modulation in which the first relaxation minimum of a currently emitted pulse (PN) coincides in the light source with the first relaxation maximum of a reflected pulse (PN-1?). By reducing the effect of interferences, the setup is less prone to disturbances from dimensional variations that are induced by thermal extension, for example.

Abstract: The invention relates to focusing optics (100) for a biosensor (10) which allow with simple means to accurately image an extended investigation region (13) onto a detector plane (P). To this end, the focusing optics (100) comprises at least two focusing lenslets (LL) that are arranged adjacent to each other such that they image an incident parallel light beam (L2) that is directed along a main optical axis (MOA) onto a common plane (P). The output light beam (L2) that is received by the focusing optics (100) may preferably originate from total internal reflection of a parallel input light beam (L1) at the investigation region (13) of a transparent carrier.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensing device (100) for detecting a target substance (2) in an investigation region (113). The sensing device (100) comprises a sensing surface (112) with an investigation region (113) and a reference region (120) thereon. The sensing device (100) further comprises a reference element (121) located at the reference region (120). The reference element (121) is adapted to shield the reference region (120) from the target substance (2) such that light reflected at the reference region (120) under total internal reflection conditions remains unaffected by the presence or absence of the target substance (2). This allows measuring a property, typically the intensity, of light reflected at the reference region (120) independent of the presence or absence of the target substance (2). This measured property of the reflected light can be used for performing an improved correction of light reflected at the investigation region (113).

Abstract: The present invention provides a biosensor comprising a cartridge for accommodating a fluid sample, the cartridge comprising at least two chambers, wherein each chamber comprises a sensor surface with one or more binding sites. The biosensor further comprises means for generating a magnetic field at the binding sites of the sensor surfaces of the at least two chambers. The biosensor also comprises means for detecting particles accumulated at/and or proximate the binding sites of the sensor surfaces of the at least two chambers. Therein, the magnetic field at the binding sites has a sufficiently large gradient to actuate magnetic label particles towards the binding sites.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid providing apparatus (5; 34) for providing a fluid to an analyzing apparatus (17; 33) for analyzing the fluid and to the analyzing apparatus (17; 33). The fluid providing apparatus (34) comprises a casing (35), which has an introduction opening (7), through which a fluid transferring element (1) is introducible into the casing (35) for transferring the fluid to the fluid providing apparatus (34). The casing (35) comprises further a fluid releasing section (8) for releasing the fluid from the fluid transferring element (1) and a fluid transferring element detection section (36) for detecting whether the fluid transferring element (1) is introduced into the casing (35) by interacting with a fluid transferring element detection unit of the analyzing apparatus (17; 33).

Abstract: The invention relates to a carrier (11) and an apparatus (100) for optical detection in a sample (1) in a sample chamber (2). The carrier (11) comprises an optical structure (50) for refracting an input light beam (L1) into the adjacent sample chamber (2) and for collecting an output light beam (L2) from light that originates in the sample chamber (2) from the input light beam. Preferably, the optical structure (50) comprises grooves in the surface (12) of the carrier (11) in which the input light beam is transmitted over a short distance through a sample. The optical structure (50) can also be used for a wetting detection.

Abstract: The present invention provides an FTIR system comprising a first light source emitting light of a first wavelength, a sample volume with an adjacent sensor surface, a detector for detecting light reflected at said sensor surface. The sensor surface is illuminated by said first light source fulfilling the condition of total internal reflection and generating an evanescent field with a decay length within the sample volume. The system further comprises means for changing the decay length of the evanescent field and means for correlating the detected signals with the change of the decay length of the evanescent field.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microelectronic sensor device for the examination of target particles (1) that are bound to binding sites (3) at the binding surface (12) of a carrier (11). In a preferred embodiment, an input light beam (L1) is transmitted into the carrier (11), where a frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR) takes place at the binding surface (12). The amount of light in a resulting output light beam (L2) is detected by a light detector (31) and provides information about the presence of target particles at the binding surface. Moreover, an actuation unit (50) induces movements of the bound target particles (1) by an interaction with a magnetic field (B) or an electric field, particularly with a given modulation frequency (COIn), such that by a demodulation of the detector signal (S) effects of the target particles can be distinguished from background.

Abstract: Detecting magnetized or magnetizable target components in a fluid containing the magnetized or magnetizable target components amongst other magnetized or magnetizable components, uses a magnetic field generator (M1, 28) to attract the magnetized or magnetizable components towards a binding surface. A magnetic field controller (C1) applies the magnetic field to concentrate the magnetized or magnetizable components in columns on the binding surface, subsequently reduces the magnetic field to enable the columns to collapse, to allow more components to reach the binding surface, and reapplies the magnetic field so as to cause other components to be pulled off the binding surface to reform columns based on the bound target components. A surface sensitive sensor (S1, 26, 29) detects the bound magnetized or magnetizable target components.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microelectronic sensor device and a method for making optical examinations at a carrier (11), e.g. for the detection of magnetic particles (1) at a contact surface (12) of the carrier (11) by frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR). A light source (21), particularly a laser light source, with a laser modulator (22) are used for emitting an input light beam (L1) into the carrier (11) which is modulated such that optical interferences with reflections (L1?) of the input light beam (L1) from the entrance window (14) or other components of the carrier (11) are reduced/minimized. This can for example be achieved by a pulsed on/off modulation in which the first relaxation minimum of a currently emitted pulse (PN) coincides in the light source (21) with the first relaxation maximum of a reflected pulse (PN-1?). By reducing the effect of interferences, the setup is less prone to disturbances from dimensional variations that are e.g. induced by thermal extension.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microelectronic sensor device for the detection of target components that comprise label particles, for example magnetic particles (1). The sensor device comprises a carrier (11) with a binding surface (12) at which target components can collect and optionally bind to specific capture elements. An input light beam (L1) is transmitted into the carrier and totally internally reflected at the binding surface (12). The amount of light in the output light beam (L2) and optionally also of fluorescence light emitted by target components at the binding surface is then detected by a light detector (31). Evanescent light generated during the total internal reflection is affected (absorbed, scattered) by target components and/or label particles (1) at the binding surface (12) and will therefore be missing in the output light beam (L2). This can be used to determine the amount of target components at the binding surface (12) from the amount of light in the output light beam (L2, L2a, L2b).

Abstract: The present invention relates to providing a portable storage medium (10,20) and a stamping unit (70) for producing such a portable storage medium (10,20), for enabling reading data at a high data rate and writing data. The portable storage medium (10,20) for storing data, is further insertable in a data reading and/or writing device, comprises a data portion (12,22), wherein the data portion (12,22) comprises a first division comprising a group (32,418,54,64) of essentially parallel transversely separated first tracks (36,39,408), wherein said first tracks (36,39,408) have a first format, and a second division comprising a second track (33,52,62) of a second format, wherein the group (32,418,54,64) of essentially parallel transversely separated first tracks (36,39,408) has a parallel format, so as to enable parallel reading of content at a high data rate.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and a device for cleaning of the optical face of a refractive element for a near field optical scanning apparatus. A magnetically susceptible cleaning material is used to facilitate effective cleaning of the refractive element without damage to the element. The method according to the invention can be combined with known cleaning methods if desired.

Abstract: In conventional one-dimensional optical storage systems, the data is arranged in a linear fashion, and the format is read out by a single spot. A two-dimensional encoded disc is different, because the data is arranged in a two-dimensional manner (bits are on a bit lattice) and the data is read out by multiple spots. It is important to know the relative intensity of the read-out spots, because the intersymbol interference is used in the signal processing of the reflected signals, and the present invention provides a way of calibrating the relative intensities by placing one or more mirror sections (150) in a non user-data area of an optical record carrier (1) and using the signals reflected therefrom to determine the relative intensities and enable the required accurate calibration of the relative intensities. In one exemplary embodiment, a mirror section (15) is located in the lead-in area (2) of the record carrier (1) in addition to a plurality of broad meta-tracks containing calibration patterns (152).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical system for performing radial tracking on an associated optical record carrier. The optical system contains at least one radiation-emitting device capable of emitting at least three beams: a first beam for reading and/or recording information, and at least a second beam and a third beam for tracking. The optical system is adapted for radial tracking of the first spot from a tracking error signal generated based on the high-frequency component of the central-aperture signal of the second and third beams. The tracking error signal may be generated based on a difference signal of a DC-level of the power of the high-frequency components of the central-aperture signal.

Abstract: An optical scanning device for scanning a first and a second information layer of an optical record carrier, a scanning method, and an optical record carrier. The device includes at least one radiation source for providing a first radiation beam for scanning the first information layer and a second radiation beam for scanning the second information layer. An objective lens system is arranged to converge the first and second radiation beams on the respective information layers. The device is configured to determine tracking information from only one of said radiation beams, for tracking error compensation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a two-dimensional encoded optical storage medium (12) comprising at least one alignment pattern (14) for aligning a spot array (16) intended to read out the optical storage medium (12). Furthermore, the present invention is directed to a method and a device for reading out a two-dimensional encoded optical storage medium (12) having at least one alignment pattern (14) comprising a plurality of bit rows (R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8), wherein at least one bit row (R2, R3, R4, R6, R7, R8) of said alignment pattern (14) is empty.