Abstract: A pixel is formed in a semiconductor substrate (S) with a plane surface for use in a photodetector. It comprises an active region for converting incident light (In) into charge carriers, photogates (PGL, PGM, PGR) for generating a lateral electric potential (?(x)) across the active region, and an integration gate (IG) for storing charge carriers generated in the active region and a dump site (Ddiff). The pixel further comprises separation-enhancing means (SL) for additionally enhancing charge separation in the active region and charge transport from the active region to the integration gate (IG). The separation-enhancing means (SL) are for instance a shield layer designed such that for a given lateral electric potential (?(x)), the incident light (In) does not impinge on the section from which the charge carriers would not be transported to the integration gate (IG).

Abstract: The present invention discloses an optical device able to luminesce, whereby the optical device comprises, inter alia, a luminescent source that is directly or indirectly mechanically coupled to a low-order mode waveguide, such that light emitting from the luminescent source is optically coupled into the low-order mode waveguide. In embodiments of the invention, the distance D between point sources of the luminescent source and the waveguide is about equal to or smaller than the decay length of the exponential tails of the modes supported by the waveguide, thereby obtaining an optical coupling efficiency of at least 3%. Additional and alternative embodiments are claimed and disclosed.

Abstract: A pixel is formed in a semiconductor substrate (S) with a plane surface for use in a photodetector. It comprises an active region for converting incident light (In) into charge carriers, photogates (PGL, PGM, PGR) for generating a lateral electric potential (?(x)) across the active region, and an integration gate (IG) for storing charge carriers generated in the active region and a dump site (Ddiff). The pixel further comprises separation-enhancing means (SL) for additionally enhancing charge separation in the active region and charge transport from the active region to the integration gate (IG). The separation-enhancing means (SL) are for instance a shield layer designed such that for a given lateral electric potential (?(x)), the incident light (In) does not impinge on the section from which the charge carriers would not be transported to the integration gate (IG).

Abstract: The invention provides an integrated optical waveguide sensor module (200) with reduced signal modulation and increased sensitivity. An optical waveguide sensor module (200) comprises an optically transparent substrate (210) having a first and a second interface and an optical waveguide film (220) disposed on the substrate (210) with the first interface (225) therebetween, wherein the film (220) comprises at least one grating pad (235) that is optically coupled therewith. The substrate (210) and the optical waveguide film (220) are configured to reduce parasitic interference within the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an optical device able to luminesce, whereby the optical device comprises, inter alia, a luminescent source that is directly or indirectly mechanically coupled to a low-order mode waveguide, such that light emitting from the luminescent source is optically coupled into the low-order mode waveguide. In embodiments of the invention, the distance D between point sources of the luminescent source and the waveguide is about equal to or smaller than the decay length of the exponential tails of the modes supported by the waveguide, thereby obtaining an optical coupling efficiency of at least 3%. Additional and alternative embodiments are claimed and disclosed.

Abstract: The integrated-optical chemical and/or biochemical sensor comprises a resonant waveguide structure (1). A chemical and/or biochemical substance (2) to be sensed can be deposited on a surface of the waveguide structure (1). Incident light (31) is coupled into the waveguide structure (1) by a grating structure (G), making use of a first set of degrees of freedom. The incoupled light (32) interacts with the substance (2), which emits fluorescent light (42). Fluorescent light (42) is coupled out by the same grating structure (G), making use of a second set of degrees of freedom which differs from the first set of degrees of freedom in at least one degree of freedom. For example, the incident light (31) is coupled in using a first diffraction order mg,ex=1, and the emitted (42) light is coupled out using a second, different diffraction order mg,em=2.

Abstract: A biosensor comprises a waveguide into which light is coupled by a diffraction grating. The sample to be analyzed is placed on a reaction region in which a component of the immunological reaction is provided, for example antibodies or antigens. Fluorescence is excited on the surface of the waveguide because of the presence of a marker for example, a labelled antigen or antibody. Fluorescence is decoupled from the waveguide by the coupling diffraction grating or another diffraction grating. The waveguide is made of a material emitting light when it is excited by the marker excitation beam. This latter emission has a peak wavelength different from that of the emission radiation due to the marker used in the immunological reaction. Waveguide material fluorescence emission provides a reference during measurement.

Abstract: An optical device utilizing white light interferometry, having a Fabry-Perot interferometer incorporated in a reference branch of the optical device. The succession of interference products occurs from a combination of the light traveling through the transmission branch with the light traveling through the reference branch which has undergone 0 to N+1 reflections in the Fabry-Perot interferometer. The interference product gives a series of equally spaced absolute marks.

Abstract: An optical waveguide force meter for the measurement of forces or stresses integrated on a single substrate, including: a single-mode transducer waveguide supporting only the stresses which are applied through the intermediate portion of an upper plate of the force meter; a coupling/mixing grating having N focussing concave gratings provided adjacent an exit end of the optical waveguide; N detectors arranged at each of the N focussing points of waves defracted by the coupling/mixing grating; N TM polarization filters arranged respectively between each concave grating and each detector; and a single-mode laser source. The waveguide, coupling/mixing grating and polarization filters are all provided on the single substrate. The single-mode laser source and detectors are supported by the substrate and by an underlying base plate member.

Abstract: Several photoelectric position measuring systems are described which utilize diffraction gratings to define the reference magnitude. Diffracted component beams are introduced by means of coupling-in gratings that have different grid constants from one another into optical waveguides to a coupler and there brought into interference. The interfering component beams are conducted from the outputs of the coupler via optical waveguides to detectors which transform them into electrical signals which are phase-shifted with respect to one another. Displacement of the diffraction grating is a measure for the position change to be measured of one machine component mounted for translation relative to another.