Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor device (100) and a method for the determination of the amount of target particles (1) at a contact surface (112) adjacent to a sample chamber (2). Target particles (1) in the sample chamber are detected by a sensor element (SE) and at least one corresponding sensor-signal (s, s?) is provided. An evaluation unit (EU) then determines the amount of target particles (1) in a first zone (Z1) immediately at the contracts surface (112) and a second zone (Z2) a distance (z) away from the contact surface based on this sensor-signal. In an optical measurement approach, frustrated total internal reflection taking place under different operating conditions (e.g. wavelength, angle of incidence) may be used to extract information about the first and second zones (Z1, Z2). In a magnetic measurement approach, different magnetic excitation fields may be used to excite magnetic target particles differently in the first and second zone (Z2).

Abstract: A detection system (100, 150) for qualitative or quantitative detection of a magnetic field property of a modulated magnetic field is described. The modulated magnetic field may e.g. stem from an adjacent electrical current (Iadj) or magnetic particles. The detection system (100, 150) comprises at least one magneto resistive sensor element (102), a current controller (104) for providing a sensing current (Isense) flowing through the magnetic sensor element (102) and a controlling means (108). The controlling means (108) is adapted for deriving at a first frequency f1 a temperature-related parameter of the at least one magneto resistive sensor. The controlling means (108) furthermore is adapted for deriving a qualitative or quantitative characteristic of the adjacent electrical current (Iadj) or magnetic particles, taking into account the derived temperature-related parameter. This second frequency (f1) is different from the first frequency (f1}). The invention also relates to a corresponding method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microelectronic sensor device for manipulating a sample in an exchangeable carrier (111), for example for optically detecting target particles (1) in a sample liquid that is provided in a sample chamber (2) of the carrier (111). The microelectronic sensor device comprises a number of n>1 magnetic field generators (141-143), e.g. electromagnetic coils, with which magnetic fields can be generated in a target region (110). A control unit (150) is provided that can determine and evaluate the mutual coupling or the self-inductance of the magnetic field generators and/or signals from magnetic field sensors attached to the carrier with respect to the presence and/or state of a carrier (111) in the target region (110). In this way, the control unit (150) can for example detect if the carrier (111) is correctly positioned in the sensor device and/or where a magnetically interactive substance (1, 120) is located.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a microelectronic sensor device for making optical examinations in an investigation region (3). An input light beam (L1) is emitted by a light source (20) into said investigation region (3), and an output light beam (L2) coming from the investigation region (3) is detected by a light detector (30) providing a measurement signal (X). An evaluation unit (40) provides a result signal (R) based on a characteristic parameter (e.g. the intensity) of the input light beam (L1) and the output light beam (L2). Preferably, the input light beam (L1) is modulated with a given frequency (?) and monitored with a sensor unit (22) that provides a monitoring signal (M). The monitoring signal (M) and the measurement signal (X) can then be demodulated with respect to the monitoring signal, and their ratio can be determined. This allows to obtain a result signal (R) that is largely independent of environmental influences and variations in the light source.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic sensor device (20) comprising at least one sensor surface lying in a first plane, a first magnetic field generating means (12) for attracting magnetic or magnetizable objects (15) toward a sensor surface (13), the first magnetic field generating means (12) lying in a second plane different from and substantially parallel to the first plane, and a second magnetic field generating means (14) for magnetizing magnetic or magnetizable objects (15) which are bond to the sensor. The spacing between the first magnetic field generating means (12) and the at least one sensor element (11) is smaller than 2 ?m down to optionally overlapping. The present invention furthermore provides a method for determining the presence and/or amount of magnetic or magnetizable objects (15) in a sample fluid using the magnetic sensor device (20) according to embodiments of the invention.

Abstract: A visible pattern is obtained by modulating the digital sum value. Because the digital sum value modulation allows the choice of several different channel bits groups between DC control points, the selection of a group of channel bits resulting in a change of reflection. This creation of a visible pattern is highly suitable for Blueray as the parity preserving property of the channel code guarantees disparity inversion by the DC-control bit, which keeps the DSV excursions between hard limits. As a result only small DSV deliberate variations are required to produce a grating, which will not deteriorate the bit-detection margin of the optical disc.

Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic sensor device (100) comprising a magnetic field generator (1) driven with an excitation current of a first frequency (f1) and a magnetic sensor element (e.g. a GIVER sensor (2)) driven with a sensor current (I2) of a second frequency (f2) for measuring reaction fields (HB) generated by magnetized particles (3). In an associated evaluation unit (10), a reference component (uQ) of the measurement signal (uGMR) is separated that depends on the excitation current (I1) and the sensor current (I2) but not on the presence of magnetized particles (3). The reference component (uQ) may particularly be produced by a combination of the self-magnetization (H2) of the magnetic sensor element (2) and cross-talk related currents. The reference component (uQ) may be isolated based on its phase with respect to a particle-dependent component of the measurement signal (uGMR) or based on its scaling with one of the current frequencies.

Abstract: A visible pattern is obtained by modulating the digital sum value. Because the digital sum value modulation allows the choice of several different channel bits groups between DC control points, the selection of a group of channel bits resulting in a change of reflection. This creation of a visible pattern is highly suitable for Blueray as the parity preserving property of the channel code guarantees disparity inversion by the DC-control bit, which keeps the DSV excursions between hard limits. As a result only small DSV deliberate variations are required to produce a visual watermark, which will not deteriorate the bit-detection margin of the optical disc.

Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic sensor device for the determination of magnetized particles (3) which comprises a magnetic field generator (1, 1?)(e.g. a conductor wire) that is driven with an excitation current (I1) of a first frequency (f1), and a magnetic sensor element (2) (e.g. a GMR resistance), that is driven with a sensor current (I2) of a second frequency (f2) for generating measurement signals (UGMR). A preprocessed signal (uf) is then generated from the measurement signal (UGMR) that comprises a predetermined frequency (?f), and an evaluation unit (10) separates from this preprocessed signal a spurious component that does not depend on the presence of magnetized particles (3) in the sample chamber. The spurious component (UQ) may particularly be caused by self-magnetization (H2) of the magnetic sensor element (2) in combination with parasitic (capacitive or inductive) cross-talk.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor device (300) for sensing magnetic particles (15), the magnetic sensor device (300) comprising a magnetic field generator unit (12) adapted for generating a plurality of different magnetic field configurations assigned to a plurality of different magnetic excitation states of the magnetic particles (15), a sensing unit (11) adapted for sensing a plurality of detection signals influenced by the magnetic particles (15) in the different magnetic field configurations, and a combining unit (30) adapted for combining the plurality of signals to thereby derive information indicative of the presence of the magnetic particles (15).

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic sensor device a first magnetic field generating means (21a, 21b) for attracting magnetic or magnetizable objects (22), e.g. magnetic particles, to a sensor surface (23) and a second magnetic field generating means (25) for, in combination with the first magnetic field, repelling magnetic or magnetizable objects (22), e.g. magnetic particles, from the sensor surface (23). The magnetic fields generated by the first and second magnetic field generating means have substantially anti-parallel directions. The present invention furthermore provides a method for attracting and repelling magnetic or magnetizable objects (22), e.g. magnetic particles, to and from a sensor surface (23).

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic sensor device comprising a plurality of magnetic sensor elements having a sensitive direction. At least one of the magnetic sensor elements (43) is provided with a flux-guide (44) for concentrating onto the sensor element in its sensitive direction a magnetic field applied to the magnetic sensor device. The applied magnetic field is thus bent into the sensitive direction of the magnetic sensor element by the flux-guide. In that way, the field strength and/or orientation of the applied magnetic field can be measured in the absence of magnetic particles. This may be used for, for example, calibration of magnetic sensor devices.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor (MS) comprising a magneto-resistive element (GMR) for sensing a magnetic stray field (SF) generated by a magnetizable object (SPB) when magnetized and for generating an electrical object signal (UOB) which depends on the sensed magnetic stray field (SF), the sensor (MS) comprising a magnetic field generator (WR1, WR2) for generating a magnetic field (H, Hext) having a first frequency (?1) for magnetizing the magnetizable object (SPB), a current source (AC2) for at least generating an AC-current (I2 sin ?2t) having a second frequency (?2t) through the magneto-resistive element (GMR), and electronic means for generating an electrical output signal (U0) derived from the electrical object signal (UOB), the electronic means comprising stabilization means for stabilizing the amplitude of the electrical output signal (U0), the stabilization means deriving its information which is needed for said stabilization from the amplitude of a signal component, which is present in the object signal (UOB) duri

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a magnetic sensor device for the determination of the concentration of target particles (2) in a sample fluid, wherein the amount of the target particles (2) in a sensitive region (14) is observed by sampling measurement signals with associated sensor units (10a-10d). The target particles (2) may optionally be bound to binding sites (3) in the sensitive region, and a parametric binding curve, e.g. a Langmuir isotherm, may be fitted to the sampled measurement signals to determine the desired particle concentration in the sample. Moreover, parameters like the sampling rate and the size of the sensitive region (14) can be dynamically fitted during the ongoing sampling process to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. In another embodiment of the invention, single events corresponding to the movement of target particles into, out of, or within the sensitive region are detected and counted.

Abstract: Record carrier identification information is stored using an asymmetry modulation. This prevents the access to this information through the regular data path of the playback device. The asymmetry information is automatically removed by the playback device because of the inherent data slicing and decoding that takes place in the play back device. A parameter of the asymmetry modulation is used to verify that the record carrier is authentic and not a duplicated record carrier. The parameter is disturbed by duplication processes and thus provides a reliable difficult to circumvent indication of authenticity of the record carrier.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic sensor device comprising means (11, 14) for increasing a binding possibility of magnetic or magnetizable objects (15) e.g. magnetic particles, onto the binding sites by applying a moving magnetic field. The present invention furthermore provides a biochip (40) comprising at least one such magnetic sensor and a method for detecting and/or quantifying target moieties in a sample fluid by using such a magnetic sensor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic sensor device comprising an excitation wire for the generation of an alternating magnetic excitation field (Bi) and a GMR sensor (12) for sensing reaction fields (B2) generated by magnetized particles (2) in reaction to the excitation fields. Moreover, it comprises a compensator (15) for the generation of a magnetic compensation field (B3) that adaptively cancels predetermined spectral components of all magnetic fields (B2, B3) which lie in the sensitive direction of the magnetic sensor element (12). Measurements of the GMR sensor (12) are thus made robust against gain variations of the sensor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microelectronic sensor device, particularly to a bio sensor with magnetic sensor units comprising excitation wires (11, 13) and a GMR sensor (12). The device further comprises a washing unit (20) consisting of a series of actuation wires (21) coupled to a driving unit (22). The driving unit (22) can activate the actuation wires selectively, wherein magnetic washing particles (2) are attracted to the activated wires. Shifting the activation pattern (R, S, T) then results in a corresponding movement of washing particles (2), which induces flow of the sample fluid that can wash away weakly bound and/or unbound target substance (3) from the sensor region (10) of the sensor units.

Abstract: A detecting apparatus (2) for determining the presence and/or concentration of a predetermined biomolecule on a biosensor (4) is disclosed. The biosensor (4) emits radio frequency radiation in response to irradiation of a photodiode (8) by laser light, and has a resonant circuit having a resonant frequency dependent upon the presence and/or concentration of the relevant biomolecule on the sensor (4). The apparatus (2) comprises a laser diode (12) irradiating the sensor (4), and a receiver (20, 22) for receiving RF radiation emitted by the sensor (4) and providing an output signal representing the frequency deviation in RP radiation emitted by the sensor (4) caused by the presence and/or changes in concentration of the biomolecule. Integrators (26, 38), multiplier (32) and adder (28) reduce the dependency of the frequency deviation signal on the output intensity of the laser diode (12).

Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic sensor device (10) comprising magnetic field generators (11, 13) for generating a magnetic excitation field (B) in an investigation region and a magnetic sensor element (12) for measuring magnetic reactions fields (B?) generated by magnetized particles (2) that are bound to binding sites (3) in the investigation region. Both the magnetic field generators (11, 13) and the magnetic sensor element (12) are driven with electrical power, wherein the ratio of the power that is dissipated in said components is kept in a predetermined interval. The magnetic field generators may preferably be realized by excitation wires (11, 13) and the sensor element (12) by a magneto-resistive element, for example a GMR element. In this case, it is preferred that about equal amounts of power are dissipated in the excitation wires (11, 13) and the GMR element (12).