Abstract: Sensing results from moving objects, e.g. from photosensing emanating light or from impedance-based sensing, can indicate sensed time-varying waveforms with information about objects. For example, a sensed time-varying waveform can be compared with another waveform, such as a reference waveform produced by objects of a certain type, to obtain comparison results indicating motion-independent information about the object; time-scaling can adjust for displacement rate such as speed. Also, a modulation periodicity value can be obtained from a sensed time-varying waveform and used in obtaining information about an object; for example, a periodic modulation frequency can be used with a given time's chirp frequency to obtain phase information about an object's position. Or, where periodic modulation frequency indicates displacement rate, time scaling during comparison can use a scaling factor based on the frequency.

Abstract: While two or more analytes within an optical cavity move relative to an array of photosensing elements, the cavity provides output light that has a position/time varying intensity function that depends on optical characteristics of the analytes and on the relative movement. The output light is photosensed to obtain sensing results that depend on the position/time varying intensity function. The sensing results are used to obtain information about at least one of the analytes. The relative movement can, for example, be caused by moving analytes within channels within the cavity, such as by causing flow of a medium that carries the analytes through the channels. Or the analytes can be in wells of a biochip, with the cavity defined by reflective slides on opposite surfaces of the biochip, and the slides and biochip can be caused to move together relative to the array.

Abstract: An implantable product such as an article, device, or system can include analyte and non-analyte containers in parts that can be operated as optical cavities. The product can also include fluidic components such as filter assemblies that control transfer of objects that affect or shift spectrum features or characteristics such as by shifting transmission mode peaks or reflection mode valleys, shifting phase, reducing maxima or contrast, or increasing intermediate intensity width such as full width half maximum (FWHM). Analyte, e.g. glucose molecules, can be predominantly included in a set of objects that transfer more rapidly into the analyte container than other objects, and can have a negligible or zero rate of transfer into the non-analyte container; objects that transfer more rapidly into the non-analyte container can include objects smaller than the analyte or molecules of a set of selected types, including, e.g., sodium chloride.

Abstract: Output light from an optical cavity includes, for each of a set of modes, an intensity function. Analyte can be positioned in the cavity, and a mode's intensity function can be encoded to include information about an optical characteristic of an analyte. For example, the intensity function can include a peak, and its central energy, maximum intensity, contrast, or intermediate intensity width (e.g. FWHM) can indicate the optical characteristic. For example, the information can be about both refractive index and absorption of an analyte.

Abstract: Fluidic waveguides have inward surfaces or areas that face each other, separated by a channel region that can be covered. For example, an integrally formed channel component can include two walls parts and a connecting part, with inward surfaces on the wall parts and, extending between them, a base surface; a covering component's lower surface can also extend between the inward surfaces, bounding the channel region; other fluidic, electrical, and optical components can also be attached. In a stack, the covering component can cover the first channel component, and the lower base surface of each preceding channel component can cover the following channel component. An integrally formed body of light-transmissive material can have a surface that includes a waveguide's inward areas and a base area between them; a covering component can be mounted on areas adjacent the inward areas, providing an enclosed channel region.

Abstract: Complementary surface fabrication processes such as molding, casting, embossing, and so forth, are used to produce articles, structures, or components structured to operate as sandwich waveguides. Resulting complementary surface artifacts include, for example, optical quality surfaces on wall parts, other exposed artifacts that occur where a complementary solid surface contacts non-solid material during fabrication, and sub-surface artifacts such as integrally formed connections between wall parts and base parts. A body whose surface includes a waveguide's inward surfaces, outward surfaces, and light interface surfaces to receive incident light can be formed in a single step, leaving a partially bounded fluidic region that can then be covered to provide a channel that is bounded along a length yet open at its ends; other fluidic, electrical, and optical components can also be attached.

Abstract: Output light from an optical cavity includes, for each of a set of modes, an intensity function, and a mode's intensity function includes information, such as about an optical characteristic of an analyte or of a region. For example, the intensity function can include a peak, and its central energy, maximum intensity, contrast, or intermediate intensity width (e.g. FWHM) can indicate the optical characteristic. The output light can be photosensed, providing electrical signals that depend on the optical characteristic. Information about the analyte or region can then be obtained using the electrical signals. For example, the information can be about both refractive index and absorption of an analyte. Cavity-only absorption values, independent, for example, of absorption outside the cavity and of inhomogeneous illumination, can be obtained based on contrast or intermediate intensity width. For detection of glucose in bodily fluid, derivatives of absorption can be obtained.

Abstract: Fluidic waveguides have inward surfaces or areas that face each other, separated by a channel region that can be covered. For example, an integrally formed channel component can include two walls parts and a connecting part, with inward surfaces on the wall parts and, extending between them, a base surface; a covering component's lower surface can also extend between the inward surfaces, bounding the channel region; other fluidic, electrical, and optical components can also be attached. In a stack, the covering component can cover the first channel component, and the lower base surface of each preceding channel component can cover the following channel component. An integrally formed body of light-transmissive material can have a surface that includes a waveguide's inward areas and a base area between them; a covering component can be mounted on areas adjacent the inward areas, providing an enclosed channel region.

Abstract: Complementary surface fabrication processes such as molding, casting, embossing, and so forth, are used to produce articles, structures, or components structured to operate as sandwich waveguides. Resulting complementary surface artifacts include, for example, optical quality surfaces on wall parts, other exposed artifacts that occur where a complementary solid surface contacts non-solid material during fabrication, and sub-surface artifacts such as integrally formed connections between wall parts and base parts. A body whose surface includes a waveguide's inward surfaces, outward surfaces, and light interface surfaces to receive incident light can be formed in a single step, leaving a partially bounded fluidic region that can then be covered to provide a channel that is bounded along a length yet open at its ends; other fluidic, electrical, and optical components can also be attached.

Abstract: An optical cavity, such as a laser or transmissive cavity, that can contain an analyte provides a different intensity-energy function with analyte present than when absent. The intensity-energy functions can, for example, include respective peaks that are different in at least one of central energy, amplitude, contrast, and full width half maximum (FWHM) (or other intermediate intensity width). Each intensity-energy function can include a set of modes in which the optical cavity provides output light. A laterally varying transmission component, such as a layered linearly varying filter, responds to the intensity-energy functions by providing different laterally varying energy distributions to a photosensing IC, and the distributions are also different, such as in position, size, or intensity. In response, the photosensing IC provides sensing results that are also different. The sensing results can be used to obtain information about the analyte, such as its refractive index or absorption coefficient.

Abstract: An improved method of analyzing target analytes in a sample is described. The method is based on creating an approximately homogeneous distribution of light in an anti-resonant guided optical waveguide to improve light-target interaction in a target-containing medium. The light-target interaction can be monitored by many different means to determine characteristics of the target analyte.

Abstract: A device can include both a photosensing component and an optical cavity structure, with the optical cavity structure including a part that can operate as an optical cavity in response to input light, providing laterally varying output light. For example, the optical cavity can be a graded linearly varying filter (LVF) or other inhomogeneous optical cavity, and the photosensing component can have a photosensitive surface that receives its output light without it passing through another optical component, thus avoiding loss of information. The optical cavity part can include a region that can contain analyte. Presence of the analyte affects the optical cavity part's output light, and the photosensing component can respond to the output light, providing sensing results indicating the analyte's optical characteristics.

Abstract: A tunable optical cavity can be tuned by relative movement between two reflection surfaces, such as by deforming elastomer spacers connected between mirrors or other light-reflective components that include the reflection surfaces. The optical cavity structure includes an analyte region in its light-transmissive region, and presence of analyte in the analyte region affects output light when the optical cavity is tuned to a set of positions. Electrodes that cause deformation of the spacers can also be used to capacitively sense the distance between them. Control circuitry that provides tuning signals can cause continuous movement across a range of positions, allowing continuous photosensing of analyte-affected output light by a detector.

Abstract: Output light from an optical cavity includes, for each of a set of modes, an intensity function, and a mode's intensity function includes information, such as about an optical characteristic of an analyte or of a region. For example, the intensity function can include a peak, and its central energy, maximum intensity, contrast, or intermediate intensity width (e.g. FWHM) can indicate the optical characteristic. The output light can be photosensed, providing electrical signals that depend on the optical characteristic. Information about the analyte or region can then be obtained using the electrical signals. For example, the information can be about both refractive index and absorption of an analyte. Cavity-only absorption values, independent, for example, of absorption outside the cavity and of inhomogeneous illumination, can be obtained based on contrast or intermediate intensity width. For detection of glucose in bodily fluid, derivatives of absorption can be obtained.

Abstract: While two or more analytes within an optical cavity move relative to an array of photosensing elements, the cavity provides output light that has a position/time varying intensity function that depends on optical characteristics of the analytes and on the relative movement. The output light is photosensed to obtain sensing results that depend on the position/time varying intensity function. The sensing results are used to obtain information about at least one of the analytes. The relative movement can, for example, be caused by moving analytes within channels within the cavity, such as by causing flow of a medium that carries the analytes through the channels. Or the analytes can be in wells of a biochip, with the cavity defined by reflective slides on opposite surfaces of the biochip, and the slides and biochip can be caused to move together relative to the array.

Abstract: While objects travel through an optical cavity, the cavity provides output light that is affected by the objects, causing the output light to have a varying intensity function. The output light is photosensed to obtain sensing results that depend on the varying intensity function. The sensing results are used to distinguish at least one object, such as from its environment or from objects of other types. The objects can, for example, be particles or biological cells, and their optical characteristics, such as refractive index or absorption, can affect the output light, so that information about them is included in the output light. The output light can, for example, have a laterally varying intensity function with peaks whose features change due to the objects. The sensing results can also be used to track objects, together with other information, such as about the speed of a fluid that carries the objects through the cavity.

Abstract: Output light from an optical cavity includes, for each of a set of modes, an intensity function. Analyte can be positioned in the cavity, and a mode's intensity function can be encoded to include information about an optical characteristic of an analyte. For example, the intensity function can include a peak, and its central energy, maximum intensity, contrast, or intermediate intensity width (e.g. FWHM) can indicate the optical characteristic. For example, the information can be about both refractive index and absorption of an analyte.

Abstract: An implantable product includes an optical cavity structure with first and second parts, each of which can operate as an optical cavity. The first part includes a container with at least one opening through which bodily fluid can transfer between the container's interior and exterior when the product is implanted in a body. The second part includes a container that is closed and contains a reference fluid. The implantable product can also include one or both of a light source component and a photosensing component. Photosensed quantities from the first part's output light can be adjusted based on photosensed quantities from the second part's output light. Both parts can have their light interface surfaces aligned so that they both receive input light from a light source component and both provide output light to a photosensing component.

Abstract: An optical cavity, such as a laser or transmissive cavity, that can contain an analyte provides a different intensity-energy function with analyte present than when absent. The intensity-energy functions can, for example, include respective peaks that are different in at least one of central energy, amplitude, contrast, and full width half maximum (FWHM) (or other intermediate intensity width). Each intensity-energy function can include a set of modes in which the optical cavity provides output light. A laterally varying transmission component, such as a layered linearly varying filter, responds to the intensity-energy functions by providing different laterally varying energy distributions to a photosensing IC, and the distributions are also different, such as in position, size, or intensity. In response, the photosensing IC provides sensing results that are also different. The sensing results can be used to obtain information about the analyte, such as its refractive index or absorption coefficient.

Abstract: An inhomogeneous optical cavity is tuned by changing its shape, such as by changing reflection surface positions to change tilt angle, thickness, or both. Deformable components such as elastomer spacers can be connected so that, when deformed, they change relative positions of structures with light-reflective components such as mirrors, changing cavity shape. Electrodes can cause deformation, such as electrostatically, electromagnetically, or piezoelectrically, and can also be used to measure thicknesses of the cavity. The cavity can be tuned, for example, across a continuous spectrum, to a specific wavelength band, to a shape that increases or decreases the number of modes it has, to a series of transmission ranges each suitable for a respective light source, with a modulation that allows lock-in with photosensing for greater sensitivity, and so forth.