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  Method and apparatus for sharpening a laser imageThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070291262. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a division of Ser. No. 10/987,593, filed Nov. 12, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,233,391, which claims the benefit of Provisional Applications 60/481,688, filed on Nov. 21, 2002; 60/481,732, filed on Dec. 2, 2003; and 60/481,874, filed on Jan. 9, 2004, the contents of all of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. FIELD [0002] This patent application generally relates to an optical device contacting a well for detecting a reaction in a sample in the well. BACKGROUND [0003] Optical techniques, including prism refractometry, interferometry, and surface plasmon resonance (SPR), have long been used for measuring optical properties of samples, such as index of refraction. [0004] Refractometers have been used in the field of analytical chemistry for measuring the index of refraction of liquids for analytical purposes. Modern automatic refractometers determine the critical angle between transmission and total internal reflection in an optical prism of known high refractive index. At the interface between a liquid sample and a higher index prism, the critical angle O.sub.crit, is defined by sin(O.sub.crit)=n.sub.low/n.sub.high, where n.sub.high is the refractive index of the prism and n.sub.low. is the index of the liquid being measured. With knowledge of the refractive index of the prism, by measuring the critical angle, the index of the liquid being measured can be calculated. [0005] Waveguide interferometry, which can measure very small shifts in interference patterns generated by minite changes in refractive index, is inherently more sensitive than prism refractometry. However, the waveguide interface to the sample is also inherently more expensive. [0006] SPR takes advantage of the fact that at a unique narrow range of angles, a thin layer of metal does not reflect light as well as it does at other angles. In this narrow range of angles, energy is transferred from light rays striking the metal into tile metal itself. The energy is transferred into the metal instead of being reflected because of the surface plasmon resonance effect. The pronounced reduction in reflection occurring at that narrow range of angles produces an attenuated band within an otherwise bright region of reflected light that shines on a detector. The narrow range of angles depends oil index of refraction of a material that is on the opposite surface of the thin metal. Thus, a chemical reaction in a material on that opposite surface that changes its index can result in a shift in the narrow range of angles. This shift can be detected, providing a way to determine that a reaction occurred or to follow the reaction dynamically. [0007] While each of these systems has been studied and used, all remain complex and expensive to use, require complex handling of materials, provide contamination issues, have required careful preparation, and/or present challenges for uses demanding high throughput. SUMMARY [0008] An optical device for providing information about multiple samples includes a structure that has multiple wells for holding the samples, and at least one optical device having nonparallel sidewalls optically contacts the wells for providing the information about the samples in the wells. [0009] In one embodiment, the structure includes a microplate. In one embodiment, the optical device includes a measuring surface that forms a bottom surface of the wells. In one embodiment, this bottom surface includes a coating that can include a polymeric layer a metal layer, and/or a polymeric layer on the metal layer. [0010] In one embodiment the optical device comprises a truncated prism that can include an irregular trapezoid prism. [0011] One embodiment includes a plurality of the optical devices, and one of the optical devices contacts each well of the stricture. [0012] In one example, the structure includes n wells arranged in a two-dimensional array wherein one of the optical devices optically contacts an integer factor of the n wells. [0013] In one embodiment, the plurality of wells and the at least one optical device are integral parts of a unibody construction that may be fabricated of a polymeric material. The polymeric material can include at least one from the group including polystyrene, polycarbonate, polysulfone, and polymethylmethacrylate. The unibody construction may be fabricated from an injection molded polymeric material. [0014] A light source and a detector can also be included. A plurality of light sources and detectors can be arranged for measuring a well of the structure. The light source can include at least one from the group including a laser, an LED, an SLD, and a bulb. The detector can include a CCD or a CMOS array. [0015] In one embodiment the sidewalls are substantially planar. [0016] Also disclosed is an optical device for providing information about a plurality of samples, comprising a unibody construction including a plurality of wells for holding the plurality of samples, and at least one non-planar optical device integrally connected with the plurality of wells in the unibody construction for providing the information about the plurality of samples in the plurality of wells. [0017] In one embodiment, the unibody construction comprises a microplate. The wells can include a bottom surface having a coating. The coating can include a polvineric layer, a metal layer, and/or a polymeric layer on the metal layer. [0018] The optical device can include a truncated prism that can include an irregular trapezoid prism. [0019] One embodiment includes a plurality of the optical devices, and a single one of the optical devices is integrally connected with only one well of the construction. [0020] The unibody construction can include n wells arranged in a two-dimensional array wherein the at least one optical device is integrally connected to an integer factor of the n wells. Continue reading... Full patent description for Method and apparatus for sharpening a laser image Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method and apparatus for sharpening a laser image patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Method and apparatus for sharpening a laser image or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Exposure apparatus, exposure method, and device manufacturing method Next Patent Application: Reduction in scattering from a turbid medium by photo-bleaching Industry Class: Optics: measuring and testing ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Method and apparatus for sharpening a laser image patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.11 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Canon USA , Celera Genomics , Cephalon, Inc. , Cingular Wireless , Clorox , Colgate-Palmolive , Corning , Cymer , |
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