Spectrometry

Enablence Technologies Inc. is developing a series of customized and fully integrated spectrometer-on-chip products for use in fluorescence spectroscopy, chemical and biological detection, and DNA sequencing. The spectrometer-on-chip is based on Enablence's proprietary Dispersion Bridge planar waveguide technology fabricated with a CMOS-compatible process. The entire spectrometer contains no moving parts and no items subject to misalignment, thereby ensuring long-term stability. Fluorescence is typically coupled to the chip from a fiber. One of the advantages of our spectrometer is the ability to selectively design for different spectral resolutions and wavelength spans, and allowing customization for specific resonances in the spectrum. The Dispersion Bridge™-based spectrometer-on-chip has the widest free spectral range when compared to any other planar lightwave solution. Furthermore, the size of spectrometers offered by Enablence is the smallest available on the market. This entire proposition can be delivered to customers at a fraction of the cost of competing products on the market.

Reproducible, high-quality optical spectrometers are created using standard microelectronic foundry processing techniques. Fluorescence from a sample is collected by a fiber, and sent to our spectrometer-on-chip, to which is coupled the detector elements. The chip itself is typically less than 4 square cm in size, while the entire package is typically less than 5 x 7 x 2 cm. The exact dimensions will depend on the wavelength range and resolution required by the application. >>

<< To increase the operational flexibility of our unit, the fluorescence is excited and captured in a separate module. An LED, or laser radiation, is coupled via high numerical aperture optics to the base of a transparent slide, where it excites fluorescence from a sample under study (for instance within a microfluidic channel). Another fiber captures this fluorescence, taking it to the spectrometer unit for processing.

The packaged module includes detectors, electronics, and cooling if necessary. Enablence can also consider variations to the concept presented here for special applications or OEM customers. One such variation that has been considered is a direct coupling from the fluorescing sample to the chip, bypassing the optical fiber.

For more information on our spectrometer-on-chip product, or to discuss how our product might fit into your application, please contact: info@enablence.com.

To download data sheets, pricing and delivery schedule for Enablence's Spectrometry Engines product offerings please register at the Enablence Customer Page or contact Enablence directly at sales@enablence.com or at (613) 270-7860.