Appeal No. 2006-1095 Page 2 Application No. 10/280,188 The disclosed invention pertains to a multiple-mode planar-waveguide sensor, fabrication materials and techniques. Representative claim 1 is reproduced as follows: 1. A planar optical sensor, comprising: • at least one input waveguide and at least two output waveguides in optical communication with a coupling region having a sensor surface configured to receive a multiplicity of immobilized chemical or biological receptors thereon; • a source of light directed to the input waveguide; • the coupling region supporting at least two electromagnetic modes of propagation such that chemical or biological binding to the receptors causes a change in the refractive index near the surface of the waveguide of the coupled region affecting the interaction of the propagation modes; and • a detector for detecting differing aspects of the light propagating down each of the output waveguides. The examiner relies on the following references: Boiarski et al. (Boiarski) 5,173,747 Dec. 22, 1992 Fardad et al. (Fardad) 6,054,253 Apr. 25, 2000Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 NextLast modified: November 3, 2007