1. A label-independent optical interrogation system for detecting biological, bio-chemical or chemical agents, the detection system comprising: 1) an optical sensor including a GCW with a surface having a sensing region capable of immobilizing biological, bio-chemical or chemical substances; 2) an optical detection system for monitoring said sensing region, said optical detection system comprising a light source, an optical delivery system, and a detection instrument,
wherein said optical interrogation apparatus further includes an optical isolator filtering and substantially eliminating parasitic reflections generated by said optical sensor.
2. The label-independent optical interrogation system according to claim 1, wherein said optical isolator comprises a polarizer and either (i) a waveplate or (ii) faraday rotator.
3. The label-independent optical interrogation system according to claim 1, wherein said optical isolator comprises at least one pair of Wallaston prisms.
4. The label-independent optical interrogation system according to claim 1, wherein said optical isolator separates said light beam to create two light beams.
5. The label-independent optical interrogation system according to claim 4 wherein said two light beams are collimated light beams.
6. A method for filtering parasitic reflections in a GCW based optical interrogation system, the method comprising:
a) providing an optical detection system including a light source;
b) providing a sensor with at least one grating-coupled waveguide capable of reflecting a polarized light beam provided by said optical detection system;
c) introducing the polarized light beam into said grating-coupled waveguide; and
d) placing an optical isolator into an optical path within said optical detection system to filter and substantially eliminate: (i) Fresnel reflections generated from a first surface of said sensor, andor (ii) geometric reflections of said grating-coupled waveguide.
7. The method for filtering parasitic reflections according to claim 6, wherein said optical interrogation system measures resonant wavelengths of the light reflected by said sensor.
8. The method for filtering parasitic reflections according to claim 6, wherein said optical interrogation system measures resonant angles of the light reflected by said sensor.
9. The method for filtering parasitic reflections according to claim 6, further including the step of separating said light beam into two beams.
10. The method for filtering parasitic reflections according to claim 9 wherein said two light beams are collimated beams.
11. The method for filtering parasitic reflections according to claim 6, wherein said optical isolator includes at least one polarizer.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said polarizer separates said light beams to create two collimated beams.
13. The method according to claim 6, wherein said optical isolator:
i. comprises a polarizer and either (i) a waveplate or (ii) faraday rotator; and
ii. sends a non-linearly polarized light to said sensor.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A solid electrolytic capacitor, comprising:
a capacitor element including an anode body, an anode member buried in the anode body, a dielectric layer, an electrolyte layer formed on the dielectric layer, and a cathode layer formed on the electrolyte layer, the anode member having a lower end portion exposed at a lower surface of the anode body, the dielectric layer being formed on part of a surface of the anode body that is in a region different from a region where the anode body contacts the anode member;
an outer package member covering the capacitor element;
an anode terminal electrically connected to the lower end portion of the anode member, and having a surface partially exposed at a lower surface of the outer package member; and
a cathode terminal electrically connected to the cathode layer at a position below the lower surface of the anode body, and having a surface partially exposed at the lower surface of the outer package member.
2. The solid electrolytic capacitor according to claim 1, wherein the anode body has an outer circumference including first and second side surfaces substantially opposite each other, and the anode member extends between the first and second side surfaces.
3. The solid electrolytic capacitor according to claim 2, wherein the anode and cathode terminals are spaced apart from each other in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the anode member extends.
4. The solid electrolytic capacitor according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of terminal units is arranged in the direction in which the anode member extends, each of the terminal units being composed of the anode and cathode terminals.
5. The solid electrolytic capacitor according to claim 1, wherein the lower end portion of the anode member projects from the lower surface of the anode body.