US Patent 8094316 Surface plasmon resonance coupler and disperser sensor

A surface plasmon resonance coupler and disperser system is provided. A sensor element includes a diffraction grating having a periodically modulated surface. A light source faces the sensor element and emits an optical wave through a collimating element, which is provided in optical alignment with the light source. The optical wave is projected directly onto the periodically modulated surface of the diffraction grating. A detector faces the diffracting grating and is in receipt of the optical wave that is diffracted off the sensor element.