Stephan Gschwandtner

The measuring unit, which was to be automated, is needed for the analysis of planar waveguides in a plastic–chip. A laser beam is coupled into the waveguide layer, which is enclosed in the chip. In this way a CCD–camera takes an attenuation picture
and a self–fluorescence picture of the chip. After software–technical evaluation of the pictures, the maximal degree of intensity is automatically detected by the regulation of the laser beam.

Using the original measurement method, each chip had to be placed in an evaluation window using forceps and the analysis happened one by one. Amongst others additional requirements of the former measurement were a high expenditure of time
and a lot of manpower. Moreover it caused damages to the chips due to difficult handling.
The written elaboration, which is the basis of the bachelor project, describes an initial automation step for the measuring unit. The automation makes it possible to collect 50 chips, which are inserted manually into a chip admission by vacuum tweezers. The positioning of the chips over the evaluation window is realized by means of linear motor axes.