ChemFET Sensor Array with Shared Floating Gate for Low-Noise Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large-scale chemical sensor arrays are susceptible to noise, which affects the accuracy of signal processing and downstream analysis of chemical and biological processes.
Innovation Solution
The use of multiple chemically-sensitive field effect transistors with a common floating gate, coupled to the same reaction region, allows for redundancy and improved accuracy by combining individual output signals to produce a low-noise resultant signal, increasing the signal-to-noise ratio and compensating for variations in sensor performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If large-scale chemical sensor arrays are used to detect chemical reactions, then the detection capability and coverage are improved, but the susceptibility to noise increases, reducing measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple chemically-sensitive field effect transistors share a common floating gate, merging their sensing functions. This allows the sensors to simultaneously detect chemical reactions while their signals can be combined to improve signal-to-noise ratio, resolving the contradiction between detection capability and measurement precision
2Reliability
If multiple sensors are used to monitor the same reaction region, then redundancy and accuracy are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensors share a common floating gate structure, which reduces the overall device complexity compared to having completely independent sensors. This merging approach provides redundancy and improved accuracy while minimizing the increase in device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The common floating gate serves multiple sensing functions simultaneously, allowing a single structural element to perform the work of multiple independent components. This multi-functionality provides sensor redundancy without proportionally increasing device complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach provides accurate detection of chemical reaction characteristics by reducing noise and enhancing signal quality through averaging and compensating for sensor variations, thereby improving the reliability of chemical and biological process analysis.
Implementation Method 1
The operation of the chemFET is based on the modulation of channel conductance, caused by changes in charge at the sensitive area due to a chemical reaction occurring nearby. The modulation of the channel conductance changes the threshold voltage of the chemFET, which can be measured to detect and/or determine characteristics of the chemical reaction.
Implementation Method 2
The presence of ions in an analyte solution alters the surface potential at the interface between the ion-sensitive layer and the analyte solution, due to the protonation or deprotonation of surface charge groups caused by the ions present in the analyte solution.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a device is described. The device includes a material defining a reaction region. The device also includes a plurality of chemically-sensitive field effect transistors have a common floating gate in communication with the reaction region. The device also includes a circuit to obtain respective output signals from the chemically-sensitive field effect transistors indicating an analyte within the reaction region.