Floating-Gate Sensor Structure for Stable Charge Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor technologies face challenges in achieving a balance between detection accuracy, adaptability to different measurement tasks, and applicability to varying measurement conditions.
Innovation Solution
A sensor device with a control gate and a floating gate structure, enhanced by a control gate to maintain a constant potential at the floating gate, utilizing a sensing layer and insulating layers, and optionally including transistors, counter electrodes, and temperature/heat control elements to improve measurement accuracy and adaptability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a floating gate is used for measurement, then measurement accuracy can be improved, but the potential at the floating gate varies under different measurement conditions, reducing measurement precision
Solution Approach 1:
A control gate is introduced as an intermediary element between the floating gate and the external environment. The control gate mediates the interaction by allowing external control signals to be applied, which in turn control the potential at the floating gate indirectly through the insulating layer, preventing direct environmental interference while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The potential at the control gate is dynamically adjusted based on reference measurements taken under different environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, pressure). By changing the control gate potential parameter in response to environmental variations, the floating gate potential is compensated to remain constant, thereby maintaining measurement precision across varying conditions
2Measurement precision
If the sensor device is designed for specific measurement tasks, then detection accuracy is improved, but adaptability to different measurement conditions and applications is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor device achieves multi-functionality through the controllable floating gate structure. By adjusting the control gate potential, the same sensor can be adapted to measure different physical quantities (charge, capacitance, mass, concentration) and operate under various environmental conditions, making a single device design applicable to multiple measurement tasks without sacrificing detection accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor device incorporates dynamic adaptability through real-time adjustment of the control gate potential based on environmental conditions. The system can dynamically reconfigure its operating parameters to optimize performance for different measurement tasks and conditions, transitioning from a static to a dynamically adaptable measurement system
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
Enhances measurement accuracy and adaptability to different conditions by maintaining a constant potential at the floating gate, allowing for precise detection of charges and capacitance changes in fluids, gases, or liquids.
Implementation Method 1
at least one insulating layer between the sensing layer and the control gate. Here, the at least one insulating layer comprises a floating gate
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
Sensor device (20, 20', 20") for determining a property of a fluid, gas or liquid, comprising: a control gate (2); a sensing layer (6); at least one insulating layer between the sensing layer (6) and the control gate (2), wherein the at least one insulating layer comprises a floating gate (4).