Nanopore Sequencing Voltage Control Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nanopore-based sequencing chips face challenges in scalability due to area-intensive circuitry and measurement inaccuracies caused by operational amplifier offset and noise.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a circuitry design where the voltage applied across the nanopore can be configured to vary over time, eliminating the need for operational amplifiers and reducing the footprint of each cell, thereby facilitating the scaling of the chip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If traditional circuitry with operational amplifiers is used in nanopore-based sequencing chips, then measurement stability can be maintained, but the chip area becomes excessively large and scaling is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the operational amplifier from the circuitry, eliminating the source of offset and noise that limited measurement precision. The solution replaces the traditional operational amplifier-based circuit with a simplified design that uses a voltage source and switch to control the voltage applied to the nanopore, thereby reducing chip area while maintaining or improving measurement stability through eliminating the harmful operational amplifier components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the voltage application parameters by using a controllable voltage source that can vary voltage over time, rather than relying on continuous operation of an operational amplifier. This parameter change allows for stable voltage conditions to be established and maintained without the need for traditional operational amplifier circuitry, thus reducing area while preserving measurement reliability.
2Measurement precision
If operational amplifiers are used for voltage control, then voltage stability can be achieved, but charge injection errors increase and measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the operational amplifier from the circuit, eliminating the charge injection problem that it causes. By replacing the operational amplifier with a simple voltage source and switch configuration, the invention eliminates the source of charge injection errors while maintaining voltage control capability, thereby improving measurement precision without the harmful side effects of traditional operational amplifier-based designs.
3Productivity
If complex circuitry is implemented to maintain stable voltage, then measurement reliability improves, but device complexity increases and scalability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex operational amplifier-based circuitry, replacing it with a simple voltage source and switch configuration. This reduction in device complexity enables scaling to larger chip sizes with more nanopores, thereby increasing sequencing throughput and productivity without being constrained by complex circuitry that would limit the number of usable cells on the chip.
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 allows for the reduction of cell and chip size, minimizes charge injection, and provides more stable voltage conditions, enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of nanopore-based sequencing.
Implementation Method 1
a voltage source and a switch configured to apply the voltage across the nanopore
Implementation Method 2
the capacitor associated with the membrane is charged and discharged repeatedly
Data Source
AI summary
A method of analyzing a molecule is disclosed. A voltage source is selectively connected to or disconnected from a capacitor using a switch controlled by a reset signal. A charge is stored in a capacitor when the voltage source is connected to the capacitor. The capacitor is discharged through a nanopore in a membrane when the voltage source is disconnected from the capacitor. A duty cycle of the reset signal is determined such that the voltage source and the capacitor is connected for at least a one tenth portion of a reset signal period and disconnected for a remaining portion of the reset signal period, such that a voltage across the nanopore is maintained at a higher level during the portion of the reset signal period in which the connection is maintained than during the remaining portion of the reset signal period in which the connection is not maintained.