Sensor array-based system and method for rapid materials characterization

• US 20030101006A1
• Filed: 12/10/2002
• Published: 05/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Freeslate Inc. (Unchained Labs Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Symyx Technologies Incorporated (Dassault Systemes SA)
• Inventors: Bennett, James, Mansky, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 6,668,230 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/30
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0046 Sequential or parallel reactions, e.g. for the synthesis of polypeptides or polynucleotides; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making molecular arrays synthesis methods per se C40B50/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00605 the compounds being directly bound or immobilised to solid supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00612 the surface being inorganic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00621 by physical means, e.g. trenches, raised areas
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00637 by coating it with another layer
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00653 the compounds being bound to electrodes embedded in or on the solid supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00659 Two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00707 separated from the reactor apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00745 Inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00747 Catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 30/08 by measuring catalytic activity
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 40/18 Libraries containing only inorganic compounds or inorganic materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/005 by investigating specific heat
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/18 by investigating thermal conductivity by calorimetry G01N25/20; by measuring change of resistance of an electrically-heated body G01N27/18
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/72 by investigating magnetic variables

Abstract

A modular materials characterization apparatus includes a sensor array disposed on a substrate, with a standardized array and contact pad format; electronic test and measurement apparatus for sending electrical signals to and receiving electrical signals from the sensor array; an apparatus for making electrical contact to the sensors in the standardized array format; an apparatus for routing signals between one or more selected sensors and the electronic test and measurement apparatus and a computer including a computer readable having a computer program recorded therein for controlling the operator of the apparatus. The sensor array is preferably arranged in a standardized format used in combinatorial chemistry applications for rapid deposition of sample materials on the sensor array. The interconnection apparatus and sensor array and contact pad allow measurement of many different material properties by using substrates carrying different sensor types, with only minor modifications if any to the electronic test and measurement apparatus and test procedures. By using a sensor array that is separate from the electronic apparatus, and by including standardized contacting and signal routing apparatuses, the apparatus creates a modular “plug-and-play” system that eliminates the need for multiple materials characterization machines, and eliminates the need for application-specific active circuitry within the sensor arrays themselves. Further, the modular sensor array system can characterize large numbers of material samples rapidly, on the order of at least 50 samples per hour, reducing the time needed for screening of materials libraries.

Claims

1. A computer readable medium containing software for the control of the operation of an apparatus for characterizing one or more material properties for one or more samples, the software comprising:

instructions for selecting a sensor or group of sensors for measurement, wherein each sensor forms a sensor array associated with one or more material samples;

instructions for computing, selecting and setting of test equipment operating parameters, wherein the instructions result in discrete operating parameters used to drive the test equipment;

instructions for initiating a data gathering sequence, wherein the selected sensor or group of sensors are caused to measure preselected properties;

instructions for sending, receiving and monitoring signals sent to and received from the selected sensor or group of sensors;

instructions for processing signals received from the selected sensor or group of sensors, wherein a specific output is generated for each signal processed;

instructions for calculating an arithmetic value corresponding to a material property using the specific output generated for each signal processed; and

instructions for monitoring and storing the calculated arithmetic value, the raw data, and each specific output for each signal processed.

2. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions for calculating an arithmetic value include instructions for calculating the material properties of the material samples.

3. The computer readable medium of claim 2, wherein the instructions for calculating the material properties include instructions for calculating at least one thermal material properties selected from the group of melting point, glass transition temperature, heat capacity, thermal conductivity and thermal stability.

4. The computer readable medium of claim 2, wherein the instructions for calculating the material properties include instructions for calculating at least one electrical transport property selected from the group of electrical resistance, Hall coefficient, magnetoresistance, thermoelectric power, and current-voltage characteristics.

5. The computer readable medium of claim 2, wherein the instructions for calculating the material properties include instructions for calculating at least one from the group of including viscosity, density, conductivity, molecular weight, chemical concentration, capacitance, dielectric constant, mass loading, elasticity, damping, tensile strength, yield strength, ductility, toughness, hardness and magnetism.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 2, wherein the instructions for calculating the material properties include instructions for calculating the magnetic properties of the material samples.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the software includes instructions for measuring signals from two or more sensors on the same array.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the software further includes instructions for setting a runtime logic sequence for setting, limiting and monitoring the time for executing instructions for the data gathering sequence.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the software further includes instructions for identifying the sensor array by a unique identifier.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the software further includes instructions for importing a map identifying usable cells of the sensor array.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions for importing a map identifying usable cells include instructions for identifying usable cells by location within the sensor array.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions for importing a map identifying usable cells include instructions for storing the usable cell information in a database or a location that is accessible by a deposition software program.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the software further includes instructions for importing a deposition library supported by the sensor array.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the software further includes instructions for resetting a map of the sensor array wherein all unusable cells in the sensor array are identified.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the software further includes instructions for selectively excluding unusable cells from data gathering sequence.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the software further includes instructions for permitting the operator to select or exclude certain usable cells from inclusion in the data gathering sequence.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the software further includes instructions for calibrating the sensors.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the software further includes instructions for cooling a sample material supported on a substrate supporting the sensory array.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions for cooling further include instructions for controlling the operational parameters of the test equipment.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the software further includes instructions for controlling the temperature of the selected sensor or group of sensors.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the software further includes instructions for archiving the raw data.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the software further includes instructions for viewing the raw data.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the software further includes instructions for retrieving the raw data.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the software further includes instructions for reducing the raw data.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein the instructions for reducing include an analysis algorithm.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the software further includes instructions for archiving the processed signal data.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the software further includes instructions for viewing the processed signal data.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the software further includes instructions for retrieving the processed signal data.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the software further includes instructions for reducing the processed signal data.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the software further includes instructions for archiving the arithmetic value.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the software further includes instructions for viewing the arithmetic value.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the software further includes instructions for retrieving the arithmetic value.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the software further includes instructions for reducing the data strings associated with the arithmetic value.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the software further includes instructions for storing the substrate or washing or retesting the substrate and identifying the unusable cells.

35. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the computer readable medium is a magnetic tape, magnetic disk, or compact disk.

36. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a processor in a computer system to analyze one or more material properties of a plurality of material samples, the computer program logic comprising:

inputting means for enabling a processor in a computer to receive and process operator input;

selecting means for enabling the processor to drive a selected sensor or group of sensors using operator input received from the inputting means, wherein each sensor forms a sensor array and each sensor of the sensor array is associated with one or more materials samples;

driving means for enabling the processor to drive test equipment using operator input received from the inputting means;

operating means for enabling the processor to execute a data gathering sequence, wherein preselected properties are measured by the selected sensor or group of sensors for one or more material samples associated the selected sensor or group of sensors;

routing means for enabling communication between the operating means and the selected sensor or group of sensors;

processing means for enabling the processor to communicate with the operating means in analyzing data signals received by the operating means;

determining means for enabling the processor to determine an arithmetic value representing a preselected material property using signals received from the operating means; and

storing means for enabling the processor to store data gathered during gathering sequence, data generated by processing means, or the arithmetic value.

37. The computer readable medium of claim 36, wherein the computer program logic further includes viewing means for enabling the generation of a visual display of the data gathering sequence, data generated by processing means or the arithmetic value.

38. The computer readable medium of claim 36, wherein the computer program logic further includes viewing means for enabling the generation of a visual display for viewing the data compiled during the data gathering sequence, data generated by processing means or the arithmetic value.

39. The computer readable medium of claim 36, wherein the computer program logic further includes means for retrieving the data compiled during the data gathering sequence, data generated by processing means or the arithmetic value.

40. The computer readable medium of claim 36, wherein the computer program logic further includes means for reducing the data compiled during the data gathering sequence, data generated by processing means or the arithmetic value.

41. The computer readable medium of claim 36, wherein the computer program logic further includes means for archiving the data compiled during the data gathering sequence, data generated by processing means or the arithmetic value.

42. The computer readable medium of claim 36, wherein the determining means includes instructions for calculating an arithmetic value include instructions for calculating the material properties of the material samples.

43. The computer readable medium of claim 42, wherein the instructions for calculating the material properties include instructions for calculating at least one thermal material property selected from the group of melting point, glass transition temperature, heat capacity, thermal conductivity and thermal stability.

44. The computer readable medium of claim 42, wherein the instructions for calculating the material properties include instructions for calculating at least one electrical transport property selected from the group of electrical resistance, Hall coefficient, magnetoresistance, thermoelectric power, and current-voltage characteristics.

45. The computer readable medium of claim 42, wherein the instructions for calculating the material properties include instructions for calculating at least one from the group of including viscosity, density, conductivity, molecular weight, chemical concentration, capacitance, dielectric constant, mass loading, elasticity, damping, tensile strength, yield strength, ductility, toughness, hardness and magnetism.

46. The computer readable medium of claim 42, wherein the instructions for calculating the material properties include instructions for calculating the magnetic properties of the material samples.

47. The computer readable medium of claim 36, wherein the determining means includes instructions for measuring signals from two or more sensors on the same array.

48. The computer readable medium of claim 36, wherein the computer program logic further includes means for setting a runtime logic sequence for setting, limiting and monitoring the time for executing instructions for the data gathering sequence.

49. The computer readable medium of claim 36, wherein the computer program logic further includes means for identifying the sensor array by a unique identifier.

50. The computer readable medium of claim 36, wherein the computer program logic further includes means for importing a map identifying usable cells of the sensor array.

51. The computer readable medium of claim 50, wherein means for importing a map identifying usable cells include instructions for identifying usable cells by location within the sensor array.

52. The computer readable medium of claim 50, wherein means for importing a map identifying usable cells include instructions for storing the usable cell information in a database or a location that is accessible by a deposition software program.

53. The computer readable medium of claim 36, wherein the computer program logic further includes means for importing a deposition library supported by the sensor array.

54. The computer readable medium of claim 36, wherein the computer program logic further includes means for resetting a map of the sensor array wherein all unusable cells in the sensor array are identified.

55. The computer readable medium of claim 36, wherein the computer program logic further includes means for excluding unusable cells from data gathering sequence.

56. The computer readable medium of claim 36, wherein computer program logic further includes means for permitting the operator to select or exclude certain usable cells from inclusion in the data gathering sequence.

57. The computer readable medium of claim 36, wherein the computer program logic further includes means for calibrating the sensors.

58. The computer readable medium of claim 36, wherein the computer program logic further includes means for cooling a sample material supported on a substrate supporting the sensory array.

59. The computer readable medium of claim 58, wherein means for cooling further includes instructions for controlling the operational parameters of the test equipment.

60. The computer readable medium of claim 36, wherein the computer program logic further includes means for controlling the temperature of the selected sensor or group of sensors.

61. The computer readable medium of claim 36, wherein the computer readable medium is a magnetic tape, magnetic disk, or compact disk.