Sensor System and Method
First Claim
1. A sensor method for detecting one or more target substances, comprising:
- providing a differential pair of field effect transistors comprising;
a reference field effect transistor having a reference gate area, wherein the reference gate area is covered to prevent contact of the reference gate area with the one or more target substances; and
a sensor field effect transistor having a sensor channel and a sensor gate area, wherein the sensor gate area is exposed, and wherein the sensor gate area is provided with one or more target recognition element types to react with the one or more target substances;
wherein the reference field effect transistor and the sensor field effect transistor have a common substrate and a common source connection, the differential pair of field effect transistors operably connected to a common current source and a digital signal processor;
obtaining a differential output signature signal from;
a common mode signal obtained from the reference field effect transistor, anda sensor output signature signal obtained from the sensor field effect transistor;
balancing the differential output signal signature of the differential pair of field effect transistors by controlling, at the digital signal processor, the common current source;
monitoring the differential output signal signature of the differential pair of field effect transistors to detect the one or more target substances; and
notifying a user of the detection.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor system and method for detecting the presence of one or more target substances reacting with one or more target recognition element types for producing an electrical charge detectable by a differential pair of field effect transistors that provide increased sensitivity by minimizing common mode effects on the differential pair. The differential pair is controlled by optimization algorithms in a digital signal processor that reads and store electrical characteristics of the differential pair and maintains the differential pair at optimal operating points based on continuously monitoring the differential pair. One or more target recognition element types are disbursed over a sensor gate area of the differential pair that detects one or more signature signals created by the binding of one or more target substances and the target recognition element types. The detected signature signals are compared with a library of stored signature signals for determining the identity of the target substances.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A sensor method for detecting one or more target substances, comprising:
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providing a differential pair of field effect transistors comprising; a reference field effect transistor having a reference gate area, wherein the reference gate area is covered to prevent contact of the reference gate area with the one or more target substances; and a sensor field effect transistor having a sensor channel and a sensor gate area, wherein the sensor gate area is exposed, and wherein the sensor gate area is provided with one or more target recognition element types to react with the one or more target substances; wherein the reference field effect transistor and the sensor field effect transistor have a common substrate and a common source connection, the differential pair of field effect transistors operably connected to a common current source and a digital signal processor; obtaining a differential output signature signal from; a common mode signal obtained from the reference field effect transistor, and a sensor output signature signal obtained from the sensor field effect transistor; balancing the differential output signal signature of the differential pair of field effect transistors by controlling, at the digital signal processor, the common current source; monitoring the differential output signal signature of the differential pair of field effect transistors to detect the one or more target substances; and notifying a user of the detection. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21)
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2. A sensor method for detecting one or more target substances, comprising:
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monitoring parameters of the differential pair of field effect transistors, the differential pair of field effect transistors comprising; a reference field effect transistor having a reference gate area, wherein the reference gate area is covered to prevent contact of the reference gate area with the one or more target substances; and a sensor field effect transistor having a sensor channel and a sensor gate area, wherein the sensor gate area is exposed, and wherein the sensor gate area is provided with one or more target recognition element types to react with the one or more target substances; wherein the reference field effect transistor and the sensor field effect transistor have a common substrate and a common source connection; controlling operating characteristics of the differential pair of field effect transistors by a digital signal processor to an optimum operating range for signal sensing; obtaining a differential output signature signal from; a common mode signal obtained from the reference field effect transistor; and a sensor output signature signal obtained from the sensor field effect transistor; and monitoring the differential output signal signature of the differential pair of field effect transistors to detect the one or more target substances.
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3. (canceled)
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18. A method of using a sensor array comprising two or more sensors for detecting one or more target substances, comprising.
providing a first differential pair of field effect transistors of a first sensor of the sensor array comprising: -
a first reference field effect transistor having a reference gate area, wherein the reference gate area is covered to prevent contact of the reference gate area with the one or more tare substances; and a first sensor field effect transistor having a sensor channel and a sensor gate area, wherein the sensor gate area is exposed, and wherein the sensor gate area is provided with one or more target recognition element types to react with the one or more target substances; wherein the first reference field effect transistor and the first sensor field effect transistor have a common substrate and a common source connection; obtaining a first differential output signature signal from; a common mode signal obtained from the first reference field effect transistor; and a sensor output signature signal obtained from the first sensor field effect transistor; monitoring the first differential output signal signature of the first differential pair of field effect transistors to detect the one or more target substances; providing a second differential pair of field effect transistors of a second sensor of the sensor array comprising; a second reference field effect transistor having a reference gate area, wherein the reference gate area is covered to prevent contact of the reference gate area with the one or more target substances; and a second sensor field effect transistor having a sensor channel and a sensor gate area, wherein the sensor gate area is exposed, and wherein the sensor gate area is provided with one or more target recognition element types to react with the one or more target substances; wherein the second reference field effect transistor and the second sensor field effect transistor have a common substrate and a common source connection; obtaining a second differential output signature signal from; a common mode signal obtained from the second reference field effect transistor, and a sensor output signature signal obtained from the second sensor field effect transistor; and monitoring the second differential output signal signature of the second differential pair of field effect transistors to detect the one or more target substances. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification