METHODS FOR OPERATING AN ARRAY OF CHEMICALLY-SENSITIVE SENSORS
First Claim
1. A method of operating an apparatus comprising an array of chemically sensitive sensors arranged in rows and columns, comprising:
- producing signal samples in a plurality of sensors of the array in response to a first timing signal;
enabling an output circuit coupled to the plurality of sensors in response to a select signal;
outputting the signal samples to the output circuit from the plurality of sensors; and
applying a reference voltage to a reference cell, and outputting a reference signal to the output circuit from the reference cell.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus relating to very large scale FET arrays for analyte measurements. ChemFET (e.g., ISFET) arrays may be fabricated using conventional CMOS processing techniques based on improved FET pixel and array designs that increase measurement sensitivity and accuracy, and at the same time facilitate significantly small pixel sizes and dense arrays. Improved array control techniques provide for rapid data acquisition from large and dense arrays. Such arrays may be employed to detect a presence and/or concentration changes of various analyte types in a wide variety of chemical and/or biological processes. In one example, chemFET arrays facilitate DNA sequencing techniques based on monitoring changes in hydrogen ion concentration (pH), changes in other analyte concentration, and/or binding events associated with chemical processes relating to DNA synthesis.
88 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of operating an apparatus comprising an array of chemically sensitive sensors arranged in rows and columns, comprising:
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producing signal samples in a plurality of sensors of the array in response to a first timing signal; enabling an output circuit coupled to the plurality of sensors in response to a select signal; outputting the signal samples to the output circuit from the plurality of sensors; and applying a reference voltage to a reference cell, and outputting a reference signal to the output circuit from the reference cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of operating an apparatus comprising an array of cells comprising field effect transistors (FETs), the method comprising:
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operating FETs of cells in a reference portion of the array as dummy sensors to produce reference signals; operating FETs of cells in an active portion of the array coupled to corresponding chemical sample wells to produce signal samples; and using the reference signals from the FETs of cells in the reference portion to calibrate operation of the FETs of cells in the active portion of the array. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification