Remotely communicating, battery-powered nanostructure sensor devices

• US 7,522,040 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2005
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nanomix Incorporated (CJY Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Nanomix Incorporated (CJY Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Passmore, John Loren, Star, Alexander, Skarupo, Sergei, Gabriel, Jean-Christophe P., Joshi, Vikram
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US11/111,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20060055392A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,462 Days
• Field of Search: 340/603, 340/540, 340/506, 340/539.12, 340/539.11, 340/539.26, 340/573.1, 340/628, 340/629, 340/630, 340/631, 340/632, 340/541, 324/71.1, 422/98, 422/82.02, 422/82.03, 257/253, 257/347, 257/401, 257/414, 731/05
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 15/00 Nanotechnology for interacting, sensing or actuating, e.g. quantum dots as markers in protein assays or molecular motors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/4141 specially adapted for gases
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/4146 involving nanosized elements, e.g. nanotubes, nanowires

Abstract

A portable sensor device incorporates a low-power, nanostructure sensor coupled to a wireless transmitter. The sensor uses a nanostructure conducting channel, such as a nanotube network, that is functionalized to respond to a selected analyte. A measurement circuit connected to the sensor determines a change in the electrical characteristic of the sensor, from which information concerning the present or absence of the analyte may be determined. The portable sensor device may include a portable power source, such as a battery. It may further include a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting data to a base station.

Claims

1. A remote sensor device, comprising:

a nanostructure sensor comprising a nanostructure conducting channel between a source electrode and a drain electrode, wherein the nanostructure sensor is configured to respond to an analyte;

a measurement circuit operatively connected to the nanostructure sensor, the measurement circuit configured to provide a signal indicating a response of the nanostructure sensor to the analyte; and

a transmitter operatively connected to the measurement circuit, the transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the signal,

wherein the nanostructure sensor, the measurement circuit, and the transmitter are assembled together in a portable unit.

2. The remote sensor device of claim 1, further comprising a portable power source connected to provide power to the measurement circuit.

3. The remote sensor device of claim 2, wherein the portable power source is selected from the group consisting of a battery, a solar cell, and a fuel cell.

4. The remote sensor device of claim 1, wherein the measurement circuit further comprises a processor configured to determine an amount of the analyte based on the signal from the nanostructure sensor.

5. The remote sensor device of claim 1, wherein the nanostructure conducting channel comprises a nanotube.

6. The remote sensor device of claim 1, wherein the nanostructure conducting channel comprises a network of randomly-oriented nanotubes.

7. The remote sensor device of claim 6, wherein the source electrode comprises a plurality of fingers interdigitated with fingers of the drain electrode.

8. The remote sensor device of claim 1, further comprising a functionalization material disposed adjacent to the nanostructure conducting channel.

9. The remote sensor device of claim 8, wherein the functionalization material comprises a material selected from palladium and polyethylene imine.

10. The remote sensor device of claim 1, further comprising an encapsulation material covering the nanostructure conducting channel, the source electrode, and the drain electrode, wherein the encapsulation material is configured to control a diffusion rate of the analyte through the encapsulating material.

11. The remote sensor device of claim 1, further comprising a base under the nanostructure conducting channel, the source electrode, and the drain electrode, wherein the base is selected from a semiconducting material and an insulating material.

12. The remote sensor device of claim 11, further comprising a passivation layer interposed between the nanostructure conducting channel and the base.

13. The remote sensor device of claim 11, further comprising a diffusion blocking layer interposed between the base and at least one of the source and drain electrodes.

14. The remote sensor device of claim 13, wherein the diffusion blocking layer comprises a Si₃N₄ layer.

15. The remote sensor device of claim 13, further comprising a conditioned surface layer overlying the diffusion blocking layer.

16. The remote sensor device of claim 13, wherein the conditioned surface layer comprises an SiO2 layer.

17. The remote sensor device of claim 1, wherein the nanostructure sensor comprises a plurality of electrically isolated sensors configured to respond to the analyte.

18. The remote sensor device of claim 1, wherein the nanostructure sensor comprises a plurality of electrically isolated sensors configured to respond to different analytes.

19. The remote sensor device of claim 1, wherein the nanostructure sensor comprises at least a first nanostructure capacitor element disposed spaced-apart from at least a corresponding second capacitor element.

20. The remote sensor device of claim 1, wherein one or more of the nanostructure sensor, at least a portion of the measurement circuit and at least a portion of the transmitter is included in an integrated circuit chip.

21. The remote sensor device of claim 1, wherein the measurement circuit includes an analog-to-digital converter, and wherein the nano structure sensor communicates directly to the analog-to-digital converter without intermediate signal amplification.

22. The remote sensor device of claim 8, wherein the functionalization material is patterned to cover a portion of the nanostructure conducting channel and to leave a remaining part of the nanostructure conducting channel exposed to the analyte.

23. The remote sensor device of claim 11, wherein the base comprises a porous material, wherein the porous material comprises a plurality of channels configured to permit suction to be applied across the base.

24. A system for collecting information regarding a remote analyte, the system comprising:

a sensor device, comprising

a nanostructure sensor comprising a nanostructure conducting channel between a source electrode and a drain electrode,

a measurement circuit operatively connected to the nanostructure sensor configured to provide a signal indicating a response of the nanostructure sensor to an analyte,

a wireless transmitter operatively connected to the measurement circuit; and

a base station comprising a wireless receiver located remotely from the sensor device and configured to wirelessly receive the signal from the sensor device.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising a portable power source for the sensor device.

26. The system of claim 24, further comprising a plurality of sensor devices each comprising a nanostructure sensor, wherein the base station is configured to wirelessly receive signals from the plurality of sensor devices indicating a response of each sensor to analytes.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the base station further comprises a transmitter adapted for wirelessly relaying the signal to a second remote station.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein the base station further comprises an output device adapted for providing a user with information concerning an amount of analyte measured by the sensor device.