Array configuration and readout scheme
View Patent ↗The described embodiments may provide a chemical detection circuit that may comprise a plurality of first output circuits at a first side and a plurality of second output circuits at a second side of the chemical detection circuit. The chemical detection circuit may further comprise a plurality of tiles of pixels each placed between respective pairs of first and second output circuits. Each tile may include four quadrants of pixels. Each quadrant may have columns with designated first columns interleaved with second columns. Each first column may be coupled to a respective first output circuit in first and second quadrants, and to a respective second output circuit in third and fourth quadrants. Each second column may be coupled to a respective second output circuit in first and second quadrants, and to a respective first output circuit in third and fourth quadrants.
1. A method for operating a chemical detection device comprising an array of chemical sensors arranged in rows and columns, the method comprising:
exposing chemical sensors in the array to an analyte;
enabling a row of chemical sensors in the array, the row including a plurality of first groups of chemical sensors interleaved with a plurality of second groups of chemical sensors;
selecting a first group of the plurality of first groups of chemical sensors and a second group of the plurality of second groups of chemical sensors; and
concurrently acquiring output signals from the selected first group of the plurality of first groups of chemical sensors via a first column output circuit, and from the selected second group of the plurality of second groups of chemical sensors via a second column output circuit,
wherein the first groups and the second groups are arranged in an alternating fashion, so that adjacent first groups of chemical sensors are separated by a single second group of the plurality of second groups, and adjacent second groups of chemical sensors are separated by a single first group of the plurality of first groups.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising repeating the steps of selecting and acquiring for remaining groups of the plurality of first groups and the plurality of second groups.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected first group is adjacent to the selected second group.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the row of chemical sensors is enabled for a first time interval, the output signals from the row of chemical sensors are obtained for a second time interval, and further comprising enabling an additional row of chemical sensors during the second time interval.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical sensors comprise chemically-sensitive field effect transistors.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the output signals are based on threshold voltages of the chemically-sensitive field effect transistors of the chemical sensors.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein exposing chemical sensors in the array to the analyte comprises initiating at least one chemical reaction to produce the analyte.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the chemical reaction is a sequencing reaction.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first column output circuit is at a first location on the chemical detection device, and the second column output circuit is at a second location on the chemical detection device and spaced away from the first column output circuit.