A small, cheap real-time ion concentration measuring sensor platform with a disposable ion reaction channel and a structure for differential/single detection and amplification/offset compensation

 

Client / Market

• Sensor and measurement device-related company in the medical, bio field (products requiring a cheap, small ion concentration measurement device)
• Soil, water, food, beverage quality management-related company
• Environment monitoring company for chemical product, oil and gas, waste and water treatment facility

 

 

Necessity of this Technology

• Existing semiconductor-based ion concentration detection device uses an expensive sensor and has limits regarding its application for a disposable device.
• Offset that occur while acquiring electrochemical reaction voltage lowers the accuracy of the detection and reduces the dynamic range available for detection.
• Need a low-price semiconductor-based sensor platform with a separate reaction channel and a readout circuit for a one-time use
• Need a method to effectively acquire differential signals to detect the real-time change in the ion concentration
• Need a technology to automatically compensate for offset and adjust the amplification level

 

Technical Differentiation

• With a separated reaction channel from the readout circuit, it is possible to use for disposable device.
• Multiple independent transistors enhance the sensitivity in the detection of the membrane potential.
• Can detect minute motion and change of ions and within a space with a specific amount of ions
• Can selectively detect the differentia/single signal
• Offset it automatically compensated while detecting the differential signal to enhance accuracy and expand the dynamic range.
• Can enhance sensitivity by adjusting the amplification level of the differential signal

 

Excellence of Technology

• Improved the dynamic range available for detection by 22.5 dB (=20 log[Vw/comp/ Vw/o comp]) using the automatic offset compensating feedback structure
• The single and differential signal excellently detects target by ion concentration; Especially for the differential mode, by the offset automatic compensation, the same result is obtained regardless of the fluctuation of the reference voltage (1.2 V to 2.4 V).
• The first small module to achieve detection by concentration in the DNA PCR (polymerase chain reaction) experiment

 

 

CURRENT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHT STATUS

PATENT

• Method and Apparatus for Detecting Ion Concentration (KR1729685, US14/959, 001)
• Differential Amplifier with Offset Correction Ability and Driving Method of the Same (KR2018-0018123)

KNOW-HOW

• Analog circuit design and module fabrication for electrical differential signal detection
• Real-time feedback control technology with automatic offset compensation
• Reactive electrode fabrication for ion detection
• Small device fabrication technology for point-of-care