Low noise amplifiers with shields for nanopore applications

A system for detecting molecules, the system comprising:

• an array comprising:
• a first read amplifier;
• a first nanopore;
• a first sense electrode situated on a first side of the first nanopore;
• a first counter electrode situated on a second side of the first nanopore;
• a first shield, wherein the first shield at least partially surrounds the first sense electrode and is coupled to an output of the first read amplifier;
• a first shield driver coupled to the first shield;
• a second read amplifier;
• a second nanopore;
• a second sense electrode situated on a first side of the second nanopore;
• a second counter electrode situated on a second side of the second nanopore;
• and
• a second shield, wherein the second shield at least partially surrounds the second sense electrode and is coupled to an output of the second read amplifier;
• and
• a second shield driver coupled to the second shield;
• drive circuitry coupled to the array;
• a multiplexer, wherein a first input of the multiplexer is coupled to the first read amplifier and a second input of the multiplexer is coupled to the second read amplifier, and an output of the multiplexer is coupled to a digitizer;
• and
• control logic coupled to the drive circuitry, to the digitizer, and to the multiplexer, wherein the control logic is configured to:
• control at least one of the drive circuitry or the multiplexer to select at least one of the first sense electrode or the first counter electrode, and
• obtain a digitized signal from the digitizer, the digitized signal representing a current through the first nanopore.

A system for detecting molecules, the system comprising:

• an amplifier;
• a nanopore, wherein the nanopore is one of a plurality of nanopores in an array of nanopores;
• a sense electrode situated on a first side of the nanopore;
• a counter electrode situated on a second side of the nanopore;
• a shield situated between the sense electrode and the counter electrode;
• a digitizer coupled to an output of the amplifier;
• and
• control logic coupled to the digitizer,
• wherein:
• the sense electrode and the counter electrode are configured to sense a current through the nanopore,
• the control logic is configured to (a) select at least one of the sense electrode or the counter electrode using a multiplexer, and (b) obtain a digitized signal from the digitizer, the digitized signal representing the current through the nanopore sensed by the sense electrode and the counter electrode, and
• the shield at least partially surrounds the sense electrode and is coupled to an output of the amplifier.