Acoustic Mass Sensor
AssigneeAvago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
InventorMark A. UNKRICH
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mass sensor has a common RF input, a set of mass sensor cells, and a common hold input. Each of the mass sensor cells has a local input node coupled to the common RF input, a local output node, a mass-dependent RF filter that includes an electroacoustic resonator having receptors immobilized on a surface thereof, an RF detector, and a hold circuit having a local hold input. The RF filter, the RF detector and the hold circuit are connected in series between the local input node and the local output node. The common hold input is coupled to the local hold inputs of the hold circuits of at least a subset of the mass sensor cells.
Claims24
A mass sensor, comprising:
- a common RF input;
- a set of mass sensor cells, each of the mass sensor cells comprising:
- a local input node coupled to the common RF input;
- a local output node;
- an RF filter comprising an electroacoustic resonator having receptors immobilized on a surface thereof,
- an RF detector, and
- a hold circuit comprising a local hold input,
- in which the RF filter, the RF detector and the hold circuit are connected in series between the local input node and the local output node;
- a common hold input, the common hold input coupled to the local hold inputs of the hold circuits of at least a subset of the mass sensor cells.
A system for assaying a target analyte in a fluid sample, the system comprising:
- an RF oscillator,
- a mass sensor, comprising:
- a common RF input coupled to the RF oscillator,
- a set of mass sensor cells, each of the mass sensor cells comprising:
- a local input node connected to the common RF input;
- a local output node;
- an RF filter comprising an electroacoustic resonator having receptors configured for bonding to the target analyte immobilized on a surface thereof;
- an RF detector;
- and
- a hold circuit comprising a local hold input;
- the RF filter, the RF detector and the hold circuit connected in series between the local input node and the local output node,
- a common hold input coupled to the local hold inputs of the hold circuits of a least a subset of the mass sensor cells;
- an analog-to-digital converter;
- and
- an analog signal selector, comprising:
- a respective analog input connected to the output node of each of at least a subset of the mass sensor cells,
- a common analog output coupled to the analog-to-digital converter, and
- an address input to receive an address signal defining a specific one of the mass sensor cells whose output node the analog signal selector is to connect to the analog-to-digital converter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.