Signal sensor arrays

A sensor array where different haptens are immobilized at well-defined areas on a plain glass surface has been developed [66], Using an automated flow injection system it was possible to incubate all areas on the chip with analytes, specific antibodies, secondary HRP-labeled antibodies, and CL substrate. Measurement of the light output via imaging performed with a CCD device allowed determination of the analytes present in the sample on the basis of the spatial localization of the CL signal. 

This chapter includes two different sensor system architectures for monolithic gas sensing systems. Section 5.1 describes a mixed-signal architecture. This is an improved version of the first analog implementation [81,91], which was used to develop a first sensor array (see Sect. 6.1). Based on the experience with these analog devices, a complete sensor system with advanced control, readout and interface circuit was devised. This system includes the circular microhotplate that has been described and characterized in Sect. 4.1. Additionally to the fabrication process, a prototype packaging concept was developed that will be presented in Sect. 5.1.6. A microhotplate with a Pt-temperature sensor requires a different system architecture as will be described in Sect. 5.2. A fully differential analog architecture will be presented, which enables operating temperatures up to 500 °C. 

S.A. Bota, A. Dieguez, J.L. Merino, R. Casanova, J. Samitier, and C. Cane. A Monolithic Interface Circuit for Gas Sensor Arrays Control and Measurement , Analog Integrated Circuits and Signal Processing 40 (2004), 175-184. 

Chemometric evaluation methods can be applied to the signal from a single sensor by feeding the whole data set into an evaluation program [133,135]. Both principle component analysis (PCA) and partial least square (PLS) models were used to evaluate the data. These are chemometric methods that may be used for extracting information from a multivariate data set (e.g., from sensor arrays) [135]. The PCA analysis shows that the MISiC-FET sensor differentiates very well between different lambda values in both lean gas mixtures (excess air) and rich gas mixtures (excess fuel). The MISiC-FET sensor is seen to behave as a linear lambda sensor [133]. It... 

Schalwig et al. have tested the feasibility of using a SiC MOS capacitor sensor containing a contact metal of 40-nm TaSi plus 45-nm Pt to detect NO and HC after the catalytic converter. This was carried out by simulating lean burn engine exhausts [116]. It was observed that the sensor signal increased for NO detection and decreased for HC detection. This could permit this sensor to be used in a sensor array to differentiate these two gases. 

The key principle involved in the electronic nose concept is the transfer of the total headspace of a sample to a sensor array that detects the presence of volatile compounds in the headspace and a pattern of signals is provided that are dependent on the selectivity and sensitivity of sensors and the characteristics of the volatile compounds in the headspace [2]. 

The data processing of the multivariate output data generated by the gas sensor array signals represents another essential part of the electronic nose concept. The statistical techniques used are based on commercial or specially designed software using pattern recognition routines like principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis (CA), partial least squares (PLSs) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA). 

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