Chemical detection device having multiple flow channels

Abstract

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A chemical detection device comprising:
 an array of chemical sensors;   a fluidic structure confining a first flow channel in communication with a first set of chemical sensors of the array, and confining a second flow channel in communication with a second set of chemical sensors of the array; and   an output circuit to obtain output signals from the first set of chemical sensors indicating a first analyte within the first flow channel, and to obtain output signals from the second set of chemical sensors indicating a second analyte within the second flow channel.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller circuit to control delivery of the first analyte to the first flow channel, and to control delivery of the second analyte to the second flow channel. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first analyte is different than the second analyte. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the output circuit obtains the output signals from the first set of chemical sensors independent of obtaining the output signals from the second set of chemical sensors. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the output circuit obtains the output signals from the first set of chemical sensors during a first time interval, and obtains the output signals from the second set of chemical sensors during a second time interval. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the output circuit comprises:
 a first output circuit to obtain the output signals from the first set of chemical sensors; and   a second output circuit to obtain the output signals from the second set of chemical sensors.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the first output circuit is at a first location on the chemical detection device, and the second output circuit is at a second location on the chemical detection device and spaced away from the first output circuit. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of chemical sensors and the second set of chemical sensors comprise chemically-sensitive field effect transistors. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the output signals are based on threshold voltages of the chemically-sensitive field effect transistors. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first flow channel is separated from the second flow channel.