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Wednesday, August 20, 2014

InSilixa Presents DNA Testing Sensor

EETimes: InSilixa comes out of stealth mode with a promise to deliver a cheap DNA testing technology PCR by means of 32 x 32 image sensor array. The sensor is supposed to cost $20-$50, has 100um pixel pitch and is manufactured in IBM 250nm process:


In 2013, the startup company won Nokia XCHALLENGE award, as seen in this Youtube video:


5 comments:

  1. I don't see the real advantage. If the main objective is to obtain a High Dynamic Range and even very low noise, it is possible to use a standard cmos sensor with a readout channel per column and reading out a lot of images to create a single frame outside the sensor. This option is probably more simple, efficient and flexible. In addition is less risky and is more suitable to reduce the pixel size and/or increase the resolution.

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  2. Yeah, but delta-sigma sounds so much sexier and easier to sell to investors :-). Does not seem to be much there, either from a sensor or biochemistry perspective.

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  3. you should review your concept of oversampling vs noise shaping, before making a comment.

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  4. There is not much noise shaping in a first order DS ADC. It takes an insane amount of clock cycles to get a decent DR with such architecture. More efficient a second or third order DS ADC at column level. At 100um pixel pitch, you place multiple ADCs in a single column and improve the fill factor.

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  5. the assumption being its a conventional first order DS

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