Patent ID: 8438905
Filing Date: 2013-05-14
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for sensing analyte, comprising the steps of: sensing one or more parameters in reaction to the presence of one or more analytes and outputting a current therefrom in accordance with level of the sensed parameter by each of a plurality of sensors, each of the plurality of sensors being provided in one or more sensor array columns; providing one or more heating elements are provided to selectively heat one or more of the sensor array columns; selectively heating one or more of the sensor array columns by a heating element by heating one or more of the sensor array columns during operation and not heating one or more of the sensor array columns during operation; receiving an output current from one of the plurality of sensors from each of the plurality of sensor arrays by a Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) arranged in a VCO array; generating an output oscillation frequency by each VCO in accordance with the level of the received output current; counting a number of oscillations over a predetermined time received from each of the plurality of VCOs in the VCO array by a plurality of counters arranged in a counter array; selectively determining a number of oscillations by each counter of the counter array from each of a corresponding sensor element from one of the non-heated sensor array columns over a first predetermined time; and selectively determining a number of oscillations by each counter of the counter array from each of a corresponding sensor element from one of the heated sensor array columns over a second predetermined time.