Abstract:
In the field of the next generation DNA sequencer, a method for integrating very high sensitive FET sensors having side gates and nanopores as devices used for identifying four kinds of base and for mapping the base sequence of DNA without using reagents, and a semiconductor device having selection transistors and amplifier transistors respectively corresponding to the FET sensors having side gates and nanopores respectively so as to be able to read the variation of a detection current based on the differences among the charges of the four kinds of base without deteriorating the detection sensitivity of the FET sensor, are presented.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a technology regarding a sensor using a semiconductor that is a device used for identifying four kinds of base of DNA and for mapping the base sequence of DNA. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    Since the successful mapping of the human genome, the read speed of a DNA sequencer (a device that automatically reads base sequences) has been rapidly improved. Even in the fields of molecular biology and medical care, it is expected that the further improvement of the function of a DNA sequencer will lead to successful outcomes in applications to many directions. 
         [0003]    As approaches to realize a third-generation DNA sequencer, measurement methods, in which a nanopore device that includes a pore the size of which is almost equal to that of DNA and electrodes on both sides of the pore is used, have drawn much attention (Non-patent Literature 1). To cite an example, there is one of the measurement methods in which bases are slid one by one between electrodes on the both sides of a pore when DNA passes through the pore, and the base sequence is mapped by observing the variation of tunnel current flowing between the electrodes o the both sides of the pore. The feature of this method (referred to as a tunnel current method hereinafter) lies in the fact that the base sequence of DNA can be analyzed without labeling the DNA, that is to say, without using reagents such as enzymes and fluorescent dyes. Therefore, a process for using reagents can be omitted, with the result that it can be expected that the reduction of analysis cost and the improvement of read throughput will be achieved. 
         [0004]    Because of improving mechanical strength in the manufacture of a nanopore device, methods, in which semiconductor substrates, semiconductor materials, and semiconductor processes are used, have drawn much attention (Non-patent Literature 2). As one of typical manufacturing methods, as disclosed in “Brian C. Gierhart, et al., “SENSORS AND ACTUATORS” B 132 (2008) 593-600”, there is a method in which an insulating thin film region is deposited on a semiconductor substrate, two electrodes are formed therein, and a pore is formed by irradiating an electron beam between the two electrodes. A microscopic pore with its diameter 10 nm or less can be formed by controlling the energy of the electron beam, an irradiated area, and a current. The tunnel current method has a problem in that a minute gap has to be provided between a pair of electrodes. According to “Johan Lagerqvist, et al., “NANO LETTERS” (2006) Vol. 6, No. 4 779-782”, it is suggested that, if a gap between electrodes is set to about 1.25 nm, it becomes possible to identifying individual bases. This is because, due to the fact that the diameter of DNA is about 1 nm, if a gap with its width about 1.25 nm is not provided, it is difficult to flow a tunnel current. In patterning using semiconductor processes, it is difficult to fabricate two electrodes that have about 1.25 nm gap therebetween with high accuracy and reproductivity. 
         [0005]    In addition, as materials for the electrodes, precious metals such as gold are mainly examined. In the tunnel current method in which the edges of electrodes are exposed, because oxidization of the edges of electrodes decreases the value of the tunnel current significantly, precious metals such as gold atoms that are oxidation resistant are required as materials for the electrodes. Furthermore, because the edges of electrodes are also exposed to a solution, precious metal electrodes such as gold electrodes are required in terms of corrosion resistance. However, because precious metals such as gold atoms are unworkable, these metals are usually not treated in semiconductor processing, and as can be seen from the fact that precious metals are usually treated as metallic pollution sources in the semiconductor line of an LSI semiconductor process, precious metals have low affinities for the semiconductor processing. 
         [0006]    In addition, according to “Johan Lagerqvist, et al., “NANO LETTERS” (2006) Vol. 6, No. 4 779-782”, as for the thickness of the electrode, it is indicated that the bases can be identified from one another with an assumption that the edge of the electrode is equal to 3×3 gold atoms. This assumption is adopted in consideration the fact that, because the pitch of each base of DNA is about 0.34 nm, if the thickness of the electrode is larger than 0.34 nm, tunnel currents that flow through plural bases are detected at the same time, and therefore it becomes impossible to measure the base sequence. Generally speaking, however, it is difficult to form an electrode (especially a gold electrode) in the form of a thin film with its thickness 5 nm or below. When a thin film with its thickness 5 nm or below is attempted to be formed, it becomes difficult because a substance, with which the thin film is attempted to be formed, becomes energetically stabler when the substance is in a dot state than in a thin film state. Especially, it is almost impossible to form an electrode of a thin film whose thickness is comparable with the resolution ability of one base (0.34 nm). 
         [0007]    Furthermore, a gold electrode is more susceptible to the reposition of atoms and electromigration at the time of voltage application than electrodes made of other metals. Therefore, the accuracy of measurement results is deteriorated due to the fluctuations of gold atoms at the time of detecting tunnel currents. 
       CITATION LIST 
     Non-Patent Literature 
       [0000]    
       
         Non-patent Literature 1: Johan Lagerqvist, et al., “NANO LETTERS” (2006) Vol. 6, No. 4 779-782 
         Non-patent Literature 2: Brian C. Gierhart, et al., “SENSORS AND ACTUATORS” B 132 (2008) 593-600 
         Non-patent Literature 3: Bogdan Kajkusiak, et al., “IEEE TRANSACTION ON ELECTRON DEVICES”, VOL45, NO. 5, May 1998 
       
     
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
       [0011]    In order to solve the problem described in BACKGROUND, the inventors have devised the following sensor configuration. The sensor will be referred to as a nanopore FET sensor  100  or a pore FET sensor  100  hereinafter in the present specification. The configuration of the sensor is a configuration shown in  FIG. 1A  to  FIG. 1C . Reference numeral  108  denotes an insulating film;  101  denotes a channel;  102  denotes a control gate;  103  denotes a source;  104  denotes a drain;  105  denotes a back gate;  106  denotes a pore (nano-sized minute hole); and  107  denotes a wiring used for a contact to the control gate  102 , the source  103 , the drain  104 , or the back gate  105 . The pore  106  resides between a side face of the control gate  102  fronting onto the channel  101  and a side face of the channel  101  fronting onto the control gate  102  (refer to  FIG. 1A ); on an edge of the channel  101  fronting onto the control gate  102  (refer to  FIG. 1B ); or in the channel  101  near to the side face of the channel  101  fronting onto the control gate  102  (refer to  FIG. 1C ). 
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the pore  106 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , when the nanopore FET sensor is soaked in a solution including a biological material that is an object to be examined, the DNA ( 200 ) of the object to be examined passes through the pore (a series of blocks of the DNA ( 200 ) represents a series of bases). 
         [0013]    When voltages are applied to the source  103  and the drain  104  so that the source voltage&lt;the drain voltage, this device works as a transistor by controlling the voltage of the control gate. This device is a so-called side-gated transistor. When the transistor is on, because an inversion layer is induced on the side portion of the channel fronting onto the control gate (fronting onto the pore), the current flows through the side portion of the channel fronting onto the control gate. Although the thickness of the inversion layer partly depends on the control gate voltage, it is usually very thin, and about 2 to 3 nm or less. 
         [0014]    The channel current varies in accordance with the variation of the electric field caused by the differences between effective electric charges and effective electric fields of the nucleotides of four kinds of base of DNA passing through the pore  106 , with the result that the identification of the four kinds of base and the mapping of the base sequence can be performed by detecting the variation of the channel current. Because the widths of gaps among the arrayed bases of DNA are about 0.34 nm, it is necessary that the thickness of the current flowing through the side portion of the channel  101  should be made as thin as possible, so that a current due to the variation of the electric field induced by one base unit (in units of one nucleotide) can be detected. For that purpose, it is necessary that the thickness of the channel  101  should be made thin. 
         [0015]    In Non-patent Literature 3, the electron density distribution in silicon which is sandwiched in between insulating films (SiO 2 ) is calculated. Especially as is clear from FIG. 4 in Non-patent Literature 3, when the thickness of the silicon is 10 nm or below, electron densities are located around the center. Especially, when the thickness of the silicon region becomes 5 nm or below, then the value of the current is mainly affected by one base (one nucleotide) that comes to the position showing the peak of the electron density distribution, and the peak of the electron density distribution becomes sharper. Therefore, the identification ability of the size of about one base can be obtained. In addition, in the scope of the thickness of the silicon region being 5 nm or below, fundamentally it becomes difficult for two or more electrons to reside together in the direction of the thickness of the channel. 
         [0016]      FIG. 3A  is a schematic view showing the existence probability of one electron in silicon sandwiched in between SiO 2 , and  FIG. 3B  is a schematic view showing the existence probabilities of two electrons in silicon sandwiched in between SiO 2 . When the thickness of the channel becomes 5 nm or less, the difference between the energy of the system shown in  FIG. 3A  and the energy of the system shown in  FIG. 3B  becomes equal to or larger than room energy (k B T). The energy state of  FIG. 3B  has a larger amount of energy than the energy state of  FIG. 3A  has. Accordingly, an electron supplied from a source can exist only in the state shown in  FIG. 3A , that is to say, in the state in which only one electron can exist, in the direction of the thickness of the channel, and therefore a resolution ability equivalent to one electron unit can be obtained. Consequently, in order to obtain sufficient detection sensitivity, it is desirable that the thickness of the channel should be 5 nm or less. 
         [0017]    On the basis of the above described configuration and behavior, a pseudo-one dimensional narrowest current path can be formed in the side wall portion of the thin film channel with the use of an inversion layer effect and a locked-in effect to a quantum well in the direction of the thickness. Thanks to the pseudo-one dimensional narrowest current path, a current flowing through the current path sensitively reacts to a fine variation of the electric field induced by an object to be examined in the pore. Therefore, the variation ratio of the detection signal (detection sensitivity) can be increased. 
         [0018]    The current flowing through the channel  101  is the flow of electrons induced by an electric field generated from the control gate  102 . Therefore, it is desirable that the pore  106  should be disposed between the control gate  102  and the current path of the channel  101 . With this disposition of the pore  106 , the potential variation induced by the object to be examined in the pore modulates an electric field between the control gate and the channel in a very effective way, and the variation of the electric field can be reflected in the channel current. The nearer to the current path, which is inside the channel adjacent to the side portion of the channel, the pore  106  is, the more remarkably the detection sensitivity can be improved. One of configurations that provide the most excellent detection sensitivity is a configuration in which the pore  106  is located at a position extremely near to the side portion of the channel  101 , or a configuration in which the pore  106  is formed inside the channel adjacent to the side portion of the channel  101  as shown in  FIG. 1B  and  FIG. 10  respectively. 
         [0019]    Furthermore, in order to form a stable one-dimensional electron conduction path, which is located more nearer to the side portion of the channel, by suppressing the spread of the current path in the width direction of the channel more effectively, it is effective to apply a voltage to the back gate  105  and to control an electric field so that electrons are concentrated toward the control gate. 
         [0020]    In order to improve the throughput of measurement using the above described devices (nanopore FET sensors  100 ), it is desired that the sensors should be integrated into an LSI circuit. 
         [0021]    In the integration of the above devices, if wirings are pulled out from the source, drain, and gate of each sensor respectively, the integration efficiency is extremely low when the improvement of the integration efficiency (the increase of the number of sensors per unit area) is taken into consideration. Therefore, it is conceivable that an area occupied by the wirings is brought down by sharing sharable wirings. In this instance, an array configuration as shown in  FIG. 4A  is usually conceived.  FIG. 4A  shows a sensor array including 2×2 sensors as an example. To put it concretely, wirings (L5 to L8) that connect control gates and back gates in a row direction are shared respectively, and wirings that connect sources and drains in a column direction are shared respectively. Successively, in the case where signals in the upper row are read out (selected), if the nanopore FET sensors are formed using NMOS, by setting the gate voltages of L5 and L6 higher than the voltages of L1 to L4, and by preparing the voltage difference between the voltage of L1 and that of L2 and the voltage difference between the voltage of L3 and that of L4, currents flow through the channels of the nanopore FETs. Herewith, DNA can be detected, and the currents are transmitted to peripheral circuits (to an amplifier unit, and the like) through the wirings of L1 and L3. On the other hand, in the nanopore FET sensors in the lower row, the voltages applied to L7 and L8 are set lower than the voltages applied to L1 to L4 so that channel currents do not flow (deselected). With such a configuration as above, only signals from the sensors disposed in the upper row can be detected. After the signals of the sensors in the upper row are detected, the nanopore FETs in the lower row are set selective, while the nanopore FETs in the upper row are set deselective. With such a setting as above, signals detected by the sensors disposed in the lower row can be detected. By repeating the above operation at a high speed, the parallel measurement of objects to be examined can be performed with the use of the integrated circuit including four sensors. By expanding the block including 2×2 sensors into a block including N×N sensors, the parallel measurement of the N×N sensors can be performed. 
         [0022]    On the other hand, a nanopore FET sensor  100  has a problem.  FIG. 5  shows an experimental result showing the control gate voltage dependence characteristics of the channel currents of NMOS type nanopore FET sensors. Transistor characteristics that the channel currents of nanopore FET sensors begin to flow or begin to increase by raising their respective gate voltages can be checked. In  FIG. 5 , the absolute values of a source current and a drain current for each of different chips are superimposingly drawn.  FIG. 5  is a diagram showing the transistor characteristics of different nanopore FET sensors that are designed in the same way. By comparing the transistor characteristics of Chip A, Chip B, and Chip C with one another, it is clear that the channel currents of the respective chips have different control gate voltages (threshold voltages) at which the respective channel currents begin to flow. According to the result of examination of the trial products of nanopore FET chips, it has become apparent that the variations of threshold voltages are extremely large. The transistor characteristics shown in  FIG. 5  are some examples, and there are many other chips among chips manufactured in the same process that have thresholds lower than the threshold of any of Chip A to Chip C, or that have thresholds higher than the threshold of any of Chip A to Chip C. In other words, there exists a nanopore transistor that does not turn on or off without an unrealistic voltage applied to its gate. 
         [0023]    As a result of earnestly studying and examining the cause for the above variations of the thresholds, the cause is considered as follows. 
         [0024]    Because a nanopore FET is a transistor with a thin channel, and its current path concentratedly exists near the side face of the channel fronting onto its control gate, a pseudo-one dimensional narrow current path flows through the side face of the channel. Therefore, if a fixed charge exists in an insulating film near to the side face of the channel or on the surface of the interface between the insulating film and the channel, the variation of the threshold of the nanopore FET becomes very large depending on the amount and location of the fixed charge. The reason why the variation becomes very large will be explained using  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B . Reference numeral  502  in  FIG. 6A  or  FIG. 6B  denotes the side wall portion of the channel. Furthermore, reference numeral  501  denotes a fixed charge existing in an insulating film near to the side wall of the channel or on the surface of the interface between the insulating film and the channel. In addition, arrows in  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B  denote the flows of currents. Here, in the case of assuming that the fixed charge is a negative charge and the nanopore FET is a NMOS type nanopore FET, it becomes difficult for currents to flow around the fixed charge, so that the currents flow as shown in  FIG. 6A  or  FIG. 6B  in such a way that the currents get around the fixed charge. In the case where the thickness of the channel is thick (as shown in  FIG. 6A ), although the currents flowing around the fixed charge are affected by the fixed charge, currents far from the fixed charges are not affected so much by the fixed charge. Therefore, in this case, the shift value of the threshold of the transistor due to the fixed charge is small. On the other hand, in the case where the thickness of the channel is thin (as shown in  FIG. 6B ), because most currents passing through the channel are affected by the fixed charge, the variation of the threshold voltage due to the fixed charge becomes large. Therefore, the variation of the amount and location of the fixed charge largely affect the variation of the threshold voltage. 
         [0025]    Generally speaking, a side-gate transistor has an insulating film deposited by a CVD method on an insulating film between a gate and a channel (in the case of a transistor having a gate over a channel, an insulating film between a gate and a channel is a thermally-oxidized film), and the insulating film deposited by a CVD method has a larger amount and a larger variation of a fixed charge than a thermally-oxidized film has. Furthermore, because a nanopore FET itself is a transistor having a pore near to its channel, the side wall of the pore, nearby unattached bonds, and the like are causative agents for generating a fixed charge, with the result that the variation of the amount and location of the fixed charge becomes large. Therefore, the variation of the threshold of this sensor becomes very large. 
         [0026]    The above-described problem unique to a nanopore FET has become clear for the first time from the result and the examination of this experiment. 
         [0027]    When such nanopore FET sensors as above are integrated as shown in  FIG. 4A , there occurs a problem in that a sensor having a low threshold voltage and a poor off characteristic is produced. Even if a voltage, which is set as an off voltage, is applied to such a sensor in order to set the sensor deselective, the sensor does not become off, and a leakage current flows from the sensor. This leakage current is mixed with signals output from selected sensors, and therefore it becomes a cause for noise generation. 
         [0028]    Because the nanopore FET sensor has a thin film channel, the values of detection currents are small. Additionally, it is necessary to distinguish much smaller differences among signals of four kinds of base out of the small detection currents. Therefore, noises due to the leakage currents from the deselected cells severely deteriorate the accuracy of signal analysis. 
         [0029]    Consequently, a problem to be solved is how to read detection currents from selected sensors while cutting off causes for noise generation when nanopore FET sensors are fabricated in the form of an LSI. 
       Solution to Problem 
       [0030]    In order to solve the above problem, the present invention proposes a semiconductor device wherein a source, a drain, and a channel connecting the source and the drain are formed on an insulating film, a control gate is or a control gate and a back gate are formed fronting onto one side face of the channel or formed fronting onto both side faces of the channel via the insulating film, and a plurality of sensors are disposed, the sensors having a nano-sized pore through which an object to be examined passes and that is formed near to the side face of the channel fronting onto the control gate through the insulating films, the semiconductor device including plural selection transistors, each of which is capable of electrically selecting or deselecting the detection signal output of the relevant sensor. 
         [0031]    In addition, in order to solve the above problem, the present invention proposes the semiconductor device configured in such a way that plural combination circuits, each of which includes one selection transistor connected to the source of one sensor outputting a channel current on a one-to-one basis, are disposed in an array configuration. 
         [0032]    Furthermore, in order to solve the above problem, the present invention proposes the semiconductor device configured to further include amplifier transistors the gate of each of which is connected to the source of one of the sensors outputting a channel current and to a constant voltage source via a resistor, wherein plural combination circuits, each of which includes one amplifier transistor and one selection transistor that are connected to each other and further includes one sensor connected thereto, are disposed in an array configuration. 
         [0033]    In addition, in order to solve the above problem, the present invention proposes the semiconductor device configured in such a way that plural sensors are disposed in an array configuration; the selection transistors are each prepared for each row of the sensor array; the drains of all the sensors disposed in each row are connected in common to the relevant selection transistor disposed in the row; a selection voltage is applied to the gates of selection transistors in a row to be selected; a deselection voltage is applied to rows other than the row to be selected; and herewith a configuration for performing control to obtain sensor signals for each row is realized. 
         [0034]    Furthermore, in order to solve the above problem, the present invention develops a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device that includes the steps of: depositing an insulating film on a semiconductor substrate; forming a source region, a drain region, a control gate region, and a back gate region of a sensor by depositing polysilicon on the insulating film and patterning the polysilicon; forming a channel of the sensor by depositing nondoped polysilicon and patterning the nondoped polysilicon; performing etching to form a region in which a selection transistor is formed after depositing an insulating film; forming the source region and the drain region of the selection transistor by depositing polysilicon and patterning the polysilicon; forming a channel of the selection transistor by depositing nondoped polysilicon and patterning the nondoped polysilicon; forming a gate insulating film of the selection transistor by thermal oxidation; forming a gate electrode of the selection transistor by depositing polysilicon and patterning the polysilicon; forming an interlayer film, and wirings from individual electrodes; and etching the insulating film over the vicinity of a place where a nanopore is to be formed, and etching the semiconductor substrate at the back side to finally form a nanopore in the vicinity of the channel of the sensor by etching. 
       Advantageous Effects of Invention 
       [0035]    Briefly explaining, an advantageous effect obtained by a typical aspect of the present invention disclosed in this application is as follows. Identification of four kinds of DNA base and identification of the base sequence of DNA can be performed with a high degree of accuracy. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0036]      FIG. 1A  is a schematic view of the first configuration of a nanopore FET sensor proposed by the present invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 1B  is a schematic view of the second configuration of a nanopore FET sensor proposed by the present invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 10  is a schematic view of the third configuration of a nanopore FET sensor proposed by the present invention. 
           [0039]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged schematic view of the vicinity of a pore of a nanopore FET sensor proposed by the present invention. 
           [0040]      FIG. 3A  is a schematic view showing the existence probability of one electron in a silicon region sandwiched in between SiO 2 . 
           [0041]      FIG. 3B  is a schematic view showing the existence probabilities of two electrons in a silicon region sandwiched in between SiO 2 . 
           [0042]      FIG. 4A  is a circuit diagram for explaining an example of an array configuration of nanopore FET sensors proposed by the present invention. 
           [0043]      FIG. 4B  is a circuit diagram showing a nanopore FET sensor cell proposed by the present invention. 
           [0044]      FIG. 5  is a diagram showing experimental results showing the control gate voltage dependence characteristics of the channel currents of NMOS type nanopore FET sensors. 
           [0045]      FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B  are diagrams for explaining a reason for the variation of the threshold of a nanopore FET sensor to become very large depending on the amount and location of a fixed charge if the fixed charge exists in an insulating film near to the side face of a channel or on the surface of the interface between the insulating film and the channel. 
           [0046]      FIG. 7  is a diagram for explaining the circuit to which a selection transistor of a first embodiment is added. 
           [0047]      FIG. 8  is a diagram for explaining an example of arraying the circuit shown in  FIG. 7  of the first embodiment. 
           [0048]      FIG. 9A  shows the top view of a set of a nanopore FET and a selection transistor of the first embodiment. 
           [0049]      FIG. 9B  shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A′ of  FIG. 9A . 
           [0050]      FIG. 10  is a diagram for explaining the circuit to which an amplifier transistor and a selection transistor shown in a third embodiment are added. 
           [0051]      FIG. 11  is a diagram for explaining an example of arraying the circuit shown in  FIG. 10  of the third embodiment. 
           [0052]      FIG. 12A  shows the top view of a set of a nanopore FET, a selection transistor, and an amplifier transistor of the third embodiment. 
           [0053]      FIG. 12B  shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B′ of  FIG. 12A . 
           [0054]      FIG. 13  is a diagram for explaining a circuit in which a selection transistor is prepared for each row according to a second embodiment. 
           [0055]      FIG. 14  is a diagram for explaining a process of the manufacturing method of a semiconductor device of the first embodiment. 
           [0056]      FIG. 15  is a diagram for explaining a process of the manufacturing method of the semiconductor device of the first embodiment. 
           [0057]      FIG. 16  is a diagram for explaining a process of the manufacturing method of the semiconductor device of the first embodiment. 
           [0058]      FIG. 17  is a diagram for explaining a process of the manufacturing method of the semiconductor device of the first embodiment. 
           [0059]      FIG. 18  is a diagram for explaining a process of the manufacturing method of the semiconductor device of the first embodiment. 
           [0060]      FIG. 19  is a diagram for explaining a process of the manufacturing method of the semiconductor device of the first embodiment. 
           [0061]      FIG. 20  is a diagram for explaining a process of the manufacturing method of the semiconductor device of the first embodiment. 
           [0062]      FIG. 21  is a diagram for explaining a process of the manufacturing method of the semiconductor device of the first embodiment. 
           [0063]      FIG. 22  is a diagram for explaining a process of the manufacturing method of the semiconductor device of the first embodiment. 
           [0064]      FIG. 23  is a diagram for explaining a process of the manufacturing method of the semiconductor device of the first embodiment. 
           [0065]      FIG. 24  is a diagram for explaining a process of the manufacturing method of the semiconductor device of the first embodiment. 
           [0066]      FIG. 25  is a diagram for explaining a process of the manufacturing method of the semiconductor device of the first embodiment. 
           [0067]      FIG. 26  is a diagram for explaining a process of the manufacturing method of the semiconductor device of the first embodiment. 
           [0068]      FIG. 27  is a diagram for explaining a process of the manufacturing method of the semiconductor device of the first embodiment. 
           [0069]      FIG. 28A  is a diagram for explaining a circuit having a configuration in a selection transistor having a charge storage layer and a sensor to be selected as described in a fourth embodiment are parallelized. 
           [0070]      FIG. 28B  is a diagram showing a cell of a selection transistor having a charge storage layer. 
           [0071]      FIG. 29  is a diagram for explaining a circuit having the configuration of a series circuit including a selection transistor and a memory transistor instead of a selection transistor having a charge storage layer according to the fourth embodiment. 
           [0072]      FIG. 30  is a schematic view for explaining the configuration of a nanopore FET sensor having no gate according to a fifth embodiment. 
           [0073]      FIG. 31  is a diagram for explaining an example of a circuit of the fifth embodiment. 
           [0074]      FIG. 32  is a diagram for explaining an example of a circuit including a sensor which is connected to a selection transistor and an amplifier transistor as described in the fifth embodiment. 
           [0075]      FIG. 33  is a diagram for explaining an example of a sensor array configured to read out all the sensors at the same time by preparing a peripheral signal processing circuit for a sensor of a sixth embodiment on a one-to-one basis. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0076]    Throughout all the drawings for explaining the embodiments of the present invention, elements having the same functions will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof will be omitted as much as possible. Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Device configurations and materials described in the embodiments are examples for materializing the concept of the present invention, and these configurations and materials do not strictly specify materials and dimensions. 
       First Embodiment 
       [0077]    In order to solve the above described problem, it is effective that a switching element is installed in series with the source, which emits the channel current of a nanopore FET sensor (hereinafter, a nanopore FET sensor integrated on a semiconductor chip as a cell unit will be referred to as a nanopore FET), and the integrated nanopore FET  110  is selected or deselected by switching the switching element on or off. Although the following embodiments give descriptions with back gates, it is effective even without a back gate. 
         [0078]      FIG. 7  is a diagram showing a part of a circuit of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0079]    In  FIG. 7 , reference numeral T 1  denotes a selection transistor;  601  denotes a read line (bit line);  603  denotes a wiring for applying a voltage to the gate of the selection transistor (word line);  602 ,  604 , and  605  denote wirings for applying voltages to the drain, the control gate, and the back gate of the nanopore FET respectively. 
         [0080]    As the selection transistor, not a transistor having a large variation of its threshold, but a normally configured FET having a gate just over an insulating film (referred to as a vertical gate FET in this specification hereinafter) will be used. A vertical gate FET is extremely reliable, has a good off characteristic, and has a small variation thanks to its already-matured semiconductor processing, and therefore it is the most suitable to be used as a selection transistor.  FIG. 8  is a diagram showing a 2-by-2 array as an example of a circuit made by arraying circuits each of which is equivalent to the circuit shown in  FIG. 7 . It goes without saying that this 2-by-2 array can be expanded into a generic N-by-N array. 
         [0081]    Explanation of the behavior of the circuit of this embodiment will be made using  FIG. 8 . First, a behavior in the case where the upper row is selected, and the lower row is deselected will be described. In this specification, description will be made under the assumption that all the FETs including nanopore FETs are NMOS FETs. The relation between the voltages of the wirings  606  and  607  is set so that the voltage of the wiring  606 &lt;the voltage of the wiring  607 ; the relation between the voltages of the wirings  608  and  609  is set so that the voltage of the wiring  608 &lt;the voltage of the wiring  609 ; the voltage of the wiring  610  is set higher than the voltages of the wirings  607  and  609 , and the voltage of the wiring  611  is set higher than the voltages of the wirings  607  and  609 . With the above setting, detection currents flow through the channels of nanopore FETs and the channels of selection transistors in the upper row, and these currents flow to peripheral signal processing circuits through bit lines  606  or  608 . On the other hand, the voltage of the wiring  613  is set lower than the voltages of the wirings  606  and  608  so that currents do not flow through selection transistors in the lower row. With the above setting, even if there is a nanopore FET sensor that has a low threshold and through which a leakage current flows in the lower row, a selection transistor belonging to the nanopore FET sensor blocks the leakage current, and therefore only the detection currents flowing the sensors in the upper row can be detected without noises due to leakage currents. 
         [0082]      FIG. 9A  shows the top view of a set of a nanopore FET and a selection transistor, and  FIG. 9B  shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A′ of  FIG. 9A . In  FIG. 9A , for easy understanding, an insulating film located over the channel of the nanopore FET is omitted. Reference numeral  701  denotes an insulating film;  702  denotes a wiring;  703  denotes the drain of the nanopore FET;  704  denotes the channel of the nanopore FET;  705  denotes the source of the nanopore FET;  706  denotes the drain of the selection transistor;  707  denotes the source of the selection transistor;  708  denotes the channel of the selection transistor;  709  denotes the control gate of the nanopore FET;  710  denotes the back gate of the nanopore FET;  750  denotes the gate of the selection transistor;  760  denotes a contact portion to a gate, a source, or a drain; and reference numeral  106  denotes a nanopore. Wirings that run vertically or horizontally are connected to the peripheral signal processing circuits while making contacts with electrodes in accordance with the circuit diagram shown in  FIG. 8 . When the nanopore FET sensor  100  is active, there is a solution including an object to be examined over the upper part and under the lower part of the insulating film  701  of the nanopore FET sensor FET  100 , and when DNA passes through the nanopore of the nanopore FET sensor, the value of the channel current varies in accordance with the signal differences among four kinds of base, and the four kinds of base can be identified respectively by reading the variation of the value of the channel current. 
         [0083]    As shown in  FIG. 9B , a vertical gate FET, which is reliable, has just a small variation and a good off characteristic, is used as the selection transistor of the nanopore FET. In terms of the process of the nanopore FET, when a side gate transistor of the nanopore FET is formed, if the same side gate transistor is formed beside the above side gate transistor, and that is made a selection transistor, this leads to the reduction of the number of processes, resulting in a cost merit and the reduction of manufacturing time. However, as described above, it has been found that, because a side gate transistor formed on a thin film has a large variation of its threshold, it is not suitable for a side gate transistor to be used as a selection transistor. Therefore, as described in this embodiment, it is advantageous to adopt a vertical gate transistor that is highly reliable, has just a low variation, and a good off-characteristic as a selection transistor using a manufacturing process different from the manufacturing process of a nanopore FET. 
         [0084]    An example of a manufacturing method of the nanopore FET sensor device, which has a selection transistor and is shown in  FIG. 7 , will be explained with reference to  FIG. 14  to  FIG. 27 . The process flow of the nanopore FET sensor device is explained using the cross-sectional view along the line A-A′ of  FIG. 9B . In addition, it will be assumed that peripheral circuits, which are located outside the sensor array and handle detection signals from individual electrodes, are formed in advance before the formation of the sensor array (process to be described below). 
         [0085]    (1) As shown in  FIG. 14 , a silicon nitride film  902  and a silicon dioxide film  903  are deposited on a silicon substrate  901  in this order. 
         [0086]    (2) As shown in  FIG. 15 , by depositing N type polysilicon, and by patterning the deposited polysilicon, the source and drain regions  904  of the nanopore FET are formed, and the control gate region and the back gate region are formed at positions facing each other in front and behind between the source region and the drain region  904 , although the control gate region and the back gate region are not shown in the figure. 
         [0087]    (3) As shown in  FIG. 16 , by depositing nondoped polysilicon, and by patterning the deposited nondoped polysilicon, the channel  905  of the nanopore FET is formed. 
         [0088]    (4) As shown in  FIG. 17 , silicon dioxide films  906  and  908 , silicon nitride films  907  and  909  are deposited. 
         [0089]    (5) As shown in  FIG. 18 , in order to obtain a space in which a selection transistor is formed, parts of the silicon dioxide films  906  and  908 , and parts of the silicon nitride films  907  and  909  are etched away.
       (6) As shown in  FIG. 19 , by depositing N type polysilicon, and by patterning the deposited N type polysilicon, the source and drain regions  910  of the selection transistor are formed.       
 
         [0091]    (7) As shown in  FIG. 20 , by depositing nondoped polysilicon  911 , and by patterning the deposited nondoped polysilicon  911 , the channel of the selection transistor are formed. 
         [0092]    (8) AS shown in  FIG. 21 , the gate insulating film  912  of the selection transistor is formed by thermo oxidation. 
         [0093]    (9) As shown in  FIG. 22 , by depositing N type polysilicon, and by patterning the deposited N type polysilicon, the gate electrode  913  of the selection transistor is formed. 
         [0094]    (10) As shown in  FIG. 23 , a silicon nitride film  914  is deposited as an interlayer film, and the deposited silicon nitride film  914  is flattened using a CMP method. 
         [0095]    (11) As shown in  FIG. 24 , contact holes are formed in individual electrodes of the selection transistor and the nanopore FET; wiring materials are deposited; the deposited wiring materials are flattened using the CMP method; wiring materials are deposited again; and a wiring that connects the source of the nanopore FET and the drain of the selection transistor, a wiring that connects the control gate of the nanopore FET to the peripheral circuits, a wiring that connects the back gate of the nanopore FET to the peripheral circuits, and a wiring that connects the gate of the selection transistor to the peripheral circuits are formed. 
         [0096]    (12) As shown in  FIG. 25 , after a silicon nitride film  920  is deposited as an interlayer film, the silicon nitride film  920  is flattened by the CMP method; apart of the insulating film on the wiring portion connected to the drain of the nanopore FET and a part of the insulating film on the wiring portion connected to the selection transistor are etched away; after wiring materials are deposited, the wiring materials are flattened by the CMP method; and afterward wiring materials are deposited, and a wiring that connects the drain of the nanopore FET to the peripheral circuits and a wiring that connects the source of the selection transistor to the peripheral circuits are formed by patterning. 
         [0097]    (13) As shown in  FIG. 26 , a silicon nitride film  921  is deposited as an interlayer film, and the deposited silicon nitride film  921  is flattened by the CMP method. 
         [0098]    (14) As shown in  FIG. 27 , parts of the insulating films over the vicinity of a place in which a nanopore is to be formed are etched away  922 ; the silicon substrate at the back side is etched away using a KOH aqueous solution; and finally a nanopore is formed in the vicinity of the channel by etching. 
         [0099]    With the use of the above-described manufacturing method, a vertical gate transistor, which has a thermally-oxidized film as its gate oxidized film, with high reliability, a low variation, and a good off characteristic, can be prepared as a selection transistor for a nanopore FET. 
       Second Embodiment 
       [0100]    As shown in  FIG. 13 , it is also possible to prepare a selection transistor for each row according. For example, in the case of selecting the uppermost row, potential differences are set between a read line  674  and a wiring  637 , between the read line  674  and a wiring  638 , and between the read line  674  and a wiring  639  respectively. In this case, it will be assumed that the potential of the read line  674 &gt;the potential of the wiring  637 ; the potential of the read line  674 &gt;the potential of the wiring  638 ; and the potential of the read line  674 &gt;the potential of the wiring  639 . Furthermore, a voltage applied to a wiring  671  is set higher than a voltage applied to the read line  674 . In addition, two different gate voltages are applied to a wiring  641  and to a wiring  642  respectively so that channel currents optimal for detections by nanopore FETs flow. With such a setting as above, detection currents flow out from the sensors in the uppermost row, and they flow into the peripheral circuit parts via read lines  637 ,  638 , and  639 . In such a way, the sensors in the uppermost row can be selected. 
         [0101]    On the other hand, a voltage of a wiring  672  is set smaller than a voltage of a wiring  643  and the voltage of the wiring  672  is set smaller than a voltage of a read line  675 , or a voltage of a wiring  673  is set smaller than a voltage of a wiring  646  and the voltage of the wiring  673  is set smaller than a voltage of a read line  676  so that any of the channel currents of nanopore FETs in the middle row and in the lowermost row do not flow. In such a way, the sensors in the middle row and the lowermost row can be deselected. A row to be selected is changed from the uppermost row to the middle row and to the lowermost row sequentially, and by setting two rows other than the selected row deselective, signals from sensors in each row can be obtained one row-by-one row. With the use of this method, it is sufficient to install one selection transistor for each row, and therefore, in the case of sensors being integrated into an LSI circuit, this method contributes to the reduction of the area of the LSI circuit. It goes without saying that the configuration that has been described in this embodiment can be applied to a generalized N-by-N sensor array. 
       Third Embodiment 
       [0102]    Noises mixing with detection signals are not only noises due to leakage currents flowing out from deselected sensors, which have been described in the above embodiments, but also noises which are generated due to the influence from ambient surroundings and mix with the detection signals while the detection currents flow into peripheral signal processing circuits via read lines. A nanopore FET sensor is used for measurement in such a way that the outside of an insulating film located in the upper part of the nanopore FET sensor and the outside of an insulating film located in the lower part are filled with water solution including DNA. Therefore, the nanopore FET sensor is different from an ordinary device module that is used for measurement in the atmosphere, and the ion density in the solution around the read line of the nanopore FET sensor is not homogeneous. As a result, there is a high possibility that noises mix with the detection current of the nanopore FET sensor that flows through the read line. 
         [0103]    In order to solve the above problem, it is effective to amplify the signal of the nanopore FET sensor before the signal is sent out to the read line. By amplifying the signal, it becomes possible to make the amount of the detection current and the differences among detection currents based on four kinds of base larger than the values of noises that are induced on the read line, and therefore the values of the noises induced on the read line due to the influence from ambient surroundings can be relatively smaller than the detection current or the differences among the detection currents (the S/N ratio can be made larger). As a result, the accuracy of the measurement is improved. 
         [0104]      FIG. 10  is a diagram showing a configuration in which an amplifier mechanism is installed between a read line and a nanopore FET. Reference numeral T 2  denotes an amplifier transistor, and reference numeral T 1  denotes a selection transistor. The gate of the amplifier transistor T 2  is connected to the source of the nanopore FET and a wiring  621 . The wiring  621  is connected to a constant voltage source (for example, the ground), and there is a resistor between the constant voltage source and the gate of the amplifier transistor T 2 . It is desirable that the value of this resistor should be about the same as the value of the channel resistor of the nanopore FET when detection is performed using the nanopore FET. 
         [0105]    In the case where the signal of the FET sensor is read out, the potential difference is set between the potentials of a read line  616  and a wiring  617 . For example, it will be assumed that the potential of the wiring  617 &lt;the potential of the read line  616 . Furthermore, the voltage of a wiring  619  is set higher than the voltage of the read line  616  and the voltage of the wiring  617 . With the above setting, the selection transistor T 1  is turned on. In addition, the potential difference is set between the potentials of the wiring  621  and a wiring  618 . For example, it will be assumed that the potential of the wiring  621 &gt;the potential of the wiring  618 . Furthermore, two different gate voltages are applied to a wiring  620  and to a wiring  622  respectively so that a channel current optimal for the detection by the nanopore FET flows. 
         [0106]    In the case where the voltages of the wirings  620 ,  622 ,  617 ,  618 , and  621  are constant and the value of the resistor connected to the wiring  621  is constant, the value of the channel resistance of the nanopore FET varies in accordance with types of object to be examined or four kinds of base, and therefore the ratio of the value of the channel resistance to the value of the resistor connected to the wiring  621  varies accordingly. As a result, the potential of an encircled portion  690  varies in accordance with the types of object to be examined or the four kinds of base. The value of a signal detected by the nanopore FET during DNA detection is 100 nA at the highest estimating from the experiment results described in the first embodiment (refer to  FIG. 5 ). In addition, the differences among the currents based on four types of base are lower than this value. 
         [0107]    In the case where the nanopore FET is driven with the stable value of a detection current about 10 nA, if the value of a current flowing the amplifier transistor T 2  is set more than 10 nA, this value can be made larger than the value of the detection current directly emitted from the nanopore FET and the difference among detection currents based on four kinds of base, and therefore the S/N ratio can be larger. The smaller the S value (the subthreshold coefficient) of the amplifier transistor is, the larger the transistor current difference due to the gate voltage difference can be. In other words, the potential difference at the portion  690  generated by four kinds of base can be converted into a larger current difference. The thickness of an insulating film between the channel and the gate of a vertical gate transistor can be set less than 3 nm, that is to say, very thinner in comparison with that of a side gate transistor due to the difference between manufacturing methods of both transistors. Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 12A  and  FIG. 12B , it is desirable that an amplifier transistor should also be formed using a vertical gate configuration. 
         [0108]      FIG. 11  is a diagram showing an example of a 2-by-2 array including four circuits each of which is equivalent to the circuit shown in  FIG. 10 . It goes without saying that this 2-by-2 array can be expanded into a generic N-by-N array. 
         [0109]    For example, in the case of selecting an upper row, voltages are applied to this 2-by-2 array so that the voltage of a wiring  631 &gt;the voltage of a read line  623 &gt;the voltage of a wiring  624 , and the voltage of the wiring  631 &gt;the voltage of a read line  630 &gt;the voltage of a wiring  629 . Furthermore, the voltage relation between a wiring  632  and a wiring  633  and the voltage relation between a wiring  625  and a wiring  626 , and the voltage relation between the wiring  632  and the wiring  633  and the voltage relation between a wiring  627  and a wiring  628  are adjusted so that currents flow through nanopore FETs in the upper row. With such a setting, the gate potentials of amplifier transistors in the upper row vary depending on individual objects to be examined, and these variations of the gate potentials are amplified by the channel currents of the amplifier transistors respectively, and the amplified variations are sent out to read lines  623  and  630  respectively. 
         [0110]    On the other hand, in a lower row that is not selected, the voltage of the gate  634  of selection transistor is set lower than the voltages of the read lines  623  and  630  and the voltages of the wirings  625  and  628  so that the signals do not flow from nanopore FETs to the read lines. 
         [0111]      FIG. 12A  shows the top view of a set of a nanopore FET, a selection transistor, and an amplifier transistor, and  FIG. 12B  shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B′ of  FIG. 12A . In  FIG. 12A , for easy understanding, insulating films located over the channel of the nanopore FET are omitted. In  FIG. 12A  and  FIG. 12B , reference numeral  701  denotes an insulating film;  702  denotes a wiring;  703  denotes the drain of the nanopore FET;  704  denotes the channel of the nanopore FET;  705  denotes the source of the nanopore FET;  709  denotes the control gate of the nanopore FET;  710  denotes the back gate of the nanopore FET;  712  denotes the drain of the amplifier transistor;  713  denotes the gate of the amplifier transistor;  715  denotes the source of the amplifier transistor and the drain of a selection transistor;  717  denotes the source of the selection transistor;  718  denotes the gate of the selection transistor;  106  denotes a nanopore; and  760  denotes contact portions to gates, sources, and drains. 
         [0112]    Wirings that run vertically or horizontally are connected to the peripheral signal processing circuits while making contacts with electrodes in accordance with, for example, the circuit diagram shown in  FIG. 11 . When the nanopore FET sensor  100  is active, there is a solution including an object to be examined over the upper part and under the lower part of the insulating film  701  of the nanopore FET sensor FET  100 , and when DNA passes through the nanopore of the nanopore FET sensor  100 , the value of the channel current varies in accordance with the signal differences among four kinds of base, and the four kinds of base can be identified respectively by reading the variation of the channel current. 
       Fourth Embodiment 
       [0113]      FIG. 28A  shows a diagram in a selection transistor and a sensor to be selected are parallelized. In  FIG. 28A , reference numerals  698  and  699  denote sensors respectively. A patterned sensor such as a sensor denoted by reference numeral  698  is a sensor that outputs a signal about an object to be examined normally. On the other hand, an outlined sensor such as a sensor denoted by reference numeral  699  is a sensor that does not output a signal about an object to be examined normally. In the case where good sensors and bad sensors mixedly exist as shown in  FIG. 28A , if detection is performed by sequentially sending the signals of sensors for each row to read lines, because the signals of bad sensors are also detected together with the signals of good sensors, the total detection time is wastefully increased by the time needed for the detection of the bad sensors. Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 28A , it is advantageous to select one or fewer good sensor to measure in one row and detect good sensors selected in all the rows in a lump. 
         [0114]    To put it concretely using  FIG. 28A , if four rows surrounded with dashed lines are selected, each of five columns includes only one good sensor to be examined. When those four rows are selected at the same time, signals from five good sensors are output to the read lines  649  to  653 . On the other hand, because signals from bad sensors work as noises, they have to be cut. It is preferable that, in order to cut the signals from the bad sensors, a fuse should be installed between each sensor and the relevant read line, and a fuse between each bad sensor and the relevant read line is set off so that a current does not flow. 
         [0115]    As an example of an element to play the role of the fuse, there is a kind of selection transistor that has a charge storage layer between its gate and channel and works as a memory transistor. If this selection transistor attached to a bad sensor is an NMOS transistor, electrons are charged, which effectively prevents a current from flowing between the sensor and the read line even if a voltage is applied to this selection transistor. After whether each sensor is good or bad is measured and memorized in advance by accessing each sensor and checking whether a current suitable for detection flows out from each sensor or not, charges are stored in the charge storage layers of selection transistors attached to bad sensors by applying voltages to the read lines  649  to  653  and to gates  655  to  660 . One of methods for injecting charges is a method in which, by using voltage differences between the gate wirings and the read lines, tunnel currents are flowed from the channels to the insulating films, and the charges are stored. 
         [0116]    The abovementioned operation makes it possible to read several rows in a lump in comparison with the case where signals are selectively and sequentially read one row-by-one row, which leads to the reduction in the total detection time and to the improvement of throughput. In addition, in the case where the time period of the signal variation of a sensor influenced by an object to be examined is short, if the signals of sensors for each row are sequentially read, there is a possibility that, during the time period while sensors for a certain row are set deselective, the signal variation of any of the sensors for the certain row is missed. On the other hand, because several rows can be examined in a lump in this embodiment, the abovementioned possibility can be reduced. 
         [0117]    It will be apparent from the above description that the sensor described in this embodiment can be applied not only to a nanopore FET, but also to a general sensor. 
         [0118]    Furthermore, although the example in which a selection transistor has a memory function has been described in this embodiment, it is conceivable that a selection transistor and a memory transistor are independently installed. To put it concretely, as shown in  FIG. 29 , a selection transistor T 1  and a memory transistor T 3  can be connected in series between a read line and a sensor (it is also all right if the connection order of the selection transistor T 1  and the memory transistor T 3  is reversed). 
       Fifth Embodiment 
       [0119]    A configuration including a selection transistor or a configuration including a combination of a selection transistor and a gain cell can be effectively used for the configuration of a nanopore FET sensor with no gate (refer to  FIG. 30 ).  FIG. 30  is a diagram showing the configuration of a nanopore FET sensor with no gate, and reference numerals  20  and  21  are gate electrodes to drive the FET disposed in a solution. A detection method performed using the nanopore FET with no gate is a method in which the variation of the channel current of the nanopore FET sensor with no gate, which occurs when DNA passes through the nanopore of the nanopore FET sensor, is detected, and therefore it is the same as the detection method performed by a nanopore FET sensor with gates in that regard. Unlike the case of the nanopore FET with gates, a current does not flow concentratedly on the pore side in the channel, and therefore the nanopore FET sensor with gates is more sensitive. On the other hand, because the channel of the nanopore FET with no gate is made of a thin film, a large variation of the threshold of the nanopore FET with no gate is a problem although the variation is not so large than the variation of the threshold of the nanopore FET with gates. 
         [0120]    In order to solve the above problem, it is effective to install a selection transistor for each sensor as shown in the above-described embodiments.  FIG. 31  is a diagram showing a circuit of a fifth embodiment. Reference numerals  606  and  608  denote read lines,  660  denotes a wiring connected to gate electrodes in a solution (corresponding to the gate electrodes denoted by  20  and  21  in  FIG. 30 ),  610  and  613  denote wirings connected to the gate electrodes of selection transistors, and  607  and  609  denote wirings connected to the drain electrodes of sensors. Because the behavior scheme of the circuit shown in  FIG. 31  is the same as described in the previous embodiments, the description of the behavior of the circuit is not repeated. 
         [0121]    In addition, it is also useful to attach an amplifier transistor to a sensor for the same reason as described in the third embodiment.  FIG. 32  shows a circuit diagram in which a selection transistor and an amplifier transistor are attached to each sensor. Reference numeral  670  denotes a wiring connected to gate electrodes in a solution (the gate electrodes denoted by reference numeral  670  correspond to the gate electrodes denoted by reference numerals  20  and  21  in  FIG. 30 ),  631  and  634  denote wirings connected to the gate electrodes of selection transistors,  630  and  623  denote read lines, and  624  and  629  denotes wirings connected to the drains of amplifier transistors. Because the behavior scheme of the circuit shown in  FIG. 32  is the same as described in the previous embodiments, the description of the behavior of the circuit is not repeated. 
         [0122]    It is preferable that the selection transistor and the amplifier transistor should be vertical gate transistors because of the reason described in the previous embodiments. 
       Sixth Embodiment 
       [0123]    The descriptions have been made so far with a prerequisite that sensors are arrayed by connecting some of the electrodes of sensors with shared wirings if they can be electrically connected to one another. In a sixth embodiment, a sensor array is configured in such a way that, without connecting the electrodes of sensors with shared wirings, each electrode of each sensor has its own wiring through which a signal is sent to the relevant peripheral circuit (in other words, without sequentially selecting or deselecting sensors one-by-one, signals from all the sensors can be read at the same time), and the top layout of the sensor array is shown in  FIG. 33 . The fact that the signals from all the sensors are read at the same time leads to the reduction in the total detection time and to the improvement of throughput. Furthermore, in the case where the time period of the signal variation of a sensor influenced by an object to be examined is short, if the signals of sensors for each row are sequentially read, there is a possibility that, during the time period while sensors for a certain row are set deselective, the signal variation of any of the sensors for the certain row is missed. On the other hand, because several rows can be examined in a lump in this embodiment, the abovementioned possibility can be reduced. 
         [0124]    Reference numeral  1001  shown in  FIG. 33  denotes a portion of a peripheral signal processing circuit for one sensor. Reference numerals  1002 ,  1003 ,  1004 , and  1005  denote the source, gate, drain, and back gate of a nanopore FET respectively. The area of the portion of the peripheral signal processing circuit is larger than the area of the one sensor. As a result, the area of the peripheral signal processing circuit is dominant in the sum of the areas of the sensors and the area of the peripheral signal processing circuit. Therefore, it becomes possible to reduce the area of a sensor module by disposing the peripheral signal processing circuit in a twisted state as shown in the figure. 
         [0125]    Although, in all the above-described embodiments, explanations have been made with a prerequisite that nanopore FET sensors are comprised of NMOS type FETs, the nanopore FET sensors can also be comprised of PMOS type FETs on the basis of principles similar to those described above. 
       REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       [0000]    
       
           20 , 21  . . . gate electrodes in a solution 
           100  . . . nanopore FET sensors 
           101  . . . channel 
           102  . . . control gate 
           103  . . . source 
           104  . . . drain 
           105  . . . back gate 
           106  . . . pore 
           107  . . . wiring used for a contact 
           108  . . . insulating film 
           110  . . . nanopore FET 
           200  . . . DNA 
           501  . . . fixed charge 
           502  . . . side wall portion of the channel 
           601 , 606 , 608 , 616 ,  623 , 630 , 649 , 650 , 651 , 652 , 653 , 654 , 674 , 675 , 676  . . . read line 
           602 ,  607 ,  609 ,  626 ,  627 ,  637 ,  638 ,  639  . . . Wiring connected to the drain of the nanopore FET 
           640 , 643 , 646  . . . Wiring connected to the source of the nanopore FET 
           603 , 610 , 613 , 619 , 631 , 634 , 655 , 656 , 657 , 658 , 659 , 660 , 661 , 671 , 672 , 673  . . . Wiring connected to the gate of the selection transistor 
           604 , 611 , 614 , 620 , 632 , 635 , 641 , 644 , 647  . . . Wiring connected to the control gate of the nanopore FET 
           605 , 612 , 615 , 622 , 633 , 636 , 642 , 645 , 648  . . . Wiring connected to the back gate of the nanopore FET 
           617 , 624 , 629  . . . wiring connected to the drains of amplifier transistor 
           621 , 625 , 628  . . . wiring connected to the gate of amplifier transistor 
           660 , 670  . . . gate electrodes in a solution 
           701  . . . insulating film 
           702  . . . wiring 
           703  . . . the drain of the nanopore FET 
           704  . . . the channel of the nanopore FET 
           705  . . . the source of the nanopore FET 
           706  . . . the drain of the selection transistor 
           707  . . . the source of the selection transistor 
           708  . . . the channel of the selection transistor 
           709  . . . the control gate of the nanopore FET 
           710  . . . the back gate of the nanopore FET 
           712  . . . the drain of the amplifier transistor 
           713  . . . the gate of the amplifier transistor 
           714  . . . the channel of the amplifier transistor 
           715  . . . the source of the amplifier transistor 
           716  . . . the channel of the selection transistor 
           717  . . . the source of the selection transistor 
           718  . . . the gate of the selection transistor 
           750  . . . the gate of the selection transistor 
           760  . . . contact portions to gates, sources, and drains 
           901  . . . silicon substrate 
           902 , 921  . . . silicon nitride film 
           903  . . . silicon dioxide film 
           904  . . . the drain region 
           905  . . . the channel of the nanopore FET 
           906 , 908 , 912  . . . silicon dioxide film 
           907 , 909 , 914 , 920 , 921  . . . silicon nitride film 
           911  . . . nondoped polysilicon 
           913  . . . the gate electrode of the selection transistor 
           915 , 916 , 917 , 918 , 919  . . . wiring 
           922  . . . the pore of the insulating films over the vicinity of a place in which a nanopore is to be formed are etched away 
           1001  . . . peripheral signal processing circuit 
           1002  . . . the source of a nanopore FET 
           1003  . . . the gate of a nanopore FET 
           1004  . . . the drain of a nanopore FET 
           1005  . . . the back gate of a nanopore FET