Patent Description:
Embodiments of the disclosure relate generally to micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), such as microhotplate devices, gas sensors including the microhotplate devices, and to related methods of forming and operating the microhotplate devices and gas sensors. More particularly, embodiments of the disclosure relate to microhotplates having resistive heaters configured to uniformly heat a membrane of the microhotplate while reducing power consumption and localized overheating in the structure of the microhotplate, to related methods of operating the microhotplates, and to related methods of fabricating the microhotplates.

Microhotplates may be useful in sensors used for chemical detection applications. Microhotplates may include a chemical sensitive coating for detecting one or more properties of one or more gases or analytes. The microhotplates may be sized to have dimensions on the order of tens to hundreds of microns to consume less power and be more easily integrated into smaller packages than existing microhotplate devices measuring many hundreds of microns. Microhotplates may be formed using MEMS-based or CMOS-based silicon processes.

Conventional heating elements associated with a microhotplate may provide a heat source for heating a suspended membrane of the microhotplate or a material disposed over the heating element (e.g., the chemical sensitive coating). However, due to differences in thermal losses to portions of the microhotplate away from the membrane, the heating element and any chemical sensitive coating materials associated with the heating element often exhibit different temperatures, resulting in a non-uniform temperature profile across the microhotplate. By way of non-limiting example, peripheral portions of the membrane supporting the heating element may lose relatively more heat than central portions thereof, resulting in a non-uniform temperature profile across the heating element and the membrane. For example, in some instances, the peripheral portions often exhibit greater convection than central portions of the membrane, resulting in more heat loss from the peripheral portions to than from the central portions of the membrane. In addition, heat losses from the suspended microhotplate to its supporting substrate by conduction through supporting tethers may further exacerbate the non-uniformity of the temperature profile of the microhotplate. Furthermore, chemical reactions on the chemical sensitive coating material, as well as physical measurements made on uncoated plate surfaces of a reference microhotplate (such as, for example, for thermal conductivity measurements) may be sensitive to temperature changes, and performance of an associated sensor may be negatively impacted by a non-uniform operating temperature of the microhotplate.

In order to compensate for non-uniform heat losses across the microhotplate, some microhotplates incorporate a heat spreader plate to facilitate somewhat uniform heat transfer through the membrane. Other devices include heating elements having unique shapes including sharp corners and abrupt changes in direction. However, such sharp corners and abrupt changes in direction may adversely affect the operation and lifetime of the resistive heater.

Patent application <CIT> discloses a contact burning type gas sensor comprising a heater having heat emission amount per unit area near centre of compact surface smaller than heat emission amount per unit area at position far from centre of compact surface.

Patent application <CIT> discloses a micro-hotplate device comprising a frame, a membrane, an active area comprising at least one active layer, and a heating structure designed to heat said active layer, said heating structure having concentric tracks and comprising inner tracks and inner spaces and outer tracks and outer spaces as being the one or two tracks and spaces located the furthest away from the centre of the heating structure, characterized in that said outer tracks are designed to be located closer to their neighbouring tracks and/or are designed to have a width which is lower than those of the inner tracks, the width and the spacing of said inner tracks being substantially constant.

Embodiments disclosed herein include microhotplates, chemical sensors including at least one microhotplate, and methods of detecting at least one analyte. A microhotplate sensor according to the present invention is defined in appended claim <NUM>.

In the present invention a method of sensing one or more gases or one or more properties of one or more gases is disclosed according to appended claim <NUM>.

Illustrations presented herein are not meant to be actual views of any particular material, component, or system, but are merely idealized representations that are employed to describe embodiments of the disclosure.

The following description provides specific details, such as material types, material thicknesses, and processing techniques in order to provide a thorough description of embodiments described herein. However, a person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the embodiments disclosed herein may be practiced without employing these specific details. Indeed, the embodiments may be practiced in conjunction with conventional fabrication techniques employed in the industry.

As used herein, the term "tether" means and includes a structure that supports a portion of a membrane of a device over a substrate. A tether extends from a peripheral portion of a device to a membrane of a microhotplate and suspends the membrane over the substrate of the device. The tether is suspended over a void formed in the substrate.

As used herein, the term "membrane" means and includes a central portion of a microhotplate, which is suspended over a substrate by a plurality of tethers. The tethers extend from a peripheral portion of a sensor to the membrane, wherein the membrane is suspended over a cavity in a substrate by the tethers.

According to embodiments described herein, a microhotplate includes a membrane suspended over a substrate by a plurality of tethers extending from the membrane to a portion of the substrate. The membrane is separated from the substrate by a void (e.g., a cavity) formed in a portion of the substrate. The membrane is supported over the void in the substrate by the plurality of tethers extending from a periphery of the void in the substrate to the membrane. The depth of the cavity may be precisely controlled to modify the sensitivity and power consumption of the sensor. A more shallow depth may increase the conductive heat losses to the substrate, which may increase the sensitivity of the sensor to surrounding gas thermal conductivity. An increased depth may reduce losses to the substrate and may be desirable for increased efficiency and decreased sensitivity to the surrounding environment. In other words, the depth of the substrate relative to the tethers may be decreased to increase conduction heat losses to the substrate, which may improve determination of at least one property (e.g., a thermal conductivity) of a gas proximate the microhotplate.

The membrane comprises a resistive heater shaped and configured to provide a substantially uniform temperature profile (e.g., an isothermal temperature profile) across the microhotplate. In some embodiments, the tethers and the membrane may be formed of and include the same materials. The resistive heater comprises an electrically conductive material having a spiral shape and extending from a pair of bond pads located on the substrate and configured to provide a current through the resistive heater. The electrically conductive material comprises a continuously increasing width along a length thereof as the electrically conductive material spirals from an outer portion (e.g., a periphery) of the membrane toward an inner portion (e.g., the center) of the membrane. The varying width of the electrically conductive material may change a localized resistance (and hence a local heat output) of the electrically conductive material, thereby providing a substantially uniform temperature profile across the membrane and associated materials (e.g., a chemical sensing material, a catalyst coating, an inert coating, etc. of the membrane) disposed on the microhotplate. The electrically conductive material comprises a first portion extending from an intersection between a first tether and the membrane and spiraling from an outer portion of the membrane toward the center of the membrane, the first portion spiraling in a first direction (e.g., a clockwise direction). The electrically conductive material further comprises a second portion extending from an intersection between a second tether and the membrane and spiraling from an outer portion of the membrane toward the center of the membrane. The second portion spirals in a second direction opposite the first direction (e.g., the second portion may spiral in a counterclockwise direction). The first portion and the second portion are in electrical communication at the central portion of the membrane. The electrically conductive material reverses direction of rotation at the center of the membrane, at a location where the first portion contacts the second portion.

Portions of the resistive heater having a relatively smaller width may exhibit a relatively greater electrical resistance than portions of the resistive heater with a relatively greater width. The portions of the resistive heater exhibiting the greater electrical resistance may generate more heat than portions having a relatively smaller electrical resistance. Portions of the resistive heater with a relatively smaller width are located at locations of the resistive heater that are subject to relatively greater heat loss, such as at peripheral portions of the membrane, whereas portions of the resistive heater with a relatively greater width are located at locations of the resistive heater that are not subject to as great a heat loss (e.g., at central portions of the membrane). The resistive heater may be sized and shaped such that the membrane exhibits a substantially uniform temperature profile, even though peripheral portions of the membrane may be subject to greater heat losses than central portions thereof.

The resistive heater is free of sharp corners and abrupt changes in direction, that can lead to current crowding and high current densities, which in turn, may cause an undesired phenomenon known as "electromigration" wherein atoms of the resistive heater redistribute, leading to an effective thinning of the resistive heater in certain regions as atoms migrate to other regions of the resistive heater and ultimately leading to a non-uniform temperature profile and failure of the resistive heater. Forming the resistive heater with the continuously varying width may substantially reduce negative effects, such as electromigration, exacerbated by regions of high current density, high temperature, or both. In addition, the resistive heaters described herein may reduce the power required to heat the associated microhotplates to a desired temperature. In some embodiments, such as where the resistive heaters are used in microhotplate devices configured to measure a thermal conductivity, the heat transfer from the microhotplate to the environment proximate the microhotplate may be increased relative to conventional microhotplates. In addition, heat losses from the tethers to the extending substrate may be reduced compared to conventional microhotplates. The microhotplates including the resistive heaters with a varying width may be operated at temperatures between about <NUM> and about <NUM>,<NUM>, such as between about <NUM> and about <NUM>, or between about <NUM> and about <NUM>,<NUM>. In some embodiments, the microhotplates are operated at temperatures up to about <NUM>,<NUM> without damaging the microhotplate (e.g., causing failure of the resistive heater or the membrane). By way of comparison, prior art microhotplates may fail at temperatures of greater than about <NUM>, at least partially due to areas that become depleted in atoms due to electromigration.

A sensor may include a plurality of microhotplates. As described herein, at least some of the microhotplates may be configured to measure a thermal conductivity of a sample (e.g., a gaseous analyte, a concentration of an analyte in a sample, etc.), at least some of the microhotplates may be configured to determine a temperature at which the sample exhibits one or more reactions, and at least some of the microhotplates may be configured to include one or more coatings configured to interact with particular components that may be contained in the sample (e.g., may include one or more metal oxide semiconductor coatings formulated and configured to interact with particular species that may be contained within the sample). The use of a plurality of microhotplates in the sensor may increase a range of analytes that may be detected using the sensor and may increase the sensitivity and selectivity of the sensor. By way of non-limiting example, the plurality of microhotplates may be used to perform orthogonal analysis of the sample and determine one or more of a composition of the sample, a concentration of one or more gases in the sample, or another property of the sample.

<FIG> is a top view of a device <NUM> comprising a microhotplate according to one embodiment of the disclosure. The device <NUM> comprises a membrane <NUM> formed over a substrate <NUM> (<FIG>). The substrate <NUM> may be a conventional silicon substrate or other bulk substrate including semiconductor material. As used herein, the term "substrate" means and includes not only silicon wafers, but also silicon-on-insulator ("SOI") substrates, such as silicon-on-sapphire ("SOS") substrates or silicon-on-glass ("SOG") substrates, epitaxial layers of silicon on a base semiconductor foundation, or other semiconductor materials. In some embodiments, the substrate <NUM> comprises silicon. In other embodiments, the substrate <NUM>, or at least a portion thereof, may be oxidized and comprise, for example, a silicon oxide (e.g., SiO<NUM>).

The membrane <NUM> may have a circular shape, a square shape, a rectangular shape, a polygonal shape (e.g., a pentagonal shape, a hexagonal shape, an octagonal shape, etc.), or another shape. The membrane <NUM> is supported over the substrate <NUM> by a plurality of tethers <NUM>, 105a, 105b. In some embodiments, the device <NUM> may comprise six tethers <NUM>, although the disclosure is not so limited. In other embodiments, the device <NUM> includes any number of tethers <NUM>, such as three tethers <NUM>, four tethers <NUM>, five tethers <NUM>, six tethers <NUM>, seven tethers <NUM>, eight tethers <NUM>, or any other number of tethers <NUM>. In some embodiments, the device <NUM> comprises an odd number of tethers <NUM>. Where the membrane <NUM> comprises a polygonal shape, corners (e.g., points) of the polygonal shape may be centered over a respective tether <NUM>. For example, and with reference to <FIG>, a device <NUM> may comprise a hexagonally-shaped membrane <NUM>. Points of the membrane <NUM> may be disposed over a portion of a respective tether <NUM>. In some embodiments, the points of the polygonal shape are disposed over a central portion of the respective tether <NUM>.

The tethers <NUM> extend from a peripheral portion of the device <NUM> (e.g., from the substrate <NUM>) to the membrane <NUM> over a void <NUM> formed in the substrate <NUM>. In other words, the tethers <NUM> extend from the substrate <NUM> to the membrane <NUM>. The tethers <NUM> support the membrane <NUM> over the substrate <NUM>. The membrane <NUM> is separated from the substrate by the void <NUM>, as shown in, for example, <FIG>. The tethers <NUM> are separated from a portion of (e.g., a central portion of) the substrate <NUM> by the void <NUM>.

The tethers <NUM> may have a width selected to reduce (e.g., minimize) a net heat flux along a length thereof and to reduce heat losses to the substrate <NUM>. By way of non-limiting example, a width of the tethers <NUM> may be minimized to reduce heat loss from the periphery of the membrane <NUM> via conduction. However, the width of the tethers <NUM> may be large enough to provide sufficient mechanical support to the membrane <NUM>, such as during heating thereof. Accordingly, the tethers <NUM>, 105a, 105b may reduce heat losses from the membrane <NUM> through the tethers <NUM>, 105a, 105b to the underlying substrate <NUM> compared to conventional microhotplate devices. In some embodiments, the tethers <NUM> may include a widened portion proximate the intersection of the tethers <NUM> and the membrane <NUM>, the widened portion having a relatively greater width than other portions of the tether <NUM>. In some embodiments, the tethers <NUM> may also include a widened (e.g., a filleted) portion proximate an intersection of the tethers <NUM> and substrate <NUM>. Such filleting may reduce a corner stress concentration of the tethers <NUM>. In some embodiments, a width of the tethers <NUM> may be between about <NUM> and about <NUM>, such as between about <NUM> and about <NUM>, or between about <NUM> and about <NUM>. As used herein, the term "fillet" means and includes a rounding of an interior or exterior corner, such as where the tethers <NUM> intersect the membrane <NUM>. By way of non-limiting example, a filleted shape, as used herein, may have a shape similar to a shape of a fillet weld or a double tangent arc.

With continued reference to <FIG>, the device <NUM> includes a resistive heater <NUM> comprising an electrically conductive trace <NUM> electrically coupled to a pair of bond pads 112a, 112b. The resistive heater <NUM> may be powered by application of a current between the bond pads 112a, 112b. The resistive heater <NUM> may have a substantially circular shape. In other embodiments, the resistive heater <NUM> may exhibit an oval shape, a circular shape, or an elliptical shape. A resistive heater <NUM> with a circular shape may provide a substantially uniform temperature profile across the resistive heater <NUM>.

The electrically conductive trace <NUM> extends from a first bond pad 112a over a surface of a first tether 105a to the resistive heater <NUM> at the membrane <NUM>. Another electrically conductive trace <NUM> extends from a second bond pad 112b over a surface of a second tether 105b to the resistive heater <NUM> at the membrane <NUM>. In some embodiments, the first tether 105a and the second tether 105b may be located substantially opposite one another and the first bond pad 112a and the second bond pad 112b may be located substantially opposite one another. The electrically conductive traces <NUM> may also be referred to herein as "electrically conductive heater traces.

Portions of the electrically conductive trace <NUM> over the tethers <NUM> may be substantially linear. At an intersection of the first tether 105a and the membrane <NUM>, the electrically conductive material <NUM> may transition from a linear shape to a spiral shape. Similarly, at an intersection of the second tether 105b and the membrane <NUM>, the electrically conductive material <NUM> may transition from a linear shape to a spiral shape.

The resistive heater <NUM> comprises a first portion <NUM> extending from an outer portion (e.g., a periphery) of the membrane <NUM> proximate the first tether 105a to a location proximate the center of the membrane <NUM> and a second portion <NUM> extending from the periphery of the membrane <NUM> proximate the second tether 105b to a location proximate the center of the membrane <NUM>. The first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> are in electrical contact with each other at a central portion of the membrane <NUM>.

In some embodiments, a first surface (e.g., a radially varying outer surface) <NUM> and a second surface (e.g., a radially varying inward surface) <NUM> opposing the first surface <NUM> of portions of the resistive heater <NUM> may not be substantially parallel. Stated another way, opposing portions of the first surface <NUM> and the second surface <NUM> may not be parallel. According to the invention, the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> each comprise a spiral shape and the first surface <NUM> and the second surface <NUM> comprise curved (e.g., arcuate) surfaces. Accordingly, outer surfaces of the resistive heater <NUM> may comprise arcuate surfaces.

The first portion <NUM> comprises a spiral shape and spirals (e.g., wind, rotate, coil, curl, twist, etc.) in a first direction (e.g., one of a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction). The second portion <NUM> comprises a spiral shape and spirals (e.g., wind, rotate, coil, curl, twist, etc.) in a second direction opposite the first direction (e.g., another of the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction). The direction of the spiral changes proximate the center of the membrane <NUM> where the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> contact each other. Stated another way, at the center of the membrane <NUM>, a direction of rotation of the resistive heater <NUM> changes from a first direction to a second, opposite direction.

Radially adjacent regions of the first portion <NUM> may be isolated from each other by a same distance. Similarly, radially adjacent regions of the second portion <NUM> may be isolated from each other by a same distance. In some embodiments, a region of the second portion <NUM> may be disposed between radially adjacent regions of the first portion <NUM> and a region of the first portion <NUM> may spiral and be disposed between radially adjacent portions of the second portion <NUM>. In other words, coils (e.g., spirals) of the first portion <NUM> may be radially surrounded by coils (e.g., spirals) of the second portion <NUM> and coils of the second portion <NUM> may be radially surrounded by coils of the first portion <NUM>. Stated another way, coils of the first portion <NUM> and coils of the second portion <NUM> may intertwine with each other and are separated from each other by a distance.

A gap <NUM> between adjacent portions of the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> is substantially constant. The gap <NUM> may exhibit a spiral shape, similar to the spiral shape of the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM>. The gap <NUM> has a substantially constant width. In the present invention, the width of the gap <NUM> is less than a width W of the resistive heater <NUM> (e.g., less than the narrowest width W). In some embodiments, the width of the gap <NUM> may be minimized to facilitate a uniform temperature profile across the microhotplate or the membrane <NUM>, such as by using the resistive heater <NUM> as a heat spreader. By way of non-limiting example, a width of the gap <NUM> may be minimized such that a distance between adjacent portions of the resistive heater <NUM> is reduced. Since the resistive heater <NUM> exhibits a greater thermal conductivity than, for example, a dielectric material disposed over the resistive heater <NUM> and in the gaps <NUM>, the resistive heater <NUM> may approximate a heat spreader when the gaps <NUM> comprise a substantially reduced width. In some embodiments, the gap <NUM> may have a width between about <NUM> and about <NUM>, such as between about <NUM> and about <NUM>, between about <NUM> and about <NUM>, or between about <NUM> and about <NUM>. In some embodiments, the width of the gap <NUM> may be about <NUM>. In other embodiments, the width of the gap <NUM> may vary from portions proximate the periphery of the membrane <NUM> to portions proximate the center of the membrane <NUM>. In some embodiments, a width of the gap <NUM> may be greater at radially inward portions that at radially outward portions of the resistive heater <NUM>.

The electrically conductive material of the resistive heater <NUM> may comprise a metallization layer such as, for example, tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, platinum, palladium, aluminum, titanium, titanium tungsten (TiW), copper, gold, doped silicon, doped polysilicon, other conductive metals or alloys, combinations thereof, or a layered structure comprising one or more of the aforementioned materials. The layered structure may include, for example, a first layer comprising one or more of tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, platinum, palladium, aluminum, titanium, titanium tungsten (TiW), copper, gold, doped silicon, doped polysilicon, other conductive metals or alloys and at least a second layer comprising another of tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, platinum, palladium, aluminum, titanium, titanium tungsten (TiW), copper, gold, doped silicon, doped polysilicon, other conductive metals or alloys over the first layer. In some embodiments, the resistive heater <NUM> may include one or more adhesion layers (e.g., titanium, tungsten, a combination thereof, etc.) configured to improve adhesion to one or more insulating materials underlying or overlying the resistive heater <NUM>, to vary the composite resistive properties of the resistive heater <NUM>, or both. In some embodiments, and at least another metallization layer and/or at least one passivation layer may overlie the one or more adhesion layers. In some embodiments, the electrically conductive material comprises tungsten. In some such embodiments, the resistive heater <NUM> may be operated at temperatures up to <NUM>,<NUM> without damaging the device <NUM>.

The first portion <NUM> exhibits a continuously increasing width W from a location proximate a periphery of the membrane <NUM> to a location proximate the center of the membrane <NUM>. The first portion <NUM> exhibits a continuously increasing width W from outer portions of the membrane <NUM> toward the center of the membrane <NUM>. In some embodiments, the width W increases from a minimum width proximate the periphery of the membrane <NUM> (e.g., proximate a widened portion <NUM> of the first portion <NUM>) to a maximum width proximate the center of the membrane <NUM>. The width W increases substantially continuously from the outer portion of the membrane <NUM> to the inner portion thereof. Similarly, the second portion <NUM> exhibits a continuously increasing width from the outer portion of the membrane <NUM> (e.g., proximate an intersection between the second tether 105b and the membrane <NUM>) toward the center of the membrane <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the width of each location of the resistive heater <NUM> may be related to a distance of each location of the resistive heater <NUM> from a center of the membrane <NUM>. By way of non-limiting example, where the membrane <NUM> comprises a circular shape, the resistive heater <NUM> has a decreasing width as a radial distance from the center of the membrane <NUM> increases. Since the resistive heater <NUM> comprises a spiral shape with a changing (e.g., continuously changing) distance from the center of the membrane <NUM>, the width of the resistive heater <NUM> continuously changes along a length thereof.

In some embodiments, a maximum width of the resistive heater <NUM> (e.g., a width at the center thereof) may be at least about <NUM> times a minimum width of the resistive heater <NUM> (e.g., a width proximate the widened portion <NUM>). In some embodiments, the maximum width is greater than about <NUM> times the minimum width, greater than about <NUM> times the minimum width, greater than about <NUM> times the minimum width, or even greater than about <NUM> times the minimum width of the resistive heater <NUM>.

In some embodiments, for a predetermined first distance from the center of the membrane <NUM>, the width of the resistive heater <NUM> may be greater at substantially all distances (e.g., radial distances) from the center that are less than the first distance and may be smaller at substantially all distances from the center that are more than the first radial distance. By way of non-limiting example, the width of the resistive heater <NUM> as a function of distance from the center of the membrane may be approximated by, for example, Equation (<NUM>) below: <MAT> wherein Wr is the width of the resistive heater <NUM> for a predetermined distance from the center of the membrane <NUM>, r is the distance from the center of the membrane <NUM>, and A is a constant.

According to the present invention, the width of the resistive heater <NUM> increases as the resistive heater <NUM> approaches the center of the membrane <NUM> according to a continuously differentiable formula. The resistive heater <NUM> exhibits a shape such that its derivative exists at each point along the resistive heater <NUM>, thereby eliminating any sharp corners in the resistive heater <NUM>. In the present invention, the resistive heater <NUM> does not include any sharp corners (e.g., such as a <NUM>° corner, a vertex, an angular point of a polygon, etc.) or abrupt changes in direction. Stated another way, the resistive heater <NUM> does not include abrupt changes in direction or sharp corners, such as a square corner. In other words, the resistive heater <NUM> does not comprise a corner converging at a single point (e.g., such as at a vertex). Rather, the resistive heater <NUM> may comprise arcuate (e.g., curved) surfaces, such as the first surface <NUM> and the second surface <NUM>. Accordingly, the resistive heater <NUM> is substantially free of corners. Stated another way, the side surfaces (e.g., the first surface <NUM> and the second surface <NUM>) are substantially free of corners and may comprise arcuate surfaces.

In some embodiments, the resistive heater <NUM> exhibits an Archimedean Spiral shape that may be offset to create the gap <NUM> between the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM>.

The width W of the resistive heater <NUM> may increase from about <NUM> at a location proximate the periphery of the membrane <NUM> to about <NUM> at a location proximate the center of the membrane <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the resistive heater <NUM> may include a widened portion <NUM> at a location where the electrically conductive trace <NUM> transitions into the resistive heater <NUM> at a peripheral portion of the membrane <NUM> (which region may be referred to herein as a "transition region"). In some embodiments, the widened portion <NUM> may facilitate a transition from the substantially linear shape of the electrically conductive trace <NUM> on the tether <NUM> to the spiral shape of the resistive heater <NUM>. In some such embodiments, the resistive heater <NUM> may have a localized wide area at the widened portion <NUM>, a relatively smaller width radially inward from the widened portion <NUM> and an increasing (e.g., continuously increasing) width as the resistive heater <NUM> spirals toward the center of the membrane <NUM>.

The widened portion <NUM> may substantially reduce the current density at the transition region and reduces electromigration, enhancing the lifetime and overall operation of the resistive heater <NUM>. In other words, the widened portion <NUM> may facilitate an improved current density and a reduction in electromigration proximate the region where the electrically conductive material of the resistive heater <NUM> transitions from the linear portion over the tethers 105a, 105b (e.g., the electrically conductive traces <NUM>) to the resistive heater <NUM>.

The resistive heater <NUM> may be formed by a lithographic process. By way of non-limiting example, a reticle having a pattern of the resistive heater <NUM> may be used to form (e.g., deposit and pattern) the material of the resistive heater <NUM>.

In some embodiments, an electrical resistance of the resistive heater <NUM> may be related to the width W thereof. The electrical resistance of the resistive heater <NUM> may be relatively greater in magnitude at portions of the resistive heater <NUM> that have a smaller width W than at portions of the resistive heater <NUM> having a relatively larger width W (e.g., at portion proximate the center of the membrane <NUM> (i.e., radially inward portions)).

Increasing the width of the resistive heater <NUM> from the outer portions of the membrane <NUM> to the central portion of the membrane <NUM> may facilitate a substantially uniform temperature profile across the resistive heater <NUM> and the associated membrane <NUM>. At the peripheral portions, the membrane <NUM> and the resistive heater <NUM> may exhibit a greater heat loss than at central portions thereof. Accordingly, the electrical resistance of the resistive heater <NUM> may be greater at locations having a relatively smaller width (e.g., at locations proximate the periphery of the membrane <NUM>) than at locations having a relatively greater width (e.g., at locations proximate the center of the membrane <NUM>). Thus, the resistive heater <NUM> (and the membrane <NUM>) may exhibit a substantially uniform temperature profile since outer portions of the membrane <NUM> that are subject to greater heat losses are heated more by the resistive heater <NUM> than the central portions thereof. In other words, the tapered width of the resistive heater <NUM> may create a substantially isothermal temperature profile across the resistive heater <NUM> and the membrane <NUM>. In addition, since the resistive heater <NUM> provides a substantially uniform temperature profile of the membrane <NUM>, compared to conventional microhotplates, the device <NUM> may use less power to heat the membrane <NUM>. Further, the reduced width of the tethers <NUM>, 105a, 105b may reduce conductive heat losses from the membrane <NUM> to the substrate <NUM>.

With continued reference to <FIG>, the device <NUM> may further include sense lines <NUM> configured to measure a voltage drop across the resistive heater <NUM>. The sense lines <NUM> may be located at a location such that the average temperature of an active area of the resistive heater <NUM> may be determined by measuring the voltage drop across the resistive heater <NUM> with the sense lines <NUM>. The sense lines <NUM> may comprise a high impedance voltage measurement system such that there is substantially no voltage drop through the sense lines <NUM>. The sense lines <NUM> may also be referred to herein as "electrically conductive sense line traces.

The sense lines <NUM> may be coupled to respective sense line bond pads <NUM>. The sense line bond pads <NUM> may be located on the substrate <NUM> at a periphery of the device <NUM>. The sense lines <NUM> may extend from the sense line bond pads <NUM> to the resistive heater <NUM>. The sense lines <NUM> may extend over opposing tethers <NUM>, which may be different tethers <NUM> than the tethers 105a, 105b over which the electrically conductive traces <NUM> extend.

The device <NUM> may further include another pair of bond pads <NUM>. With reference to <FIG>, each bond pad <NUM> may be operably coupled to an electrode trace <NUM> that may extend over a tether <NUM> to the center of the membrane <NUM>. A first electrode <NUM> may be coupled to an electrode trace <NUM> and a second electrode <NUM> may be coupled to another electrode trace <NUM>. The first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> may comprise interdigitated electrodes <NUM>. The electrode traces <NUM> may also be referred to herein as "chemical sensing electrode traces.

The first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> may form one or more patterns and may be referred to herein as "interdigitated electrodes. " As illustrated in <FIG>, the first electrode <NUM> may be in electrical contact with one of the bond pads <NUM> of the pair of bond pads <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> may be in electrical contact with the other bond pad <NUM> of the pair of bond pads <NUM>. The first electrode <NUM> may include protrusions <NUM> extending from a base thereof and may be received by gaps (e.g., spaces) between adjacent protrusions <NUM> extending from a base of the second electrode <NUM>. The second electrode <NUM> may include protrusions <NUM> extending from the base thereof and may be received by gaps between adjacent protrusions <NUM> extending from the second electrode <NUM>. In other embodiments, the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM> may not include the protrusions <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively.

Accordingly, with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, each tether <NUM> of the device <NUM> may include a conductive trace thereon. For example, two of the tethers <NUM> (e.g., the first tether 105a and the second tether 105b) may include the electrically conductive traces <NUM> thereon, two of the tethers <NUM> may include the sense lines <NUM> thereon, and two of the tethers <NUM> may include the electrode traces <NUM> thereon. In other embodiments, it is contemplated that at least some of the tethers <NUM> may not include a conductive trace thereon. By way of non-limiting example, in some embodiments, the device <NUM> may not include the sense lines <NUM>, but may include the conductive traces <NUM> and the electrode traces <NUM>.

<FIG> is a side cross-sectional view of the device <NUM> taken along section line C-C (<FIG>). The cross-sectional view of the device <NUM> in <FIG> does not transverse any of the tethers <NUM>. As illustrated, the void <NUM> may extend under the membrane <NUM> and separate the membrane <NUM> from the substrate <NUM>.

In some embodiments, a thickness of the resistive heater <NUM> (e.g., a thickness in the vertical direction illustrated in <FIG>) may be between about <NUM>,<NUM>Å and about <NUM>,<NUM>Å, such as between about <NUM>,<NUM>Å and about <NUM>,<NUM>Å, or between about <NUM>,<NUM>Å and about <NUM>,<NUM>Å. However, the disclosure is not so limited and the thickness of the resistive heater <NUM> may be greater than or less than the thicknesses described above.

The membrane <NUM> and the tethers <NUM> may comprise a plurality of dielectric materials. A first dielectric material (e.g., an electrically insulating material) <NUM> may be disposed over and in contact with the substrate <NUM> at peripheral portions of the device <NUM> and extend over the void <NUM> to the membrane <NUM>. The first dielectric material <NUM> may include silicon, a silicon oxide (e.g., silicon dioxide (SiO<NUM>)), a nitride material (e.g., silicon nitride (e.g., Si<NUM>N<NUM>), hafnium nitride (e.g., Hf<NUM>N<NUM>), zirconium oxide (e.g., Zr<NUM>O<NUM>), or another insulating nitride material), a silicon carbide material, an oxynitride (e.g., silicon oxynitride (e.g., Si<NUM>N<NUM>O)), or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the first dielectric material <NUM> comprises silicon dioxide. A thickness of the dielectric material <NUM> may be between about <NUM>Å and about <NUM>,<NUM>Å, such as between about <NUM>Å and about <NUM>Å, or between about <NUM>Å and about <NUM>Å. In some embodiments, the thickness of the dielectric material <NUM> is about <NUM>Å. However, the disclosure is not so limited and the thickness of the dielectric material <NUM> may be greater than or less than the thicknesses described above.

A second dielectric material (e.g., another electrically insulating material) <NUM> may overlie the first dielectric material <NUM>. The second dielectric material <NUM> may directly overlie and contact the first dielectric material <NUM>. The second dielectric material <NUM> may include silicon, a silicon oxide, a nitride material, a silicon carbide material, an oxynitride, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the second dielectric material <NUM> comprises a nitride material, such as a silicon nitride material. A thickness of the second dielectric material <NUM> may be between about <NUM>,<NUM>Å and about <NUM>,<NUM>Å, such as between about <NUM>,<NUM>Å and about <NUM>,<NUM>Å, or between about <NUM>,<NUM>Å and about <NUM>,<NUM>Å. However, the disclosure is not so limited and the thickness of the second dielectric material <NUM> may be greater than or less than the thicknesses described above. The second dielectric material <NUM> may be formed by one or more of atomic layer deposition (ALD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), or other deposition process. In some embodiments, the second dielectric material <NUM> is formed by LPCVD. Accordingly, in some such embodiments, the second dielectric material <NUM> may comprise a LPCVD nitride material.

With continued reference to <FIG>, the resistive heater <NUM> may overlie portions of the second dielectric material <NUM>. A third dielectric material <NUM> may overlie and surround side surfaces of the resistive heater <NUM> at the membrane <NUM>. The third dielectric material <NUM> may include one or more layers of silicon, silicon oxide (e.g., silicon dioxide), a silicon nitride (e.g., SixNy) material, a silicon carbide material, an oxynitride, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the third dielectric material <NUM> comprises a silicon oxide (e.g., silicon dioxide) over a PECVD silicon nitride layer. In some embodiments, the third dielectric material <NUM> may be disposed in the gaps <NUM> (<FIG>) between adjacent portions (e.g., adjacent portions of the spiral) of the resistive heater <NUM>. At the peripheral portions of the device <NUM>, the third dielectric material <NUM> may directly overlie and contact the second dielectric material <NUM>. A thickness of the third dielectric material <NUM> may be between about <NUM>,<NUM>Å and about <NUM>,<NUM>Å, such as between about <NUM>,<NUM>Å and about <NUM>,<NUM>Å, or between about <NUM>,<NUM>Å and about <NUM>,<NUM>Å. However, the disclosure is not so limited and the thickness of the third dielectric material <NUM> may be greater than or less than the thicknesses described above. The third dielectric material <NUM> may be formed by one or more of ALD, CVD, LPCVD, PECVD, or other deposition process. In some embodiments, the third dielectric material <NUM> is formed by PECVD. In some such embodiments, the third dielectric material <NUM> comprise a PECVD silicon oxide material.

Each of the first dielectric material <NUM>, the second dielectric material <NUM>, and the third dielectric material <NUM> may be selected to exhibit at least one of a different tensile stress or a compressive stress, which may be selected to have a magnitude between about <NUM> MPa and about <NUM> GPa at room temperature (e.g., about <NUM>). In some embodiments, the tethers <NUM>, 105a, 105b, which may include one or more of the first dielectric material <NUM>, the second dielectric material <NUM>, and the third dielectric material <NUM> may exhibit a composite stress such that the membrane <NUM> is held in tension and remains substantially planar suspended over the void <NUM>. The different stress values may be selected to balance a stress of the membrane <NUM> or the device <NUM> about a neutral axis of the stack of materials (e.g., the stack of materials comprising the membrane <NUM> (i.e., the first dielectric material <NUM>, the second dielectric material <NUM>, and the third dielectric material <NUM>)), such as at operating temperatures (e.g., at temperatures between about <NUM> and about <NUM>,<NUM>, such as between about <NUM> and about <NUM>, between about <NUM> and about <NUM>,<NUM>, or between about <NUM>,<NUM> and about <NUM>,<NUM>) of the device <NUM>. Accordingly, the different materials and thickness of the tethers <NUM>, 105a, 105b may be selected to achieve the desired stress (e.g., composite stress, compressive stress, tensile stress, etc.) and exhibit a desired tension on the membrane <NUM>.

A thickness of each of the first dielectric material <NUM>, the second dielectric material <NUM>, and the third dielectric material <NUM> may be selected and tuned to exhibit an optimal residual tensile stress, which may result in a reduced mechanical deflection of the membrane <NUM> at operating temperatures thereof. In some embodiments, a formation temperature (e.g., a deposition temperature), a formation pressure (e.g., a deposition pressure), or both of one or more of the first dielectric material <NUM>, the second dielectric material <NUM>, and the third dielectric material <NUM> may be selected to tune a residual stress (e.g., a residual tensile stress) of one or more of the first dielectric material <NUM>, the second dielectric material <NUM>, and the third dielectric material <NUM>. By way of non-limiting example, one or more of the first dielectric material <NUM>, the second dielectric material <NUM>, and the third dielectric material <NUM> may be formed (e.g., deposited) at a temperature between about <NUM> and about <NUM>. In some embodiments, a residual stress of the membrane <NUM> may be tuned by controlling a deposition power at which one or more of the first dielectric material <NUM>, the second dielectric material <NUM>, and the third dielectric material <NUM> is deposited. A residual stress between layers of the membrane <NUM> may change responsive to heating and expansion of the materials (e.g., such as during operation of the resistive heater <NUM>). Responsive to heating, the materials of the membrane <NUM> may exhibit a change in overall stress tensor (e.g., a reduction in the overall stress tensor). In some embodiments, the materials of the membrane <NUM> may be formed, formulated, and configured such that the stress does not become compressive during operation (e.g., at operating temperatures of the resistive heater <NUM>). In some such embodiments, buckling or substantial out of plane motions (i.e., up and down in the view of <FIG>) of the membrane <NUM> may be reduced or even eliminated. Accordingly, tuning the residual tensile stress may reduce a likelihood of the membrane <NUM> from separating from the tethers <NUM>.

In some embodiments, after the first dielectric material <NUM>, the second dielectric material <NUM>, and the third dielectric material <NUM> are formed, the stack of materials may be annealed. In some embodiments, the annealing may be performed at a temperature between about <NUM> and about <NUM>, such as between about <NUM> and about <NUM>. In some embodiments, the annealing is performed at a temperature of about <NUM>. Annealing the materials may form the materials having a desired stress. After annealing, the materials may be patterned to form the void <NUM> in the substrate <NUM>, such as by wet etching using, for example, a wet etchant. In some embodiments, the wet etchant may comprise potassium hydroxide (KOH), tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH), calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)<NUM>), or other suitable caustic material. In some embodiments, the etching comprises isotropic etching. The etching may be performed from a back side of the substrate <NUM> (e.g., from a lower side of the substrate <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>), a front side of the substrate <NUM>, of from both sides of the substrate <NUM>. Etching may form the membrane <NUM> suspended above the substrate <NUM> by the tethers <NUM>. In some embodiments, etching from the back side may facilitate forming the tethers <NUM> extending from the substrate <NUM> at a peripheral portion of the device <NUM> over the void <NUM> to the membrane <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, taken by cross-section, an outermost portion of the resistive heater <NUM> has a relatively smaller width (e.g., a distance from left to right in the cross-section illustrated in <FIG>) than portions of the resistive heater <NUM> proximate to the center of the membrane <NUM>.

With continued reference to <FIG>, the interdigitated electrodes <NUM> (e.g., each of the first electrode <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM>) may directly overlie and contact the third dielectric material <NUM> at the membrane <NUM>. In some embodiments, a chemical sensing material <NUM> may directly overlie and contact the interdigitated electrodes <NUM>. The chemical sensing material <NUM> may overlie and be disposed in between gaps of the interdigitated electrodes <NUM>. The chemical sensing material <NUM> may be in electrical contact with the interdigitated electrodes <NUM> such that the electrical characteristics of the chemical sensing material <NUM> (e.g., a resistivity between the interdigitated electrodes due to the chemical sensing material <NUM>) may be determined through the bond pads <NUM> (<FIG>, <FIG>). As used herein, the terms "resistivity" and "electrical resistance" are used interchangeably. The chemical sensing material <NUM> may comprise a material formulated and configured to exhibit a change in electrical resistance responsive to interaction with (e.g., reaction with, adsorption of, absorption of, oxidation by, reduction by, etc.) one or more chemicals (e.g., analytes) of interest, such as when an analyte is present thereon. In some embodiments, the chemical sensing material <NUM> may be formulated and configured to adsorb, absorb, or chemically react with at least one analyte of interest. The chemical sensing material <NUM> may also be referred to herein as a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) coating ("MOS coating") and the device <NUM> may also be referred to herein as a "MOS microhotplate.

The chemical sensing material <NUM> may comprise a metal oxide (e.g., tin oxide, zinc oxide, tungsten oxide (e.g., WO<NUM>), a manganese oxide (e.g., MnO, MnO<NUM>, Mn<NUM>O<NUM>), LaCoO<NUM>, LaNiO<NUM>, vanadium oxide (e.g., V<NUM>O<NUM>), phosphorous pentoxide (e.g., P<NUM>O<NUM>), molybdenum oxide (MoO<NUM>), cesium oxide (e.g., Cs<NUM>O), etc.), a doped metal oxide (e.g., platinum-doped tin oxide), a polymer material (e.g., an electrically conductive polymer material), an ionic conductor (e.g., an electrochemical coating (also referred to as an e-chem coating)) material, an n-type semiconductor material, a p-type semiconductor material, a thermoelectric material, another material, or combinations thereof. In other embodiments, the chemical sensing material <NUM> comprises a semistor material formulated and configured to exhibit a change in one or more electrical properties responsive to reacting with an analyte. The semistor material may comprise, for example, tin oxide (e.g., SnO<NUM>), titanium oxide (e.g., TiO<NUM>), tungsten oxide (e.g., WO<NUM>), yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), or combinations thereof.

With continued reference to <FIG>, the membrane <NUM> may include the first dielectric material <NUM> suspended over the void <NUM>, the second dielectric material <NUM> over the first dielectric material <NUM>, and the resistive heater <NUM> over the second dielectric material <NUM>. The third dielectric material <NUM> may overlie the second dielectric material <NUM> and the resistive heater <NUM> and may be disposed in the gaps <NUM> (<FIG>) of the resistive heater <NUM>. The interdigitated electrodes <NUM> may overlie the third dielectric material <NUM> and the chemical sensing material <NUM> may overlie the interdigitated electrodes <NUM>. At the periphery of the device <NUM>, the first dielectric material <NUM> may overlie the substrate <NUM>, the second dielectric material <NUM> may overlie the first dielectric material <NUM>, and the third dielectric material <NUM> may overlie the second dielectric material <NUM>. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the tethers <NUM>, 105a, 105b may be formed of and comprise the same materials as the membrane <NUM>.

<FIG> is a side cross-sectional view of the device <NUM> taken along the electrode trace <NUM> (<FIG>) and the tethers <NUM> (<FIG>) supporting the electrode trace <NUM>. The interdigitated electrode <NUM> and the electrode trace <NUM> may be disposed over the third dielectric material <NUM> and above the resistive heater <NUM>. The electrode trace <NUM> may be in electrical contact with the chemical sensing material <NUM> and may be configured to detect electrical properties (e.g., an electrical resistance) of the chemical sensing material <NUM>.

<FIG> is a side cross-sectional view of the device <NUM> taken along the electrically conductive trace <NUM> (<FIG>) and <FIG> is a side cross-sectional view of the device <NUM> taken along the sense lines <NUM> (<FIG>). As illustrated, the electrically conductive trace <NUM> and the sense lines <NUM> may be coplanar and may be in electrical contact with the resistive heater <NUM>.

In some embodiments, forming one or more of the electrically conductive traces <NUM>, the sense lines <NUM>, and the electrode traces <NUM> to comprise a material exhibiting a low thermal conductivity (e.g., tungsten) relative to other conductive materials may reduce conductive thermal transfer and heat loss from the one or more of the electrically conductive traces <NUM>, the sense lines <NUM>, and the electrode traces <NUM> to the substrate <NUM> through the tethers <NUM>, 105a, 105b. In addition, forming the tethers <NUM>, 105a, 105b from one or more materials exhibiting a relatively low thermal conductivity (such as the first dielectric material <NUM>, the second dielectric material <NUM>, and the third dielectric material <NUM>, each of which may comprise, for example, one or more of a nitride, an oxide, a low thermal conductivity ceramic material) may reduce conductive heat losses from the one or more of the electrically conductive traces <NUM>, the sense lines <NUM>, and the electrode traces <NUM> to the substrate <NUM> through the tethers <NUM>, 105a, 105b. Forming the tethers <NUM>, 105a, 105b to have a relatively thin width may further reduce conductive heat losses from the electrically conductive traces <NUM>, the sense lines <NUM>, and the electrode traces <NUM> to the substrate <NUM>.

Although the device <NUM> has been described and illustrated as including the resistive heater <NUM>, the disclosure is not so limited. <FIG> is a top view of a device <NUM>' comprising a microhotplate, in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. The device <NUM>' may be substantially similar to the device <NUM> described above with reference to <FIG>, except that the device <NUM>' may include a resistive heater <NUM>' different than the resistive heater <NUM> of <FIG>. The resistive heater <NUM>' may be heated by application of a current between the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> applied through the electrically conductive traces <NUM>, as described above with reference to <FIG>. The first portion <NUM> of the resistive heater <NUM>' may include an extended portion <NUM> extending between the sense line <NUM> and the intersection of the tether 105a and the first portion <NUM>. Similarly, the second portion <NUM> of the resistive heater <NUM>' may include an extended portion <NUM> extending between the sense line <NUM> and the intersection of the tether 105b and the second portion <NUM>. The first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> may include a protrusion <NUM> extending beyond the intersection of the sense line <NUM> and the respective first portion <NUM> and second portion <NUM>.

In some embodiments, electrically connecting the sense lines <NUM> to the resistive heater <NUM>' at a location of the resistive heater <NUM>' that is not in a current path between the bond pads 112a, 112b may facilitate improved sensitivity of the sense lines <NUM>. It is believed that because substantially no current flows in the extended portions <NUM> (since the extended portions <NUM> are not located in a current path of the resistive heater <NUM>' between the bond pads 112a, 112b), there is substantially no voltage drop in the extended portions <NUM>. Accordingly, improved voltage measurements may be obtained with the sense lines <NUM> electrically coupled to the extended portions <NUM> of the resistive heater <NUM>'.

In some embodiments, the protrusions <NUM> may reduce radiative and convective heat losses from the membrane <NUM> and may improve a temperature uniformity of the membrane <NUM>. A width of the protrusions <NUM> may decrease with a distance from the widened portions <NUM>.

Although the device <NUM> has been described and illustrated as comprising a circular membrane <NUM>, the disclosure is not so limited. In other embodiments, the membrane <NUM> may have a polygonal shape, such as a pentagonal shape, a hexagonal shape, a heptagonal shape, an octagonal shape, or other polygonal shape having a plurality of sides. In some embodiments, and as illustrated in <FIG>, a device <NUM> may comprise a hexagonal membrane <NUM>, as shown in the dotted lines.

Although the device <NUM> has been described as comprising interdigitated electrodes <NUM> (<FIG>) having a particular shape, the disclosure is not so limited. <FIG>, is a cross-sectional view of another device <NUM> including interdigitated electrodes <NUM>' comprising a first electrode <NUM>' and a second electrode <NUM>' having a different pattern than the interdigitated electrodes <NUM> of <FIG>. The first electrode <NUM>' and the second electrode <NUM>' may be shaped and configured to optimize a distance between the electrodes. In some embodiments, the distance between the first electrode <NUM>' and the second electrode <NUM>' may be selected depending on electrical characteristics of the material (e.g., the chemical sensing material <NUM>) disposed over the interdigitated electrodes <NUM>'.

The first electrode <NUM>' may be in electrical contact with one of the bond pads <NUM> of the pair of bond pads <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM>' may be in electrical contact with the other bond pad <NUM> of the pair of bond pads <NUM>. The first electrode <NUM>' and the second electrode <NUM>' may comprise alternating concentric regions. By way of non-limiting example, an outermost portion of the first electrode <NUM>' may be located further from the center of the membrane <NUM> than an outer portion of the second electrode <NUM>'. The outer portion of the second electrode <NUM>' may be adjacent the outer portion of the first electrode <NUM>' and another portion of the first electrode <NUM>'.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of another device <NUM>' including interdigitated electrodes <NUM>" comprising a first electrode <NUM>" and a second electrode <NUM>" having a different pattern than those illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>. The first electrode <NUM>" and the second electrode <NUM>" may each have a spiral shape. The first electrode <NUM>" may be in electrical contact with one bond pad <NUM> of the pair of bond pads <NUM> and the second electrode <NUM>" may be in electrical contact with the other bond pad <NUM> of the pair of bond pads <NUM>. The first electrode <NUM>" may spiral in a first direction (e.g., one of a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction) and the second electrode <NUM>" may spiral in a second direction (e.g., the other of the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction). In some embodiments, the spiral shape is substantially the same as the spiral shape of the resistive heater <NUM> (<FIG>), but the first electrode <NUM>" and the second electrode <NUM>" may have a substantially constant width along a length thereof. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the device <NUM>' may include interdigitated electrodes <NUM>" and a resistive heater exhibiting a spiral shape.

In some embodiments, the devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>' may include a heat spreader. The heat spreader may be disposed above or below one or more of the resistive heater <NUM> and may be isolated from the resistive heater <NUM> by one or more dielectric materials (e.g., one or more of the first dielectric material <NUM>, the second dielectric material <NUM>, or the third dielectric material <NUM>). In some embodiments, the heat spreader may be disposed above the resistive heater <NUM> and below the interdigitated electrodes <NUM> (i.e., between the resistive heater <NUM> and the interdigitated electrodes <NUM>). The heat spreader may improve the heat distribution (i.e., heat transfer) and temperature uniformity of the resistive heater <NUM> and the membrane <NUM>.

In use and operation, a sensor including one or more of the devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>' may be used to determine one or more properties (e.g., a composition, a presence of at least one species, etc.) of an analyte. The resistive heater <NUM> may be heated to a predetermined temperature by applying a current to the resistive heater <NUM> through the conductive traces <NUM>. A temperature of the resistive heater <NUM> may be determined by measuring the voltage drop across the resistive heater <NUM> and determining the resistance according to Equation (<NUM>) below: <MAT> wherein R is the resistance of the resistive heater <NUM>, V is the voltage drop measured across the resistive heater, and I is the current provided to the resistive heater <NUM> through the electrically conductive traces <NUM>. A temperature of the resistive heater <NUM> may be determined based on the resistance of the resistive heater <NUM>, since a temperature of the resistive heater <NUM> may be proportional to the resistance thereof. In some embodiments, the voltage drop across the resistive heater <NUM> may be measured with the sense lines <NUM>. In other embodiments, the voltage drop may be measured at a printed circuit board from which the current to the resistive heater <NUM> is provided. In some embodiments, measuring the voltage drop with the sense lines <NUM> may increase the accuracy of such measurements since measurement with the sense lines <NUM> reduces resistance losses due to wiring and other circuitry prior to obtaining a differential voltage measurement across the resistive heater <NUM>. If sense lines <NUM> are not used, the accuracy of the measured resistance (which is proportional to the temperature) can be improved by compensating the measured resistance for the resistance of the interconnect wiring (i.e., the resistance from, for example, the printed circuit board to the bond pads 112a, 112b) and tether connection to the heater (i.e., the electrically conductive traces <NUM>). In one embodiment, the compensation may be accomplished by measuring a total resistance from the current source and across the resistive heater <NUM> (which total resistance may account for the resistance of the bond pads 112a, 112b, the resistance of the electrically conductive traces <NUM>, the resistance of the resistive heater <NUM>, and the resistance of any bonding wires and/or interconnect structures between the current source and the bond pads 112a, 112b. In other embodiments, the compensation may be accomplished by applying a mathematical formula. An example of such a compensation formula is given below in Equation (<NUM>): <MAT> wherein Rcomp is the compensated resistance value, Rtarget is the measured resistance from the total power applied to the resistive heater <NUM>, B is the compensation factor (°C/°C) that may be unique for a given device <NUM> and membrane <NUM> of particular dimension and materials (i.e., the value of B may be constant and unique for particular dimensions and materials of the microhotplate), Tamb is the current ambient temperature as measured from an environmental sensor (or measurement of the ambient resistance of the microhotplate), and To is a calibration temperature.

In other embodiments, the resistance measured across the resistive heater <NUM> may be compensated using a reference microhotplate. In some such embodiments, the reference microhotplate may include sense lines (e.g., sense lines <NUM>). The sense lines of the reference microhotplate may be used to set a temperature of the device <NUM> to a desired temperature, such as by adjusting the current through the resistive heater until the resistance of the resistive heater is at a value that corresponds to the desired temperature. The current and voltage to the microhotplate device <NUM> without sense lines <NUM> may be set to the same values as the current and voltage applied to the resistive heater of the reference microhotplate, thus achieving the same temperature of the resistive heater <NUM> of the device <NUM> as the temperature of the reference microhotplate with the sense lines.

A resistance (i.e., an electrical conductivity) of the chemical sensing material <NUM> may be measured at the bond pads <NUM>. The resistance of the chemical sensing material <NUM> may be a function of interactions of an analyte with the chemical sensing material <NUM>. Stated another way, an electrical resistance of the chemical sensing material <NUM> may change when it interacts with one or more species in an analyte. In some embodiments, the chemical sensing material <NUM> may be formulated and configured to interact with particular species (e.g., gases).

In some embodiments, the electrical conductivity of the chemical sensing material <NUM> may be measured at a plurality of temperatures to determine a presence of a particular species (e.g., a gas) in an analyte. The response (e.g., the electrical conductivity) of the chemical sensing material <NUM> may vary with temperature and the temperature profile may be used to determine a composition of an analyte or the presence of one or more gases in the analyte. In some embodiments, a sensor may include a plurality of devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>', each including a chemical sensing material <NUM> comprising a different composition and formulated and configured to interact with different species. The sensor may be used to determine the presence of one or more species in the analyte to which the devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>' are exposed.

In some embodiments, the device <NUM> may not include the interdigitated electrodes <NUM>. <FIG> are cross-sectional views of a device <NUM> according to other embodiments of the disclosure. The device <NUM> may be substantially the same as the devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>' described above, but may not include the chemical sensing material <NUM> (<FIG>). Accordingly, the device <NUM> may include a membrane <NUM> suspended over a substrate <NUM>, which may comprise silicon. The membrane <NUM> may be suspended over the substrate <NUM> by a plurality of tethers <NUM>, as described above with reference to <FIG>. The electrically conductive traces <NUM> may electrically connect the resistive heater <NUM> to the bond pads 112a, 112b and may extend over the tethers <NUM>, as described above with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. Accordingly, the resistive heater <NUM> may be powered by application of a current between the bond pads 112a, 112b.

Although not shown in <FIG>, the device <NUM> may include sense lines <NUM> in communication with the resistive heater <NUM>, as described above with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, for example. A voltage drop across the resistive heater <NUM> may be measured with sense lines <NUM> in electrical communication with the resistive heater <NUM> and with sense line bond pads <NUM>, as described above with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. Use of the sense lines <NUM> and sense line bond pads <NUM> may increase the sensitivity and accuracy with which the voltage drop across the resistive heater <NUM> may be measured. In other embodiments, the voltage drop across the resistive heater <NUM> may be measured without the sense lines or with sense lines and bond pads located elsewhere in the device <NUM>.

The device <NUM> may include a coating material <NUM> and may comprise a catalytic microhotplate or a reference microhotplate, depending on a composition of the coating material <NUM>. As used herein, the term "catalytic microhotplate" means and includes a device including a resistive heater, sense lines (e.g., sense lines <NUM>) in electrical communication with the resistive heater, and a coating material <NUM> comprising a catalytically active material over a dielectric material overlying the resistive heater <NUM>. As used herein, the term "reference microhotplate" means and includes a device including a resistive heater, sense lines (e.g., sense lines <NUM>) in electrical communication with the resistive heater <NUM>, and either no coating material or a chemically inert coating material over a dielectric material overlying the resistive heater. Accordingly, the reference microhotplate may be free of a coating material over the resistive heater <NUM> or may include a coating material <NUM> comprising an inert material over a dielectric material overlying the resistive heater.

The coating material <NUM> may be electrically isolated from the resistive heater <NUM> by one or more dielectric materials. By way of non-limiting example, the coating material <NUM> may directly overlie and contact the third dielectric material <NUM>. In other embodiments, the coating material <NUM> may directly overlie and contact another dielectric material (e.g., the first dielectric material <NUM> or the second dielectric material <NUM>). The coating material <NUM> may comprise an inert material (e.g., a reference material) or a catalyst material formulated and configured to catalyze, for example, an oxidation reaction and produce heat in the presence of predetermined analytes. The inert coating material may be configured and formulated to exhibit at least one of substantially a same mass (e.g., thermal mass), emissivity, convective heat loss, thermal conductivity, and surface area of a coating material comprising the catalyst material.

In some embodiments, the inert coating material comprises aluminum oxide (e.g., Al<NUM>O<NUM>). In some embodiments, such as where the coating material comprises a catalytic coating material, the catalyst material comprises palladium, platinum, ruthenium, silver, iridium, another catalyst metal, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the catalyst material may exhibit a relatively high porosity and may exhibit a high surface roughness, which may increase a total surface area of the catalyst material.

In some embodiments, a sensor system may comprise a device <NUM> having a coating material <NUM> comprising a catalyst material as a catalytic microhotplate and another device <NUM> comprising an inert coating material as a reference microhotplate. In some embodiments, the devices <NUM> may be formed in the same substrate. Stated another way, a sensor system may include at least one catalytic microhotplate and at least one reference microhotplate fabricated on the same substrate and may have identical features, except that the coating material <NUM> of the catalytic microhotplate may comprise a catalyst material and the reference microhotplate may comprise an inert coating material or may not include a coating material. As will be described herein, the system may be useful for measuring a catalytic heat of combustion or oxidation (such as with the catalytic microhotplate), or for directly measuring a thermal conductivity of a material (such as with the reference microhotplate), or both. In some embodiments, the device <NUM> comprising the inert coating material or not including the coating material may comprise a reference microhotplate. In some embodiments, the sensor system may further comprise a microhotplate comprising a chemical sensing material <NUM> (e.g., device <NUM> (<FIG>), and may comprise a MOS microhotplate).

In embodiments where the device <NUM> comprises a catalytic microhotplate (e.g., where the coating material <NUM> comprises a catalytic coating), the device <NUM> may be used to determine at least one of an exothermic event, an endothermic event, an onset of such events, or an ignition temperature of an analyte. In some embodiments, an exothermic event or an endothermic event may be detected by measuring a power required to achieve a given temperature. By way of non-limiting example, a temperature of the resistive heater <NUM> of the catalytic microhotplate may be ramped according to predetermined temperature steps by changing (e.g., ramping) a current provided to the resistive heater <NUM> through the electrically conductive traces <NUM>. A voltage drop across the resistive heater <NUM> may be measured at each temperature while the temperature is changed (e.g., during the temperature ramp), such as by using the sense lines in electrical communication with the resistive heater <NUM>. A power to achieve each temperature may be determined from the measured voltage drop at each temperature and the current provided at each temperature, according to Equation (<NUM>) below: <MAT> wherein P is the power, I is the current provided to the resistive heater <NUM>, and V is the measured voltage drop across the sense lines. At a temperature between about <NUM> and about <NUM>, any physiosorbed species (e.g., species that have been physically adsorbed to the catalytic coating) may be desorbed from the surface of the catalytic coating <NUM> prior to ramping a temperature of the resistive heater <NUM> to greater temperatures where poisoning of the catalytic coating <NUM> by undesired chemical reactions may occur. Accordingly, the catalytic coating <NUM> may be preserved by ramping the temperature of the device <NUM> to a first lower temperature, followed by ramping the temperature to at least a second, higher temperature.

Baseline data (e.g., a current, a resistance, and a power required to maintain each temperature) may be stored in a memory associated with the catalytic microhotplate. The baseline data may include historical power versus temperature data from previous catalytic sensor temperature ramps. The baseline data may be subtracted from the current data to obtain a signal representative of changes in the catalytic microhotplate thermal response, according to Equation (<NUM>) below: <MAT> wherein Delta Cat is the relative change in the catalytic microhotplate thermal response, Cat(n) is the thermal response of the current temperature ramp (e.g., the power required to maintain a predetermined temperature), and Cat(baseline) is the baseline data. The Cat(baseline) may comprise a historic average value of the power required to maintain each temperature of the resistive heater <NUM> and may be continuously updated during each temperature ramp. The Delta Cat value may be determined at each temperature during the temperature ramp. Accordingly, Delta Cat may correspond to a difference in power required to maintain a given temperature of the catalytic microhotplate compared to previous temperature ramps. In some embodiments, a Delta Cat value that deviates from zero may be an indication of a reaction on the catalytic microhotplate, an ignition temperature of an analyte in contact with the catalytic microhotplate, or both.

With continued reference to <FIG>, a reference microhotplate may comprise a device wherein the coating material <NUM> comprises an inert coating material. In other embodiments, the reference microhotplate may not include a coating material, as described above. The reference microhotplate may be fabricated on the same wafer (e.g., the same silicon wafer) as the catalytic microhotplate sensor. A temperature of the reference microhotplate may be changed (e.g., ramped) according to a same temperature changes (e.g., ramp) as the catalytic microhotplate. In some embodiments, the reference microhotplate and the catalytic microhotplate are exposed to a temperature ramp simultaneously. In some such embodiments, measurements from the catalytic microhotplate and measurements from the reference microhotplate may be correlated in time, may be exposed to substantially the same analyte, and may exhibit improved sensor accuracy.

Baseline data (e.g., a current, a resistance, and a power required to maintain each temperature) may be stored in a memory associated with the reference microhotplate. The baseline data may include historical power versus temperature data from previous reference microhotplate temperature changes (e.g., ramps). The baseline data may be subtracted from the current data to obtain a signal representative of changes in the reference microhotplate thermal response, according to Equation (<NUM>) below: <MAT> wherein Delta Ref is the relative change in the reference microhotplate thermal response, Ref(n) is the thermal response of the current temperature (e.g., current temperature ramp), and Ref(baseline) is the baseline data (e.g., an average of Ref(n) data from previous temperature changes (ramps)). The Delta Ref value may be determined at each temperature (such as during the temperature ramp). The Delta Ref value may be an indication of the thermal conductivity of an analyte in contact with or proximate to the reference microhotplate. For example, a Delta Ref value that is greater than zero may be an indication that the thermal conductivity of the analyte is greater than a thermal conductivity of gases to which the reference microhotplate was exposed (e.g., air) during calibration or in previous ramps. Similarly, a Delta Ref value that is less than zero may be an indication that the thermal conductivity of the analyte is less than a thermal conductivity of gases to which the reference microhotplate was exposed in previous ramps. In some such embodiments, a thermal conductivity of the analyte may be determined according to differential thermal analysis (DTA) or differential scanning calorimetry (DCS) techniques. The thermal conductivity of a species or an analyte may be a function of temperature. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the thermal conductivity of an analyte may be determined at more than one temperature.

In other embodiments, a current provided to the resistive heater may be maintained and a resistance of the resistive heater may be measured with the sense lines to determine a temperature of the resistive heater. A thermal conductivity of the analyte may be determined based on the determined temperature for the power provided to the resistive heater. In some such embodiments, the thermal conductivity may be determined according to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

In some embodiments, the thermal conductivity may be measured at two or more temperatures. By way of non-limiting example, the thermal conductivity may be measured at relatively low temperatures (e.g., between about <NUM> and about <NUM>) and at relatively high temperatures (e.g., between about <NUM> and about <NUM>,<NUM>). Thermal conductivity generally increases with increasing temperatures. Therefore, Delta Ref measurements made at higher temperatures may exhibit a larger sensor response from the reference microhotplate, and may, therefore, increase the sensitivity of the reference microhotplate.

The Delta Ref signal may be subtracted from the Delta Cat signal to produce a signal response that is proportional to the heat generated on or removed from the catalytic sensor, according to Equation (<NUM>) below: <MAT> wherein Exo(new) is the signal response that is proportional to the heat generated on or removed from the catalytic microhotplate and Delta Cat and Delta Ref are as previously described. Subtracting the Delta Ref signal from the Delta Cat signal may compensate the Delta Cat signal for the effects of thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, density, viscosity, temperature, pressure, relative humidity, flow variations, and other noise in the system and in the analyte being detected.

If the value of Exo(new) deviates from its nominal value, one or more of an exothermic reaction, an endothermic reaction, or an ignition of such reactions, which may also be referred to herein as a "light-off" event, may be detected. By way of example only, an Exo(new) value that is less than zero may be an indication of less power required to maintain a temperature of the catalytic microhotplate, which may be an indication of an exothermic reaction. Similarly, an Exo(new) value that is greater than zero may be an indication of more power required to maintain the temperature of the catalytic microhotplate, which may be an indication of an endothermic reaction.

The temperature of the light-off event may be an indication of a presence of a gas in the sample being detected. Since different gases catalytically oxidize at different temperatures, the light-off temperature of an analyte may be an indication of a presence of one or more gases in the analyte. Multiple light-off events at different temperatures may be an indication of multiple flammable gases present in the sample. A database may store the sensor responses, training data, and calibration data used in the analysis.

Although the devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM> include a conductive trace (e.g., the electrically conductive trace <NUM>, the sense lines <NUM>, and the electrode trace <NUM>), over each tether <NUM>, in some embodiments, at least some of the tethers <NUM> may not include a conductive trace extending thereon.

In use and operation, the devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM> may be used for sensing one or more gases, one or more properties of one or more gases, or a combination thereof. <FIG> is a flowchart illustrating a method <NUM> of operating a device including at least one microhotplate according to the present invention.

The device may include one of at least one device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM> described above. By way of non-limiting example, the device may include at least one MOS microhotplate (e.g., at least one device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>' as described above with reference to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>), at least one reference microhotplate device (e.g., at least one device <NUM> including an inert coating material <NUM>, or no coating material, as described above with reference to <FIG>), and at least catalytic microhotplate (e.g., at least another device <NUM> including a catalytic coating material <NUM> as described above with reference to <FIG>).

The method <NUM> includes act <NUM> including providing a known current to a resistive heater of at least one microhotplate through electrically conductive traces; act <NUM> including measuring a voltage drop across the resistive heater with voltage sense lines; act <NUM> including determining a resistance of the resistive heater and optionally determining a resistivity between interdigitated electrodes; act <NUM> including determining a temperature of the resistive heater; and act <NUM> including adjusting the current to maintain a desired temperature of the resistive heater or to change a temperature of the resistive heater.

Act <NUM> includes providing a known current to a resistive heater of at least one microhotplate through conductive traces in electrical contact with the resistive heater. The current may raise a temperature of the resistive heater to a desired temperature. In some embodiments, the current is supplied in a stepped manner to raise the temperature of the resistive heater in a stepped manner. In some embodiments, the current is provided to the resistive heater to maintain a predetermined temperature of the resistive heater. In some embodiments, act <NUM> includes providing a current to a resistive heater of at least one MOS microhotplate, a resistive heater of at least one reference microhotplate, and a resistive heater of at least one catalytic microhotplate.

Act <NUM> includes measuring a voltage (e.g., a voltage drop) across the resistive heater. In some embodiments, the voltage drop across the resistive heater may be measured with voltage sense lines (e.g., sense lines <NUM> (<FIG>)) in electrical contact with the resistive heater. In other embodiments, the voltage drop may be measured without the sense lines. In other words, act <NUM> may include at least one of measuring a voltage drop across the resistive heater of at least one reference microhotplate, measuring a voltage drop across the resistive heater of at least one catalytic microhotplate, and measuring a voltage drop across a resistive heater of at least one MOS microhotplate. By way of non-limiting example, where the microhotplate device comprises a catalytic microhotplate or a reference microhotplate, act <NUM> may include measuring a voltage drop across sense lines in electrical contact with the resistive heater. Where the microhotplate device comprises a MOS microhotplate, act <NUM> may include measuring the voltage drop across the resistive heater at a location proximate where the current to the resistive heater is supplied (e.g., such as at a printed circuit board). In some embodiments, act <NUM> includes measuring a voltage drop across the resistive heater of at least one reference microhotplate, measuring a voltage drop across the resistive heater of at least one catalytic microhotplate, and measuring a voltage drop across the resistive heater of at least one MOS microhotplate.

Act <NUM> includes determining a resistance of the resistive heater and optionally determining a resistivity between the interdigitated electrodes. The resistivity between the interdigitated electrodes may correspond to the resistivity of the MOS coating of a MOS microhotplate. In some embodiments, act <NUM> includes determining a resistance of the resistive heater of one or more of at least one catalytic microhotplate, at least one reference microhotplate, and the resistive heater of at least one MOS microhotplate. The resistance of the resistive heater may be determined, based at least in part, on the current provided to the resistive heater and the voltage measured by the sense lines or elsewhere in the device. The resistance may be proportional to the measured voltage divided by the provided current (i.e., Ohms law, R = V/I, wherein R is the resistance, V is the measured voltage, and I is the provided current). In embodiments, where act <NUM> includes determining a resistivity between the interdigitated electrodes, the resistivity may be determined based on the measured voltage drop across interdigitated electrodes (e.g., across the electrode traces <NUM> (<FIG>). The resistance of the interdigitated electrodes may be determined based on Ohms law, as described above with reference to the resistance of the resistive heater. In some embodiments, the resistivity between the interdigitated electrodes may be determined by providing a current to the interdigitated electrodes and measuring a voltage drop across the interdigitated electrodes. In other embodiments, the resistivity of the interdigitated electrodes may be determined by providing a voltage to the interdigitated electrodes and measuring a current through the interdigitated electrodes.

Act <NUM> includes determining a temperature of the resistive heater based, at least in part, on the determined resistance of the resistive heater. For example, the temperature of the resistive heater may be proportional to the resistance thereof according to, for example, the temperature coefficient of resistance of the resistive heater (e.g., dR/R = α dT/dR, wherein R is the resistance of the resistive heater, dR is the change in resistance between a baseline resistance and a resistance of the resistive heater to exposure to a sample, dT is a difference in temperature between a baseline temperature and a temperature of the resistive heater to exposure to the sample, and α is a coefficient of thermal resistance of the resistive heater). Accordingly, the resistance may be used to determine the temperature of the resistive heater.

Act <NUM> includes adjusting the current to maintain a desired temperature of the resistive heater or to change (e.g., ramp) a temperature of the resistive heater. In some embodiments, the current may be adjusted in a stepped manner to change the temperature of the resistive heater in a corresponding stepped manner. A power required to maintain the temperature at each step may be determined based on the measured voltage drop across the resistive heater in act <NUM> and the current provided to the resistive heater in act <NUM> for each particular temperature. In other embodiments, the current provided to the resistive heater may be maintained at a substantially constant value to facilitate maintaining the temperature of the resistive heater at a substantially constant temperature. A power required to maintain the substantially constant temperature may be determined based on the measured voltage drop across the resistive heater in act <NUM> and the current provided to the resistive heater in act <NUM>.

Although <FIG> has been described as including determining a resistance of the resistive heater by applying a current to the resistive heater and measuring a voltage drop across the resistive heater, the disclosure is not so limited. In other embodiments not forming part of the present invention, a voltage may be applied to the resistive heater and a current through the resistive heater may be measured. The provided voltage and measured current may be used to determine the resistance.

In some embodiments, a power required to maintain a temperature of the resistive heater may be determined. The power may be related to the provided current and the measured voltage (e.g., P = IV, as described above with reference to Equation (<NUM>)). In other embodiments, the power may be related to the provided current and the resistance (e.g., P = I<NUM>R). In some embodiments, the power required to maintain a predetermined temperature may be a function of the composition of the vapor being analyzed. In some embodiments, and as described above, a lower power required to maintain a desired temperature of the catalytic microhotplate may be an indication of an exothermic reaction occurring at the catalytic microhotplate. Similarly, a greater power required to maintain a desired temperature of the catalytic microhotplate may be an indication of an endothermic reaction occurring at the catalytic microhotplate. In some embodiments, use of the sense lines <NUM> (<FIG>) may facilitate an increased system resolution and accuracy of reference microhotplates and catalytic microhotplates. By way of non-limiting example, the sense lines <NUM> may facilitate determining powers as low as about <NUM> microWatts, or even as low as <NUM> microWatt, such as a power between about <NUM> microWatt and about <NUM> microWatts. Where the microhotplate comprises a reference microhotplate, a greater power required to achieve a given temperature may correlate to a gas having a higher thermal conductivity proximate the reference microhotplate. Similarly, a lower power required to achieve a given temperature may correlate to a gas having a lower thermal conductivity proximate the reference microhotplate. The thermal conductivity of the analyte may be determined based on the power required to maintain one or more temperatures.

<FIG> is a simplified block diagram of a system <NUM> configured for carrying out one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The system <NUM> is configured for executing programs containing computing instructions and may include one or more processors <NUM>, one or more memory devices <NUM>, one or more driver circuits <NUM> for driving one or more resistive heaters of one or more devices, one or more sensors <NUM> for sensing one or more outputs of the one or more microhotplates (e.g., an output from a resistive heater, such as may be measured with sense lines, an output from an interdigitated electrode, such as may be measured with electrode traces, etc.), and an element <NUM>, which may comprise a resistive heater for heating a microhotplate associated with the resistive heater, interdigitated electrodes, or both.

The one or more processors <NUM> may be configured for executing a wide variety of operating systems and applications including the computing instructions for carrying out embodiments of the present disclosure. The one or more processors <NUM> may be in communication with each of the one or more memory devices <NUM>, the one or more driver circuits <NUM>, and the one or more sensors <NUM>. The one or more processors <NUM> may be configured to transmit operating instructions to the one or more driver circuits <NUM>. By way of non-limiting example, the one or more processors <NUM> may be configured to provide operating instructions, such as instructions to provide a current, to the one or more driver circuits <NUM>, which may drive a resistive heater associated with each device associated with the sensors <NUM>. As only one example, the one or more processors <NUM> may be configured to provide operating instructions to the one or more driver circuits <NUM> to maintain a desired temperature of resistive heaters or to ramp a temperature of one or more resistive heaters associated with the one or more driver circuits <NUM>.

The one or more driver circuits <NUM> may be operably coupled to the element <NUM> and configured to provide a current to the element <NUM> responsive to receiving operating instructions from the one or more processors <NUM>. In some embodiments, the one or more driver circuits <NUM> comprise a closed-loop controller configured for modulating a temperature of the element <NUM>. The closed-loop controller may be configured to control a temperature of a resistive heater of the microhotplate, such as by driving the element <NUM>. In other embodiments, the closed-loop controller may be configured to control a temperature of interdigitated electrodes of the microhotplate, such as by driving the element <NUM>. In some embodiments, the one or more driver circuits <NUM> may comprise a digital-to-analog converter.

The element <NUM> may be configured to receive a current from the one or more driver circuits <NUM>. Wherein the element <NUM> comprises a resistive heater, the resistive heater may be substantially similar to the resistive heaters described above with respect to the devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>. The one or more sensors <NUM> may be configured to sense at least one property of the element <NUM>. By way of non-limiting example, the one or more sensors <NUM> may be configured to sense a voltage drop across the element <NUM>. In other embodiments, the one or more sensors <NUM> may comprise an interdigitated electrode, such as the interdigitated electrodes described above with respect to the devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM> and may be configured to determine a resistivity between the interdigitated electrodes. The one or more sensors <NUM> may comprise an analog-to-digital converter.

The one or more processors <NUM> may be configured to receive data from one or more sensors <NUM> and determine one or more properties of a material (e.g., gas, vapor, liquid, or solid) being analyzed. The one or more processors <NUM> may comprise a circuit, a controller, or both and may be configured to receive a sensed voltage from the one or more sensors <NUM> and may be configured to determine one or more of a power, a resistance, and a temperature of one or more microhotplates to determine a composition of an analyte based, at least in part, on a provided current from the one or more driver circuits <NUM> and as described above with reference to Equations (<NUM>) through (<NUM>). In some embodiments, the one or more processors <NUM> may be configured to determine an analyte (e.g., a presence thereof, a concentration thereof, etc.) in contact with a coating material of a microhotplate based, at least in part, on a voltage measured across sense lines, as described above with reference to <FIG>. In some embodiments, the one or more processors <NUM> may be configured to determine an analyte in contact with a chemical sensing material by measuring a resistance of interdigitated electrodes, as described above with reference to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, for example.

The memory device <NUM> may be used to hold computing instructions, data, and other information for performing a wide variety of tasks including performing embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the baseline data from previous temperature ramps (e.g., power versus temperature data), as described above with reference to Equations (<NUM>) through (<NUM>), may be stored in the memory. The processor <NUM> may be configured to subtract current data from previous data to produce a signal representing changes in microhotplate catalytic thermal response (Delta Cat) with respect to temperature. By way of example, and not limitation, the memory device <NUM> may include Synchronous Random Access Memory (SRAM), Dynamic RAM (DRAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM), Flash memory, phase change memory, and other suitable information storage devices. The memory device <NUM> may include data related to the device, including operating parameters (e.g., a temperature of the microhotplate, a composition of the microhotplate, etc.). The memory device <NUM> may include data relating to the microhotplate, the composition of the microhotplate, the temperature of the microhotplate, the resistance of the microhotplate, and a voltage of a resistive heater associated with the microhotplate.

<FIG> is a plan view of a system <NUM> (e.g., a sensor) showing the layout of a plurality of devices, each including a microhotplate. The system <NUM> may comprise an array of microhotplate devices and may include at least some devices <NUM> that do not include interdigitated electrodes and at least some devices <NUM> that include interdigitated electrodes <NUM> over a resistive heater <NUM>. The array may be referred to herein as a multi-sensor array, since it includes a plurality of sensors. In some embodiments, the devices <NUM> that do not include interdigitated electrodes may comprise a reference microhotplate or a catalytic microhotplate and the devices that include the interdigitated electrodes <NUM> may comprise a MOS microhotplate. In some embodiments, the system <NUM> includes at least one reference microhotplate device, at least one catalytic microhotplate device, and at least one MOS microhotplate device.

The devices <NUM>, <NUM> may each include a void <NUM> formed in a substrate <NUM>. The devices <NUM>, <NUM> may further include a plurality of tethers <NUM> extending from the substrate <NUM> at from a periphery of the devices <NUM>, <NUM> to a center portion thereof, as described in <FIG>.

The devices <NUM> that do not include the interdigitated electrodes <NUM> may have a diameter of about <NUM>, which may be about twice as large as a diameter of the devices <NUM> that include the interdigitated electrodes <NUM>. In some embodiments, the devices <NUM> have a diameter of about <NUM>. In some embodiments, the devices <NUM> may include a catalyst material (e.g., such as the coating material <NUM> described above with reference to <FIG>) and may be relatively larger than the devices <NUM>. In some embodiments, the larger size of the devices <NUM> may facilitate a more sensitive sensor device, since changes in power to maintain a predetermined temperature may be measured with a greater sensitivity. In some embodiments, at least one of the devices <NUM> comprises a catalyst material and at least another of the devices <NUM> comprises an inert material having at least one of a similar mass, thermal mass, or other property as the catalyst material of the other at least one device <NUM>. In some embodiments, at least one of the devices <NUM> comprises a catalyst material and at least another of the devices <NUM> comprises no coating material.

The devices <NUM> may include sense lines <NUM> that are electrically coupled to each of the resistive heater <NUM> and sense line bond pads <NUM>. The sense lines <NUM> may be configured to measure a voltage drop across the resistive heaters <NUM>, as described above with reference to <FIG>. In some embodiments, the sense lines <NUM> may comprise Kelvin sense lines (i.e., four-terminal sensing, with two terminals comprising a bond pad <NUM>, a common power source <NUM>, and the two sense line bond pads <NUM>).

Each device <NUM>, <NUM> may include bond pads <NUM> coupled to electrically conductive traces <NUM>, which, in turn, may be coupled to a resistive heater <NUM>. In some embodiments, the devices <NUM> are substantially similar to the devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>' described above with reference to <FIG>. The devices <NUM> may further include interdigitated electrodes <NUM> at the center thereof and overlying respective resistive heaters <NUM> thereof, as described above with reference to, for example, <FIG>. A chemical sensing material may overlie and be in direct contact with the interdigitated electrodes <NUM>, as described above with reference to, for example, <FIG>, and <FIG>. The interdigitated electrodes <NUM> may be in electrical contact with electrode traces <NUM> that, in turn, may be in electrical contact with bond pads <NUM>.

The resistive heater <NUM> of each device <NUM>, <NUM> may be in electrical contact with the common power source <NUM>. By way of non-limiting example, bond pads <NUM> may be in electrical contact with conductive lines <NUM>, which may be in electrical contact with one conductive trace <NUM> of each device <NUM>, <NUM>. In some such embodiments, each device <NUM>, <NUM> may be electrically coupled to a common power source. The common power source <NUM> may include a metallization layer (e.g., a bond pad) configured to electrically couple each of the bond pads <NUM>.

In some embodiments, each of the common power source <NUM>, the bond pads <NUM>, the bond pads <NUM>, the sense line bond pads <NUM>, the bond pads <NUM>, and the conductive lines <NUM> may comprise the same material, such as, for example, gold. In some embodiments, each of the common power source <NUM>, the bond pads <NUM>, the bond pads <NUM>, the sense line bond pads <NUM>, the bond pads <NUM>, and the conductive lines <NUM> may comprise a different material (e.g., such as a material exhibiting a relatively lower electrical resistance) than the electrically conductive traces <NUM>, the sense lines <NUM>, the resistive heaters <NUM>, or the interdigitated electrodes <NUM>, which may comprise, for example, tungsten, palladium, or other materials, as described above.

Accordingly, an array may comprise any combination of catalytic microhotplates, reference microhotplates, and metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) microhotplates of varying sizes and coatings. One or more reference microhotplates may be used to determine a thermal conductivity of an analyte, one or more catalytic microhotplates may be used to determine one or more ignition temperatures of one or more species in an analyte, an exothermic event, and an endothermic event of an analyte, and one or more MOS microhotplates may be used to determine an electrical response of a chemical sensing material at different temperatures to determine a presence of one or more species (e.g., analytes) in the sample. In some embodiments, the use of each microhotplate device may provide for orthogonal detection of one or more species in the analyte and may be used to analyze, differentiate, and quantify a plurality of chemical species. In some embodiments, flame arrestors or filters may be included over some or all of the microhotplate devices <NUM>, <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the interdigitated electrodes <NUM> of at least some of the devices <NUM> may be different (have a different size, shape, different composition, etc.) than the interdigitated electrodes <NUM> of other of the devices <NUM>. In some embodiments, gaps between interdigitated electrodes <NUM> (such as between a first electrode and a second electrode comprising the interdigitated electrodes <NUM>) may be different.

In some embodiments, the system <NUM> may include a plurality of devices <NUM> and devices <NUM> to facilitate additional analysis of a sample and/or analyte. For example, the system <NUM> may include a plurality of devices <NUM> including, for example, devices <NUM> comprising an inert coating material and devices <NUM> comprising a catalytic coating material, as described above with reference to <FIG>. The devices <NUM> may be used to determine, for example, a thermal conductivity of a sample and/or analyte, an exothermic reaction, an endothermic reaction, a temperature of an exothermic reaction, a temperature of an endothermic reaction, another property, or combinations thereof. The system <NUM> may further include devices <NUM> including interdigitated electrodes <NUM> and configured to measure a temperature of interaction between at least one analyte and a metal oxide semiconductor coating material of the devices <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A sensor (<NUM>) for analyzing a sample, the sensor comprising:
a microhotplate comprising a membrane (<NUM>) suspended over a substrate (<NUM>) by a plurality of tethers (<NUM>, 105a, 105b) connected between the substrate and the membrane, the membrane comprising:
a resistive heater (<NUM>) being free of corners that converge at a single point, and comprising an electrically conductive material extending from a peripheral portion of the membrane to a center of the membrane, a width of the electrically conductive material continuously decreasing in a direction extending from the center of the membrane to the peripheral portion of the membrane, the electrically conductive material comprising:
a first portion (<NUM>) spiraling in a first direction;
a second portion (<NUM>) spiraling in a second direction and in electrical contact with the first portion proximate the center of the membrane; and
a gap between the first portion and the second portion, wherein a width of the gap is substantially constant and smaller than a minimum width of the electrically conductive material; and
a first electrically conductive trace (<NUM>) extending over a first tether and in electrical contact with a bond pad (112a) on the substrate and the first portion and a second electrically conductive trace (<NUM>) extending over another tether and in electrical contact with another bond pad (112b) on the substrate and the second portion.