Patent ID: 7939022

Claim:
A colorimetric system for distinguishing an analyte gas or fluid introduced therein, comprising: an integrated colorimetric CMOS device comprising a semiconductor substrate, at least one photodiode integrated into a top surface of said substrate, said photodiode being responsive to light, an interconnection structure comprising an optically transmissive and electrically non-conductive material, the structure having upper and lower surfaces, the lower surface thereof being in contact with the top surface of the substrate, and at least one transducer formed atop the upper surface of the interconnection structure and in contact therewith; a light source positioned above the integrated colorimetric CMOS device, and a fluid or gas analyte region located between the light source and the integrated colorimetric CMOS device, the chamber being configured to accept the gas or fluid analyte therein and to pass the gas or fluid analyte over the integrated colorimetric CMOS device; wherein the light source is configured to illuminate the gas or fluid analyte as the analyte passes over the at least one transducer, and the at least one transducer has variable optical properties when exposed to molecules in the gas or fluid analyte, said photodiode being positioned below said transducer to enable identification of said optical properties through the intervening interconnection structure as the analyte passes above the transducer and the device; and wherein said photodiode is an array of pixel elements of a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) imager.