Patent ID: 8449842

Claim:
A system, comprising: a support apparatus configured to detachably receive a chip; a plurality of movable pins extendible from a first position to a second position, wherein: in the first position, the movable pins do not contact the chip when the chip is positioned on the support apparatus; and in the second position, the movable pins contact electrical terminals of a heating element within the chip when the chip is positioned on the support apparatus; a radiation source configured to direct radiation to be incident on the chip when the chip is positioned on the support apparatus; a detector configured to detect radiation emitted from the chip when the chip is positioned on the support apparatus; and an electronic processor in electrical communication with the plurality of movable pins and the detector, wherein the electronic processor is configured to detect molecules in a sample positioned within the chip by analyzing the detected radiation, and to determine a temperature of the chip by measuring an electrical resistance between two of the multiple pins connected to the electrical terminals.