Patent ID: 8415176

Claim:
A method for operating an array of chemically-sensitive field-effect transistors (chemFETs), at least some chemFETs in the array of chemFETs comprising a first source/drain terminal and a second source/drain terminal, and a floating gate coupled to a passivation layer, the method comprising: selecting a chemFET in the array of chemFETs, the selected chemFET having a first source/drain terminal directly connected to a selected first line in a plurality of first lines, and having a second first source/drain terminal directly connected to a selected second line in a plurality of second lines, wherein each first line in the plurality of first lines is directly connected to the first source/drain terminals of a corresponding first plurality of chemFETs in the array of chemFETs, and each second line in the plurality of second lines is directly connected to the second source/drain terminals of a corresponding second plurality of chemFETs in the array of chemFETs; applying a read voltage on the selected first line to induce current flow between the selected first line and the selected second line through the selected chemFET during a read interval, thereby establishing an output voltage level on the selected second line; and reading the selected chemFET based on the output voltage level on the selected second line.