CMOS Single Photon Avalanche Photodiodes and Digital Control Interface for Lab-on-Chip DNA Analysis Systems

• Author / Creator

  Hakman, Andrew M

• BioMEMS focuses on microelectromechanical systems for biological, or biomedical applications. Combining BioMEMS and CMOS allows highly integrated, complex analysis devices to be realized. One application of particular interest, is medical diagnostic testing. The overall goal of the multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional
  project to which this research contributes, is a single-use, small, portable, low
  power, Lab-on-Chip genetic analysis device. Combining all of the electronic structures, including instrumentation, communication, high voltage generation, and optoelectronics onto one CMOS die, and vertically integrating the BioMEMS structures, including heaters, chambers, separation channels, electrostatic valves, and magnetic separation, allows for wafer manufacturing of both CMOS and BioMEMS structures at the same time. Such a device could revolutionize healthcare, by providing inexpensive, fast, point-of-care diagnostics, even in remote regions, without
  any of the infrastructure currently required to perform such testing. This work focuses on CMOS Single Photon Avalanche Photodiodes (SPAPDs)
  for optical detection of fluorescently labeled molecules, such as DNA, suitable for
  integration in a CMOS - BioMEMS Lab on Chip. The advantages of SPAPDs
  versus conventional photodiode detectors are higher speed, greater sensitivity, and
  direct digital output. The digital pulses produced by SPAPDs can eliminate the
  need for an analog to digital converter for optical detection. The the combination
  of higher speed and greater sensitivity should allow fluorescence lifetime detection
  to be achieved, eliminating the need for problematic optical filters.
  In addition to the development of SPAPDs, a new SPI-based digital interface
  was developed for the Lab-on-Chip system. A new modular, addressable register-based interface was developed, allowing easy changes or additions to any on-chip
  subsystems.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • APD
  • Single Photon Avalanche Photodiode
  • Avalanche Photodiode
  • LoC
  • Lab on Chip
  • Single Photon Counting

• Graduation date

  Spring 2015

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3V98008M

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.