A Power and Area-Efficient, High Precision Current-Sensing Structure

Researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara have developed a circuit structure that allows for low-power, compact, and high precision current sensing. The structure enables direct analog-to-digital conversion by combining the TIA with th…
Researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara have developed a circuit structure that allows for low-power, compact, and high precision current sensing. The structure enables direct analog-to-digital conversion by combining the TIA with the delta sigma ADC. The topology not only allows measurement of picoampere currents at high bandwidths (~10 kHz), but also makes arraying multiple channels feasible by reducing the area and power consumed by the circuit. Furthermore, this system allows higher sensitivity using smaller amount of sample with better time resolution, resulting in better discrimination from background. 

Website

https://techtransfer.universityofcalifornia.edu/NCD/32664.html?utm_source=AUTMGTP&utm_medium=webpage&utm_term=ncdid_32664&utm_campaign=TechWebsites

Advantages

  • Detection of picoampere currents at high bandwidths (~10 kHz)
  • Increased sensitivity
  • Improved energy efficiency
  • Reduced noise from feedback

Potential Applications

  • Biosensors

Additional Information

Background

Current structures for detecting sub-pA currents in biosensing limit the sensitivity, compactness, and energy efficiency of circuit systems. To detect such small currents with minimal noise, these structures typically require a transimpedance amplifier (TIA) and a delta-sigma analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that impose structural limitations and restrict the ability to enable simultaneous current sensing from multiple channels. The configurational demands of these circuits also require the area and power consumed to be large, causing the system to be energy inefficient. Consequently, conventional continuous-time delta-sigma ADCs also experience large noise from feedback which inhibits the minimum current detectable by the ADC. 

Additional Technologies by these Inventors

Tech ID/UC Case

32664/2021-569-0

Related Cases

2021-569-0

Contact Information

  • Name: Robert Takara
  • Title :
  • Department :
  • Email: Takara@tia.ucsb.edu
  • Phone : 805-893-5138
  • Address :