Abstract: Techniques described herein can apply AC signals with different phases to different groups of nanopore cells in a nanopore sensor chip. When a first group of nanopore cells is in a dark period and is not sampled or minimally sampled by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to capture useful data, a second group of nanopore cells is in a bright period during which output signals from the second group of nanopore cells are sampled by the analog-to-digital converter. The reference level setting of the ADC is dynamically changed based on the applied AC signals to fully utilize the dynamic range of the ADC.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a molecule is disclosed. A voltage source is selectively connected to or disconnected from a capacitor using a switch controlled by a reset signal. A charge is stored in a capacitor when the voltage source is connected to the capacitor. The capacitor is discharged through a nanopore in a membrane when the voltage source is disconnected from the capacitor. A duty cycle of the reset signal is determined such that the voltage source and the capacitor is connected for at least a one tenth portion of a reset signal period and disconnected for a remaining portion of the reset signal period, such that a voltage across the nanopore is maintained at a higher level during the portion of the reset signal period in which the connection is maintained than during the remaining portion of the reset signal period in which the connection is not maintained.

Abstract: A method of forming a plurality of lipid bilayers over an array of cells in a nanopore based sequencing chip is disclosed. Each of the cells comprises a well. A salt buffer solution is flowed over the array of cells in the nanopore based sequencing chip to substantially fill the wells in the cells with the salt buffer solution. A lipid and solvent mixture is flowed over the array of cells to deposit the lipid and solvent mixture over at least some of the wells in the cells. A first portion of the cells, each having a lipid bilayer over its well, is detected. A second portion of the cells, each having a lipid membrane but not a lipid bilayer over its well, is detected. An electrical lipid-thinning stimulus is selectively applied to the second portion of the cells but not to the first portion of the cells.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a molecule is disclosed. A voltage source is selectively connected to or disconnected from a capacitor using a switch controlled by a reset signal. A charge is stored in a capacitor when the voltage source is connected to the capacitor. The capacitor is discharged through a nanopore in a membrane when the voltage source is disconnected from the capacitor. A duty cycle of the reset signal is determined such that the voltage source and the capacitor is connected for at least a one tenth portion of a reset signal period and disconnected for a remaining portion of the reset signal period, such that a voltage across the nanopore is maintained at a higher level during the portion of the reset signal period in which the connection is maintained than during the remaining portion of the reset signal period in which the connection is not maintained.

Abstract: A method of forming a plurality of lipid bilayers over an array of cells in a nanopore based sequencing chip is disclosed. Each of the cells comprises a well. A salt buffer solution is flowed over the array of cells in the nanopore based sequencing chip to substantially fill the wells in the cells with the salt buffer solution. A lipid and solvent mixture is flowed over the array of cells to deposit the lipid and solvent mixture over at least some of the wells in the cells. A first portion of the cells, each having a lipid bilayer over its well, is detected. A second portion of the cells, each having a lipid membrane but not a lipid bilayer over its well, is detected. An electrical lipid-thinning stimulus is selectively applied to the second portion of the cells but not to the first portion of the cells.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a molecule in a nanopore is disclosed. A voltage is applied across a nanopore that is inserted in a membrane by coupling the nanopore to a voltage source. The nanopore is decoupled from the voltage source. After the decoupling, a rate of decay of the voltage across the nanopore is determined. A molecule in the nanopore is distinguished from other possible molecules based on the determined rate of decay of the voltage across the nanopore.

Abstract: A liquid voltage is applied to a first side of a lipid bilayer. The liquid voltage comprises a tag-reading period with a tag-reading voltage that tends to capture a tag into a nanopore in the lipid bilayer and an open-channel period with an open-channel voltage that tends to repel the tag. A pre-charging voltage source is connected to an integrating capacitor and a working electrode on a second side of the lipid bilayer during a pre-charging time period, such that the integrating capacitor and the working electrode are charged to a pre-charging voltage. The pre-charging voltage source is disconnected from the integrating capacitor and the working electrode during an integrating time period, such that a voltage of the integrating capacitor and a voltage of the working electrode may vary as a current flows through the nanopore. The pre-charging time period overlaps with a beginning portion of the tag-reading period.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a molecule in a nanopore is disclosed. A voltage is applied across a nanopore that is inserted in a membrane by coupling the nanopore to a voltage source. The nanopore is decoupled from the voltage source. After the decoupling, a rate of decay of the voltage across the nanopore is determined. A molecule in the nanopore is distinguished from other possible molecules based on the determined rate of decay of the voltage across the nanopore.

Abstract: A system includes a plurality of nanopore cells. Data corresponding to nanopore states of the plurality of nanopore cells is received. The data is analyzed to determine a compressed output size of the data given at least one compression technique. It is determined whether the compressed output size exceeds a data budget. In the event it is determined that the compressed output size exceeds the data budget, the data is modified. The modified data is outputted.

Abstract: Techniques described herein can apply AC signals with different phases to different groups of nanopore cells in a nanopore sensor chip. When a first group of nanopore cells is in a dark period and is not sampled or minimally sampled by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to capture useful data, a second group of nanopore cells is in a bright period during which output signals from the second group of nanopore cells are sampled by the analog-to-digital converter. The reference level setting of the ADC is dynamically changed based on the applied AC signals to fully utilize the dynamic range of the ADC.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a molecule is disclosed. A voltage source is selectively connected to or disconnected from a capacitor using a switch controlled by a reset signal. A charge is stored in a capacitor when the voltage source is connected to the capacitor. The capacitor is discharged through a nanopore in a membrane when the voltage source is disconnected from the capacitor. A duty cycle of the reset signal is determined such that the voltage source and the capacitor is connected for at least a one tenth portion of a reset signal period and disconnected for a remaining portion of the reset signal period, such that a voltage across the nanopore is maintained at a higher level during the portion of the reset signal period in which the connection is maintained than during the remaining portion of the reset signal period in which the connection is not maintained.

Abstract: A nanopore based sequencing chip package is disclosed. The nanopore based sequencing chip package includes a reservoir defined by a plurality of surfaces. The chip package includes a nanopore cell array comprising a plurality of nanopore sensor cells enclosed by the reservoir. Each nanopore sensor cell has a working electrode. At least one surface of the reservoir is configured to be in contact with a conducting fluid when the conducting fluid is flowing through the reservoir. The chip package further includes a counter electrode disposed on the at least one surface of the reservoir.

Abstract: A method of forming a plurality of lipid bilayers over an array of cells in a nanopore based sequencing chip is disclosed. Each of the cells comprises a well. A salt buffer solution is flowed over the array of cells in the nanopore based sequencing chip to substantially fill the wells in the cells with the salt buffer solution. A lipid and solvent mixture is flowed over the array of cells to deposit the lipid and solvent mixture over at least some of the wells in the cells. A first portion of the cells, each having a lipid bilayer over its well, is detected. A second portion of the cells, each having a lipid membrane but not a lipid bilayer over its well, is detected. An electrical lipid-thinning stimulus is selectively applied to the second portion of the cells but not to the first portion of the cells.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a molecule in a nanopore is disclosed. A voltage is applied across a nanopore that is inserted in a membrane by coupling the nanopore to a voltage source. The nanopore is decoupled from the voltage source. After the decoupling, a rate of decay of the voltage across the nanopore is determined. A molecule in the nanopore is distinguished from other possible molecules based on the determined rate of decay of the voltage across the nanopore.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method to provide a high supply rejection and a full rail-to-rail output swing in an amplifier circuit. A first stage generates a first output. The first stage is powered by a second supply. A second stage is coupled to the first stage to generate an amplifier output. The second stage is powered by a first supply. The first and second supplies are different in regulation mode. By making the second supply a low noise supply, the power supply noise amplified by the first stage is minimized, with the voltage gain of the second stage regaining the rail-to-rail swing lost by the first stage due to the regulator supplying very low noise power to the first stage.

Abstract: Apparatus and method to provide high line regulation, which can be combined with a low dropout voltage, for linear regulators. The control for the regulators is referenced to ground rather than a relatively noisy power supply terminal so that the control is substantially free of power supply noise. The pass transistor forms the second transistor of a current mirror mirroring the current from the control. Referencing the control to ground and mirroring the control current to the pass transistor makes the output of the regulator substantially independent of the power supply noise. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods to provide high supply rejection and rail-to-rail output swing at the output of an amplifier circuit. A power source supplies power to a low noise regulator and to a differential amplifier output stage. The low noise regulator supplies power to an input stage that is coupled to the output stage, and also provides a reference to the output stage for power supply noise reduction purposes. This configuration of first and second circuits give the output both full rail-to-rail swing and good supply rejection in both stages. Exemplary embodiments are disclosed.