Abstract: The present disclosure provides a sensor including a pore and an applied electric field that is capable of detecting analytes such as nucleic acids. In accordance with various embodiments, the sensor comprises a fluidic chamber having electrically opposing portions with a membrane between, the membrane providing a pore suitable for the passage of an electrolyte between the electrically opposing portions of the fluidic chamber, and having at least one charged analyte tethered in proximity to the pore, a first circuit configured to apply an electric field capable of passing the electrolyte through the pore and pulling the at least one charged analyte into the pore, and a second circuit configured to measure a signal indicative of the charge of the at least one charged analyte. Also provided are methods for using the sensor, for example, to sequence a nucleic acid molecule.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to the flow of analytes, particles or other materials. As consistent with one or more embodiments described herein, an apparatus includes a membrane having one or more pores in a membrane. First and second electrodes facilitate electrophoretic flow of analytes through the pore, and a third electrode controls movement of the particles in the pore by modulating the shape of an electric double layer adjacent sidewalls of pore. This modulation controls the strength of an electroosmotic field that opposes the electrophoretic flow of the analytes via the pore.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the disclosure is directed to an example embodiment in which a circuit-based arrangement includes a circuit-based substrate securing a channel, with an effective width that is not limited by the Debye screening length, along a surface of the substrate. A pair of reservoirs are included in or on the substrate and configured for containing and presenting a sample having bio-molecules for delivery in the channel. A pair of electrodes electrically couple a charge in the sample to enhance ionic current flow therein (e.g., to overcome the electrolyte screening), and a sense electrode is located along the channel for sensing a characteristic of the biological sample by using the electrostatic interaction between the enhanced ionic current flow of the sample and the sense electrode. Actual detection occurs by using a charge-signal processing circuit to process the sensed charge signal and, therefrom, provide an output indicative of a signature for the bio-molecules delivered in the channel.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatus and methods method for filtering water fluid by screening ionic minerals including sodium chloride from the water fluid. In one embodiment, the water fluid is passed into a work zone defined at least in part by oppositely-arranged first and second porous structures, each of which have a plurality of gated channels. The water fluid is processed in the work zone by applying respective electric voltages to electrically bias the first porous structure and the second porous structure. The respective electric voltages deplete sodium chloride ions in the water fluid in the work zone due to ion-flux continuity. In response to processing of the water fluid, ion-filtered water is collected from the work zone.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a sensor including a pore and an applied electric field that is capable of detecting analytes such as nucleic acids. In accordance with various embodiments, the sensor comprises a fluidic chamber having electrically opposing portions with a membrane between, the membrane providing a pore suitable for the passage of an electrolyte between the electrically opposing portions of the fluidic chamber, and having at least one charged analyte tethered in proximity to the pore, a first circuit configured to apply an electric field capable of passing the electrolyte through the pore and pulling the at least one charged analyte into the pore, and a second circuit configured to measure a signal indicative of the charge of the at least one charged analyte. Also provided are methods for using the sensor, for example, to sequence a nucleic acid molecule.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the disclosure is directed to an example embodiment in which a circuit-based arrangement includes a circuit-based substrate securing a channel, with an effective width that is not limited by the Debye screening length, along a surface of the substrate. A pair of reservoirs are included in or on the substrate and configured for containing and presenting a sample having bio-molecules for delivery in the channel. A pair of electrodes electrically couple a charge in the sample to enhance ionic current flow therein (e.g., to overcome the electrolyte screening), and a sense electrode is located along the channel for sensing a characteristic of the biological sample by using the electrostatic interaction between the enhanced ionic current flow of the sample and the sense electrode. Actual detection occurs by using a charge-signal processing circuit to process the sensed charge signal and, therefrom, provide an output indicative of a signature for the bio-molecules delivered in the channel.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the disclosure is directed to an example embodiment in which a circuit-based arrangement includes a circuit-based substrate securing a channel, with an effective width that is not limited by the Debye screening length, along a surface of the substrate. A pair of reservoirs are included in or on the substrate and configured for containing and presenting a sample having bio-molecules for delivery in the channel. A pair of electrodes electrically couple a charge in the sample to enhance ionic current flow therein (e.g., to overcome the electrolyte screening), and a sense electrode is located along the channel for sensing a characteristic of the biological sample by using the electrostatic interaction between the enhanced ionic current flow of the sample and the sense electrode. Actual detection occurs by using a charge-signal processing circuit to process the sensed charge signal and, therefrom, provide an output indicative of a signature for the bio-molecules delivered in the channel.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the disclosure is directed to an example embodiment in which a circuit-based arrangement includes a circuit-based substrate securing a channel, with an effective width that is not limited by the Debye screening length, along a surface of the substrate. A pair of reservoirs are included in or on the substrate and configured for containing and presenting a sample having bio-molecules for delivery in the channel. A pair of electrodes electrically couple a charge in the sample to enhance ionic current flow therein (e.g., to overcome the electrolyte screening), and a sense electrode is located along the channel for sensing a characteristic of the biological sample by using the electrostatic interaction between the enhanced ionic current flow of the sample and the sense electrode. Actual detection occurs by using a charge-signal processing circuit to process the sensed charge signal and, therefrom, provide an output indicative of a signature for the bio-molecules delivered in the channel.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a sensor including a pore and an applied electric field that is capable of detecting analytes such as nucleic acids. In accordance with various embodiments, the sensor comprises a fluidic chamber having electrically opposing portions with a membrane between, the membrane providing a pore suitable for the passage of an electrolyte between the electrically opposing portions of the fluidic chamber, and having at least one charged analyte tethered in proximity to the pore, a first circuit configured to apply an electric field capable of passing the electrolyte through the pore and pulling the at least one charged analyte into the pore, and a second circuit configured to measure a signal indicative of the charge of the at least one charged analyte. Also provided are methods for using the sensor, for example, to sequence a nucleic acid molecule.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the disclosure is directed to an example embodiment in which a circuit-based arrangement includes a circuit-based substrate securing a channel, with an effective width that is not limited by the Debye screening length, along a surface of the substrate. A pair of reservoirs are included in or on the substrate and configured for containing and presenting a sample having bio-molecules for delivery in the channel. A pair of electrodes electrically couple a charge in the sample to enhance ionic current flow therein (e.g., to overcome the electrolyte screening), and a sense electrode is located along the channel for sensing a characteristic of the biological sample by using the electrostatic interaction between the enhanced ionic current flow of the sample and the sense electrode. Actual detection occurs by using a charge-signal processing circuit to process the sensed charge signal and, therefrom, provide an output indicative of a signature for the bio-molecules delivered in the channel.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the disclosure is directed to an example embodiment in which a circuit-based arrangement includes a circuit-based substrate securing a channel, with an effective width that is not limited by the Debye screening length, along a surface of the substrate. A pair of reservoirs are included in or on the substrate and configured for containing and presenting a sample having bio-molecules for delivery in the channel. A pair of electrodes electrically couple a charge in the sample to enhance ionic current flow therein (e.g., to overcome the electrolyte screening), and a sense electrode is located along the channel for sensing a characteristic of the biological sample by using the electrostatic interaction between the enhanced ionic current flow of the sample and the sense electrode. Actual detection occurs by using a charge-signal processing circuit to process the sensed charge signal and, therefrom, provide an output indicative of a signature for the bio-molecules delivered in the channel.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the disclosure is directed to an example embodiment in which a circuit-based arrangement includes a circuit-based substrate securing a channel, with an effective width that is not limited by the Debye screening length, along a surface of the substrate. A pair of reservoirs are included in or on the substrate and configured for containing and presenting a sample having bio-molecules for delivery in the channel. A pair of electrodes electrically couple a charge in the sample to enhance ionic current flow therein (e.g., to overcome the electrolyte screening), and a sense electrode is located along the channel for sensing a characteristic of the biological sample by using the electrostatic interaction between the enhanced ionic current flow of the sample and the sense electrode. Actual detection occurs by using a charge-signal processing circuit to process the sensed charge signal and, therefrom, provide an output indicative of a signature for the bio-molecules delivered in the channel.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatus and methods method for filtering water fluid by screening ionic minerals including sodium chloride from the water fluid. In one embodiment, the water fluid is passed into a work zone defined at least in part by oppositely-arranged first and second porous structures, each of which have a plurality of gated channels. The water fluid is processed in the work zone by applying respective electric voltages to electrically bias the first porous structure and the second porous structure. The respective electric voltages deplete sodium chloride ions in the water fluid in the work zone due to ion-flux continuity. In response to processing of the water fluid, ion-filtered water is collected from the work zone.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to the flow of analytes, particles or other materials. As consistent with one or more embodiments described herein, an apparatus includes a membrane having one or more pores in a membrane. First and second electrodes facilitate electrophoretic flow of analytes through the pore, and a third electrode controls movement of the particles in the pore by modulating the shape of an electric double layer adjacent sidewalls of pore.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the disclosure is directed to an example embodiment in which a circuit-based arrangement includes a circuit-based substrate securing a channel, with an effective width that is not limited by the Debye screening length, along a surface of the substrate. A pair of reservoirs are included in or on the substrate and configured for containing and presenting a sample having bio-molecules for delivery in the channel. A pair of electrodes electrically couple a charge in the sample to enhance ionic current flow therein (e.g., to overcome the electrolyte screening), and a sense electrode is located along the channel for sensing a characteristic of the biological sample by using the electrostatic interaction between the enhanced ionic current flow of the sample and the sense electrode. Actual detection occurs by using a charge-signal processing circuit to process the sensed charge signal and, therefrom, provide an output indicative of a signature for the bio-molecules delivered in the channel.

Abstract: To reduce dislocations produced in the formation of shallow trench isolation regions in a semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor substrate is annealed in N2 ambient pressure with an O2 partial pressure of less than about 10−4 at a temperature between about 950 C.° and about 1055 C.°. In addition, a method to reduce crystalline defects in semiconductor manufacturing in which a metal is deposited on an insulator to form metal silicide is provided. The method provides for etching the insulator to create an overhang by an amount equal to at least one half of the thickness of the metal, thereby creating a void between the surface of the semiconductor substrate and the insulator. The metal is deposited on the first insulator and on the surface of the semiconductor substrate and the semiconductor substrate is heated thereby forming metal silicide on the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus is provided which includes a plasma reaction chamber in which plasma is generated for processing, an RF power supply for feeding RF power into the plasma reaction chamber through an impedance matching circuit, and a feedback mechanism for maintaining plasma impedance within the plasma reaction chamber substantially constant, the feedback mechanism containing the impedance matching circuit which also functions as impedance sensing means. Also provided is a plasma processing method including the step of etching or depositing films by using plasma, while maintaining plasma impedance substantially constant by applying feedback to at least one selected from the group consisting of gas pressure in the plasma reaction chamber, rate of gas flow into the plasma reaction chamber, magnetic field, microwave power, and RF power.