SGER: Integrated Actuation Arrays for High Speed AFM Protein Imaging Systems

这项工作的目的是使高速原子力显微镜的发展成为可能。该方法是研究高速定位中的一个转型概念：使用光刻制造的线圈阵列来磁驱动探针尖端。所提出的方法的智力价值需要通过以下方式开发集成电子解决方案：(1)用一组线圈取代传统的压电驱动，而不是提供电磁驱动的单个线圈；(2)将驱动延迟降低到微秒以下；(3)研究多悬臂梁并行成像的有效利用，其中同一芯片上的不同阵列可以专用于多个悬臂梁成像仪。为了获得更高分辨率的高速成像，可以将探头之间的距离细分为并行成像的子区域。该项目还将解决成像驱动程序之间的同步问题。提议的努力的更广泛的影响是在跨学科的知识成果的研究，将包括集成电子学，系统和生物学。预计在研究助理的帮助下，这些知识将被整合到目前的电子学和医学成像课程中。它也将通过本课程的网站发布。研究者将包括一名本科女学生，目前在他的实验室从事本项目的芯片测试活动。

SummaryThe objective of this effort is to enable the development of high speed atomic force microscopy. The approach is to research a transformational concept in high speed positioning: using lithographically manufactured arrays of coils for magnetic actuation of a probe tip. The intellectual merit of the proposed approach entails the development of an integrated electronics solution by way of the following: (1) replace the conventional piezo-actuation by an array of coils, as opposed to a single coil, that provides electromagnetic actuation; (2) reduce the delay in actuation to below micro-seconds; (3) investigate the efficient use of multiple cantilevers to image in parallel where various arrays on the same die can be dedicated to several cantilever imagers. For higher resolution high speed imaging, the range can be sub-divided among the probes to image sub-regions in parallel. The project will also address the issues of synchronization among the imaging drivers.The broader impact of the proposed effort is in the cross-disciplinary knowledge outcome of the research that would encompass integrated electronics, systems, and biology. It is anticipated that such knowledge, with the help of the research assistant, would be integrated in one current class in electronics and medical imaging. It will also be disseminated through the website for this course. The investigator will include one undergraduate female student currently working in his laboratory on chip testing activities for this project.