Labview-based Instrumentation for a MEMS Biosensor for Sensitivity Improvement

Brian Martin

Mentor: Professor Srinivas Tadigadapa

 

            My objective while at Penn State is to assist in the research, testing, and calibration of p-type polysilicon/gold thermopiles.  My main tasks will include, first, creating and implementing software using LabVIEW in order to establish a PC as a central control unit for an array of various lab equipment.  Not only will the central control facilitate the whole process by automating much of the busywork, it will lessen the operator’s time spent monitoring the machines.  Perhaps the greatest advantage to the central control concept, however, will be the greatly improved accuracy of all measurements taken.  Secondly, once my software is tested and implemented, I will be performing various experiments on the thermopiles, including flow rate tests, where the EMF to be recorded will be based on both the flow rate and the temperature of the fluid used.  These tests are what will allow us to establish a means of calibration for the thermopiles, in the sense that we will have a wide variety of control settings to compare with future measurements.  Finally, I will be attempting to measure the thermal properties of the biological samples provided using the thermopile devices.  The measuring and recording of these properties will be the product and true purpose of all the previous tasks, and completion of the measurements will therein satisfy my objectives with the NSF EE REU.