Feasibility of an Electro-Optic Link for Bondpad-less CMOS Lab-on-Chips

Abstract

This paper explores the feasibility of developing CMOS-based lab-on-chips to analyse the properties of a fluid, without the need for bond wires. Both inductive and electro-optical schemes are suggested as possible solutions. Specifically, this paper details a novel approach in achieving electro-optical modulation in unmodified, commercially-available CMOS technology. By exploiting the plasma dispersion effect, it is shown how mid-infrared light can be modulated using parasitic structures designed in a CMOS integrated circuit. Both the fundamental theory and practical realisation are supported with measured data from an experimental setup.