Start-up shows chip with surface sensing ability

Start-up company ChipSensors has unveiled a technology that allows the surface of a silicon chip to sense parameters such as temperature, humidity and certain gases. The company says that the dielectric material in standard sub-micron CMOS includes porous oxides and polymers. By selectively admitting or blocking the agent to be sensed, any electrical changes can be detected and measured. The company believes the device could be used as an all-electronic replacement for the type of electromechanical thermostats and humidistats used in building management and environmental monitoring systems. The technology is being shown at the RFID Europe 2007 exhibition in Cambridge today.