Aroma Bit Succeeds in Developing the World's Smallest*1 High-Odor Resolution CMOS Semiconductor-Based Odor Imaging Sensor Chip

Aroma Bit, Inc. (Representative Director & President: Shunichiro Kuroki, Headquarter: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, hereinafter "Aroma Bit"), a company that plans and develops compact odor sensors and innovative services using these sensors, has announced that it has successfully developed a prototype of e-nose type odor imaging sensor using CMOS semiconductors that is the world’s smallest*1, highly-integrated and high odor resolution.

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CMOS semiconductor e-nose type odor sensor chip prototype (Graphic: Business Wire)

Aroma Bit have designed and fabricated a new CMOS semiconductor type odor imaging sensor chip, with a sensor element area of only 1.2 x 1.2 mm, equipped with peripheral driver and A/D converter circuits. A demonstration test of the technology is then conducted to form as many odor-receptor membranes as possible in the sensor element area of this prototype chip.

The membrane was deposited using the printing technology of SIJ Technology, which possesses super inkjet technology capable of forming the world's smallest droplets capable of single-micron-level fine dispensing.

As a result, Aroma Bit have established a basic technology that enables us to configure 100 odor-receptor membranes within a sensor element area of only 1.2 x 1.2 mm, which translates into the realization of the world's smallest*1 e-Nose type odor sensor, with the world's highest density sensor element array to date.

Since this will enable easy sensor integration in a variety of devices, Aroma Bit intends to accelerate market development, for application market requiring low-cost and high-volume.

Aroma Bit, Inc.: https://www.aromabit.com/en/

Overview of e-Nose type Odor imaging sensor chip prototype

1. Miniaturization

With the 1.2 x 1.2 mm sensor area and 57,600 sensor elements, this transducer is the world's smallest*1 and world’s highest density sensor array for e-Nose type odor sensors. The accompanying peripheral circuitry is also mounted on the chip, making it possible to easily incorporate the transducer into various devices.

2. Improved odor discrimination (odor resolution) performance

In this successful prototype, Aroma Bit have demonstrated that it is possible to deposit more than 100 odor-receptor membranes on the above 1.2 x 1.2 mm sensor area, using super inkjet technology with the cooperation of SIJ Technology.

By making full use of these technologies, Aroma Bit plans to consider future product lineups with up to 40-50 different odor receptor membranes.

About AROMA BIT

Aroma Bit plans, develops, and sells electronic devices such as miniature odor sensors and innovative new services using these electronic devices.

*1 as e-Nose type odor imaging sensor (Based on Aroma Bit’s own research)

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