An analog frontend chip for a MEMS-based parallel scanning-probe data-storage system

We present a 32-channel analog frontend chip for a parallel scanning-probe data-storage system ("millipede"-project). The chip includes all circuitry required to control the thermomechanical write-process that forms nanoscale indentations in a polymer surface. The on-chip read-channel circuitry is able to reliably detect the tiny signal-current obtained with the thermoelectrical read-process in the presence of a 1000 times larger bias current. © 2006 IEEE.