In one embodiment, a system is described for reducing a dark period
between successive data acquisition periods associated with the detection
of one or more target molecules hybridized to at least one of a plurality
of probes disposed upon a biological probe array. The system comprises a
switch that alternately directs an analog signal between a first circuit
and a second circuit, where a period of time is required to alternate
between the first and second circuits; an integrator associated with the
first circuit that integrates the analog signal to generate a first
integrated value; a second integrator associated with the second circuit
that integrates the analog signal to generate a second integrated value;
and an analog/digital converter that produces a digital value for each of
the first integrated value and the second integrated values.