Potentiostat/galvanostat with digital interface
Inventors
Chandrasekhar, Prasanna • Chai, Yanjie
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10175193-B2
Publication Date
2019-01-08
Expiration Date
Abstract
A potentiostat/galvanostat employs a controller for providing digital control signals to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that generates an analog output signal in response to digital control signals. A high current driver produces a high current output in response to the analog output signal from the DAC. A high current monitor monitors the output from the high current driver to produce a feedback signal for the high current driver to control the current produced by the high current driver and to produce an output dependent on the current supplied from the high current driver for monitoring by the controller. A counter electrode contact for a counter electrode is connected with the output of the high current monitor. A working electrode contact for a working electrode is electrically connected with a fixed stable voltage potential to enable electrochemical analysis of material between the counter electrode and the working electrode. A low current driver produces a low current range output in response to an analog output signal from the DAC. A low current monitor monitors the working electrode contact to detect current at the working electrode contact to supply an output dependent on the current detected for monitoring by the controller and for providing a feedback signal to the low current driver in order to control the output of the low current driver to control current between the counter electrode contact and the working electrode contact.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an electrochemical instrument that uses a controller to provide digital control signals to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) for generating an analog output signal. The instrument includes separate low current and high current signal paths, with a low current driver producing a low current range output and a low current monitor detecting current at the working electrode contact. The low current monitor supplies an output dependent on the detected current for monitoring by the controller and provides a feedback signal to control the output of the low current driver to control the current between the counter electrode contact and the working electrode contact.
A key part of the low current monitor is a monitor amplifier with an input connectable in electrical communication with the working electrode contact and having an output, together with an array of feedback resistors connected between the output and input of the monitor amplifier. A monitor analog multiplexer in electrical communication with the controller selects at least one of the feedback resistors in the array for electrical communication between the output and input of the monitor amplifier, controlling the output of the monitor amplifier.
In the high current configuration, a high current driver produces a high current range output in response to the analog output signal from the DAC, and a high current monitor monitors current to produce a feedback signal for controlling the current produced by the high current driver. The working electrode contact enables electrochemical analysis of material between the counter electrode and the working electrode, and the instrument also supports a fixed stable voltage potential connected to the working electrode contact. Mode-dependent feedback routing can be performed using a feedback analog multiplexer under controller control, selecting feedback related to the monitor and buffered signals to regulate the applicable driver outputs.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims, each defining a controller-driven, DAC-based electrochemical instrument with feedback control of electrode currents. Across the independent claims, the main inventive features include selectable feedback amplification for the low-current monitor and a parallel architecture for high-current operation with corresponding monitoring feedback.
Controller and DAC generating analog output signal
An electrochemical instrument comprising a controller for providing digital control signals, and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) in electrical communication with the controller for generating an analog output signal in response to digital control signals from the controller.
Low current driver with feedback-controlled monitoring
A low current driver in electrical communication with the DAC to produce a low current range output in response to the analog output signal from the DAC, and a low current monitor connectable in electrical communication with the working electrode contact for detecting current at the working electrode contact and for supplying an output dependent on the current detected at the working electrode contact for monitoring by the controller and for providing a feedback signal for the low current driver in order to control the output of the low current driver to control the current between the counter electrode contact and the working electrode contact.
Monitor amplifier with feedback resistor array and monitor analog multiplexer
The low current monitor including a monitor amplifier having an input connectable in electrical communication with the working electrode contact and having an output, an array of feedback resistors connected between the output of the monitor amplifier and input on the monitor amplifier, and a monitor analog multiplexer in electrical communication with the controller for selecting at least one of the feedback resistors in the array for electrical connection between the output and input of the monitor amplifier to control the output of the monitor amplifier.
High current driver with high current monitor feedback
A high current driver in electrical communication with the DAC to produce a high current range output in response to the analog output signal from the DAC, and a high current monitor in electrical communication with the high current driver, the high current monitor producing a feedback signal for the high current driver in response to the current monitored by the high current monitor to control the current produced by the high current driver and for supplying an output dependent on the current supplied from the high current driver.
Working electrode contact with fixed stable voltage potential
A working electrode contact for electrical communication with a working electrode and electrically connectable with a fixed stable voltage potential for enabling electrochemical analysis of material between the counter electrode and the working electrode.
Collectively, the independent claims define an electrochemical instrument with controller-driven DAC analog output, separate low-current and high-current driver/monitor architectures, and feedback control based on monitored electrode current. The low-current monitor further includes a monitor amplifier with an array of feedback resistors and a controller-selectable monitor analog multiplexer to control the monitor amplifier output used for feedback.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
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