method and apparatus for providing stable voltage to analytical system
AssigneeAgaMatrix, Inc.
InventorsSteven Diamond, Martin Forest, Baoguo Wei
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Abstract of the Disclosure An electrochemical cell has two terminals. One of the terminals is connected to a pulse-width-modulated (PWM) power supply and to a voltmeter. The other terminal is connected to circuitry capable of switching between amperometric and potentiometric measurement modes. A sequence of successive approximations permits selection of a PWM duty cycle giving rise to a desired voltage at the terminal connected with the power supply. In this way a stable excitation voltage is supplied to the cell even in the face of supply voltage instability or drift or instability in electronics coupled with the cell.
Claims2
A method for use with a digitally controlled power supply, a reaction cell having first and second electrodes, the power supply coupled with the first electrode, a first signal line coupling the first electrode with a first analog-to-digital convertor, and a voltage sensor coupled with the second electrode, the voltage sensor having a second signal line coupled with a second analog-to-digital convertor, the method comprising the step which follow in the order given:
- measuring a potential at the second electrode by means of the second signal line;
- making a first approximation to a digital control signal for the power supply;
- measuring a potential at the first electrode by means of the first signal line;
- making a second approximation to the digital control signal for the power supply;
- measuring a potential at the first electrode by means of the first signal line;
- making a third approximation to the digital control signal for the power supply;
- measuring a potential at the second electrode by means of the second supply line.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.