Diagnostic waveform generator for a sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10739306-B2
Application number	US-201715586942-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 4, 2017
Priority date	May 4, 2017
Publication date	Aug 11, 2020
Grant date	Aug 11, 2020

Abstract

Techniques for generating a diagnostic waveform for a sensor are provided. In an example, a control circuit for an electrochemical sensor can include power supply inputs configured to receive a supply voltage, a first signal generator configured to receive control information and to generate a first signal on a first output using the supply voltage and the control information, a second signal generator configured to receive the control information and to provide a second signal on a second output, using the supply voltage and the control information. An output voltage between the first output and the second output, in a diagnostic mode of operation of the control circuit, can include a periodic signal having a peak-to-peak voltage greater than the supply voltage.

First claim

The claimed invention is:

1. A control circuit for an electrochemical sensor, the control circuit comprising:
power supply inputs configured to receive a supply voltage;
a first signal generator configured to receive control information and to generate a first waveform on a first output using the supply voltage and the control information;
a second signal generator configured to receive the control information and to provide a second waveform on a second output using the supply voltage and the control information; and
wherein an output voltage between the first output and the second output, in the diagnostic mode of operation of the control circuit, is a periodic waveform having a peak-to-peak voltage greater than the supply voltage.

2. The control circuit of claim 1 , including a controller configured to generate the control information.

3. The control circuit of claim 1 , wherein the first waveform includes a repeating pattern of a first voltage ramp and a second voltage ramp and the first signal generator is configured to generate the first voltage ramp and the second voltage ramp.

4. The control circuit of claim 1 , wherein the first signal generator is a first digital-to-analog converter (DAC).

5. The control circuit of claim 1 , wherein the second waveform includes a repeating pulse waveform; and
wherein the second voltage generator is configured to oscillate the second output between a first voltage and a second voltage to generate the repeating pulse waveform.

6. The control circuit of claim 1 , wherein the second signal generator is a second DAC.

7. The control circuit of claim 1 , including a dual output DAC, wherein the dual output DAC includes the first signal generator and the second signal generator.

8. The control circuit of claim 1 , wherein the supply voltage is less than or equal to 3.4 volts and the peak-to-peak voltage is greater than or equal to 3.5 volts.

9. The circuit of claim 1 , in combination with the electrochemical sensor.

10. A control circuit for an electrochemical sensor, the control circuit comprising:
power supply inputs configured to receive a supply voltage;
means for receiving control information;
means for applying a first waveform to a reference electrode of the electrochemical sensor during a diagnostic mode of operation using the supply voltage and the control information;
means for applying a second waveform to a diagnostic electrode of the electrochemical sensor during a diagnostic mode of operation using the supply voltage and the control information;
means for receiving sense information from the electrochemical sensor;
means for providing an indication of a material concentration using the sense information during a sense mode of operation; and
wherein, during the diagnostic mode of operation, a diagnostic waveform measured at the reference electrode and the diagnostic electrode includes a periodic signal having a peak-to-peak voltage greater than the supply voltage.

11. The control circuit of claim 10 , including means for switching a source of the sense information to the means for providing an indication of a material concentration between the sense mode of operation and the diagnostic mode of operation.

12. A system comprising:
a voltage supply configured to provide a supply voltage;
an electrochemical sensor; and
a control circuit configured to receive power from the voltage supply, the control circuit comprising:
means for generating a periodic, sensor diagnostic signal during a diagnostic mode of operation, wherein a peak-to-peak voltage of the periodic sensor diagnostic signal is greater than the supply voltage;
means for receiving a sense signal from a working electrode of the electrochemical sensor during a sensing mode of operation; and
means for providing an indication of a material concentration at an output of the control circuit using the sense signal.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the means for generating a periodic, sensor diagnostic signal includes:
a first signal generator configured to receive control information and to generate a first waveform on a first output using the supply voltage and the control information; and
a second signal generator configured to receive the control information and to provide a second waveform on a second output using the supply voltage and the control information.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein voltage supply is a battery.

15. The control circuit of claim 12 , including a controller configured to generate the control information.

16. The control circuit of claim 12 , wherein the first waveform includes a repeating pattern of a first voltage ramp and a second voltage ramp and the first signal generator is configured to generate the first voltage ramp and the second voltage ramp.

17. The control circuit of claim 12 , wherein the first signal generator is a first digital-to-analog converter (DAC).

18. The control circuit of claim 12 , wherein the second waveform includes a repeating pulse waveform; and
wherein the second voltage generator is configured to oscillate the second output between a first voltage and a second voltage to generate the repeating pulse waveform.

19. The control circuit of claim 12 , wherein the second signal generator is a second DAC.

20. The control circuit of claim 12 , including a dual output DAC, wherein the dual output DAC includes the first signal generator and the second signal generator.

Assignees

• Analog Devices International Unlimited Co

Inventors

• Gu Shurong
• Wang Hanqing
• Qu GuangYang
• Dempsey Dennis A

Classifications

• G01N27/416 Primary

  Systems (G01N27/27 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01N27/4163 Primary

  checking the operation of, or calibrating, the measuring apparatus (G01N27/3274, G01N27/4175 and G01N33/0006 take precedence) · CPC title