Variable gain CMOS potentiostat for dissolved oxygen sensor

Abstract

This paper presents a variable gain potetiostat designed for the electrochemical control of Dissolved Oxygen (DO) sensors. The design is targeted for implementation using MIMOS 0.35um CMOS process technology at 3.3V. The potentiostat amplifier for dissolved oxygen utilizes three electrodes (working, reference and counter) which work together to form the electrochemical reaction. There are several types of DO sensor available including membrane-based, also known as Clark electrode, and microelectrode-based. This results in different sensitivity and output current when different types of sensor are used on the same test solution. The variable gain feature is added in the design to cater to different DO sensors that are available in the market. This design implements four different gain values to accommodate four different current ranges. The resistor values chosen largely depend on the type of DO sensor used and the range of output current it produces. The transimpedance amplifier used has also been simulated in the post-extracted view across process corners to ensure its compatibility with the different feedback resistor values. The complete integrated design is then simulated to be working within a power supply of 2.2V to 3.6V, temperature of 0 to 90°C and has an operating range of 0 to 100uA sensor current. The final chip has an area of 1.7mm × 1.7mm and has been simulated to be in working order.