Low Output Impedance Research Articles

Development of a portable therapeutic and high intensity ultrasound system for military, medical, and research use

We have developed a portable high power ultrasound system with a very low output impedance amplifier circuit (less than 0.3 Omega) that can transfer more than 90% of the energy from a battery supply to the ultrasound transducer. The system can deliver therapeutic acoustical energy waves at lower voltages than those in conventional ultrasound systems because energy losses owing to a mismatched impedance are eliminated. The system can produce acoustic power outputs over the therapeutic range (greater then 50 W) from a PZT-4, 1.54 MHz, and 0.75 in diameter piezoelectric ceramic. It is lightweight, portable, and powered by a rechargeable battery. The portable therapeutic ultrasound unit has the potential to replace "plug-in" medical systems and rf amplifiers used in research. The system is capable of field service on its internal battery, making it especially useful for military, ambulatory, and remote medical applications.

Single-resistance-controlled quadrature oscillator and universal biquad filter using CFOAs

This paper presents new single-resistance-controlled (SRC) sinusoidal quadrature oscillator and universal biquad filter circuits with reduced number of passive elements using only two current-feedback operational amplifiers (CFOAs). The first proposed oscillator configuration comprising two CFOAs, three resistors and two capacitors provides two sinusoidal voltage outputs in phase quadrature. The circuit has the advantage of independent control of the condition of oscillation and the oscillation frequency through a single resistor. The second proposed biquad filter configuration consisting of only two CFOAs, two resistors and two capacitors realizes all the standard types of the biquadratic filter functions at low-impedance output without any component matching conditions. The filter also provides orthogonal control of the natural angular frequency ( ω 0 ) and the bandwidth (BW). In addition, both proposed circuit configurations have good active and passive sensitivity performances. PSPICE simulations and experimental results based on commercially available AD844-type CFOAs are included, showing the excellent performance of the proposed configurations.

Flow injection analysis system based on amperometric thin-film transducers for free chlorine detection in swimming pool waters

This work reports on the performance of a user-friendly flow injection analysis (FIA) system for the monitoring of free chlorine. A methacrylate flow cell integrating a gold thin-film microelectrode, together with an on-chip gold counter electrode, both fabricated by microfabrication technology, provided robustness, low output impedance, rapid response and low cost to the proposed flow system. An external Ag/AgCl reference electrode placed downstream the chip completes the electrochemical cell. Amperometric detection of chlorine was carried out at a set potential of +350 mV, without oxygen interference. The proposed flow system responded linearly to chlorine concentrations in a range from 0.2 to 5 mg l −1, with a sensitivity of 0.23 μA l mg −1, the estimated limit of detection being 0.02 mg l −1. In addition, the system response was kept stable for at least 10 days (±3 σ criterion), by keeping the flow system in an inert atmosphere when not in use. Fifteen samples of swimming pool waters were analyzed and no matrix effects were detected. Also, results were in good agreement with those obtained by a standard method. The excellent analytical performance of the system together with its good working stability would also enable its application for the detection of chlorine in other matrices such as tap water or chlorine stock solutions.

Single-Input Six-Output Voltage-Mode Filter Using Universal Voltage Conveyors

In this letter a new structure of multifunctional frequency filter using a universal voltage conveyor (UVC) is presented. The multifunctional circuit can realize a low-pass, high-pass and band-pass filter. All types of frequency filter can be realized as inverting or non-inverting. Advantages of the proposed structure are the independent control of the quality factor at the cut-off frequency and the low output impedance of output terminals. The computer simulations and measuring of particular frequency filters are depicted.

A mixed‐mode KHN‐biquad using DVCC and grounded passive elements suitable for direct cascading

AbstractIn this paper a mixed‐mode (input and output signals can be current or voltage) Kerwin–Huelsman–Newcomb (KHN) biquad with low/high input impedance and high/low output impedance depending on the type of the corresponding signal (current/voltage) is presented. The circuit is constructed using three differential voltage current conveyors (DVCCs), two grounded capacitors and three grounded resistors. The circuit simultaneously provides bandpass (BP), highpass (HP) and lowpass (LP) responses when the output is current and notch, BP and LP responses when the output is voltage. The notch and allpass responses can be obtained by connecting appropriate output currents directly without using additional active elements. Because of the low input and high output impedance of the circuit for current signals and the high input and low output impedance for voltage signals, it can be used in cascade for realizing higher‐order filters. SPICE simulation results are given to verify the theoretical analysis. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Focus on sensors

Focus on sensors

High-Input and Low-Output Impedance Voltage-Mode Universal DDCC and FDCCII Filter

Despite the extensive literature on current conveyor-based universal (namely, low-pass, band-pass, high-pass, notch, and all-pass) biquads with three inputs and one output, no filter circuits have been reported to date which simultaneously achieve the following seven important features: (i) employment of only two current conveyors, (ii) employment of only grounded capacitors, (iii) employment of only grounded resistors, (iv) high-input and low-output impedance, (v) no need to employ inverting type input signals, (vi) no need to impose component choice conditions to realize specific filtering functions, and (vii) low active and passive sensitivity performances. This letter describes a new voltage-mode biquad circuit that satisfies all the above features simultaneously, and without trade-offs.

A highly linear bulk-driven CMOS OTA for continuous-time filters

In this paper we present a bulk-driven CMOS triode-based fully balanced operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) and its application to continuous-time filters. The proposed OTA is linearly tunable with the feature of low distortion and high output impedance. It can achieve wide input range without compromising large transconductance tuning interval. Using a 0.18 ¼m n-well CMOS process, we have implemented a third-order elliptic low-pass filter based on the proposed OTA. Both the simulation and measurement results are reported. The total harmonic distortion is more than -45 dB for fully differential input signals of up to 0.8 V peak---peak voltage. A dynamic range of 45 dB is obtained under the OTA noise integrated over 1 MHz.

Displacement Monitoring of Stacked Piezoelectric Actuator by Observing Induced Charge

This paper deals with condition monitoring of a piezoelectric actuator using induced charge for precision positioning. When conductive plates are attached on each end of the piezoelectric actuator to which voltage is applied, charges induced in plates are proportional to internal charge, which indicates piezoelectric actuator displacement. The induced charge indicates piezoelectric actuator deformation. Because the relationship between deformation and induced charge has low hysteresis, displacement is measured by observing the induced charge, possible at high driving frequency because the piezoelectric actuator is driven with a voltage source with a low output impedance. The induced charge corresponds to the internal charge and displacement in experiments. A static load to the piezoelectric actuator is also detected.

A 2 W CMOS Hybrid Switching Amplitude Modulator for EDGE Polar Transmitters

This paper presents a hybrid switching amplitude modulator for class-E2 EDGE polar transmitters. To achieve both high efficiency and high speed, it consists of a wideband buffered linear amplifier as a voltage source and a PWM switching amplifier with a 2 MHz switching frequency as a dependent current source. The linear amplifier with a novel class-AB topology has a high current-driving capability of approximately 300 mA with a bandwidth wider than 10 MHz. It can also operate on four quadrants with very low output impedance of about 200 at the switching frequency attenuating the output ripple voltage to less than 12 . A feedforward path, a PWM control, and a third-order ripple filter are used to reduce the current burden of the linear amplifier. The output voltage of the hybrid modulator ranges from 0.4 to 3 V for a 3.5 V supply. It can drive an RF power amplifier with an equivalent impedance of 4 up to a maximum output power of 2.25 W with a maximum efficiency of 88.3%. The chip has been fabricated in a 0.35 m CMOS process and occupies an area of 4.7 .

All-pass filter for rich cascadability options easy IC implementation and tunability

This paper presents two current-mode all-pass sections, employing only grounded components, which is important from the integrated circuit (IC) implementation point of view. The use of the grounded capacitor allows the IC implementation with standard CMOS technologies. The circuits can be made electronically tunable due to grounded resistors that can be realized by using voltage controlled MOS based resistors. In addition, the circuits have both low input impedance and high output impedance for easy cascadability. The stability analysis proves that the circuits are stable. SPICE simulations and experimental results are in close agreement with the theory.

High-Input and Low-Output Impedance Voltage-Mode Universal Biquadratic Filter Using DDCCs

A new three inputs and single output voltage-mode universal biquadratic filter with high-input and low-output impedance using three plus-type differential difference current conveyors, two grounded capacitors and two grounded resistors is presented. The proposed circuit offers the following features: realization of all the standard filter functions, that is, high-pass, bandpass, low-pass, notch, and all-pass filters, no requirements for component matching conditions, the use of only grounded capacitors and resistors, high-input and low-output impedance and low active and passive sensitivities.

Wide-band resistorless all-pass sections with single element tuning

This paper presents three first order resistorless all-pass filters using combinations of current controlled current conveyors (CCCII) and a unity gain buffer. All circuits feature single element tuning, low sensitivities, and low output impedances, therefore they are suitable for cascading. Circuit simulation results are found in good agreement with theoretical analysis.

Micropotentiometers Providing Low Output Impedance for Millivolt AC–DC Transfer

Millivolt ac-dc transfer devices and ac measuring instruments are calibrated with new micropotentiometers (mupots) with low output impedance. Newly designed output resistors of 0.2 and 0.1 Omega lead to reduced load corrections for 150 kOmega input impedance amplifiers of only a few muV/V. The higher current required is measured at 1 MHz with a 500 mA thermal current converter. At 1 MHz, expanded uncertainties (k = 2) less than 40 muV/V are achieved from 100 down to 10 mV

Low-output-impedance 0.6 [micro sign]m CMOS sub-bandgap reference

A 0.6 µm CMOS sub-bandgap reference circuit, the output voltage of which is, unlike reported in the literature, concurrently low voltage and low output impedance, is presented. Experimental measurements verify that the proposed circuit, which produces a first-order temperature-compensated reference voltage of 890 mV, sources up to 5 mA of load current and rejects noise by a factor of 30.8–8.1 dB at 500 kHz–4 MHz, neither of which feature is achieved by state-of-the-art sub-bandgap circuits.

Voltage-Mode All-Pass Filters Including Minimum Component Count Circuits

This paper presents two new first-order voltage-mode all-pass filters using a single-current differencing buffered amplifier and four passive components. Each circuit is compatible to a current-controlled current differencing buffered amplifier with only two passive elements, thus resulting in two more circuits, which employ a capacitor, a resistor, and an active element, thus using a minimum of active and passive component counts. The proposed circuits possess low output impedance, and hence can be easily cascaded for voltage-mode systems. PSPICE simulation results are given to confirm the theory.

New voltage-model/current-mode universal biquad filter using unity-gain cells

A new universal biquad filter is presented which can realize all the five standard filter functions namely lowpass, bandpass, highpass, notch and allpass in voltage-mode (VM) as well as in current-mode (CM) employing only unity-gain cells (i.e. voltage followers and current followers) as active elements. Explicit VM/CM outputs are available from low output impedance terminals and high output impedance terminals, respectively. The workability of the proposed universal biquad, realized with CMOS unity-gain cells, is established by SPICE simulations.

Label-free DNA sensors using ultrasensitive diamond field-effect transistors in solution

Charge detection biosensors have recently become the focal point of biosensor research, especially field-effect-transistors (FETs) that combine compactness, low cost, high input, and low output impedances, to realize simple and stable in vivo diagnostic systems. However, critical evaluation of the possibility and limitations of charge detection of label-free DNA hybridization using silicon-based ion-sensitive FETs (ISFETs) has been introduced recently. The channel surface of these devices must be covered by relatively thick insulating layers ( SiO2, Si3N4, Al2O3, or Ta2O5) to protect against the invasion of ions from solution. These thick insulating layers are not suitable for charge detection of DNA and miniaturization, as the small capacitance of thick insulating layers restricts translation of the negative DNA charge from the electrolyte to the channel surface. To overcome these difficulties, thin-gate-insulator FET sensors should be developed. Here, we report diamond solution-gate FETs (SGFETs), where the DNA-immobilized channels are exposed directly to the electrolyte solution without gate insulator. These SGFETs operate stably within the large potential window of diamond (>3.0 V). Thus, the channel surface does not need to be covered by thick insulating layers, and DNA is immobilized directly through amine sites, which is a factor of 30 more sensitive than existing Si-ISFET DNA sensors. Diamond SGFETs can rapidly detect complementary, 3-mer mismatched (10 pM) and has a potential for the detection of single-base mismatched oligonucleotide DNA, without biological degradation by cyclically repeated hybridization and denature.

HIGH INPUT AND LOW OUTPUT IMPEDANCE VOLTAGE-MODE LOWPASS, BANDPASS, AND HIGHPASS ACTIVE-R FILTER

A novel filtering topology with a single input and three outputs (SITO) employing a single four-terminal current feedback amplifier (CFA) with an external compensation pin, such as AD844, two operational amplifiers (OAs), and as many resistors is presented. The circuit offers the features of simultaneous realization of lowpass (LP), bandpass (BP), and highpass (HP) filtering functions, free from component matching conditions, cascadability due to high input and low output impedances, orthogonal/independent adjustment of the filtering parameters, and low active and passive sensitivities. PSPICE simulation results are included to confirm the theoretical results.

NEW HIGH INPUT IMPEDANCE VOLTAGE-MODE LOWPASS, BANDPASS AND HIGHPASS FILTER USING CURRENT FEEDBACK AMPLIFIERS

A new high input impedance filter employing three current feedback amplifiers (CFAs) and six passive elements, three of them are grounded, is presented. The proposed circuit offers the following advantages: simultaneous realization of lowpass (LP), bandpass (BP) and highpass (HP) filtering functions, employs two grounded capacitors, exhibits high input and low output impedances which permits easy cascade connection, low passive sensitivity figures and orthogonal control of resonance frequency (ωo) and bandwidth (ωo/Q). PSPICE simulation results are given to verify the theoretical calculations.