A Sinusoidal Current Source for Bioimpedance Applications Based on a Nonlinear Discrete Time Closed Loop Control Algorithm

Resumen

Sinusoidal current sources are fundamental components of electronic equipment used in bioimpedance
analysis and in electrical impedance tomography. Currently, these sources are mostly implemented as
analog electronic systems. The aim of this paper is to present a new approach to current sources design
based on discrete-time closed-loop control systems. The experimental results are obtained by implementing
the current source in a system of analog and digital programmable blocks, and using as a controller
a nonlinear difference equation proposed by the authors. This controller guarantees the convergence of
the amplitude of the current flowing through the load, towards a user-desired level. This new control law
does not require any parametric adjustment nor knowledge of the load . The developed device is able to
produce a sinusoidal current signal of a frequency ranging from 100 Hz to 120 kHz and currents from
500 μA to 2 mA. The amplitude error of the current signal remained below 1% for tests performed with
resistive-capacitive loads (Cole’s type loads). The output impedance is frequency dependent and ranges
from 410 kW to 966 kW. The total harmonic distortion is less than 5%. All the proposed system is embedded
in the mixed signal device PSOC 5LP, a shunt resistance being the only external component.

Palabras clave

Sinusoidal current sources, bioimpedance, current control loops, nonlinear discrete time control, mixed signal devices.

Biografía del autor/a

Diego Alberto Bravo Montenegro

Profesor Titular Departamento de Física (Universidad del Cauca). Ingeniero Físico (2003), Esp. en Automatización Industrial (2007), Magíster en Ingeniería Automática (2012). Dr en Ciencias de la Electrónica (2016).

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