OBJECTIVE: EIT systems, particularly those that use a parallel, multiple source architecture, require current sources with very high output impedance. To meet this requirement, sources often use complex analog circuits and require manual or electronically-controlled adjustments. The goal is to implement a current source with simple, adjustment-free analog electronics with high effective output impedance even with significant stray impedance at its output. APPROACH: The excitation provided to the voltage-to-current converter is adjusted to accommodate the current lost in the finite output and stray impedances. The adaptive algorithm uses the measured voltage and the previously-measured output and stray impedance to determine the needed current adjustment. MAIN RESULTS: The structure of the source is presented along with an implementation, and experimental results that show the effectiveness of the approach for frequencies up to 1 MHz. The measured output impedance with and without the adaptive compensation are presented as well as measurements of resistive and complex loads. SIGNIFICANCE: The new current source has low analog complexity, operates over a wide range of frequencies, and can compensate for a significant stray shunt impedance. It can be used to implement improved parallel or serial EIT systems.
OBJECTIVE: EIT systems, particularly those that use a parallel, multiple source architecture, require current sources with very high output impedance. To meet this requirement, sources often use complex analog circuits and require manual or electronically-controlled adjustments. The goal is to implement a current source with simple, adjustment-free analog electronics with high effective output impedance even with significant stray impedance at its output. APPROACH: The excitation provided to the voltage-to-current converter is adjusted to accommodate the current lost in the finite output and stray impedances. The adaptive algorithm uses the measured voltage and the previously-measured output and stray impedance to determine the needed current adjustment. MAIN RESULTS: The structure of the source is presented along with an implementation, and experimental results that show the effectiveness of the approach for frequencies up to 1 MHz. The measured output impedance with and without the adaptive compensation are presented as well as measurements of resistive and complex loads. SIGNIFICANCE: The new current source has low analog complexity, operates over a wide range of frequencies, and can compensate for a significant stray shunt impedance. It can be used to implement improved parallel or serial EIT systems.