Re: [buildcheapeeg] Re: input stage safety question - for all the electronic engineers

From: Joerg Hansmann (info_at_jhansmann.de)
Date: 2001-06-08 17:48:44


Hi yaniv,

----- Original Message -----
From: <yaniv_vi_at_yahoo.com>
To: <buildcheapeeg_at_yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2001 6:41 AM
Subject: [buildcheapeeg] Re: input stage safety question - for all the electronic engineers

...
> 1.what the shield is connected to - is it vcm ?

Basically Yes. It is the buffered common mode voltage
of each amplifier channel.

The shield driver output is 1/2*(Vp+Vn)
(with Vp = Voltage at positive electrode port, CH1+ or CH2+
and Vn= Voltage at negative electrode port, CH1- or CH2- )

> there's any way to check for shoring of main pin to shield -
> do some kind of a test circuit that online monitores this ?

Testing could be done with a simple ohm-meter.

An onboard testcircuit that monitors electrode impedance would probably
detect the shortcut.

However I have a more simple solution:
change R21 and R23 to 10 meg and bypass each with 100nF .

This will limit the DC current through the test person to harmless values
in case of a defective electrode cable.

> less preferable is some way to connect beofre using the electrodes
> to some internal testing device .
>
>
> BTW why this phenomemn happens ?

If the cable is frequently subjected to mechanical stress (sharp bending etc.)
the isolation between shield and inner wire could break down.

As a result the output of the shield driver OP amp (IC2A, 5A) is fed back
to the input. The open loop gain is 1 at 0 degree phase angle. This is a very
unstable condition leading very quickly to +5V or 0V output.

Regards,

Joerg



This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : 2002-07-27 12:28:30 BST