Replaceable probe head having an operational amplifier
First Claim
1. A sensor-containing probe head that is detachable from a probe body containing electronics and acting as an intermediate connecting the sensor-containing probe head to a sonde, the sensor-containing probe head comprising:
- a housing defining a watertight enclosure, having a first end detachably connectable to the probe body, and enclosing the following;
an ion selective electrode as a sensor, the sensor having a portion thereof exposed to a surrounding environment;
a reagent reservoir for the sensor;
an electrical connector electrically connected to the ion selective electrode and having a portion thereof accessible for electrical connection to the electronics in the probe body;
a reference electrode; and
a sensor interface circuit electrically connected between the ion selective electrode and the electrical connector, the sensor interface circuit comprising;
an operational amplifier having a voltage follower receiving a raw signal representative of a sensor reading from the ion selective electrode and outputting an amplified signal to a first coupling member of the electrical connector; and
an input power portion electrically connected to a second coupling member of the electrical connector to receive input voltage from the probe body and having a grounded connection;
wherein the reference electrode is electrically connected to a third coupling member of the electrical connector as a pass through to the electronics in the probe body;
wherein reagent within the reagent reservoir is consumable and once exhausted, the sensor-containing probe head is detachable from the probe body for replacement with a probe head comprising an unexhausted reagent reservoir while the probe body containing the electronics remains unchanged.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A detachable, replaceable, and/or disposable probe head connectable to a probe body containing electronics, a probe that includes the probe head and the probe body, and the combination of a sonde and the probe are described herein. The probe head includes a housing that has a coupling member for detachably connecting the housing to the probe body, in particular to the electronics in the probe body. The probe head also includes a sensor and an electrical connector at least partially housed within the housing, and an operational amplifier electrically coupling the sensor to the electrical connector.
49 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A sensor-containing probe head that is detachable from a probe body containing electronics and acting as an intermediate connecting the sensor-containing probe head to a sonde, the sensor-containing probe head comprising:
a housing defining a watertight enclosure, having a first end detachably connectable to the probe body, and enclosing the following; an ion selective electrode as a sensor, the sensor having a portion thereof exposed to a surrounding environment; a reagent reservoir for the sensor; an electrical connector electrically connected to the ion selective electrode and having a portion thereof accessible for electrical connection to the electronics in the probe body; a reference electrode; and a sensor interface circuit electrically connected between the ion selective electrode and the electrical connector, the sensor interface circuit comprising; an operational amplifier having a voltage follower receiving a raw signal representative of a sensor reading from the ion selective electrode and outputting an amplified signal to a first coupling member of the electrical connector; and an input power portion electrically connected to a second coupling member of the electrical connector to receive input voltage from the probe body and having a grounded connection; wherein the reference electrode is electrically connected to a third coupling member of the electrical connector as a pass through to the electronics in the probe body; wherein reagent within the reagent reservoir is consumable and once exhausted, the sensor-containing probe head is detachable from the probe body for replacement with a probe head comprising an unexhausted reagent reservoir while the probe body containing the electronics remains unchanged. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system comprising:
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a sensor head detachably connectable to a sonde through a probe body, as an intermediate member, that is detachably connectable directly to both the sensor head and the sonde; the sonde comprising; a port for receiving and electrically connecting the probe body thereto; the probe body comprising; a housing defining a watertight cavity enclosing a circuit board therein; a first electrical connector connected to the circuit board and accessible for detachably connecting to the sonde; a second electrical connector connected to the circuit board and accessible for detachably connecting to the probe head; the sensor head comprising; an electrode as a sensor having a portion thereof exposed to a surrounding environment; a reagent reservoir for the sensor enclosed within the sensor head; a third electrical connector matable to the second electrical connector of the probe body; a sensor interface circuit connecting the sensor to the third electrical connector, the sensor interface circuit having an operational amplifier with a voltage follower receiving raw signal representative of a sensor reading and an input power portion receiving input voltage, with a grounded connection. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification