阅读说明：本技术 流体传感器、用于测试样品的系统和方法 (Fluid sensor, system and method for testing a sample ) 是由 A·尼迈耶 G·布鲁克曼 J·穆斯塔法 于 2019-09-27 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种流体传感器,用于检测流体系统的传感器部分中的内容物变化,特别是液体前缘,其中所述流体传感器包括至少一个传感器电极,所述传感器电极具有电极电势和电容特性,所述传感器电极因此能够在被充电时在由所述传感器电极形成的电场中储存电能,使得所述电极电势相应地改变,其中当所述内容物变化时,所述传感器电极的电容值发生变化,其中所述流体传感器包括评估电子器件,所述评估电子器件包括在下文中被称为UED的单向电气设备、和交流电源,其中所述交流电源经由所述UED联接到所述传感器电极,以对所述传感器电极充电,并且其中所述评估电子器件包括联接到所述传感器电极的放电路径,用于对所述传感器电极放电。本发明还涉及一种具有这种流体传感器的系统和一种方法。(The invention relates to a fluid sensor for detecting a content change, in particular a liquid front, in a sensor part of a fluid system, wherein the fluid sensor comprises at least one sensor electrode having an electrode potential and a capacitive property, which sensor electrode is thus capable of storing electrical energy in an electric field formed by the sensor electrode when charged such that the electrode potential changes accordingly, wherein a capacitance value of the sensor electrode changes when the content changes, wherein the fluid sensor comprises evaluation electronics comprising a unidirectional electrical device, hereinafter referred to as UED, and an alternating current source, wherein the alternating current source is coupled to the sensor electrode via the UED for charging the sensor electrode, and wherein the evaluation electronics comprises a discharge path coupled to the sensor electrode, for discharging the sensor electrode. The invention also relates to a system having such a fluid sensor and to a method.)

1. A fluid sensor (206A) for detecting a content change, in particular a liquid front (PF1, PF2), in a sensor part (116) of a fluid system (103),

wherein the fluid sensor (206A) comprises at least one sensor electrode (217), the sensor electrode (217) having an electrode potential (217A) and a capacitive characteristic, the sensor electrode (217) thus being capable of storing electrical energy in an electric field (217B) formed by the sensor electrode (217) when charged such that the electrode potential (217A) changes accordingly, wherein a capacitance value of the sensor electrode (217) changes when the content changes,

wherein the fluid sensor (206A) includes evaluation electronics (216), the evaluation electronics (216) including a unidirectional electrical device (216A), hereinafter referred to as UED (216A), and an AC power source (216B),

wherein the AC power source (216B) is coupled to the sensor electrode (217) via the UED (216A) to charge the sensor electrode (217), and

wherein the evaluation electronics (216) comprise a discharge path (216C) coupled to the sensor electrode (217) for discharging the sensor electrode (206A), and/or an energy storage device, in particular a capacitor (216G), coupled to the sensor electrode such that charge from the sensor electrode (217) can be shared with the energy storage device.

2. The fluid sensor of claim 1, wherein the UED (216A) is configured to allow charging of the sensor electrode (207) via the UED (216A) while the UED (216A) is configured to prevent discharging of the sensor electrode (207) via the UED (216A).

3. A fluid sensor according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the discharge path (216C) couples the sensor electrode (207) with a reference potential (216D) via at least a first coupling element (216E), such that when the electrode potential (217A) differs from the reference potential (216D), the sensor electrode (207) is continuously charged or discharged, bringing the electrode potential (217A) close to the reference potential (216D).

4. The fluid sensor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fluid sensor (206A) comprises an electrical filter (216F), the electrical filter (216F) being electrically coupled with the sensor electrode (207) and being configured to form a measurement (206A) based on a course of change of the electrode potential (217A).

5. A fluid sensor according to claim 4, characterised in that the electrical filter (216F) is a low pass filter and/or is configured to smooth the course of the electrode potential (217A).

6. A fluid sensor according to claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the electrical filter (216F) comprises a capacitor (216G), wherein the capacitor (216G) is electrically coupled to the sensor electrode (217) via the first coupling element (216E) of the discharge path (216C).

7. The fluid sensor of claim 6, wherein the discharge path (216C) includes a second coupling element (216H) coupled to the capacitor (216G) and the first coupling element (216E) in a common node (216J), the second coupling element (216H) coupling the first coupling element (216E) with a reference node (216K) at a reference potential (216D).

8. A fluid sensor according to any of claims 3 to 7, wherein the first coupling element is a resistor or a device having an impedance, the ohmic resistance forming a major part of the impedance.

9. A fluid sensor according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the second coupling element is a resistor or a device having an impedance, the ohmic resistance forming a major part of the impedance.

10. A fluid sensor according to any preceding claim, wherein the UED is a diode or a device exhibiting diode characteristics.

11. A fluid sensor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the alternating current source is a pulsed power source.

12. Fluid sensor according to one of claims 7 to 11, characterised in that the electrical filter (216F) is an active filter comprising an operational amplifier (216M), preferably forming a measurement arrangement (223), wherein an inverting input (216N) of the operational amplifier (216M) is coupled with the sensor electrode (217) via the first coupling element (216E), wherein an output (216O) of the operational amplifier (216M) is fed back to the inverting input (216N) via the capacitor (216G) and the second coupling element (216H) in parallel, wherein the reference potential (216D) is provided to a non-inverting input (216P) of the operational amplifier (216M).

13. A fluid sensor according to any of claims 7-12, characterized in that the electrical filter (216F) is a passive filter, wherein the sensor electrode (217) is coupled to the capacitor (216G) and the second coupling element (216H) via the first coupling element (216E), the second coupling element (216H) connecting the first coupling element (216E) to the reference potential (216D).

14. The fluid sensor according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fluid sensor (206A) is configured to repeatedly charge the sensor electrode (207) to a predetermined electrode potential (217A) via the UED (216A) with the alternating current source (216B) and, after each charging is completed, automatically discharge the sensor electrode (207) from the predetermined electrode potential (217A) close to the electrode potential (217A) to the reference potential (216D) through the discharge path (216C).

15. A fluid sensor according to claim 14, characterized in that the fluid sensor (206A) is configured to form an output signal (216Q) based on a course of change of the electrode potential (217A) during the discharge, the output signal (216Q) being or forming a basis for a measurement (706A) indicative of a capacitance value or the content change of the sensor electrode (217).

16. A fluid sensor according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fluid sensor (206A) comprises a counter electrode (217C) in a common plane (217D) with the sensor electrode (217), the sensor electrode (217) and the counter electrode (217C) being configured to be arranged close to the sensor portion (116) such that a content change can be detected by a change in capacitance formed between the sensor electrode (217) and the counter electrode (217C).

17. A fluid sensor according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the sensor electrode (217) is connected via a sensor wire (218) having a shield electrode (219), the shield electrode (219) creating a constant known capacitance between the shield electrode (219) and the sensor electrode (217).

18. An analytical system (1) for testing a specific biological sample (B), the analytical system (1) comprising an analytical device (200) for receiving a test cartridge (100) comprising a fluidic system (103) with a sensor portion (116), the analytical device (200) comprising a fluidic sensor (206A) according to any of the preceding claims for detecting content changes in the sensor portion (116), in particular a liquid front (PF1, PF 2).

19. A method for detecting content changes, in particular a liquid front (PF1, PF2), in a sensor portion (116) of a fluid system (103) with a fluid sensor (206A) according to any of claims 1 to 17, wherein evaluation electronics (216) of the fluid sensor (206A) repeatedly charges the sensor electrode (207) with the alternating current source (216B) via the UED (216A) to a predetermined electrode potential (217A), and after each charging is completed, automatically discharges the sensor electrode (207) from the predetermined electrode potential (217A) close to the electrode potential (217A) to the reference potential (216D) through the discharge path (216C) and/or shares the charge of the sensor electrode (217) with an energy storage means.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the fluid sensor (206A) forms an output signal (216Q) based on a course of change of the electrode potential (217A) during the discharge, the output signal (216Q) being or forming a basis for a measurement (706A) indicative of a capacitance value of the sensor electrode (217).