A 16-channel monopolar biphasic stimulator chip with discharge function for biomedical applications is proposed and designed. To provide monopolar biphasic stimulus currents, the positive (6V) and the negative (-6V) voltage sources are supported to generate the desired current pulses of ±3 mA. The monopolar biphasic stimulator chip was fabricated in a 0.18-μm 1.8-V/3.3-V CMOS process with the common grounded p-type substrate. The overstress and reliability issues on the low-voltage transistors in the stimulator circuits were fully overcome by circuit design. The silicon area of each single channel only occupies 0.08 mm ² and the output level of stimulus current is up to ±3 mA. By applying the discharge function, safety concern of unbalanced charge in neuro-stimulation can be dealt properly. The residual average dc current is less than 3.42 nA after discharge is activated. Moreover, this chip has also been verified with both in-vitro imitation measurement and in-vivo animal test.

中文翻译：

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具有放电功能和负电平转换器的单极双相刺激器，用于低压 CMOS 工艺中的神经调制 SoC 集成

提出并设计了一种用于生物医学的具有放电功能的16通道单极双相刺激器芯片。为了提供单极双相激励电流，支持正 (6V) 和负 (-6V) 电压源以生成所需的 ±3 mA 电流脉冲。单极双相刺激器芯片采用 0.18-μm 1.8-V/3.3-V CMOS 工艺制造，具有公共接地 p 型基板。电路设计完全克服了刺激器电路中低压晶体管的过应力和可靠性问题。每个单通道的硅面积仅占0.08 mm ²刺激电流输出电平可达±3 mA。通过应用放电功能，可以妥善处理神经刺激中电荷不平衡的安全问题。放电激活后剩余的平均直流电流小于 3.42 nA。此外，该芯片还通过了体外模拟测量和体内动物试验的验证。