A stimulus/recording system for optogenetics: circuit, firmware, and software design and implementation

An efficient and precise stimulus light delivery and signal readout system is the crucial component in studying optogenetics in a living animal model. In this study, a lightweight, low-cost stimulus/readout system is proposed, designed, fabricated, and tested for optogenetics study of neural activities. The system comprises a photodiode amplifier, LED driver, embedded control system, and desktop control software. The low-noise, precision photodiode amplifier is designed to read the weak photo-current signal associated with neural activities and convert it to proper voltage for signal analysis. The LED driver generates low noise, stable, and constant current flow to drive the stimulus LED light source. The embedded control system is the central control unit that generates the control signals for ADC sampling, pulsing the stimulus LED light. Moreover, it handles all the communications with the desktop control software for command/data exchange. The desktop control software is a graphical user interface that interacts with the experimenter and communicates to the embedded control system. The system includes circuit design and simulation, firmware development for embedded system, 4-layer PCB layout, and a Windows desktop software development using C++ under QT framework. These components will be discussed in detail. The system is integrated and tested in vitro. The result shows that the system is functioning as proposed.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Electrical & Computer Engr

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2017

Author dc:creator

• Wang, Xinying

Contributors dc:contributor

• Schutt-Ainé, José E.
• Rogers, John A.

• Optogenetics
• Stimulus recording system
• Circuit
• Firmware design
• Software design

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2016 Xinying Wang

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/95289

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/95289