esca User’s Manual v1.2
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION TO ESCA
ESCA (Elements Single Channel Amplifier) is a current measurement system entirely
contained in a USB stick designed for voltage clamp experiments.
Thanks to a custom-made microchip for low-noise current signal acquisitions, ESCA
achieves high performances in a very small size package.
The main features of ESCA are:
-two input current ranges: ±200 pA and ±20 nA;
-4 selectable signal filters: 625 Hz, 1.25 kHz, 5 kHz and 10 kHz;
-very low noise: 80 fA rms at 625 Hz & < 400 fA rms at 10 kHz (open input);
-integrated voltage stimulus in the range of ±355 mV with 1mV resolution;
-SMB input coaxial connector. Several adapters available;
-small size (30x15x74mm);
-software included;
HARDWARE SETUP
ESCA is designed to be as simple as possible to connect to your various different
setups.
In order to obtain the best performance, the main things to be careful are parasitic
capacitances on the input and correct shielding of the overall hardware setup to avoid
the 50/60Hz line interferences and other electromagnetic interferences.
An adequate faraday cage must be used. The faraday cage should be large enough to
contain all your sensitive equipment and must be connected to the common ground.
Be careful to avoid ground loops by using a “star ground”connection.
Be careful to keep the input sensitive line as far as possible from the faraday cage walls
to limit the parasitic capacitances on the input as much as possible.
The following paragraphs describe all the connections and how to connect them in the
right way.
