ABSTRACT
We tested a simple digital impedance bridge using two nominally equal resistors to form a 1:1 ratio. We focused on resolution and stability of the detectors. Fluctuations of the source voltages were largely removed through postprocessing of the digitized data, and the measurement results were limited by the detector noise. This detector-limited operating condition was first demonstrated using three modified Keysight 3458A multimeters for measurements of the voltage ratios, achieving 0.01 µV/V type A uncertainty in less than 15 min at 1 kHz. In an effort to extend the applicable frequency range and develop a system with off-the-shelf components, we tested a system using three lock-in detectors for measuring small deviations from the perfect AC ratio of unity magnitude, achieving stabilities and resolutions of 0.1 µV/V in a few hours for each point from 1 kHz to 5 kHz.
ABSTRACT
We tested a digital impedance bridge in a hybrid structure for comparison of a capacitor with a resistor where the impedance ratio was measured in two separate parts. The modulus of the impedance ratio was matched arbitrarily close to the input-to-output ratio, in magnitude, of a two-stage inductive voltage divider by adjusting the operating frequency of the bridge; the residual deviation between the two together with the phase factor of the impedance ratio was measured using a custom detection system based on a four-channel 24-bit digitizer. The ratio of the inductive voltage divider was calibrated, in situ, using a conventional four-arm bridge with two known capacitors. Fluctuations of the source voltages were largely removed through postprocessing of the digitized data, and the measurement results were limited by the digitizer error. We have achieved an overall bridge resolution and stability of 0.02 µF/F in 2 h for measuring a 100-pF capacitor relative to a 12 906-Ω resistor at 1233 Hz. The relative combined standard uncertainty (k = 1) is 0.13 µF/F, dominated by the digitizer error.
