DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF PRECISION INDUCTANCE AND CAPACITANCE METER

BY

ISHAKU THLAMA BALAMI (PGS/11-12/2020499)

ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING PROGRAMME SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY ABUBAKAR TAFAWA BALEWA UNIVERSITY BAUCHI M.ENG MINI PROJECT PROPOSAL

SUPERVISOR: PROFESSOR J.D. JIYA

APRIL, 2013.

1.1.0

Introduction:

Electronic Methods of capacitance and inductance measurement are based on different principles [1]-[4]. They include bridge methods, vector impedance methods, resonance methods, digital RLC methods, voltage and current measurement methods, and phase shift measurement methods. All of these methods have some advantages but also suffer from some drawbacks. 1.2.0 Motivation: This design for measurement of inductance and capacitance can be used to test whether the values of inductors and capacitors quoted by the manufacturer are correct. Resonance methods use the known dependence of the resonance frequency on the values of an inductance and capacitance elements of a series or parallel resonance circuit. For the finding of resonance frequency, they are inaccurate.
1.3.0 Background:

A modified version of the resonance methods is based on the measurement of the frequency of an oscillator with the measured element connected into a frequency controlling resonance circuit. Digital frequency measurement is accurate and yields the desired digital output of the instrument.
1.4.0 Objectives and Specifications:

The design is obvious because it can capacitance from to

to

and inductance from

. Even if a regulated power supply is not used, the measurement of

capacitance and inductance will be imprecise.

1.5.0 Description:

The method that use in the designed instrument is based on the transient voltage produced across inductors and capacitors connected as series R-L and R-C networks, respectively, across a constant voltage source. The time constant for R-C and R-L networks is given by the relationships inductance and , respectively, where is in Ohms, capacitance in Farads,

in Henries, and time in seconds.

1.6.0 Methodology:

A block diagram of the design instrument for inductance and capacitance measurement is in Fig. 1.6.0 [6]. A measured value-to-digital-value converter contains a measuring oscillator, an amplitude control circuit, input protection circuits and a harmonic-to-rectangular signal shaper.

TRIGGER

ASTABLE

MONOSTABLE

THOUNSAND COUNTER

HUNDRED COUNTER

TENS COUNTER

UNIT COUNTER

DISPLAY DRIVER

DISPLAY DRIVER

DISPLAY DRIVER

DISPLAY DRIVER

DISPLAY 4

DISPLAY 3

DISPLAY 2

DISPLAY 1

Fig 1.6.0 Block diagram of the measured value-to-digital value converter

1.6.1 The DesignWhen inductor or capacitor is under test, the capacitors voltage begins to grow (or the inductors voltage begins to drop) as shown below.
R

For a series RL circuit, VL(t)=V

i(t) L

Thus,

(R in Ohms, L in Henrys).

Fig1.6.1. Inductor Resisting Current

R V i(t) C

For a series RC circuit,

(R in Ohms, C in ).

Farads). Thus, VC(t)=V(

Fig.1.6. 2. Capacitor Collecting Charge The output of a timer, which is wired as an astable multivibrator as shown in fig. 1.6.3 with frequency and Duty Cycle =( )

R1 R2 7 2 6

Fig.1.6.3 Astable Multivibrator is passed through NOR gates and applied to the counter circuit. When two comparators are arranged to form free-running multivibrators with the timer a square-wave generator that operates at about 1kHz. The square-wave output form one input for a two NOR-gates while the gate input will come from timer circuit. The length of time that the timer output is at 1 will be determine by the value of unknown capacitor or inductor connected between binding posts and a timing (range) resistor will be selected. With timing resistor fixed, the timing period is then proportional to unknown value of either capacitor or inductor. The output of gate drops to zero only when both inputs are positive. Because the 1KHz square-wave now gated by the timer duration, only the amount of gated pulse can be counted by the followed decade counter. The selected gated pulses are fed to pair of conventional decade counter/seven-segment LED drivers and their associated readout. The non inverting input of the inverting op amp circuit is grounded. One assumption made is that the input error voltage is zero, so the feedback keeps inverting the input of the op amp at

a virtual ground (not actual ground but acting like ground). The current flow in the input leads is assumed to be zero, hence the current flowing through RG equals the current flowing through RF. Using Kirchoffs law, we write Equation 1.1; and the minus sign is inserted because this is the inverting input. Algebraic manipulation gives Equation 1.2.
I1 VIN RG IB=0 VE IB=0 + a VOUT I2

Fig. 1.2 The Inverting Op Amp = (1.1) (1.2)

Problems Statement: Digital RLC methods use feedback amplifiers and low measurement frequencies [2]-[5]. The measurement circuit in these methods is simple but the accuracy is relatively low. The guaranteed frequency of the timer is limited to 500kHz, and hence it many not be possible to get period. Conclusions: Many of us have a DVM (digital volt-meter) or VOM (volt-ohm meter) in the shack, but few of us own an inductance or capacitance meter. If you have ever looked into your junk box and wanted to know the value of the unmarked parts, this simple design will give you the answer. It may be built in one evening and will adapt your DVM or VOM to measure inductance or capacitance. The units are calibrated against a known part. Therefore, the overall accuracy depends only on the calibration values and not on the components used to build the circuits. If it is carefully calibrated, an overall accuracy of 10% may be expected if used with a DVM and slightly less with a VOM.

Paraskevopoulos, P. N. (2002). Modern Control Engineering. ISBN: 0-8247-8981-4. (Paraskevopoulos, 2002)

References
[1] Helfrick, A.D., Cooper, W.D. (1990). Modern Electronic Instrumentation and Measurement Techniques. Englewood Cliffs, USA: Prentice-Hall. *2+ Sedlek, M., Haasz, V. (2000). Electrical Measurements and Instrumentation. (2nd ed.). Prague, Czech Republic: Vydavatelstv VUT. [3] Webster, J. (ed.) (1999). Wiley Encyclopedia of Electrical and Electronics Engineering Online. Instrumentation and Measurement. New York, USA: John Wiley & Sons. (http://mrw.interscience.wiley.com/emrw/9780471346081/home/) *4+ Hribik, J. (2002). Electronic Measurement. Bratislava, Slovak Republic: Vydavatestvo STU. (In Slovak) [5] Lentka, G., Hoja, J. (2004). The influence of sampling parameters on accuracy of capacitance measurement in the method based on DSP. In 13th International Symposium on Measurements for Research and Industry Applications and 9th European Workshop on ADC Modelling and Testing, Volume 1, 29 September-1 October 2004 (pp. 294297). Athens, Greece: NTUA and IMEKO TC-4. *6+ Bedn, V., Hrukovic, M. (2004). Capacitance and Inductance Meter. Bratislava, Slovak Republic: FEI SUT. (In Slovak) [7] Sentz, R.E., Bartkowiak, R.A. (1968). Feedback Amplifiers and Oscillators. New York, USA: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.