Inductance and Capacitance Measurements

Capacitance Measurements
V
I= = V (2π fC )
XC
C
Voltage Example: C = 10 pF, V = 10 V (limited by breakdown
source voltage of the capacitance), I = 100 mA; give f = 1600
I MHz parasitic components are dominate the
measurements

Simple
Not practical in the real applications
 Residual components

 1 
Z = R + j ω L − 
 ωC 
Equivalent circuit of a capacitor at high frequency

Capacitance dominate
Inductance
Impedance (Ω)

dominate

Ideal
capacitor

0.1 µF 0.01 µF 0.001 µF

Frequency (Hz)
Inductance and Capacitance Measurements
AC
amplifier
C
Voltage
source
AC
R voltmeter

RVin RVin
V =A =A
R 2 + X C2  1 
2

R2 +  
 2π fC 
Where A = Amplifier gain

Non-linear relationship between V and C

It is hard to keep the amplifier gain constant over
the large input voltage
 Inductance and Capacitance Measurements
Limiting
amplifier phase
C detector
Voltage
source In this scheme, we measure
DC
R the phase difference between
voltmeter
the input voltage, Vin and the
voltage across the series
resistance.

Here, the magnitude of the amplifier is not a critical factor, its gain should be large
enough to give an output that can be detected by the phase detector.
jX CVin X ( X + jR)Vin
V=A = A C 2C  R 
R + jX C R + X C2 θ = arctan   = arctan(2π fRC )
 XC 

1 1
( ) ( 2π fRC ) …
3 5
Taylor’s Series: θ = arctan(2π fRC ) = 2π fRC − 2π fRC +
3 5

If 2πfRC < 0.1; that gives θ ~ 2πfRC within 0.3 % error θ ≈ 2π fRC
 Inductance and Capacitance Measurements
Example: to cover C from 0-100 pF with a source frequency of 1 MHz; how can
we select the series resistance.
0.1 = 2π fRC = 2π × 1 MHz × R × 100 pF
Solve for R: 0.1
R= −4
= 1590 Ω
2π ×10
Inductance Measurements
RVin R( R − jX L )Vin
Limiting V=A =A
phase
R + jX L R 2 + X L2
amplifier
L detector
X  2π fL
Voltage θ = arctan  L  = arctan( )
source  R  R
R DC
voltmeter
If 2πfL/R < 0.1; that gives θ ~ 2πfL/R
within 0.3 % error

θ ≈ 2π fL / R
Example: to cover L from 0-1µH with a source frequency of 1 MHz; the series
resistance for full scale deflection is 62.8 Ω
Source of Errors
Parasitic components in the instruments

Lead Limiting
Generator inductatnce amplifier phase
resisance detector
R
Voltage
source
DC
C voltmeter
Amplifier
Input capacitance

Non-ideal characteristic of the device under test

Limiting
amplifier phase
R detector
Voltage Therefore, This type of
source
ESR DC measurement is suitable
voltmeter for High Q inductance and
C Low D capacitance

Harmonic distortion of the signal source

Q Meter
Q-meter is an instrument designed to measure the Q factor of a coil and for
measuring inductance, capacitance, and resistance at RF.

Basic Q-meter Circuit

•The basic operation based on the well-known characteristics of series resonant circuits.

VL At resonance: X L = XC
R VC = VL = IX C = IX L
Coil VL IXL
IR V = IR
V XL I
V
By the definition of Q:
XC VC X L X C VC
VC Q= = =
R R V
Series resonant circuit Therefore, if V is a known constant, a voltmeter
connected across the capacitor can be calibrated in
term of the circuit Q
Q Meter

25
R=5Ω L = 10H

20 E C VC
sin10t

15
VC (Volt)

E
VC =
(ω RC ) + (ω 2 LC − 1)
2 2

10

0
.0001 .001 .01 .1
Capacitance (F)
 Q Meter
Example: when the below circuit is in the resonance, V = 100 mV, R = 5 Ω, and XL= XC
= 100 Ω
(a) Calculate the coil Q and the voltmeter indication.
(b) Determine the Q factor and voltmeter indication for another coil that R = 10 Ω, and
XL= XC = 100 Ω at resonance
Unknown coil
L R
Solution (a) V 100 mV
I= = = 20 mA
R 5Ω
Signal Multiply Circuit
generator
V Q by C V Q meter
VL = VC = IX C = 20 mA × 100 Ω = 2 V
Tuning
capacitor
VC 2V
Q= = = 20
V 100 mV
(b) For the second coil: V 100 mV
I= = = 10 mA
R 10 Ω

VL = VC = IX C = 10 mA × 100 Ω = 1 V
VC 1V
Q= = = 10
V 100 mV
 Measurement Method: Direct Connection
Unknown coil The circuit can be adjusted to the resonance by
L R
9 Preset the source frequency, and
Signal Multiply Circuit
then vary the tuning capacitor
generator
V Q by C V Q meter 9 Preset the tuning capacitor and
Tuning
capacitor then adjust the source frequency

1
Practical Q meter: X L = X C and L = Henry
( 2π f )
2
C
VC V
2 100 100
150
1 3 50 100

200 H
50
0
20 1 0.6

50
30

20

pF
10 2 7
0
0

µ
mV
V

Q Multi-Q-by
(c) Capacitance dial
(a) Capacitor voltmeter calibrated (b) Supply voltmeter calibrated as
calibrated to indicate coil
to monitor Q a multiply-Q-by meter
inductance
 Measurement Method: Series Connection
For low-impedance components: low value resistors, small coils, and large capacitors
Shorting
strap
For the first measurement: short Z
L R
Z
1
Low
Work coil X L = X C or ω L =
impedance Tuning ω C1
Signal capaitor Circuit
generator
V Q meter
C1,C2 ωL 1
Thus Q1 = =
R ω C1 R

Q meter for a low-impedance component

For the second measurement:

The capacitor is tuned again to the new resonance point.
1 1 C1 − C2
X S = X C 2 - X L or X S = - XS =
ω C2 ω C1 ω C1C2
Xs is inductive if C1 > C2 and capacitive if C2 > C1
Measurement Method: Series Connection
The resistive components of the unknown impedance Z.

X1 X
R1 = and R2 = 2
Q1 Q2

1 1 C1Q1 − C2Q2
RS = R2 − R1 = − Thus RS = R2 − R1 =
ω C1Q1 ω C2Q2 ω C1Q1C2Q2

Case I: Z = purely resistive, C1 = C2 Q1 − Q2 ∆Q

RS = R2 − R1 = =
ω C1Q1Q2 ω C1Q1Q2

C1 − C2 X s ( C1 − C2 ) Q1Q2
Case II: Z = inductive, C1 > C2 LS = QS = =
ω 2C1C2 RS C1Q1 − C2Q2

C1C2 X s ( C1 − C2 ) Q1Q2
Case III: Z = capacitive, C1 < C2 CS = QS = =
C2 − C1 RS C1Q1 − C2Q2
 Measurement Method: Parallel Connection
For high-impedance components: high value resistors, Large coils, and small capacitors
L R For the first measurement: open switch
Work coil 1
Signal Circuit
X L = X C or ω L =
generator XP RP V Q meter ω C1
High C1,C2
impedance ωL 1
Thus Q1 = =
R ω C1 R
Q meter for a high-impedance component
For the second measurement:
The capacitor is tuned again to the new resonance point.
X X 1
X L = C2 P XP =
XC2 + X P ω ( C1 − C2 )
1
If the unknown is inductive, XP = ωLP; LP = 2
ω ( C1 − C2 )
If the unknown is capacitive, XP = 1/ωCP; CP = C1 − C2
Measurement Method: Parallel Connection
In a parallel resonant circuit, the total resistance at resonance: Q2 = RT/XL

While X2 = XC1 , Therefore RT = Q2XL=Q2XC1 = Q2/C1

1 1 1
= +
RT RP RLP
R
Where RLP =
R 2 + ω 2 L2
1 1 1 ω C1 R
= − = − 2
RP RT RLP Q2 R + ω 2 L2
1 ω C1  1  1 ω C1 1
= −  ≈ −
RP Q2  R  1 + ω 2 L2 / R 2 Q2 RQ12
1 ω C1 ω C1 Q1Q2 QQ
since Q1 = 1/ ω C1 R = − RP = = 1 2
RP Q2 Q1 ω C1 (Q1 − Q2 ) ω C1∆Q

RP (C1 − C2 )Q1Q2 (C − C2 )Q1Q2

QP = = = 1
XP C1 (Q1 − Q2 ) C1∆Q
Source of Error
ƒDistributed capacitance
L R

Signal Multiply Circuit

generator
V Q by
Cd C V Q meter
Tuning
f1, f2 capacitor

One simple method of finding the distributed capacitance (Cd) is to make

two measurements at different frequencies
1
f =
2π LC
1
At first measurement: f1 f1 =
2π L ( C1 + Cd )
1
At first measurement: f2 f2 =
2π L ( C2 + Cd )
1 2 C1 -4C2
If we set f2 =2 f1 = Cd =
2π L ( C2 + Cd ) 2π L ( C1 + Cd ) 3
Source of Error
The effective Q of a coil with distributed capacitance is less than the true Q

 C + Cd 
True Q = Qe  
 C 

ƒResidual or insertion resistance: in the Q meter circuit can be an important

source of error when the signal generator voltage is not metered.

If RS is the source resistance, the circuit current resonance is

V V
I= Instead of I=
R + Rs R

ωL
Also, the indicated Q factor of the coil is Q=
R + Rs
ωL
Instead of the actual coil Q, which is Q=
R

Thus Rs must be kept minimized.

Source of Error
Example The self-capacitance of a coil is to be measured by using the procedure just
outlined. The first measurement is at f1 = 2 MHz, and C1 = 460 pF. The second
measurement, at f2 = 4 MHz, yields a new value of tuning capacitor, C2 = 100 pF. Find
the distributed capacitance, Cd.

Solution C1 − 4C2 460 − 4 × 100

Cd = = = 20 pF
3 3
Example A coil with a resistance of 10 Ω is connected in the “ direction-measurement”
mode. Resonance occurs when the oscillator frequency is 1.0 MHz, and the resonating
capacitor is set at 65 pF. Calculate the percentage error in trounced in the calculated
value of Q by the 0.02 Ω insertion resistance.
Solution The effective Q of the coil equals
1 1
Qe = = = 245
ω CR 2π × 106 × 65 × 10-12 × 10
1
The indicated Q of the coil equals Qe = = 244.5
ω C ( R + 0.02 )
The percentage error is then 245 − 244.5
× 100% = 0.2%
245