EE 160/438Lab – Handout X-2: Impedance Measurement in LabVIEW 6i by a

simple modification of the Transfer Function VI

Concept: You already recognize how transfer functions are calculated from acquired
waveforms, using
V (ω ) ℑ{vout (t )}
H (ω ) = out = , [1]
Vin (ω ) ℑ{vin (t )}
where ℑ represents the complex one-sided Fourier Transform (in magnitude and phase
form). Notice now how the complex impedance as a function of frequency is calculated
in exactly the same manner, as

V (ω )
ℑ{v(t )}
Z (ω ) = = , [2]
I (ω ) ℑ{i (t )}
where v and i now stand for the voltage across and current through the impedance, Z.

Measuring circuit: If you use the measuring circuit below (including a measuring
resistor Rm, of known value) in a transfer function measurement,

it’s obvious that vout is the same as the voltage, v, across the impedance. It’s also clear
that, since no current flows in the AI leads, that
v − v out
i = in . [3]
Rm

LabVIEW modification: To trick the TransferFunction.vi you built earlier into

measuring impedance, all you need to do is feed it a calculated waveform for i(t) in place
of vin(t).

Here’s how your approach should work:

Start with the transfer function VI diagram below:
Notice that the input and output voltages are fed directly from the outputs of the
IndexArray VI’s [designated above by A] to the inputs of the two BuildWaveform
VI’s [designated by B].

You need to build a subVI that converts these voltage arrays, with knowledge of the
measuring resistor, into voltage and current, and place it between points A and B above,
like the diagram shown below:

The mySubVI you will wire into the diagram as shown above must take as inputs the
measured input and output voltages (arrays), and a value (which you enter on a new front
panel control) for the measuring resistor Rm. Then, mySubVI must calculate as its
outputs the voltage and current(arrays). You must figure out for yourselves what to put
inside the mySubVI to make it function as designed. All your mySubVI needs to do is
make the calulation in equation [3], above.
One way to organize the front panel of your version of mySubVI is shown below:

Tasks for Lab Skill Exercise X-2:

1. Modify your TransferFunction VI from Exercise X-1 so it measures impedance

using a known measuring resistor, using the ideas discussed above. Print out a
copy of your VI diagram and attach it.
2. Do Lab Exercise M5-1 from the workbook page M5-8, using the VI you built in
Task 1, above. Experiment with the averaging and window controls until you get
the best possible results. Print out a front panel showing your plots of the
magnitude and the phase of your impedance and attach it.
3. Fill in the “Calculated Z” and the “Z from Broadband measurement” columns of
the table at the bottom of page M5-8 in the Workbook. To get your values for the
measurement columns, create cursors on your front panel graphs for magnitude
and phase.