Wideband wattmeter based on RMS voltage measurements

A wideband wattmeter for measuring active power over a frequency range of dc to 500 kHz is described. The wattmeter is based on the three-voltmeter method in which three rms voltage measurements are used to calculate power. The wattmeter active power uncertainty is estimated to be within 0.03% from dc to 20 kHz and within 1.5% to 500 kHz     

Low-frequency characteristics of thin-film multijunction thermalvoltage converters

Low-frequency errors of thin-film multijunction thermal voltage converters are estimated using a simple model based on easily measured parameters. The model predictions are verified by measuring the converter's frequency characteristic using a digitally synthesized source     

Development of a 60 Hz Power Standard Using SNS Programmable Josephson Voltage Standards

We are implementing a new standard for 60 Hz power measurements based on precision sinusoidal reference voltages from two independent programmable Josephson voltage standards (PJVS): one for voltage and one for current. The National Institute of Standards and Technology PJVS systems use series arrays of Josephson junctions to produce accurate quantum-based DC voltages. Using stepwise-approximation synthesis, the PJVS systems produce sinewaves with precisely calculable RMS voltage and spectral content. We present measurements and calculations that elucidate the sources of error in the RMS voltage that are intrinsic to the digital-synthesis technique and that are due to the finite rise times and transients that occur when switching between the discrete voltages. Our goal is to reduce all error sources and uncertainty contributions from the PJVS synthesized waveforms to a few parts in 10 ⁷ so that the overall uncertainty in the AC-power standard is a few parts in 10⁶     

A low-noise latching comparator probe for waveform sampling applications

A new latching comparator probe is described. The probe is being developed as part of an effort to augment voltage measurement capability in the 10 Hz to 1 MHz frequency range. The probe offers an input voltage range of /spl plusmn/10 V, input impedance of 1 M/spl Omega/ and root mean square noise referred to the input as low as 55 /spl mu/V. The probe's 3-dB bandwidth is approximately 20 MHz. Total harmonic distortion is as low as -93 dB at 50 kHz. Gain flatness is within /spl plusmn/10 /spl mu/V/V from 100 Hz to 100 kHz. Improved step settling performance is achieved using a technique that minimizes circuit thermal errors. The probe's input range can be extended with a frequency-compensated 1-M/spl Omega/ input impedance attenuator allowing measurement of pulses in the microsecond regime up to 100 V. The attenuator can be compensated further with a digital filtering algorithm to achieve gain accuracy better than 100 /spl mu/V/V.     

Intercomparison of calibration systems for AC shunts up to audio frequencies

An intercomparison of calibration systems for AC shunts up to audio frequencies (10 kHz) between the National Research Council of Canada, Japan Electric Meters Inspection Corporation, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, is presented. The comparison was implemented with a transfer standard of 10 A, 0.1 /spl Omega/ calculable AC/DC shunt, designed by Japan Electric Meters Inspection Corporation. The results indicate that there are no significant differences in the overall accuracy of calibration systems for AC shunts at frequencies up to 10 kHz in each laboratory.     

Improved time-base for waveform parameter estimation

An improved gated oscillator time-base and associated auto-calibration algorithm for use in a high-accuracy sampling waveform acquisition system are described. The time-base architecture consists of a stable 100 MHz gated oscillator, 24-bit counter chain, and a clock period interpolator. The nominal, uncorrected linearity of the time-base is approximately ±30 ps. By using an iterative, sine-fit based algorithm, the linearity has been improved to <5 ps. Details of the performance and major sources of error of the time-base and correction algorithm in an equivalent time sampling system are also discussed     

Error and Transient Analysis of Stepwise-Approximated Sine Waves Generated by Programmable Josephson Voltage Standards

We are developing a quantum-based 60 Hz power standard that exploits the precision sinusoidal reference voltages synthesized by a programmable Josephson voltage standard (PJVS). PJVS systems use series arrays of Josephson junctions as a multibit digital-to-analog converter to produce accurate quantum-based dc voltages. Using stepwise-approximation synthesis, the system can also generate arbitrary ac waveforms [i.e., an ac programmable Josephson voltage standard (ACPJVS)] and, in this application, produces sine waves with calculable root mean square (rms) voltage and spectral content. The primary drawback to this ACPJVS synthesis technique is the uncertainty that results from switching between the discrete voltages due to finite rise times and transient signals. In this paper, we present measurements and simulations that elucidate some of the error sources that are intrinsic to the ACPJVS when used for rms measurements. In particular, we consider sine waves synthesized at frequencies up to the audio range, where the effect of these errors is more easily measured because the fixed transition time becomes a greater fraction of the time in each quantized voltage state. Our goal for the power standard is to reduce all error sources and uncertainty contributions from the PJVS-synthesized waveforms at 60 Hz to a few parts in 10⁷ so that the overall uncertainty in an ac power standard will be a few parts in 10⁶.     

Automatic inductive voltage divider bridge for operation from 10 Hzto 100 kHz

A bridge to calibrate programmable and manual inductive voltage dividers is described. The bridge is based on a programmable 30-b binary inductive voltage divider with terminal linearity of ±0.1 ppm in phase and ±2 ppm quadrature at 400 Hz. Measurements of programmable test dividers can be automated using software developed to align the bridge components and perform an automatic balance     

Evaluation of a Capacitance Scaling System

An improved error analysis of an existing capacitance scaling system for supporting measurements of higher valued (10 nF to 100 ) ceramic-dielectric four-terminal-pair (4TP) capacitance standards over the 100-Hz to 100-kHz frequency range is described. The capacitance scaling system uses a commercial impedance (inductance-capacitance-resistance) meter and a single-decade inductive voltage divider as an impedance comparator. Four-terminal-pair capacitors in decade (10 : 1) steps from 10 nF to 100 F are measured. The system's 10 : 1 scaling error is determined using 100-pF and 1-nF air-dielectric 4TP capacitance standards with known capacitance and loss characteristics over frequency. This paper discusses the significant reductions in measurement uncertainty that were attained through the use of improved calibration standards and measurement method refinements. Details of the uncertainty analysis for a 10-nF capacitor (in the 100-Hz to 10-kHz frequency range) and verification data are presented.     

Nonrandom quantization errors in timebases

Timebase distortion causes nonlinear distortion of waveforms measured by sampling instruments. When such instruments are used to measure the RMS amplitude of the sampled waveforms, such distortions result in errors in the measured RMS values. This paper looks at the nature of the errors that result from nonrandom quantization errors in an instrument timebase circuit. Simulations and measurements on a sampling voltmeter show that the errors in measured RMS amplitude have a nonnormal probability distribution, such that the probability of large errors is much greater than would be expected from the usual quantization noise model. A novel timebase compensation method is proposed which makes the measured RMS errors normally distributed and reduces their standard deviation by a factor of 25. This compensation method was applied to a sampling voltmeter and the improved accuracy was realized