Direct Reading Capacitance Meter.

Abstract

This invention relates to an apparatus for measuring capacitance, especially large capacitance. The resulting measurement is displayed on a meter calibrated in capacitance. One method of determining the capacitance of a large, unknown capacitor is to charge it to a predetermined DC voltage, then discharge it through a known resistor and an SCR while observing the discharge wave form on an oscilloscope. Another method is to insert the unknown capacitor in a bridge circuit in which fixed capacitors and, in some cases, other circuit elements are provided. The present invention obviates the above mentioned prior art by providing a direct reading capacitance meter for measuring a wide range of capacitances. The invention has circuits for a voltage comparator and logic trigger, a flip-flop multi-vibrator, and a ramp generator. The output voltage of the ramp generator is determined by the duration interval of the input pulse, and produces a reading on a meter which is calibrated in three ranges of capacitance to provide the user with a direct reading capacitance meter.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 06, 1980
Accession Number
ADD007075

Entities

People

  • Clifford O. Shaw

Organizations

  • United States Department of the Navy

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Capacitance
  • Capacitors
  • Comparators
  • Electronic Components
  • Electronic Equipment
  • Energy Systems
  • Fixed Capacitors
  • Generators
  • Intervals
  • Inventions
  • Measurement
  • Oscilloscopes
  • Passive Electronic Components
  • Resistors
  • Waveforms

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Geodesy