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Chapter 7 Tutorial
Measurement Fundamentals
4
7
AC Voltage Measurements
The main purpose of an AC “front end” is to change an AC voltage input
into a DC voltage which can be measured by the ADC.
Signal Conditioning for AC Measurements
Input signal
conditioning for AC voltage measurements includes both attenuation
and amplification. An input coupling capacitor (C) blocks the DC portion
of the input signal so that only the AC component is measured. Ranging
is accomplished by combining signal attenuation from the first-stage
amplifier and gain from the second-stage amplifier.
The first stage implements a high input impedance (1 M
) switchable
compensated attenuator. The second stage provides variable-gain signal
amplification to scale the input to the AC converter to the full-scale level.
Any residual DC offset from the attenuator and amplifier stages is
blocked by a capacitor.
An AC voltage front end similar to the one discussed above is also used to
measure AC current. Shunt resistors convert the AC current into an AC
voltage which can then be measured. Current shunts are switched to
provide selectable AC current ranges.
C 1M
X 0.01
X1
A1
A2
X1
X10
X100
AC to DC
Converter
HI
LO
34970A Refresh UG.book Page 281 Wednesday, February 17, 2010 12:34 PM
Summary of Contents for 34970A
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Page 21: ...1 1 Quick Start 34970A Refresh UG book Page 21 Wednesday February 17 2010 12 34 PM ...
Page 39: ...2 2 Front Panel Overview 34970A Refresh UG book Page 39 Wednesday February 17 2010 12 34 PM ...
Page 59: ...3 3 System Overview 34970A Refresh UG book Page 59 Wednesday February 17 2010 12 34 PM ...
Page 87: ...4 4 Features and Functions 34970A Refresh UG book Page 87 Wednesday February 17 2010 12 34 PM ...
Page 217: ...5 5 Error Messages 34970A Refresh UG book Page 217 Wednesday February 17 2010 12 34 PM ...
Page 241: ...6 6 Application Programs 34970A Refresh UG book Page 241 Wednesday February 17 2010 12 34 PM ...
Page 254: ...254 34970A Refresh UG book Page 254 Wednesday February 17 2010 12 34 PM ...
Page 255: ...7 7 Tutorial 34970A Refresh UG book Page 255 Wednesday February 17 2010 12 34 PM ...
Page 324: ...324 34970A Refresh UG book Page 324 Wednesday February 17 2010 12 34 PM ...