A computer-controlled current-comparator-based four-terminal resistance bridge for power frequencies

Abstract

A current comparator technique is applied to four-terminal resistance measurements for obtaining a highly accurate AC resistance bridge at power frequencies of 50 to 60 Hz. Active circuits are used to establish equal voltage drops between the potential terminals of the two resistances being compared. The bridge is suitable for measuring resistances from 10 /spl mu//spl Omega/ to 100 k/spl Omega/. A cascading technique using two two-stage current transformers provides extension of the ratio range to 100000000 with a maximum applied current of 10000 A. The bridge features measurement with a resolution of one part in 10/sup 7/. The total combined uncertainty (2 /spl sigma/) of the bridge, including the range extenders at power frequencies, is estimated to be less than 5 /spl mu//spl Omega///spl Omega/.