Analog Discovery Impedance Analyzer Reference Manual

The Impedance Analyzer Adapter helps you measure complex electrical impedance as a function of the test frequency. The impedance of an electrical circuit or an electronic component is an important measurement to take.

An impedance analyzer is a type of electronic test equipment used to measure complex electrical impedance as a function of test frequency. An impedance analyzer takes sensitive measurements of both current and voltage are applied to the device under test (DUT) while the measurement frequency is varied.

The Impedance Analyzer Adapter is equipped with the 2×15 Analog Discovery connector, which makes it compatible with Analog Discovery 3, Analog Discovery 2, Analog Discovery (Legacy).

Note: Use of the Impedance Analyzer Adapter requires WaveForms version 3.8.2 or later.

• Equipped with automatically selectable reference resistances
• Compatible with the Analog Discovery 3, Analog Discovery 2, Analog Discovery (Legacy)
• Allows auto-scaling

The Analog Discovery Impedance Analyzer Adapter is compatible with the following:

• Analog Discovery 3
• Analog Discovery 2
• Analog Discovery (Legacy)

This reference manual applies to Revision A of the Analog Discovery Impedance Analyzer Adapter.

J1 - 2×15 Analog Discovery connector - Interfaces the Impedance Analyzer Adapter with the Analog Discovery

J2 - 1×2 Terminal Bloc - Used for connecting in circuit the unknown impedance

The Analog Discovery's digital I/O pins are used to control the relays in order to select the needed value for the reference impedance. Each relay driver uses two I/Os to control one relay.

The Analog Discovery Impedance Analyzer Adapter is used to analyze capacitive and inductive elements. It uses the WaveGen 1, Oscilloscope device instruments, and a reference resistor.

The impedance analyzer circuit is constructed as in the circuit below. Load represents the inductive or capacitive item to be analyzed and Resistor is the reference resistor that is already loaded on the board. The resistor value depends on the load value and frequency.

The approximate resistor needed for different loads are the following:

The device is powered through the 5V user power supply from the Analog Discovery. It requires approximately 25mA

You can learn how to use the Impedance Analyzer tool in the following Getting Started with the Impedance Analyzer.

• WaveForms can be downloaded from the WaveForms Resource Center.
• Documentation and installation instructions can be found in the WaveForms Reference Manual.
• The Analog Discovery Impedance Analyzer Schematic can be found here: Impedance Analyzer Schematic.