High Resolution Switching Mode Inductance-to-Frequency Converter with Temperature Compensation

• Main Authors: Vojko Matko, Miro Milanović
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2014-10-01
• Series: Sensors
• Subjects: inductance-to-frequency converter with picoHenry resolution; switching method; dynamic temperature compensation of circuit elements; precision metrology
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/14/10/19242

This article proposes a novel method for the temperature-compensated inductance-to-frequency converter with a single quartz crystal oscillating in the switching oscillating circuit to achieve better temperature stability of the converter. The novelty of this method lies in the switching-mode converter, the use of additionally connected impedances in parallel to the shunt capacitances of the quartz crystal, and two inductances in series to the quartz crystal. This brings a considerable reduction of the temperature influence of AT-cut crystal frequency change in the temperature range between 10 and 40 °C. The oscillator switching method and the switching impedances connected to the quartz crystal do not only compensate for the crystal’s natural temperature characteristics but also any other influences on the crystal such as ageing as well as from other oscillating circuit elements. In addition, the method also improves frequency sensitivity in inductance measurements. The experimental results show that through high temperature compensation improvement of the quartz crystal characteristics, this switching method theoretically enables a 2 pH resolution. It converts inductance to frequency in the range of 85–100 µH to 2–560 kHz.