Patent ID: 7825670
Filing Date: 2010-11-02
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
1. A measuring apparatus for measuring capacitance of a capacitor, comprising: a control circuit configured for receiving a control signal, and outputting an analog voltage signal of the capacitor, wherein the control circuit is coupled to the capacitor and charges/discharges the capacitor according to the control signal; an Analog-to-Digital (A/D) converting circuit configured for receiving the analog voltage signal of the capacitor, and outputting a digital voltage signal; a microprocessor having a plurality of data input terminals for receiving the digital voltage signal, a plurality of data output terminals, and a control terminal for outputting the control signal, wherein the control circuit comprises a relay and a first resistor, the first resistor is capable of forming a discharge loop with the capacitor, the relay selectively switches the capacitor to be connected in a charge loop or the discharge loop according to the control signal, the A/D converting circuit receives the analog voltage signal of the capacitor when the capacitor is connected in the discharge loop, the microprocessor calculates capacitance of the capacitor according to the digital voltage signal, the resistance of the first resistor, and discharge time; and a display unit configured for indicating capacitance of the capacitor, wherein the display unit comprises a plurality of data input terminals coupled to the plurality of data output terminals of the microprocessor; wherein the A/D converting circuit comprises a plurality of analog signal input terminals, a plurality of channel selecting terminals, and a plurality of digital signal output terminals for outputting the digital voltage signal, one of the analog signal input terminals is selected to receive the analog voltage signal according to different voltage levels received at the channel selecting terminals; wherein the control circuit further comprises a transistor, the base of the transistor is coupled to the control terminal of the microprocessor to receive the control signal, the collector of the transistor is coupled to the relay, the emitter of the transistor is coupled to ground, the transistor is turned on or off by the control signal to control the relay to switch the capacitor to be connected in the charge loop or the discharge loop; and wherein the control circuit further comprises a diode and a second resistor, the charge loop further comprises a battery, a variable resistor, and a switch, the relay comprises a coil, and a normally-open contact having a dynamic contact point, a first static contact point, and a second static contact point, the base of the transistor is further coupled to a power supply via the first second resistor, the collector of the transistor is coupled to another power supply via the coil of the relay, and is coupled to the anode of the diode, the cathode of the diode is coupled to the another power supply, the anode of the battery is coupled to one terminal of the variable resistor, the cathode of the battery is coupled to another terminal of the variable resistor via the switch, an adjusting terminal of the variable resistor is coupled to the first static contact point of the normally-open contact, the anode of the capacitor and one terminal of the first resistor are respectively coupled to the dynamic contact point and the second static contact point of the normally-open contact, the cathode of the capacitor and another terminal of the first resistor are coupled to the another terminal of the variable resistor.