Impedance Analyzer: Working Principles and Applications

An impedance analyzer is a sophisticated electronic testing instrument used to measure complex resistance variations with frequency. In modern electronics, impedance is a crucial parameter for evaluating the performance of electronic components, circuits, and material properties. Beyond traditional component analysis, impedance analysis is extensively used in the study of dielectric materials, including biological tissues, food products, and geological samples.

1. Working Principle of Impedance Analyzers
Impedance analyzers utilize phase-sensitive detection technology to achieve precise measurement of complex impedance. Specifically, these instruments measure both current and voltage across the device under test during a frequency sweep, calculating the device’s complex impedance values. Key performance parameters of impedance analyzers include:

• Frequency Range: Defines the upper and lower limits of the measurement frequency, affecting the applicability of the tests.
• Impedance Range: Indicates the upper and lower limits of measurable impedance values, directly impacting the accuracy and reliability of the measurements.
• Impedance Magnitude Accuracy: Measures the accuracy of the impedance magnitude readings, reflecting deviations during measurement.
• Phase Accuracy: Represents the precision of measuring the phase angle of complex impedance, which is critical for precise measurements.

Modern impedance analyzers also feature fast measurement speeds and support for voltage and current bias functions, enabling them to handle more complex testing requirements.

2. Features and Characteristics of Impedance Analyzers
Modern impedance analyzers offer various frequency options to meet different testing conditions, typically ranging from 10 Hz to 30 MHz, covering a wide range of applications. These instruments often include equivalent circuit analysis capabilities, with up to seven different parameter models, including three-component and four-component models, helping users accurately simulate the equivalent parameters of components.

For data transmission and system integration, impedance analyzers are typically equipped with various interfaces, such as RS232, USB, LAN, and GPIB. These interfaces facilitate convenient connection to computer systems for efficient data management and analysis.

3. Applications of Impedance Analyzers
Due to their high measurement accuracy and broad frequency coverage, impedance analyzers are widely used in several fields. Typical applications include:

• Electronic Component Testing: Analysis of impedance characteristics of components such as inductors, capacitors, and resistors.
• Material Performance Research: Testing of electrical properties of dielectric materials, biological tissues, and geological samples.
• Industrial Production Quality Control: The efficiency of impedance analyzers makes them ideal for quality control (QC) in production lines.

Through precise measurement and analysis, impedance analyzers play an indispensable role in enhancing product quality, optimizing design solutions, and ensuring equipment performance.

Shanghai LISUN LS90 series impedance analyzer can be widely used in such as inductors, capacitors, resistors, microphones, resonators, liquid crystal displays, varactor diodes, transformers and other impedance performance research and production line QC inspection.

Impedance Analyzers LS90_AL

In addition to the function of computer scanning analysis, it also provides the function of direct display of impedance – frequency scanning curve analysis of piezoelectric devices on the instrument. This eliminates the need for a computer for each instrument. This method not only ensures the test efficiency, but also reduces the test cost, and is convenient for customers to use in the production line. At the same time, the product uses the principle of vector testing, and its good measurement accuracy, ultra-wide frequency range and excellent stability can meet most of the measurement requirements of ultrasonic devices and materials.Impedance analyzer is equipped with RS232C, USB DEVICE, USBHOST, HANDLER interface, and optional RS485 interface, GPIB interface. It can easily communicate with PC data and remote control in order to establish an automatic test system.

LS90 series uses automatic balance bridge technology and four-terminal Kelvin test terminal. The measurement frequency range covers 20Hz~25MHz, the minimum resolution of 1mHz. The basic measurement accuracy can reach 0.05%.