Lock-in amplifiers (LIAs) are designed to measure weak signals submerged by noise. This is achieved with a signal modulator to avoid low-frequency noise and a narrow-band filter to suppress out-of-band noise. In asynchronous measurement, even a slight frequency deviation between the modulator and the reference may lead to measurement error because the filter’s passband is not flat. Because many commercial LIAs are unable to track frequency deviations, in this paper we propose an auxiliary frequency tracking system. We analyze the measurement error caused by the frequency deviation and propose both a tracking method and an auto-tracking system. This approach requires only three basic parameters, which can be obtained from any general purpose LIA via its communications interface, to calculate the frequency deviation from the phase difference. The proposed auxiliary tracking system is designed as a peripheral connected to the LIA’s serial port, removing the need for an additional power supply. The test results verified the effectiveness of the proposed system; the modified commercial LIA (model SR-850) was able to track the frequency deviation and continuous drift. For step frequency deviations, a steady tracking error of less than 0.001% was achieved within three adjustments, and the worst tracking accuracy was still better than 0.1% for a continuous frequency drift. The tracking system can be used to expand the application scope of commercial LIAs, especially for remote measurements in which the modulation clock and the local reference are separated.

The equivalent series resistance (ESR) is an important parameter for determining the quality of a capacitor. In general, the value of the ESR can be obtained only at a single frequency point during mass production testing, because obtaining the whole ESR curve by means of scanning the frequency range is time consuming. We present a novel method to investigate how the ESR varies with frequency during batch testing. We use the multi‐frequency synthesis excitation waveform to obtain the ESR at multiple frequency points. This allows the entire ESR curve to be obtained during one measurement period, thus greatly improving the measurement speed. The mathematical principle, the circuit realisation and the signal processing algorithm are discussed. Furthermore, a principle verification test is conducted, and the ESR values at seven frequency points are synchronously measured. The obtained results are consistent with those acquired from a standard LCR meter, and the entire measurement is completed within 10 ms, which confirms that our method is efficient and suitable for measurements in the mass production testing.

Achieving low-frequency waveguide structures that operate in the low-frequency (LF) band or megahertz range is challenging because of the long wavelengths involved. In this work, we propose a domino-structured magneto-inductive waveguide for electromagnetic energy transmission in radio-frequency identification (RFID) systems at frequencies as low as 13.56 MHz. It is implemented using a metastructure based on a domino-arranged split ring resonator (SRR). Lumped components are introduced into each SRR ring that significantly reduce the ring resonant frequencies. An analytical energy transfer model is proposed based on inductive coupling because almost all the energy is transmitted through the magnetic field. Transmission coefficient measurements were carried out and the experimental results agree well with the energy transfer model. The proposed structure has a wide transmission bandwidth that is typically 30% to 80% of the center frequency. This bandwidth is sufficient to cover the entire 13.56 MHz industry-science-medical (ISM) band and is thus suitable for energy transmission for RFID systems. The waveguide has wide application potential that may be used to extend RFID reader sensing distances or split near-field RFID electromagnetic energies in multi-point applications.

Steering motor is of vital importance in UAV’s health-monitoring system, to which its supply current is the most critical characteristic representing health statue of UAV. In order to conduct continuous measuring on the steering motor’s current of large dynamic range, in this paper, a current measurement method is therefore proposed on the basis of twin nonlinear shunt. The proposed method adopts the twin diode as the current sampling device, which not only realizes measurement range and relative constant resolution, but also ensures continuity of the measurement due to the eliminated operation of range switching. The associated diode is used to compensate the temperature of core temperature of the shunt diode, and to make the nonlinear-shunt more adaptive for the case of junction being heated under larger current. The working principle, real-time compensation method and circuit implementation of our method are discussed in detail. Experimental test results suggest that the measurement error of the proposed method is less than 4.5% when the measurement current varies between 10 mA to 10 A, maintaining the relative resolution at an almost constant level, while preventing the conventional method of frequent range switching from generating glitches. In addition to the ensured continuity, information-rich details of the current are sustained, contributing to the UAV’s health-monitoring system. The proposal can also be applied to other applications concerning large dynamic current detection, including, but not limited to, industrial control, motor control, etc.