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w a Digital Multimeter Works FOLLOW

standing how a digital multimeter works helps you make the best of its
tages and minimise the impact of its disadvantages.
  
ter Tutorial Includes:
20 OCTOBER 2019
er basics     Analogue multimeter     DMM digital multimeter     How a DMM works     DMM accuracy &
n     How to buy best digital multimeter     How to use a multimeter     Voltage measurement     Current Fact of the day: It was on 20th October 1984
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ation of digital multimeters is relatively straightforward - using today’s IC technology they are easy to
build and use. Quote: The man who tried his best and failed is
superior to the man who never tried. Bud
they are very different to that much older analogue meters, their basic function is essentially the
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hough using digital technology they are able to incorporate many more measurements.
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test instrument, the way the digital multimeter, DMM works has an impact on the best way to use it,
erstanding its operation can help make the most of it, and understand why some measurements may
out the way that may be expected.

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oking at how a DMM works, one of the key processes that occurs within for any measurement that
ace is that of voltage measurement. In fact, all other measurements are derived from this basic
ment. EVENTS

he key processes involved in this is that of the analogue to digital conversion. ▶ productronica
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e many forms of analogue to digital converter, ADC. However the one that is most widely used in digital
ers, DMMs is known as the successive approximation register or SAR. Some SAR ADCs may only have
n levels of 12 bits, but those used in test equipment including DMMs generally have 16 bits or possibly
pendent upon the application. Typically for DMMs resolution levels of 16 bits are generally used, with How a Crystal Radio Set Works
f 100k samples per second. These levels of speed are more than adequate for most DMM applications,
gh levels of speed are not normally required. Typically for most bench or general test instruments,
ments only need to be taken at a maximum rate of a few a second, possible ten a second.
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Block diagram of a DMM using successive approximation

register ADC

ame implies, the successive approximation register ADC operates by successively homing in on the
he incoming voltage.

stage of the process is for the sample and hold circuit to sample the voltage at the input of the DMM
to hold it steady.

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eady input voltage the register starts at half its full scale value. This would typically require the most
nt bit, MSB set to "1" and all the remaining ones set to "0". Assuming that the input voltage could be
e in the range, the mid-range means that the ADC is set in the middle of the range and this provides a
ttling time. As it only has to move a maximum of the full scale rather than possibly 100%.

ow it works take the simple example of an 4-bit SAR. Its output will start at 1000. If the voltage is less
the maximum capability the comparator output will be low and that will force the register to a level of
he voltage is above this, the register will move to 0110, and so forth until it homes in on the nearest

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seen that SAR converters, need one approximating cycle for each output bit, i.e. an n-bit ADC will
cycles.
M operation
the analogue to digital converter forms the key element within the instrument, in order to fully
nd how a digital multimeter works, it is necessary to look at some of the other functions around the

the ADC will take very many samples the overall digital multimeter will not display or return every
aken. Instead the samples are buffered and averaged to achieve high accuracy and resolution. This will
e the effects of small variations such as noise, etc., noise created by the analogue first stages of the
ng an important factor that needs to be overcome to achieve the highest accuracy.

surement time
he key areas of understanding how a digital multimeter works is related to the measurement time.
m the basic measurement there are a number of other functions that are required and these all take
ordingly the measurement time of a digital multimeter, DMM, may not always appear straightforward.

all measurement time for a DMM is made up from several phases where different activities occur:

time:   The switch time is the time required for the instrument to settle after the input has been
hed. This includes the time to settle after a measurement type has been changed, e.g. from voltage to
ance, etc. It also includes time to settle after the range has been changed. If auto-ranging is included
eter will need to settle if a range change is required.

g time:   Once the value to be measured has been applied to the input, a certain time will be required
to settle. This will overcome any input capacitance levels when high impedance tests are made, or
ally for the circuit and instrument to settle.

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measurement time:   This is the basic time required to make the measurement itself. For AC
urements, the frequency of operation must be taken into account because the minimum signal
urement time is based on the minimum frequency required of the measurement. For example, for a
mum frequency of 50 Hz, an aperture of four time the period is required, i.e. 80 ms for a 50Hz signal, or
for a 60Hz signal, etc.

ero time:   When autorange is selected, or range changes are made, it is necessary to zero the meter to
e accuracy. Once the correct range is selected, the auto-zero is performance for that range.

alibration time:   In some DMMs a calibration is periodically performed. This must be accounted for,
ially where measurements are taken under automatic or computer control.

ept of the way the digital multimeter works is relatively straightforward, but it can be understood that
ng varying waveforms or intermittent voltages can give unusual results. Also it is important to select the
uracy setting for the time that the measurement can be taken. Understanding how the digital
er works enables more informed decisions like these and others to be made when using a DMM.

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