Maxwell-Wien bridge with vector voltmeter system for measurement small and rapid changes in inductive-loop sensor impedance components
Abstract: The paper presents a low-cost electronics system for impedance measurement of an inductive-loop sensor as well as small, rapid changes in impedance components. The idea of the system is based on the adaptation of a vector voltmeter instead of the Maxwell-Wien bridge balance indicator and supporting the system with a microcontroller. The proposed procedures, based on the complex voltage of bridge unbalance, allow to calculate the resistance that can balance the bridge in a short time. This, in turn, allows to measure the sensor impedance components, identically, as in the case of a well-known balanced bridge method. However, what is original in this work, is that measurements can be taken in a state of bridge imbalance and with high relative accuracy to small changes in sensor impedance.
Keywords: Maxwell-Wien, Bridge, Vector voltmeter, Impedance, Inductive-loop, Vehicle axle, Magnetic signature