How do digital meters work? Not how to use a multi meter or external parts of a multi meter

OK i think im ok at finding explanations on the web search. For some odd reason i cant find a simple answer for my question. I have found explanations from foreign students and teachers that seemed in the right direction but i had a hard time understanding. I noticed that many digital devices include IC, analog to digital converter, attenuator, rms and sdram. Trouble is im in basic for my apprenticeship and i dont understand the complexity of it. If anyone can point me in the right direction that would be fantastic. Thanks in advance.

 

Welcome to AAC!

Did you try Google?

These came up near the top of the list and look reasonable.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multimeter

http://www.radio-electronics.com/info/t_and_m/digital-multimeter/how-a-dmm-works-operation.php

 

Maybe if you read this you will have some spececific qestion

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multimeter

 

How do digital meters work? Not how to use a multi meter or external parts of a multi meter

OK i think im ok at finding explanations on the web search. For some odd reason i cant find a simple answer for my question. I have found explanations from foreign students and teachers that seemed in the right direction but i had a hard time understanding. I noticed that many digital devices include IC, analog to digital converter, attenuator, rms and sdram. Trouble is im in basic for my apprenticeship and i dont understand the complexity of it. If anyone can point me in the right direction that would be fantastic. Thanks in advance.

Hi,

Do you know how an ADC works? That's at the heart of most digital meters, although there are different types of ADC's out there so you may wish to look into this. This would require some discussion in itself.

The meter electronics conditions the signal to be measured so that it can be presented to the ADC in a way that the ADC can work best. If we are to measure voltage it may do less conditioning, but if we are to measure current it will usually use a small current shunt to create a voltage that is proportional to current, then amplify it, then send it to the ADC. The logic knows what mode the meter is set to, so it knows how to interpret the ADC reading and present it to the display in an appropriate manner.

That's the basic idea. There are many specifics that you might want to ask about or look into.

 

Thanks all. I did find those articles but all pertain to DMM I was looking for digital meters in general, not specifically digital multimeter. My lack of knowledge is probably making this question quite confusing. The info and answers you have supplied gives me a good idea where to start digging. Thank you.

 

Here is an ap-note from Intersil describing the basics of dual-slope conversion as it is used in DVM/DMM apps. If you find it useful, look for more Intersil docs. They make lots of DVM/DMM ICs that you can use to roll your own.

Have fun!