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I need a reference circuit for 4_wire the impedance measurement using AD5934, range 50 to 250 ohm.

Category: Hardware
Product Number: AD5934

I saw the reference design file CN0349 and CN0217, I think both are 2-wire implementation of the AD5P3x family IC. Can I get the circuit reference for the 4-wire implementation, with impedance range of 50 to 250 ohm. 

Help will be highly appreciated. 

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  • In the link, it is mentioned that setting Rcal = 20 can set the impedance range from 1 to 60. Can you please explain this, I did not get this. How can Rcal resistor set the range. 

    https://ez.analog.com/dds/f/q-a/28201/ad5933-4-electrode-configuration-for-human-body-thoracic-impedance-measurement-0-60-ohm

  • For this part, I got the answer. 

    "The accuracy achieved is very much dependent on how large the unknown impedance range is relative to the calibration resistor, RCAL. Therefore, in this example, the unknown impedance of 10.3 Ω measured 10.13 Ω, an approximate 2% error. Choosing an RCAL closer to the unknown impedance achieves a more accurate measurement; that is, the smaller the unknown impedance range is centered on RCAL is the more accurate the measurement. Consequently, for large unknown impedance ranges, it is possible to switch in various RCAL resistors to break up the unknown impedance range using external switches. The RON error of the switch is removed by calibration during the RCAL gain factor calculation. Using a switch to select various RFB values can optimize the dynamic range of the signal seen by the ADC.

    Consequently, for large unknown impedance ranges, it is possible to switch in various RCAL resistors to break up the unknown impedance range using external switches. The RON error of the switch is removed by calibration during the RCAL gain factor calculation. Using a switch to select various RFB values can optimize the dynamic range of the signal seen by the ADC. In addition, note that to achieve a wider range of measurements a 200 mV p-p range was used. If the unknown Z is a small range, a larger output voltage range can be used to optimize the ADC dynamic range."

    Reference link below, page 3.

    https://www.analog.com/media/en/reference-design-documentation/reference-designs/CN0217.pdf

  • How can Rcal resistor set the range. 

    Rcal does not set the range, it is used to measure the system gain, e.d. to find the dependence between the impedance under test and the output values produced in response. If you are planning to work with the circuit from the link you mentioned the factors setting the range are:
    1. The excitation voltage programmed into the AD5933
    2. Value of the current-setting resistor  Rlimit
    3. Gain of the instrumentation amplifier INAMP
    4. PGA gain programmed into the AD5933

  • Choosing an RCAL closer to the unknown impedance achieves a more accurate measurement

    This statement is correct only in case when the measurement accuracy does not depend on the value being measured. This is hardly the case with the circuit from the link you mentioned - the lower the impedance of the "BODY" - the lower the sinewave signal coming to the AD5933's internal ADC and the smaller the portion of the ADC's available dynamic range utilized in digitizing the signal leading to fewer digital steps approximating the sinewave, e.d. the higher discretization error. By using low values of Rcal for low expected values of the "BODY" impedance this higher discretization error is experienced twice: at the calibration stage and at the measurement one, so both the gain calibration and the measurement are not accurate. Also, the error acquired in calibration at low Rcal expands, when such calibration is used to calculate the unknown impedance of value higher than Rcal.

    A better approach would be to choose the Rcal value so that the internal ADC would receive the sinewave spanning the majority of the ADC's available dynamic range (which would be about Vdd - 0.2V). In this case the accuracy of the calibrated gain would be close to the maximum achievable with the AD5933. Same is true with the unknown impedance: to achieve maximum available accuracy the signal coming to the AD5933 should be as close to the Vdd - 0.2V as practical, but should not exceed it. Therefore, in practice, with the circuit from your link, Rcal should be equal to the maximum expected value from the range. AS the unknown impedance getting lower the measurement accuracy is going to  decrease, but one can either increase the excitation voltage, reduce the value of Rlimit, increase the gain of INAMP and/or program in PGA gain of 5 into the AD5933 or combination thereof, BUT making sure that the signal swing at the ADC input does not exceed Vdd - 0.2V. Exceeding it causes distortion of the sinewave, most often clipping at the power sully rails, the ADC mindlessly digitizes the distorted sinewave, which is fed to the "DFT," which does not know the sinewave is distorted and produces erroneous results without any warning to the user.

    One more reiteration: the above is true for the 4-wire circuit from your link - it is the opposite when evaluation board or similar circuit is used. With the evaluation board Rcal should be equal the lowest impedance from the range to be measured.

  • Thanks for the detailed answer. The link was just a reference.

    I am following this one, 

    https://www.instructables.com/Bio-Impedance-Analysis-BIA-With-the-AD5933/

    But I need couple of small change, 1) my impedance range is from 50-250 Ohm, and 2) VDD is 3.3V. What changes should I do. I should just focus on the gain, (gain should be in the range of the internal ADC)?

  • If I use different power source for my MCU, can I use this design.

      

    If yes, what changes you suggest for achieving my impedance range. 

    Thanks.

  • I also did simulation of the given design, does this design is fine or it needs any modification.

    And the output waveform of U4 look like this.

  • gain should be in the range of the internal ADC)?

    Yes, it is necessary to make sure that the circuit has gain that keeps the signal at the ADC input within 0.2V to Vdd - 0.2V for the entire expected range of the impedance to be measured. 

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