Pulsewidth Modulation DC Potentiometer

This instrument uses pulsewidth modulation techniques in which a crystal oscillator, frequency divider, and preset counter replace the resistive divider to form a precision potentiometer. The smoothing of the time-division intervals to a steady-state direct current without introducing prohibitive time constants is solved by a "sectional average" integrating circuit. This utilizes a short time-constant integrator combined with a switched unity-gain buffer amplifier in the feedback to integrator input. This switch, integrate, and sample-and-hold circuit provides output within ±0.1 percent of the eventual steady-state value in less than 400 ms after a step change and within ±0.001 percent in 600 ms. The system provides digital compatibility with tape, cards, digital voltmeters, etc. An engineering prototype has 7 decade dials covering a 0-100.0000-volt range with ±(0.1 ppm + 5μV) voltage-ratio accuracy and, ±0.05 ppm/50°C temperature coefficient and ±0.05 ppm/ 10-week long-term stability, and it is expected that this may be improved.