Abstract: A method of, and an apparatus for, high speed resistance (R), inductance (L) and capacitance (C) measurement is disclosed. A voltage or current based excitation signal having a very low voltage level and a predetermined waveform is applied to the item whose R, L or C parameter(s) is (are) to be measured; and, voltage measurements are made at predetermined points in the time domain of the output voltage waveform. Whether the excitation signal is voltage based or current based, the particular shape of the waveform (preferably trapezoidal or dual polarity rectangular wave) and the voltage measurement points in the time domain of the output voltage waveform are determined by: (i) the nature of the parameter (R, L or C) to be measured; (ii) the magnitude of the parameter (small or large) in the case of R and C parameters; and, (iii) the series/parallel nature of the parameters in situations where significant amounts of two parameters coexist in the item being measured.

Abstract: Bi-polar electronic signal converters, such as analog-to-digital or digital-to-analog converters, with a single polarity accurate reference source are disclosed. In one polarity direction, the accurate reference source is used in a conventional manner to transform the signal to be converted from one form (e.g., analog) to the other form (e.g., digital). In the other polarity direction, an inaccurate reference source is used in a similar conventional manner to convert the signal from one form to the other form. Periodically, the accurate and the inaccurate reference sources are compared to determine a correction multiplier. The correction multiplier is used during conversions using the inaccurate reference source to compensate for the inaccuracy of the inaccurate reference source.