An inexpensive digital network analyzer

Frequency response analysis is critical in understanding the steady and transient state behavior of any electrical network. Network analyzer or frequency response analyzer is used to determine the frequency response of an electrical network. This paper deals with the design of an inexpensive digitally controlled Network Analyzer. The frequency range of the network analyzer is from 10 Hz to 50 kHz (suitable range for system studies on most power electronics apparatus). It is composed of a microcontroller (as central processing unit) and a personal computer (as analyzer and display). The communication between the microcontroller and personal computer is established through one of the USB ports. The testing and evaluation of the analyzer is done with RC, RLC and multi-resonant circuits. The design steps, basis of analysis, experimental results, limitation in bandwidth and possible techniques for improvement in performances are presented.