A drift-compensating precision divider technique using circular data patterns

A divider that is able to provide precision integer-to-one ratios (or those ratios near by) where the integer depends on the number of equal resistors in the divider, is described. The technique compensates for most of the drift associated with resistive dividers. Data acquisition and reduction are based on flexible circular data patterns. These patterns have the advantage of simplicity and they reduce the required number of readings to an acceptable level. Other data patterns can be used with this divider technique. The use of the divider to establish the relationship between 10-V and solid-state standards and 1.018-V saturated standard cells is described. Comments are included on the repeatability and accuracy obtained with the divider