Virtual instrument for instantaneous power measurements

A computer-based data acquisition system coupled by means of a general-purpose instrumentation bus (IEEE488/GPIB) with a digital oscilloscope is used to create a virtual instrument with instantaneous and average power measurement capability. The software signal-processing capability of the data acquisition system was used to compensate instrument measurement deficiencies and to enhance signal capture. The virtual instrument is shown to provide instantaneous, AC, and fitted-power averages and time-based plots of power variations for both linear and nonlinear system responses to external excitation. Data taken on a resistor, capacitors, an AC-to-DC power converter, and a bipolar junction transistor inverter establish a ±3% sensitivity with a 10-μW-100-W range over a 1-Hz-10-MHz frequency span