Sensitivity assessment of a phase measurement method used in a waveform recorder traceable testing for ElectroShock Weapons (ESW)

In this paper, a sensitivity analysis of a Phase Measurement Method (PMM) that allows a reduction of the measurement uncertainty of the phase measurement of sinewave signals is described. This PMM was developed in collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) from USA to do traceable frequency response calibration of the waveform recorders used in testing of ElectroShock Weapons (ESWs). The provided numeric analyses in this paper estimate the performance of the proposed PMM in terms of standard deviation of the phase measurement and it allows a further assessment of the impact of the main influence quantities. This aspect is very important to be accounted for those choosing to apply in a practical instrumentation the PMM. The reported results demonstrate that the method is able to provide accurate phase measurements for a wide frequency range from 100 mHz up to 100 GHz with uncertainties of approximately 0.1° at 10 GHz.