There are different way of measuring the capacitance, the circuit described here can measure the capacitance and display in 7 segment display.  Wide range of capacitance pico to micro Farad can be measured by the system. Range of capacitance is selected using combination of the selector switches SW1 and SW2 (combination chart can be seen on circuit diagram).

The principle of operation is counting the pulse number derived from a constant frequency oscillator during a fixed time interval produced by another lower frequency oscillator. The oscillator uses the capacitor being measured as the timing. The capacitance measurement is proportional during pulse counting during a fixed time interval. The astable oscillator formed by IC1c produces a pulse train of constant frequency. Gate IC1a also forms an oscillator whose oscillation period is given approximately by the equation: T=0.7RC

Period T is linearly dependent on the capacitance C. this period is used as the time interval for on measurement. The differentiator network following the oscillator creates the negative spikes shaped in narrow pulses by IC1b NAND Schmitt trigger. The differentiator formed by R1 and C1 produces a negative spike which resets the-counters. The display shows the number of high frequency oscillator pulses entering the counter during the measurement period.

   Schematic

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