On the transformer effects in the measurements of capacitive intrabody communication transmission characteristics using grounded instruments

Abstract

In a balun transformer, balanced winding terminals are symmetrical with respect to the ground. However, some commercial RF transformers used in the measurements of the IBC system transmission characteristics and referred to as baluns do not have symmetrical capacitances between their input terminals and ground. When using these transformers, switching the positions of the electrodes connected to the same transformer winding can lead to drastically different measurement results. In this paper we will show that the change in the measured amplitude for different signal and ground electrode arrangements is influenced by the transformer symmetry to the ground, and not the capacitive intrabody communication transmission characteristics.