Development of a voltage controlled resistor for use in a self-balancing resistance bridge.

We report on a simple design for a voltage controlled resistor that can operate in a continuous range from ∼50 Ω to over ∼100 kΩ. The device consists of a light emitting diode (LED) placed near a photocell. Varying the voltage across the LED changes its brightness, which, in turn, changes the resistance of the photocell. The resistance of the photoresistor is measured by calibrating the output of a nearby phototransistor against the photoresistor resistance, allowing for an independent measurement of the resistance. The performance of the device is tested in the context of a temperature measuring system involving a Wheatstone bridge.