© National Instruments
|
5-5
Pulse-Width Measurement
In pulse-width measurements, the counter measures the width of a pulse on its Gate input signal.
You can configure the counter to measure the width of high pulses or low pulses on the Gate
signal.
You can route an internal or external periodic clock signal (with a known period) to the Source
input of the counter. The counter counts the number of rising (or falling) edges on the Source
signal while the pulse on the Gate signal is active.
You can calculate the pulse width by multiplying the period of the Source signal by the number
of edges returned by the counter.
A pulse-width measurement will be accurate even if the counter is armed while a pulse train is
in progress. If a counter is armed while the pulse is in the active state, it will wait for the next
transition to the active state to begin the measurement.
Refer to the following sections for more information about cDAQ chassis pulse-width
measurement options:
•
Single Pulse-Width Measurement
•
Implicit Buffered Pulse-Width Measurement
•
Sample Clocked Buffered Pulse-Width Measurement
Single Pulse-Width Measurement
With single pulse-width measurement, the counter counts the number of edges on the Source
input while the Gate input remains active. When the Gate input goes inactive, the counter stores
the count in the FIFO and ignores other edges on the Gate and Source inputs. Software then reads
the stored count.
Figure 5-5 shows an example of a single pulse-width measurement.
Figure 5-5.
Single Pulse-Width Measurement
S
OURCE
GATE
Co
u
nter V
a
l
u
e
L
a
tched V
a
l
u
e
1
0
2
2