Skip to content Skip to navigation

Connexions

You are here: Home » Content » Counters

Navigation

Content Actions
  • Download module PDF
  • Add to ...
    Add the module to:
    • My Favorites
    • A lens
    • An external social bookmarking service
    • My Favorites (What is 'My Favorites'?)
      'My Favorites' is a special kind of lens which you can use to bookmark modules and collections directly in Connexions. 'My Favorites' can only be seen by you, and collections saved in 'My Favorites' can remember the last module you were on. You need a Connexions account to use 'My Favorites'.
    • A lens (What is a lens?)

      Definition of a lens

      Lenses

      A lens is a custom view of Connexions content. You can think of it as a fancy kind of list that will let you see Connexions through the eyes of organizations and people you trust.

      What is in a lens?

      Lens makers point to Connexions materials (modules and collections), creating a guide that includes their own comments and descriptive tags about the content.

      Who can create a lens?

      Any individual Connexions member, a community, or a respected organization.

    • External bookmarks
  • E-mail the author

Lenses

What is a lens?

Definition of a lens

Lenses

A lens is a custom view of Connexions content. You can think of it as a fancy kind of list that will let you see Connexions through the eyes of organizations and people you trust.

What is in a lens?

Lens makers point to Connexions materials (modules and collections), creating a guide that includes their own comments and descriptive tags about the content.

Who can create a lens?

Any individual Connexions member, a community, or a respected organization.

This content is ...

Affiliated with (What does "Affiliated with" mean?)

This content is either by members of the organizations listed or about topics related to the organizations listed. Click each link to see a list of all content affiliated with the organization.
  • National Instruments

    This module is included in aLens by: National InstrumentsAs a part of collection:"LabVIEW Graphical Programming Course"

    Comments:

    "A full introductory course on programming with LabVIEW."

    Click the "National Instruments" link to see all content affiliated with them.

Also in these lenses

  • Printable Books

    This module is included inLens: Connexions Books Available for Print on Demand
    By: ConnexionsAs a part of collection:"LabVIEW Graphical Programming Course"

    Comments:

    "This book is available through the Connexions beta version of print-on-demand from online materials."

    Click the "Printable Books" link to see all content selected in this lens.

Recently Viewed

Tags

(What is a tag?)

These tags come from the endorsement, affiliation, and other lenses that include this content.

Counters

Module by: National Instruments

Summary: In this lesson, you will learn about counters.

A counter is a digital timing device. You typically use counters for event counting, frequency measurement, period measurement, position measurement, and pulse generation.

A counter contains the following four main components:

  • Count Register - Stores the current count of the counter. You can query the count register with software.
  • Source - An input signal that can change the current count stored in the count register. The counter looks for rising or falling edges on the source signal. Whether a rising or falling edge changes the count is software selectable. The type of edge selected is referred to as the active edge of the signal. When an active edge is received on the source signal, the count changes. Whether an active edge increments or decrements the current count is also software selectable.
  • Gate - An input signal that determines if an active edge on the source will change the count. Counting can occur when the gate is high, low, or between various combinations of rising and falling edges. Gate settings are made in software.
  • Output - An output signal that generates pulses or a series of pulses, otherwise known as a pulse train.

When you configure a counter for simple event counting, the counter increments when an active edge is received on the source. In order for the counter to increment on an active edge, the counter must be armed or started. A counter has a fixed number it can count to as determined by the resolution of the counter. For example, a 24-bit counter can count to: 2Counter Resolution-1=242-1=16,777,215 2 Counter Resolution 1 2 42 1 16,777,215

When a 24-bit counter reaches the value of 16,777,21516,777,215, it has reached the terminal count. The next active edge will force the counter to roll over and start at 0.

Comments, questions, feedback, criticisms?

Send feedback