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Arduino
Arduino Forum Measure square wave frequency
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  • square
  • arduino
  • frequency
Related

Measure square wave frequency

Former Member
Former Member over 11 years ago

Hello,

 

I'm working with the Arduino Due ans I used the following code:

 

// period of pulse accumulation and serial output, milliseconds

#define MainPeriod 100

long previousMillis = 0; // will store last time of the cycle end

volatile unsigned long duration=0; // accumulates pulse width

volatile unsigned int pulsecount=0;

volatile unsigned long previousMicros=0;

 

void setup()

{

  Serial.begin(19200);

  attachInterrupt(6, myinthandler, RISING);

}

 

void loop()

{

  unsigned long currentMillis = millis();

  if (currentMillis - previousMillis >= MainPeriod)

  {

    previousMillis = currentMillis;  

    // need to bufferize to avoid glitches

    unsigned long _duration = duration;

    unsigned long _pulsecount = pulsecount;

    duration = 0; // clear counters

    pulsecount = 0;

    float Freq = 1e6 / float(_duration);

    Freq *= _pulsecount; // calculate F

    // output time and frequency data to RS232

    Serial.print(currentMillis);

    Serial.print(" "); // separator!

    Serial.print(Freq);

    Serial.print(" ");

    Serial.print(_pulsecount);

    Serial.print(" ");

    Serial.println(_duration);

  }

}

 

void myinthandler() // interrupt handler

{

  unsigned long currentMicros = micros();

  duration += currentMicros - previousMicros;

  previousMicros = currentMicros;

  pulsecount++;

}

 

to measure the frequency.

 

I can measure frequencies higher than 1.5kHz accurately, but I can't seem to measure lower frequencies.

 

How can I measure lower frequencies, say 400Hz and above?

 

Thanks.

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Top Replies

  • jw0752
    jw0752 over 11 years ago +1
    Hi Matt, I don't know about this situation but usually sampling over a longer time period will improve accuracy. John
  • D_Hersey
    D_Hersey over 11 years ago in reply to jw0752 +1
    John is right, there I said it! You might be able to get more accurate timing by latching the wdt upon interrupt. Reset the Arduino Due board using the watchdog - Arduino Forum
  • Former Member
    Former Member over 11 years ago in reply to D_Hersey +1
    I tried setting mainPeriod to be longer but it still didn't measure accurately lower frequencies. Regarding the wdt , I don't understand how can it help, can you elaborate? thanks.
Parents
  • shabaz
    shabaz over 11 years ago

    This is the type of circuit where it may be good to maybe offload the core of it to external logic. Basically an external counter to measure the period, and the Arduino can read the counter once it is latched. There used to be tons of 10MHz and 50MHz frequency counter circuits doing exactly this, in 74xx logic gates and no Arduino, and displaying the output on LED displays. If you can't find anything and wish to pursue this method, let me know - I'm sure I can dig up such a circuit either on the Internet or in a book.

    EDIT: Although, just noticed, you're only interested in low single-figure kHz range? If so, Arduino should be sufficient.

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  • Former Member
    Former Member over 11 years ago in reply to shabaz

    I'd like to know that I have the option, if measuring lower frequencies with Arduino won't work.

     

    Do you know of a circuit that measures frequencies (200Hz ~ 4kHz)?

     

    Thanks.

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  • Former Member
    Former Member over 11 years ago in reply to shabaz

    I'd like to know that I have the option, if measuring lower frequencies with Arduino won't work.

     

    Do you know of a circuit that measures frequencies (200Hz ~ 4kHz)?

     

    Thanks.

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