Frequency Counter Library

for the newbies, can you give a short description & current state ?
TIA,
Rob

I modified the cpp file to work with the mega2560. It was pretty easy. Uses pin 47 same as the 1280. It works but sadly it does not play nice with the servo module (presumably they both use the same timer).

/*
  FreqCounter.h -
  Using Counter1 for counting Frequency on T1 / PD5 / digitalPin 5
  Uses Counter5 on the Mega digitalPin 47

  Using Timer2 for Gatetime generation

  Martin Nawrath KHM LAB3
  Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln
  Academy of Media Arts
  http://www.khm.de
  http://interface.khm.de/index.php/labor/experimente/

  History:
    Dec/08 - V0.0
    May/20  modified by mem to support Mega usting T5 /PL2 on digitalPin 47


  This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
  modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public
  License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
  version 2.1 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

  This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
  but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
  MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
  Lesser General Public License for more details.

  You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
  License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
  Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301  USA
*/



#include <FreqCounter.h>


unsigned long FreqCounter::f_freq;

volatile unsigned char FreqCounter::f_ready;
volatile unsigned char FreqCounter::f_mlt;
volatile unsigned int FreqCounter::f_tics;
volatile unsigned int FreqCounter::f_period;
volatile unsigned int FreqCounter::f_comp;

// 16 bit timer defines added by mem to enable redifining the timer used
#if defined(__AVR_ATmega2560__)
#define TCCRnA TCCR5A
#define TCCRnB TCCR5B
#define TCNTn  TCNT5
#define TIFRn  TIFR5
#define TOVn   TOV5
#elif defined(__AVR_ATmega1280__)
#define TCCRnA TCCR5A
#define TCCRnB TCCR5B
#define TCNTn  TCNT5
#define TIFRn  TIFR5
#define TOVn   TOV5
#elif defined (__AVR_ATmega168__)
#define TCCRnA TCCR1A
#define TCCRnB TCCR1B
#define TCNTn  TCNT1
#define TIFRn  TIFR1
#define TOVn   TOV1
#endif
#ifndef cbi
#define cbi(sfr, bit) (_SFR_BYTE(sfr) &= ~_BV(bit))
#endif
#ifndef sbi
#define sbi(sfr, bit) (_SFR_BYTE(sfr) |= _BV(bit))
#endif 

void FreqCounter::start(int ms) {

  f_period=ms/2;
  if (f_comp ==0) f_comp=1;

	// hardware counter setup ( refer atmega168.pdf chapter 16-bit counter1)
  TCCRnA=0;		     // reset timer/countern control register A
  TCCRnB=0;			  // reset timer/countern control register A
  TCNTn=0;	     		// counter value = 0
  // set timer/counter1 hardware as counter , counts events on pin Tn ( arduino pin 5 on 168,47 on Mega )
  // normal mode, wgm10 .. wgm13 = 0
  sbi (TCCRnB ,CS10);	 // External clock source on Tn pin. Clock on rising edge.
  sbi (TCCRnB ,CS11);
  sbi (TCCRnB ,CS12);


  // timer2 setup / is used for frequency measurement gatetime generation
  // timer 2 presaler set to 256 / timer 2 clock = 16Mhz / 256 = 62500 Hz
  TCCR2A=0;
  TCCR2B=0;
  cbi (TCCR2B ,CS20);
  sbi (TCCR2B ,CS21);
  sbi (TCCR2B ,CS22);

  //set timer2 to CTC Mode
  cbi (TCCR2A ,WGM20);
  sbi (TCCR2A ,WGM21);
  cbi (TCCR2B ,WGM22);
  OCR2A = 124;


  f_ready=0;			    // reset period measure flag
  f_tics=0;		     // reset interrupt counter
  sbi (GTCCR,PSRASY);	 // reset presacler counting
  TCNT2=0;			// timer2=0
  TCNTn=0;			// Countern = 0

  cbi (TIMSK0,TOIE0);	 // disable Timer0  //disable  millis and delay
  sbi (TIMSK2,OCIE2A);	// enable Timer2 Interrupt

  TCCRnB = TCCRnB | 7;	//  Counter Clock source = pin Tn , start counting now

}



//******************************************************************
//  Timer2 Interrupt Service is invoked by hardware Timer2 every 2ms = 500 Hz
//  16Mhz / 256 / 125 = 500 Hz
//  here the gatetime generation for freq. measurement takes place:

ISR(TIMER2_COMPA_vect) {
										// multiple 2ms = gate time = 100 ms
if (FreqCounter::f_tics >= FreqCounter::f_period) {
							    // end of gate time, measurement ready

   										// GateCalibration Value, set to zero error with reference frequency counter
    delayMicroseconds(FreqCounter::f_comp); // 0.01=1/ 0.1=12 / 1=120 sec
    TCCRnB = TCCRnB & ~7;   			// Gate Off  / Counter Tn stopped
    cbi (TIMSK2,OCIE2A);			    // disable Timer2 Interrupt
    sbi (TIMSK0,TOIE0);     			// enable Timer0 again // millis and delay
    FreqCounter::f_ready=1;		 // set global flag for end count period

							    // calculate now frequeny value
    FreqCounter::f_freq=0x10000 * FreqCounter::f_mlt;  // mult #overflows by 65636
    FreqCounter::f_freq += TCNTn;		// add countern value
    FreqCounter::f_mlt=0;

  }
  FreqCounter::f_tics++;			// count number of interrupt events
  if (TIFRn & 1) {				    // if Timer/Counter n overflow flag
    FreqCounter::f_mlt++;		   // count number of Countern overflows
    sbi(TIFRn,TOVn);				  // clear Timer/Counter n overflow flag
  }
  // PORTB = PORTB ^ 32;				  // int activity test
}

replace the < and > with [ and ] to make the code tags work.

Thanks for the tip - I went back and edited. I find it ironic that there are 35 buttons to put different smileys in the message but not one button to put code in the message.

DougM

Actually there is one (it looks like a '#') but once you get the hang of it, it is easier just to type code tags.
I might check out the code alittle later if I have time, it looks interesting.

There is a workoround for use with servo library?

A bit confused. I grabbed the 'latest' version which appears to be V1.2. Will it work with a 2560, or do I need to use the cpp that Doug contributed above?

kurtommy:
There is a workoround for use with servo library?

I'm by far not the most accomplished low-level embedded programmer on these forums, but here's my take. It's unlikely for the UNO, as the Frequency Counter Library relies heavily on Timer1 and Timer2. For the Mega boards, it could be possible to use the Servo Library with pins in the banks associated with Timer3 and Timer4 (i.e. the timers not used by the Frequency Counter Library). Even so, it may still require some changes to one or both libraries. However, I don't have a Mega board available to experiment with at this time.

Hi all,
I'd like to ask the question why it is necessary to disable Timer0 before starting the counting process?

  • Michael

..for advanced users :slight_smile:
http://arduino.cc/forum/index.php/topic,120220.0.html

hi,
do you think it's possible to modify the lib in order to be able to read also the duty cycle?
we could use two interrupts , one for the rising edge and one for the fallig so at the end of the measure we could count both events and then do the proper calculations?

michael_kaeppler:
Hi all,
I'd like to ask the question why it is necessary to disable Timer0 before starting the counting process?

  • Michael

Most likely because the free running timer0 interrupts used by the arduino start-up code to support the delay() and millis() and micros() function would add a element of variable latency to responding to the timer interrupt used by the frequency counter function.

Hi, I'm trying to use Arduino Uno with 2 flow sensors.
They pulse at 3300 per litre. I have them hooked up to pins 4 and 5 on my arduino.
My question is can I use FreqCounter to read each one separately and over a 1 second period?
I have looked through the code and I can't see anywhere to allocate the pins I want it to read..

Hi, I'm trying to use Arduino Uno with 2 flow sensors.
They pulse at 3300 per litre. I have them hooked up to pins 4 and 5 on my arduino.
My question is can I use FreqCounter to read each one separately and over a 1 second period?
I have looked through the code and I can't see anywhere to allocate the pins I want it to read..

I've had a quite look through the C++ coding. If I change every occurance of T1 with the relevant T number for pin4 or 6?
If anyone knows where i can find those T numbers that would be awesome :slight_smile:

I am new to the site, but I have been programming micros and Arduino for a little time now. I like the code and it works great. I am using it with a variable reluctance sensor and some support circuitry. I wanted to use you code and take the frequency value and output an analog signal in a ratio of the frequency. For example I take the frq from the example and ledBrightness=map(frq,0,fastestFrequency,0,255) but i cannot seem to get a signal out with the analogWrite() command. Does this library mess with the timer that controls the PWM timing of the analogWrite() command?

Been using the Frequency Measurement Library, it's great. Been using it to measure the speed and RPM on my car. Is there a way of measuring 0 frequency to show 0 speed or 0 RPM at all?

Thanks.

matinzk:
Been using the Frequency Measurement Library, it's great. Been using it to measure the speed and RPM on my car. Is there a way of measuring 0 frequency to show 0 speed or 0 RPM at all?

Thanks.

Just as a heads up, if you are getting your signal from a hall effect sensor you should be able to read zero speed, but from what I have been looking up, most speed sensors are a much cheaper variable reluctance sensor. As I understand it, variable reluctance (VR) sensors do not do well at slow speeds. This code and my VR sensor off of a Borg-Warner T5, for a S-10, cannot go down to 0 rpm. I can only get to 10s or rpm. Hall effect sensor can take true zero speed measurements. Good luck.

I am using this:
http://interface.khm.de/index.php/lab/experiments/frequency-measurement-library/

Are we talking about the same library? Is the above library in the link able to detect zero RPM and speed?

This is the hall effect sensor we use: http://www.digital-speedos.co.uk/hall-effect-speed-sensor-for-drift-gauges-non-magnetic-382-p.asp

Have you considered using a light based counter? Shine an IR light at whatever is spinning and fix piece of something shiny to it. Then point an IR detector at it which should detect rotation.

How can I do this with a car? Especially the engine rpm?