National Instruments NI 6232 - Manual (Page 108)

Chapter 7 Counters
© National Instruments Corporation 7-35 NI 6232/6233 User Manual
prescaling on each counter (prescaling can be disabled). Each prescaler
consists of a small, simple counter that counts to eight (or two) and rolls
over. This counter can run faster than the larger counters, which simply
count the rollovers of this smaller counter. Thus, the prescaler acts as a
frequency divider on the Source and puts out a frequency that is one-eighth
(or one-half) of what it is accepting.
Figure 7-30. Prescaling
Prescaling is intended to be used for frequency measurement where the
measurement is made on a continuous, repetitive signal. The prescaling
counter cannot be read; therefore, you cannot determine how many edges
have occurred since the previous rollover. Prescaling can be used for event
counting provided it is acceptable to have an error of up to seven (or one).
Prescaling can be used when the counter Source is an external signal.
Prescaling is not available if the counter Source is one of the internal
timebases (80MHzTimebase, 20MHzTimebase, or 100kHzTimebase).
Duplicate Count Prevention
Duplicate count prevention (or synchronous counting mode) ensures that a
counter returns correct data in applications that use a slow or non-periodic
external source. Duplicate count prevention applies only to buffered
counter applications such as measuring frequency or period. In such
buffered applications, the counter should store the number of times an
external Source pulses between rising edges on the Gate signal.
Duplicate Count Prevention Example
Figure 7-31 shows an external buffered signal as the period measurement
Source.
External Signal
Counter Value
Prescaler Rollover
(Used as Source
by Counter)
0 1