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Microseconds Resolution Time Counter

11/28/2018 1:01 PM

I am in search of a dedicated instrument which measures and displays the time between two event, triggered by some external electric pulses. The span needed is 0-1000 seconds and the resolution needed is 1 microsecond

There are few manufacturers like Keysight or HP. But tyhe instruments available are high cost, because probably those are not dedicated to only time counting, but they have some other measurement functions like frequency counting along with the time counting.

Please suggest and give links to manufacturer's sites

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#1

Re: Microseconds Resolution Time Counter

11/28/2018 3:28 PM

If you're an electronic hobbyist, you might want to roll your own.

First, you need a clock circuit, preferably crystal controlled at 1 MHz. Here is one made from a 74LS00 Quad NAND gates that has an On/Off control for your start/stop signal.

http://www.next.gr/oscillators/crystal/IC-compatible-crystal-oscillator-l11963.html

http://www.next.gr/oscillators/crystal/

You want to feed your clock output into the clock input (pin 14) of the first of a series of nine 74LS90 decade counters, one for each digit of 000.000001 to 999.999999 seconds. Each counter IC outputs BCD (binary coded decimal) which can be decoded to drive a 7 segment display. (0000, 0001, 0010, ...,1001, 1100.)

Each stage output (pin 11) feeds into the clock input of the next stage (pin 14).

Each decade counter is connected to a 7 segment driver chip which connects to a 7 segment display. QA, QB, QC, and QD feed A, B, C, and D.

(The first counter and display will be the rightmost digit.)

https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/counter/bcd-counter-circuit.html

My advice is to get a breadboard that you can plug in DIP ICs and other components and verify that it is working as you intend. You can clock it slowly to verify the counters are operating properly.

I hope this is helpful...

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#3
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Re: Microseconds Resolution Time Counter

11/29/2018 1:59 AM

GA! This is going to be my next project (unless something else catches my eye first)

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#5
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Re: Microseconds Resolution Time Counter

11/29/2018 10:39 AM

"(0000, 0001, 0010, ...,1001, 1100.)" Where did the "1100" come from?

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#2

Re: Microseconds Resolution Time Counter

11/28/2018 3:30 PM
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#4

Re: Microseconds Resolution Time Counter

11/29/2018 4:40 AM

A cheap oscilloscope will do the job and many others too.
Del

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#6

Re: Microseconds Resolution Time Counter

11/29/2018 12:05 PM

How about a used one from ebay? I have an old HP 5300B with 5304A with time interval function, but I have never used that feature.

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