NAMES MATRICULE

NTONG BENEDICT KENAH UBa18E0076

BENG BRANDON CHE UBa18E0078
FRU NJIKE DERICK UBa18E0079
ATEBA JULES ABRAHAM LOIC UBa17E0102

GROUP 5
HOW FREQUENCY CAN BE MEASURE IN THE LABORATORY AND
INDUSTRY DEFINITION
The number of cycles completed per second by an alternating quantity is known as frequency
(The rate at which current changes direction per second) and is denoted by f. In SI system, the
frequency is expressed in Hz that is the short form of hertz (pronounced as hurts). The wave’s
frequency is said to be One hertz, which is equal to one cycle per second.
INTRODUCTION
Here we would be looking at the different method involves in the measurement of frequency in
the laboratory and in the industry.
 Function Generator
 Counter/timer
 Oscilloscope
 Multimeter

1. FUNCTION GENERATOR
A function generator is usually a piece of electronic test equipment or software used to
generate different types of electrical waveforms over a wide range of frequencies. Some of the
most common waveforms produced by the function generator are the sine wave, square wave,
triangular wave and saw tooth shapes. These waveforms can be either repetitive or single-shot
(which requires an internal or external trigger sources integrated circuit used to generate
waveforms may also be described as function generator ICs.
In addition to producing sine waves, function generators may typically produce other repetitive
waveforms including saw tooth and triangular waveforms, square waves, and pulses. Another
feature included on many function generators is the ability to add a DC offset.
What is DC offset: a periodic waveform has a dc offset if the average value of the waveform
over one period is not zero that is when the average value over an entire cycle is zero there is no
DC offset whilst if the average value is greater than zero,or equivalently, the value is positive
more than its negative.

Although function generators cover both audio and RF frequencies, they are usually not suitable
for applications that need low distortion or stable frequency signals. When those traits are
required, other signal generator would be more appropriate.

Some function generators can be phase-locked to an external signal source (which may be a
frequency reference) or another function generator.

Function generators are used in the development, test and repair of electronic equipment. For
example, they may be used as a signal source to test amplifiers or to introduce an error signal
into a control loop. Function generators are primarily used for working with analog circuit,
related pulse generator are primarily used for working with digital circuit.

The frequency range of a function generator is 20 MHz a typical function generator can provide
frequencies up to 20 MHz. RF generators for higher frequencies are not function generators in
the strict sense since they typically produce pure or modulated sine signals only.

2. OSCILLOSCOPE

An oscilloscope is an instrument principally used to display signals as a function of time. Count

the number of horizontal divisions from one high point to the next (i.e. peak to peak) of your
oscillating signal. Next you'll multiply the number of horizontal divisions by the time/division to
find the signal's period. You can calculate the signal's frequency with this equation:
frequency=1/period

Peak-to-peak amplitude (abbreviated p–p) is the change between peak (highest amplitude value)
and trough (lowest amplitude value, which can be negative). With appropriate circuitry, peak-to-
peak amplitudes of electric oscillations can be measured by meters or by viewing the waveform
on an oscilloscope. Peak-to-peak is a straightforward measurement on an oscilloscope, the peaks
of the waveform being easily identified and measured against the graticule

The wave equation.

X= Asin(w[t-K])+b,
A is the amplitude (or peak amplitude),

 x is the oscillating variable,

 w is angular frequency,
 t is time,
 K and b are arbitrary constants representing time and displacement offsets respectively.
 3. COUNTER/TIMER

A counter/timer is an instrument that can give a very accurate measurement of the frequency of
a signal by counting each time a voltage crosses a particular value. A simple frequency counter
measures frequency by counting the number of edges of an input signal over a defined period of
time (T).

A more complex method is reciprocal counting.

To make calculations trivial using a 1 second gate time (T) gives a direct reading of frequency
from the edge counter.

Making a frequency counter for frequencies up to 65.536 kHz is easy as the counters in a PIC
chip can count up to 65535 without overflowing.

Up to 65.535 kHz all you do is wait for 1 second while the count accumulates, read the value and
display it. It will be the frequency in Hertz. Above 65.536 kHz you have to monitor the overflow
value while at the same time making an accurate delay time (T).
Note: Using a 1 second measurement period results in the frequency counter count value being a
direct measurement of frequency requiring no further processing. It also means that the
measurement is resolved to 1Hz. (Increasing T to 10s resolves to 0.1Hz while using T=0.1s gives
a resolution of 10Hz).

The frequency, f, and period, T, of a wave are related in the following way; f=1/T

Counting Events

Timer 1 is ideal for frequency measurement (counting edges) as it functions as a 16 bit counter
taking its input directly from a port pin.

You could use Timer 0 if timer 1 is not available. The only difference is that Timer0 is an 8 bit
counter (enhanced to 16 bit in 18F parts).

The maximum count for Timer one is 65535 with one more count setting the overflow flag (the
timer then reads zero again). Counting the number of overflows gives the count in multiples of
65536 and reading the value of TMR1 at the end will give the total edge count over the period of
measurement - T
 4. DIGITAL MULTIMETER

A multimeter or a multitester, is an electronic measuring instrument that combines

several measurement functions in one unit. A typical multimeter can measure
voltage, current, frequency, resistance. They are 2 types analog and digital
multimeters.
 Analog multimeters use a microammeter with a moving pointer to display
readings.
 Digital multimeters (DMM) have a numeric display, and may also show a
graphical bar representing the measured value.
Digital multimeters have rendered analog multimeters obsolete, because they are
now lower cost, higher precision, and more physically robust.

Measuring frequency with a multimeter;

If your digital multimeter offers a frequency setting (Hz is the symbol) on the dial:
Turn the dial to Hz. It usually shares a spot on the dial with at least one other function. Some
meters enter the frequency through a secondary function accessed by pushing a button and
setting the rotary switch to ac or dc.
1. First insert the black test lead into the COM jack.
2. Then insert the red lead into the V Ω jack. When you are done with that, remove the leads
in reverse order: red first, then black.
3. Connect the black test lead first, the red test lead second. When finished, remove the leads
in reverse order: red first, then black.
4. Read the measurement in the display. The abbreviation Hz should appear to the right of the
reading.

More basically,

 Take the black test lead and insert into the COM jack.
 Then take the red test lead and insert into V/Ω jack
 Turn the multimeter on and set it on frequency setting by turning the dial to Hz or KHz.
 Then measure and read the measurement of the frequency on the display screen.