Electrical and Electronic Measurements

Lecture 7: Digital Frequency Meters

Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny

Electronics and Communications Engineering
Faculty of Engineering (Shoubra)
Benha University

October 2018

Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 1 / 19

Lecture Outline:

1 Basic Digital Frequency Meters (DFM).

2 Frequency Range Changing.

3 Frequency Meter Accuracy.

4 Reciprocal Digital Frequency Meters (DFM).

Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 2 / 19

Table of Contents

1 Basic Digital Frequency Meters (DFM).

2 Frequency Range Changing.

3 Frequency Meter Accuracy.

4 Reciprocal Digital Frequency Meters (DFM).

Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 3 / 19

Introduction:
1 Frequency of a periodic signal is defined as: the number of occurrences of a repeating
event per unit time = Number of signal’s cycles per one second.

Principle of Frequency Meters:

To measure the frequency of a certain periodic
signal, the waveform of that signal is used to
toggle a counter for a certain fixed time.
The number of counted cycles per unit time
indicates the signal frequency.

Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 4 / 19

Basic Digital Frequency Meters (DFM):
Amplifier/
Input
attenuator
Amplified/
attenuated input
Wave
shaping
circuit

Shaped waveform
1s 1s
Q Time
Time base
Flip flop output
base
_
Q Q output

AND _
gate Q output

Register reset
Register reset Register
No
Counting
Latch trigger Latch counting

BCD-to-seven- Latch triggered

segment drivers To correct display

Display

Basic Digital Freq. Meter

Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 5 / 19
Basic Digital Frequency Meters (DFM):
Amplifier/
The basic DFM consists of:
Input
attenuator
Amplified/
Accurate timing source
attenuated input
Wave (time base) with
shaping
circuit frequency of 1 Hz.
Shaped waveform
1s 1s
Q Time
Time base
Flip flop output
base
_
Q Q output

AND _
gate Q output

Register reset
Register reset Register
No
Counting
Latch trigger Latch counting

BCD-to-seven- Latch triggered

segment drivers To correct display

Display

Basic Digital Freq. Meter

Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 5 / 19
Basic Digital Frequency Meters (DFM):
Amplifier/
The basic DFM consists of:
Input
attenuator
Amplified/
Accurate timing source
attenuated input
Wave (time base) with
shaping
circuit frequency of 1 Hz.
Shaped waveform
Digital counting circuit
1s 1s to count the input
Q Time
Time
Flip flop
base waveform cycles.
base output
_
Q Q output

AND _
gate Q output

Register reset
Register reset Register
No
Counting
Latch trigger Latch counting

BCD-to-seven- Latch triggered

segment drivers To correct display

Display

Basic Digital Freq. Meter

Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 5 / 19
Basic Digital Frequency Meters (DFM):
Amplifier/
The basic DFM consists of:
Input
attenuator
Amplified/
Accurate timing source
attenuated input
Wave (time base) with
shaping
circuit frequency of 1 Hz.
Shaped waveform
Digital counting circuit
1s 1s to count the input
Q Time
Time
Flip flop
base waveform cycles.
base output
_
Q Q output Amplifier/Attenuation
AND
gate
_
Q output
circuit to amplify or
Register reset
attenuate the input
Register reset Register
Counting
No signal.
Latch trigger Latch counting

BCD-to-seven- Latch triggered Waveform shaping

segment drivers To correct display
circuit to convert the
Display
input signal to square
Basic Digital Freq. Meter wave.
Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 5 / 19
Basic Digital Frequency Meters (DFM):
The operation of basic DFM:
1 The input signal is amplified or attenuated as necessary.

Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 6 / 19

Basic Digital Frequency Meters (DFM):
The operation of basic DFM:
1 The input signal is amplified or attenuated as necessary.
2 The input signal is converted to a square wave and is fed to one terminal of the AND gate.

Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 6 / 19

Basic Digital Frequency Meters (DFM):
The operation of basic DFM:
1 The input signal is amplified or attenuated as necessary.
2 The input signal is converted to a square wave and is fed to one terminal of the AND gate.
3 The time base signal with 1 Hz. freq. is fed to a flip-flop.

Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 6 / 19

Basic Digital Frequency Meters (DFM):
The operation of basic DFM:
1 The input signal is amplified or attenuated as necessary.
2 The input signal is converted to a square wave and is fed to one terminal of the AND gate.
3 The time base signal with 1 Hz. freq. is fed to a flip-flop.
4 The flip-flop changes its state at each falling-edge of the time base. It divides the
frequency by 2 giving a high on the Q terminal for 1 s and a low for another 1 s. The
terminal Q̄ is an inverted version of Q.

Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 6 / 19

Basic Digital Frequency Meters (DFM):
The operation of basic DFM:
1 The input signal is amplified or attenuated as necessary.
2 The input signal is converted to a square wave and is fed to one terminal of the AND gate.
3 The time base signal with 1 Hz. freq. is fed to a flip-flop.
4 The flip-flop changes its state at each falling-edge of the time base. It divides the
frequency by 2 giving a high on the Q terminal for 1 s and a low for another 1 s. The
terminal Q̄ is an inverted version of Q.
5 One terminal of the AND gate is fed from the flip-flop Q output and the other terminal is
fed from the shaped input signal. So, the counter circuit will count the input pulses for
the duration of 1 s. (Frequency).

Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 6 / 19

Basic Digital Frequency Meters (DFM):
The operation of basic DFM:
1 The input signal is amplified or attenuated as necessary.
2 The input signal is converted to a square wave and is fed to one terminal of the AND gate.
3 The time base signal with 1 Hz. freq. is fed to a flip-flop.
4 The flip-flop changes its state at each falling-edge of the time base. It divides the
frequency by 2 giving a high on the Q terminal for 1 s and a low for another 1 s. The
terminal Q̄ is an inverted version of Q.
5 One terminal of the AND gate is fed from the flip-flop Q output and the other terminal is
fed from the shaped input signal. So, the counter circuit will count the input pulses for
the duration of 1 s. (Frequency).
6 The counter will reset to zero at each negative (falling) edge of the Q̄.

Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 6 / 19

Basic Digital Frequency Meters (DFM):
The operation of basic DFM:
1 The input signal is amplified or attenuated as necessary.
2 The input signal is converted to a square wave and is fed to one terminal of the AND gate.
3 The time base signal with 1 Hz. freq. is fed to a flip-flop.
4 The flip-flop changes its state at each falling-edge of the time base. It divides the
frequency by 2 giving a high on the Q terminal for 1 s and a low for another 1 s. The
terminal Q̄ is an inverted version of Q.
5 One terminal of the AND gate is fed from the flip-flop Q output and the other terminal is
fed from the shaped input signal. So, the counter circuit will count the input pulses for
the duration of 1 s. (Frequency).
6 The counter will reset to zero at each negative (falling) edge of the Q̄.
7 The latch will isolate the counting from the display during the first 1 s and will update
the display on the rising edge of Q̄ output.

Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 6 / 19

Table of Contents

1 Basic Digital Frequency Meters (DFM).

2 Frequency Range Changing.

3 Frequency Meter Accuracy.

4 Reciprocal Digital Frequency Meters (DFM).

Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 7 / 19

Frequency Range Changing:
Different time-base frequencies could be used to give several range of frequency measurements.
The different time base could be achieved by connecting series decade counters. Each decade counter
divides the frequency by 10.

Frequency Range Changing

Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 8 / 19
Table of Contents

1 Basic Digital Frequency Meters (DFM).

2 Frequency Range Changing.

3 Frequency Meter Accuracy.

4 Reciprocal Digital Frequency Meters (DFM).

Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 9 / 19

Frequency Meter Accuracy:
Range Selection Error

The lowest possible frequency range

should be used for the greatest
measurement accuracy.
Example
A digital freq. meter has a time base
derived from 1 M Hz. clock. The clock is
divide by decade counters to allow
different frequency ranges. What is the
displayed frequency when a 1.512 kHz.
signal is applied if the time base frequency
divided by:
1 Six decade counters.
2 Four decade counters.
Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 10 / 19
Frequency Meter Accuracy:
Range Selection Error

The lowest possible frequency range Solution

should be used for the greatest 1 Counting time period t1 :
measurement accuracy. 1 1
t1 = = =1s
f1 1 M Hz./106
Example
A digital freq. meter has a time base Counted cycles n1 :
derived from 1 M Hz. clock. The clock is
n1 = fin x t1 = 1512 cycles
divide by decade counters to allow
different frequency ranges. What is the fmeasured = 1.512 kHz
displayed frequency when a 1.512 kHz.
1 1
signal is applied if the time base frequency 2 t2 = = = 0.01 s
f2 1 M Hz./104
divided by:
1 Six decade counters. n2 = fin x t2 = 15 cycles
2 Four decade counters. fmeasured = 01.5 kHz
Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 10 / 19
Frequency Meter Accuracy:
Accuracy Specification

There is always a possible error of ±1 cycle in the measured frequency due to the
partial input pulse that may or may not succeed in triggering the counting circuit. This
one cycle is defined as least significant digit (LSD).

Shaped input waveform

1s 1s

Q output

Counting

Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 11 / 19

Frequency Meter Accuracy:
Accuracy Specification
Also, the time base error Etb due to freq. variation will give a reading error in the
measured frequency fi as:
time base error = fi x Etb

So, the total accuracy of digital frequency meter is specified as:

±(1 LSD + fi ∗ time base error) See Example 6-4
Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 12 / 19
Frequency Meter Accuracy:
Accuracy Specification

Example
A frequency counter with an accuracy of ±(1 LSD + fi × 10−6 ) is employed to measure input
frequencies of 100 Hz, 1 M Hz and 100 M Hz. Calculate the percentage measurement error
in each case.

Solution
At fi = 100 Hz.

error = ± (1 count + 100 Hz x 10−6 )

error ≈ ± 1 count
1
% error = ±( x 100%) ≈ ± 1%
100 Hz

Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 13 / 19

Frequency Meter Accuracy:
Accuracy Specification

Example
A frequency counter with an accuracy of ±(1 LSD + fi × 10−6 ) is employed to measure input
frequencies of 100 Hz, 1 M Hz and 100 M Hz. Calculate the percentage measurement error
in each case.

Solution Solution
At fi = 100 Hz. At fi = 1 MHz.

error = ± (1 count + 100 Hz x 10−6 ) error = ± (1 count + 1 M Hz x 10−6 )

error ≈ ± 1 count error ≈ ±2 counts

2
1 % error = ±( x 100%) ≈ ± 2 x 10−4 %
% error = ±( x 100%) ≈ ± 1% 1 M Hz
100 Hz

Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 13 / 19

Table of Contents

1 Basic Digital Frequency Meters (DFM).

2 Frequency Range Changing.

3 Frequency Meter Accuracy.

4 Reciprocal Digital Frequency Meters (DFM).

Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 14 / 19

Reciprocal Digital Frequency Meters (DFM):

Amplifier/
Input
attenuator

Amplified input
Wave
shaping
circuit
Shaping circuit
output

Time T
base
1 MHz
Q Time base output
Flip flop
_
Q
Q output
AND
gate

To counting circuit

Reciprocal Digital Freq. Meter.

Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 15 / 19
Reciprocal Digital Frequency Meters (DFM):
The time base signal with
Input
Amplifier/
attenuator
1 M Hz. is applied directly to
the AND gate.
Amplified input
Wave
shaping
circuit
Shaping circuit
output

Time T
base
1 MHz
Q Time base output
Flip flop
_
Q
Q output
AND
gate

To counting circuit

Reciprocal Digital Freq. Meter.

Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 15 / 19
Reciprocal Digital Frequency Meters (DFM):
The time base signal with
Input
Amplifier/
attenuator
1 M Hz. is applied directly to
the AND gate.
Amplified input
Wave
shaping
The reshaped input signal is
circuit
employed to toggle the flip-flop
Shaping circuit
output circuit.
Time T
base
1 MHz
Q Time base output
Flip flop
_
Q
Q output
AND
gate

To counting circuit

Reciprocal Digital Freq. Meter.

Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 15 / 19
Reciprocal Digital Frequency Meters (DFM):
The time base signal with
Input
Amplifier/
attenuator
1 M Hz. is applied directly to
the AND gate.
Amplified input
Wave
shaping
The reshaped input signal is
circuit
employed to toggle the flip-flop
Shaping circuit
output circuit.
Time T
base It is better for measuring low
Q
1 MHz
Time base output
frequencies than the direct
Flip flop frequency meters.
_
Q
Q output
AND
gate

To counting circuit

Reciprocal Digital Freq. Meter.

Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 15 / 19
Reciprocal Digital Frequency Meters (DFM):
The time base signal with
Input
Amplifier/
attenuator
1 M Hz. is applied directly to
the AND gate.
Amplified input
Wave
shaping
The reshaped input signal is
circuit
employed to toggle the flip-flop
Shaping circuit
output circuit.
Time T
base It is better for measuring low
Q
1 MHz
Time base output
frequencies than the direct
Flip flop frequency meters.
_
Q

AND
Q output
The measured frequency fin is:
gate

ftime base
fin =
To counting circuit
n
Reciprocal Digital Freq. Meter.
Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 15 / 19
Reciprocal Digital Frequency Meters (DFM):
The time base signal with
Input
Amplifier/
attenuator
1 M Hz. is applied directly to
the AND gate.
Amplified input
Wave
shaping
The reshaped input signal is
circuit
employed to toggle the flip-flop
Shaping circuit
output circuit.
Time T
base It is better for measuring low
Q
1 MHz
Time base output
frequencies than the direct
Flip flop frequency meters.
_
Q

AND
Q output
The measured frequency fin is:
gate

ftime base
fin =
To counting circuit
n
Reciprocal Digital Freq. Meter.
n is the number of pulses.
Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 15 / 19
Time and Ratio Measurements:
Pulse Width Measurements
If the flip-flop in Reciprocal FM is made to
toggle on +ve and -ve edges, we can measure
the input pulse width.

Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 16 / 19

Time and Ratio Measurements:
Pulse Width Measurements Frequency Ratio Measurement
If the flip-flop in Reciprocal FM is made to To find the ratio between tow frequencies f1
toggle on +ve and -ve edges, we can measure and f2 , the higher frequency signal is fed to
the input pulse width. the AND while the lower frequency is applies
to the flip-flop.

Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 16 / 19

Digital Frequency Input Stage:
Why we use the attenuator/amplifier in input ?

Usually a Shmitt-Trigger with two

triggering levels (UTP and LTP) is used
Amplifier/
to convert a periodic signal into square
Input
attenuator
wave signal.
Amplified/
attenuated input
Wave
shaping
circuit

Shaped waveform

UTP: Upper Triggering Point.

LTP: Lower Triggering Point. The small input signal could be amplified
to make it suitable to be triggered by
UTP and LTP.
Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 17 / 19
Digital Frequency Input Stage:
Why we use the attenuator/amplifier in input ?

In the case of noisy input signal, an error To reduce the effect of noise, the input
is exist due to the amplified signal and the signal should be attenuated to attenuate
amplified noise. the input noise.

Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 18 / 19

 End of Lecture

Best Wishes

Dr. Haitham El-Hussieny Electrical and Electronic Measurements 19 / 19