Counter Instrument

1. Counter Instruments By: Nutronics India

2. What is a Counter? • A Counter is a device that counts the number of objects or the number of operations. • It counts the number of ON/OFF signals input from an input device, such as a switch or sensor. • Counters outperform people when it comes to counting accurately. • It is used in order to count for a larger number and for a longer period of time. • Timers can be used in advanced operation functions or in weekly timer drive operations.

3. Uses of Counter • Counters calculate or note down the number that how many times an event occurred. • Counter found their applications in many digital electronic devices. Some of their applications are: • Frequency counters • Digital clocks • Analog to digital convertors. • With some changes in their design, counters can be used as frequency divider circuits. The frequency divider circuit is that which divides the input frequency exactly by ‘2’. • In time measurement, that means calculating time in timers such as electronic devices like ovens and washing machines. • Digital triangular wave generator by using counters.

4. Types of Counters

5. Preset Counter • A Preset Counter counts until the present value reaches a preset value, and then it activates a control output to operate an output device. • The term preset in Preset Counter means that you can set a value in advance.

6. Working of Preset Counter • A Photoelectric Sensor is an input device that detects an object when that object blocks light. Each time the light is blocked, the Photoelectric Sensor sends a signal to the Counter. • Preset the number three in the Counter. The Counter then counts the number of signals from the Photoelectric Sensor and sends a signal to the Pusher (i.e., the output device) after the Counter receives a signal for the third time. • When the Pusher receives the output signal from the Counter, it pushes the three pudding containers into a box.

7. Event Counter • Event Counters count the number of times a digital signal changes state. • A simple example of a digital signal is where one state is below 0.8 volts (Low) and the other is above 2.0 volts (High). • When the state changes from Low to High the Event Counter adds one (+1) to its count. • Event Counter inputs generally have a high input count rate some as high as 20MHz or more.

8. Working of Event Counter • The Event Counter has a clock input and a gating mechanism. • The gating mechanism determine when and when not to count – like an on/off switch. • Depending on the mode of operation, the clock source can be the input to the counter or an on device frequency source (clock).     • The Event Counter counts transitions of the clock source and the gating mechanism is simply an enable switch telling it to either count or ignore the signal. • Upon initialization, the count is set to zero counts and increments plus one on each clock transition.   • In the simplest form it counts and can be reset to zero.  Some Event Counters allow pre setting values with countdown functions. • Like the internal clock, this feature is device dependent.

9. Options sold by Nutronics India

10. Preset Counters by Nutronics India

11. Event Counter by Nutronics India