Dan, On the 74AC74 [which is good to ~180 mhz, > IIRC], how far down can you count using the pre-scaler? I was advised that many prescalers do not count down very low because of capacitance effects internal to the prescaler itself. If this is the case, my immediate thought is to have the prescaler switch in at a specified frequency, sort of a low and high range. The program would of course have to account for the prescaler being present on some frequencies and not present on others. In my app, there will be different ranges and higher range could be toggled in with a switch allowing the prescaler to be used. Has anyone done this, or is there a need for this? Regards, Mike ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dan Michaels" To: Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2001 8:24 PM Subject: Re: [PIC]: Building a "counter" w/PIC16F628 > Bob.A wrote: > >Mike, > > > >In many respects the F628 is just a better F84. There have already been a > >few threads on the gotcha's when subbing the former for the latter. > > > .......... > >> place.... Anyways, I've been gearing up for quite some time on a project > >> that will use a digital frequency readout. I've seen alot of existing > >> plans/code for frequency counters with displays that use pre-scalers. > ....... > > > Mike, the biggest advantage of the new 'F628 over the old '84 is > the presence of Timer1, which can be used for external counting with > 16-bit resolution. The '84 contains only 8-bit Timer0, which can > be used in conjunction with the prescaler to do 16-bit counts, > but you have to play some games to do it. See Mchp appnote AN592. > > With the 'F628, Timer1 in conjunction with the prescaler can give > you much more range and resolution. > > However, if you look in the datasheet for the 'F628, Table 17-7, > you will find info that is almost totally inscrutable. It indicates > that Timer1 will count to about 16 mhz, 1/60nsec, in aynchronous > mode. In fact, when using the prescaler, it will count much faster > than this. Personally, I think the datasheet is wrong, and the > prescaler can go at least 50 mhz, 1/20nsec, like for Timer0. > > At any rate, if you use an external prescaler ahead of the PIC, > you can really fly. I use a 74AC74 [which is good to ~180 mhz, > IIRC] in one app, and count to over 120 mhz. > > - dan michaels > www.oricomtech.com > ========================== > > -- > http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList > mailto:piclist-unsubscribe-request@mitvma.mit.edu > > -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList mailto:piclist-unsubscribe-request@mitvma.mit.edu