advanced time interval counter & analyzer based on eet-method ...

ADVANCED TIME INTERVAL COUNTER &ANALYZER BASED ON EET-METHODAPPLICATIONYu. Artyukh, V. Bespal’ko, A. Rybakov, V. VedinInstitute of Electronics and Computer Science, LatviaDzerbenes 14, Riga, LV1006, LatviaE-mail: artyukh@edi.lvABSTRACTA system for signal analysis in the Modulation Domain, calledTime Interval Counter & Analyzer, is discussed. The Counterallows to measure <strong>time</strong> <strong>interval</strong>s versus <strong>time</strong> in the rangeextended up to hundreds of milliseconds. Due to application ofan original EET-method, it was possible to reach exceptionallyhigh resolution (

events. Therefore a very careful construction of the correspondingunit is required. Principally the best resolution, which has beenobtained in our experiments, is about 5 ps.The temporal instability of the measurement results, includingcertain instability of the test signal, in our experiments did notexceed 5-7 ps per hour (peak-to-peak) in typical operationalconditions (Figure 3).fully exclude a temporal instability of the external circuits relatedwith test signal forming.5. CONCLUSIONSObtained results showed that EET-method also well suited forcertain specific applications related with wide-range <strong>time</strong> <strong>interval</strong>measurement. Even in this case it offers high performance incombination with simplicity of design. We plan further to developa next option of the <strong>counter</strong> allowing fully continuous <strong>time</strong><strong>interval</strong> measurement in an extra-wide range.6. REFERENCES[1] Yu. Artyukh, A. Rybakov, V. Vedin. “Modulation DomainAnalyzer of the DASP-Lab System”. Proceeding of the 1997International Workshop on Sampling Theory andApplication, June,19997, Aveiro, Portugal, p.371-383.[2] Yu. Artyukh, A. Rybakov, V. Vedin. “A new Approach toHigh Performance Continuous Time Interval Counting”.Proceeding of the XI Polish National Conference Applicationof Microprocessors in Automatic Control and Measurements,October, 1998, Warsaw, Poland, p. 139-143.Figure 3. Typical long-term deviation of continuouslymeasured <strong>time</strong> <strong>interval</strong>However, to evaluate this parameter more correctly, we could notANNEXMain Characteristics of the Counter• Inputs Pulse levels - NIM

Pulse width - >2 nsSlope - rising or falling edgeImpedance - 50 Ω• Time Interval MeasurementMeasurement range - 50 ns to 320 msMinimum “dead <strong>time</strong>” - 50 nsSingle shot RMS resolution (depending onallowable “dead <strong>time</strong>”):best < 15 psworst < 40 psTemporal instability - < + 3 ps/h• GatingGate R (on line computed)Range - 50 ns to 165 msDelay - 15 µsec to 335 msVariation step - 20 ns min.Gate C (optional setting)Range - 50 ns to 1 µsDelay - 50 ns to 3 µsVariation step - 50 ns min.• Start-pulse TimingMeasurement range - 24 hoursLSB resolution - 10 ns• Synchronizing of the MeasurementStart of measurement - at beforehandprogrammable <strong>time</strong> or manuallyCycle start-up - by external signalor after finishing the every current cycleMaximum measurement rate -up to 20 cycles/s• PC requirementsIBM compatible 486 or higher PCRunning Widows 3.1 or higher>8 MB RAM; >20 MB Hard Disk SpaceEPP Parallel Port• External <strong>time</strong>base5 or 10 MHz reference1 Hz synchronizing marks• GeneralPower - 220 VAC + 10%Dimensions - 405x50x320 mmWeight - 3.6 kg