Hoe to use Counter for pulse train generation with higher accuracy?

[adat]

Hi, 

For one of our project there is a requirement to generate pulse train.

Core requirement is that we have to generate a Torque Pulse follows one reference pulse & the delay of this torque pulse from reference pulse should be more precise means,

this delay should have an accuracy of ± 2ns (ns-nano seconds). 

Our idea is to use counter to generate this pulse train.

I have gone through the possible solutions from NI & to achieve this accuracy thought to use NI PXIe 6356 Which is having 100MHz base clock for counters.

Since 100MHz=10ns will help me to achieve that much precise requirements of delay (multiples of 10ns will better give better accuracy).

Against to this I have some more queries which are mentioned below. 

·         Since I am not using analog output which has output rate of 3.33MS/s, will it be possible to utilize 100% base clock of 100MHz for counter to generate pulse train?      

      I called for support from NI & I got a reply that it is possible. So is it true?

·         What is the rise time & fall time for this one period of clock?

·         What is the possible deviation/Noise in this clock period of 10ns?

·         What could be the delay in this clock period if we trigger the counter by using LabVIEW?

·         What are the triggering sources & accuracy available internally to trigger the counter?

·         How we can achieve better accuracy by using external triggering method? 

Your quick feedback on these queries will help us a lot. 

E-mail me to nilesh.adat@goodrich.com also. 

Thanks & Regards,

Nilesh

  

[adat]

Hello Glenn,

Thanks for your reply.

Actually I want to correct my first query.

• Since I am not using analog output which has output rate of 3.33MS/s,

will it be possible to utilize 100% base clock of 100MHz for counter to

generate pulse train?

      I called for support from NI & I got a reply that it is possible. So

is it true?

-Yes, you can use the AO Sample Clock to generate a a pulse train. Keep in

mind, you probably don't need a sampled clock operation for a counter

output task. Also, you will not be able to have a 100MHz output.

I am not aware that how internal base clock is shared in DAQ card. Here I want to ask you that I am not at all using AO feature for any purpose.

So I will not use AO Sample Clock to generate a pulse train by using counter.

In this case, will there be any internal "overhead" in a system that will not allow the counter to have a base clock rate of 100MHz?

Actually my core requirement is to get a pulse with +/-2ns accuracy from counter output by using a base clock of 100MHz.

So is it possible to use this base clock with its full capability?

Regards,

Nilesh