Chapter 8 Counters
NI USB-621x User Manual 8-6 ni.com
condition is not met, consider using duplicate count prevention, described 
in the Duplicate Count Prevention section.
For information about connecting counter signals, refer to the Default 
Counter/Timer Pinouts section.
Period Measurement
In period measurements, the counter measures a period on its Gate input 
signal after the counter is armed. You can configure the counter to measure 
the period between two rising edges or two falling edges of the Gate input 
signal.
You can route an internal or external periodic clock signal (with a known 
period) to the Source input of the counter. The counter counts the number 
of rising (or falling) edges occurring on the Source input between the 
two active edges of the Gate signal.
You can calculate the period of the Gate input by multiplying the period of 
the Source signal by the number of edges returned by the counter.
Single Period Measurement
With single period measurement, the counter counts the number of rising 
(or falling) edges on the Source input occurring between two active edges 
of the Gate input. On the second active edge of the Gate input, the counter 
stores the count in a hardware save register and ignores other edges on the 
Gate and Source inputs. Software then reads the stored count.
Figure 8-7 shows an example of a single period measurement.
Figure 8-7.  Single Period Measurement
SOURCE
GATE
Counter Value
HW Save Register
1 0  3 
5 
4 
5 
2