Chapter 8 Counters
© National Instruments Corporation 8-37 NI USB-621x User Manual
Prescaling is not available if the counter Source is one of the internal 
timebases (80MHzTimebase, 20MHzTimebase, or 100kHzTimebase).
Duplicate Count Prevention
Duplicate count prevention (or synchronous counting mode) is used when 
taking frequency or period measurements on USB-621x devices, which 
ensures that a counter returns correct data in applications that use a slow or 
non-periodic external source. Duplicate count prevention applies only to 
buffered counter applications, such as measuring frequency or period. In 
such buffered applications, the counter should store the number of times an 
external Source pulses between rising edges on the Gate signal.
Example Application That Works Correctly 
(No Duplicate Counting)
Figure 8-33 shows an external buffered signal as the period measurement 
Source.
Figure 8-33.  Duplicate Count Prevention Example
On the first rising edge of Gate, the current count of 7 is stored. On the next 
rising edge of Gate, the counter stores a 2 since two Source pulses occurred 
after the previous rising edge of Gate.
The counter synchronizes or samples the Gate signal with the Source 
signal, so the counter does not detect a rising edge in Gate until the next 
Source pulse. In this example, the counter stores the values in the buffer on 
Gate
2 
7 
7 
6 7  1 2  1 
Rising Edge 
of Gate 
Counter detects rising edge 
of Gate on the next rising 
edge of Source. 
Source
Counter Value
Buffer