EE-221 Course Instructor: Saba Sultana

Instrumentation Measurement of Frequency SE – Electrical

Measurement of Frequency
Measurement of Frequency
The signal whose frequency is to be measured is converted into train of pulses; one pulse for each cycle
of the signal. Then number of pulses appearing in definite time is counted by means of an electronic
counter. Since the pulses represent the cycle of unknown signal, the number appearing on the counter is
a direct indication of the unknown signal.

Figure 1: Measurement of Frequency Block Diagram

Illustration of BD
The unknown frequency signal is amplified and then fed to a Schmitt trigger circuit. In Schmitt Trigger
Circuit the signal is converted into a square wave with very fast rise and fall times, then differentiated
and clipped. As a result of which the output from the Schmitt trigger circuit is a train of pulses, one pulse
for each cycle of the input signal.

The out pulse of the Schmitt Trigger Circuit is fed to start stop gate when the gate opens (i.e. start) the
input pulses pass through the gate and are fed to the electronic counter which starts registering the
input pulses. When the gate is closed (i.e. stop) the input pulses to counter cease and it stops counting.

Thus the counter displays the number of pulses that have passes through it in the time interval between
start and stops. If this interval is known, the pulse rate and hence the frequency of the input signal can
be determined as follows:
1
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EE-221 Course Instructor: Saba Sultana
Instrumentation Measurement of Frequency SE – Electrical

𝒏
𝒇 =
𝒕
𝒇 Frequency of unknown signal

𝒏 Number of counts displayed by counter

𝒕 Time interval between start and stop gate

Time Base
The time interval 𝒕 described above is called time base and can be determined accurately by the circuit
diagram.

Figure 2: Time Base Circuit

The circuit consists of a fixed frequency crystal oscillator and is known as clock oscillator. The crystal 𝑪 is
enclosed in a constant temperature oven for accuracy. The output of this constant frequency oscillator is
fed to the Schmitt Trigger Circuit which converts the input to an output consisting of train of pulses at a
rate equal to the frequency of clock oscillator. The train of pulses then passes through a series of
FREQUENCY DIVIDER DECADE ASSEMBLIES connected in cascade. Each Decade Divider consists of a decade
counter and divides the frequency by 10. Connections are taken from the output of each decade in the
2

series chain and by means of a select switch 𝑺 any output may be selected.
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Document designed by Adeel Hasan Akbari
Errors and Omissions Excepted