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Not recommended for new system designs! Use ProDAQ 3808 instead.

ProDAQ 3806
6-Channel 25 MHz Counter/Timer/Frequency Meter
Function Card

  • 6 Channels
  • 25 MHz Frequency Counter
  • 25 MHz Event Counter
  • Pulse Width & Time Interval Measurement
  • Programmable Threshold per Channel
  • 128 Words/Channel FIFO
  • Up to 48 Counter/Timer Channels per VXIbus Module
The ProDAQ 3806 Counter Timer Function Card is one of the ProDAQ high density cards, which can be fitted into ProDAQ Motherboards. ProDAQ modules are the most versatile VXIbus modules in the market. They provide the user with the highest channel density and functionality available today.

The ProDAQ 3806 Counter Timer Function Card is designed to operate in one of three modes: pulse counter, frequency meter or time interval counter.

In the Pulse Counter Mode and Frequency Measurement Mode incoming signals of up to 25 MHz can be processed on each of the six channels. A time interval counter range is divided into six sub-ranges covering times from 20ns to 10000s with a maximum resolution of 12.5ns. For pulse width measurements the same ranges apply.

Every channel of the 3806 Counter Timer Function Card has two different counters: a 32-bit pulse counter and a 24-bit time interval counter, allowing simultaneous operation as a pulse and a time interval counter.

The time interval counter can count consecutive time intervals and store the results in a FIFO memory. This allows the time interval averaging to be performed resulting in increased time measurement accuracy. Up to 128 time values per channel can be stored in the onboard FIFO. ”On-the-fly” readouts can be performed during the measurement cycle.

The time interval can be defined by selecting either rising, falling or consecutive edges of the input signal.

The pulse and time interval counters are globally enabled by the gate signal, which can be generated either internally, externally or by software. In addition, the trigger signal (common or seperate for every channel) can be used to gate the time interval measurements. This provides two modes of operation: a window mode, in which the trigger enables measurements for the time duration of the trigger pulse and a launch mode, in which the trigger starts the measurements. Each mode can be programmed independently on a channel-to-channel basis.

Input signals can be either DC or AC coupled with 1M or 50 termination. Every channel has a 10-bit digital-to-analog converter to set a threshold within the full-scale input signal range of ± 5V.

The ProDAQ 3806 Counter Timer Function Card is supplied with a VXIplug&play driver, that can be used with all popular software packages. The driver automatically detects and initializes all function cards installed in a ProDAQ motherboard module, removing any possibility of configuration errors.

The ProDAQ modules allow the user to safely and simply expand their existing hardware and software systems.

Download the datasheet for the ProDAQ 3806 Function Card ...