Patent ID: 6246223
Filing Date: 2001-06-12
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
A method for measuring the frequency of a periodic pulse train based on multiple samples of the voltage of the pulse train, the voltage samples having a predetermined integration time, the method comprising:repeatedly sampling the voltage of the pulse train until at least a first sample and a second sample, each containing a pulse transition, are obtained;determining the duration of time between when the first sample is obtained and when the second sample is obtained;determining a delta time equal to a difference between the portion of the predetermined integration time of the first sample that follows the pulse transition thereof and the portion of the predetermined integration time of the second sample that follows the pulse transition thereof, based on a first voltage level of the first sample, is a second voltage level of the second sample and a voltage level representative of pulse peaks repetitively reached by the pulses of the pulse train; andcomputing either the frequency or the period of the pulse train based on the sum of the determined duration of time and the determined delta time.