27-10-2012, 03:09 PM
A PC-Based Time Interval Counter With 200 PS Resolution
ABSTRACT
This paper describes the design and technical features of the precise time-interval counters realized as PC computer
boards with ISA, PCI, and PXI interfaces. Thanks to the use of a specialized, interpolating counter chip fabricated in CMOS
FPGA technology, the 200 ps resolution (1 LSB - Least Significant Bit) was achieved in single-shot measurements of time
intervals within the range from 0 to 43 s. The standard measurement uncertainty is below 1 LSB as a result of automatic
correction of nonlinearity of two interpolators contained in the FPGA counter chip. The counter board can also be used for
frequency measurement up to 1.1 GHz. The dedicated software operating in aWindows environment provides comprehensive
control, diagnostics, and statistical processing of the measured data.