Counter enhancements for improved performance and ease-of-use

Abstract

An improved counter may implement dynamic frequency measurement while also remaining fully backwards compatible with traditional frequency measurement methods. The counter may operate according to low-frequency, large range, and/or high frequency modes of operation. It may be programmable with a divisor value associated with the large range operating mode, and a measurement time associated with the high frequency mode of operation. The divisor and measurement time settings may be enabled or disabled, and when either setting is disabled, the counter becomes backwards compatible with traditional frequency measurement methods. The counter may also be provided with inputs representative of the desired type of measurement and the minimum and maximum expected values for the signal to be measured. The counter may perform the frequency measurement according to any one or more of the operating modes, and return a measurement result obtained in the operating mode that completes the measurement first.