Time-to-Digital-Converters by Acam
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Time to Digital Converters

TDC - GP1
TDC - GP2
TDC - GP21
TDC - GPX
Time-to-Digital Applications
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PICOSTRAIN

Time to Digital Converters for Digital Strain Gage

PICOSTRAIN PS08
PICOSTRAIN PS081
PICOSTRAIN PS09
PICOSTRAIN PS021
Strain Gage Applications
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PICOCAP

Time to Digital Converters for Capacitance Measurement

PICOCAP PCap01
PICOCAP PS021
PICOCAP PSA21
Capacitance Applications
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PICOTURN

Time to Digital Converters for Speed Sensors

PICOTURN 2G
PICOTURN BM/SM
Speed Sensor Applications
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Time-to-Digital - TDC Cookbook

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time-to-digital converters
TDC - Cookbook
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PS021 - Digital Amplifier for Strain Gage - Oscillator

Oscillator - Reference Clock

PS021 Circuits

The Oscillator

PSØ21 offers 3 possibilities to add a reference clock:

  • Internal oscillator driver for 32 kHz Oscillator
  • Internal oscillator driver for high-speed reference 2 - 5 MHz
  • External reference input

When working in measurement range 2 (recommended) the high-speed clock is preferred. It is used

  • as predivider for the TDC measuring unit
  • and for setting the cycle time

Principally we recommend using the clock driver of the PSØ21 with an external resonator or quartz. The clock is used as predivider for the TDC measuring unit. Its quality has direct influence on the quality of the measurement result. Low jitter and short-time stability are the important properties. When using the microcontroller's clock additional noise making the measurement quality worse is propable.

The quality needed for the resonant circuit is about 500 - 1000. From there it is sufficient to use a ceramic resonator. A quartz oscillator is not necessary, it produces no better results and has a longer settling time.

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PS021 - Cycle Time

The Cycle Time

Cycle time is described as the sum of discharge time and recharge time. The user defines it in multiples of the reference clock. The setting for the cycle time de-fines the number of single measurements per second and in consequence the precision / update rate. It is therefore a very important value and requires some planning.

PS021 cycle time
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