Counter Click

How does it work?

Counter Click is based on the LS7366R, a 32-bit quadrature counter with a serial interface from LSI Computer Systems. It is a CMOS counter with a direct interface for quadrature clocks from incremental encoders. It also interfaces with the index signals from incremental encoders to perform various marker functions. This counter can be configured to operate as a 1, 2, 3, or 4-byte counter. It can also be programmed to work in several counting modes such as Modulo-N, Non-recycle, Range-limit, or Free-running mode.

This Click board™ features a 2×5 header (2.54mm pitch) with pins to interface the LS7366R inputs, VCC, and a few GNDs, which are basically the power supply pins of the Click board™ itself. The VCC and GND pins can power the quadrature incremental encoder. This header also includes ENCA and ENCB, the input A and B pins of the LS7366R, to directly apply the quadrature clock outputs from incremental encoders on them, and Index (ENCI) pin, a programmable input driven directly by an incremental encoder’s index output.

The LS7366R uses a standard 4-wire SPI serial interface to communicate with the host MCU over the mikroBUS™ socket. The counter is enabled when EN input is in a high logic state; otherwise disabled with low logic level. In addition, this Click board™ features interrupt over INT pin that can be configured to use LFLAG or DFLAG over the LF and DF solder jumpers with DFLAG set by default. This way, users can choose LFLAG, an open drain latched output, or DFLAG, an instantaneous push-pull output, thus using these outputs to flag Carry, Borrow, Compare, and Index occurrences.

This Click board™ can operate with either 3.3V or 5V logic voltage levels selected via the PWR SEL jumper. This way, both 3.3V and 5V capable MCUs can use the communication lines properly. However, the Click board™ comes equipped with a library containing easy-to-use functions and an example code that can be used, as a reference, for further development.

Specifications

Pinout diagram

This table shows how the pinout on Counter Click corresponds to the pinout on the mikroBUS™ socket (the latter shown in the two middle columns).

Notes	Pin					Pin	Notes
	NC	1	AN	PWM	16	NC
Count Enable	EN	2	RST	INT	15	INT	Interrupt
SPI Chip Select	CS	3	CS	RX	14	NC
SPI Clock	SCK	4	SCK	TX	13	NC
SPI Data OUT	SDO	5	MISO	SCL	12	NC
SPI Data IN	SDI	6	MOSI	SDA	11	NC
Power Supply	3.3V	7	3.3V	5V	10	5V	Power Supply
Ground	GND	8	GND	GND	9	GND	Ground

Onboard settings and indicators

Counter Click electrical specifications

Software Support

We provide a library for the Counter Click as well as a demo application (example), developed using Mikroe compilers. The demo can run on all the main Mikroe development boards.

Package can be downloaded/installed directly from NECTO Studio Package Manager (recommended), downloaded from our LibStock™ or found on Mikroe github account.

Library Description

This library contains API for Counter Click driver.

Key functions

• This function reads CNTR, using click object.

• This function reads STR, using click object.

• This function reads OTR, using click object.

Example Description

This application measures the speed and the position of the DC motor shafts.

 void application_task ( void ) 
 { 
     count = counter_read_cntr( &counter ); 
     log_printf( &logger, "Counter: %ldrn",  count ); 
     speed = ( float ) ( count - count_old ) / 3600.0; 
     speed *= 6.283185; 
     log_printf( &logger, "Speed: %.4f Rad/srn",  speed ); 
     count_old = count; 
     log_printf( &logger, "-------------------------rn" ); 
     Delay_ms( 1000 ); 
 }

The full application code, and ready to use projects can be installed directly from NECTO Studio Package Manager (recommended), downloaded from our LibStock™ or found on Mikroe github account.

Other Mikroe Libraries used in the example:

• MikroSDK.Board
• MikroSDK.Log
• Click.Counter

Additional notes and informations

Depending on the development board you are using, you may need USB UART click, USB UART 2 Click or RS232 Click to connect to your PC, for development systems with no UART to USB interface available on the board. UART terminal is available in all Mikroe compilers.

mikroSDK

This Click board™ is supported with mikroSDK – Mikroe Software Development Kit. To ensure proper operation of mikroSDK compliant Click board™ demo applications, mikroSDK should be downloaded from the LibStock and installed for the compiler you are using.

For more information about mikroSDK, visit the official page.