Circuitmaker - Frequency Counter

[Alt Beer]

Is there an easy way to measure the frequency of an oscillator simulation in
Circuitmaker 2000 ?

Thanks

 

[Terry Pinnell]

Is there an easy way to measure the frequency of an oscillator simulation in
Circuitmaker 2000 ?

Thanks

Yes. Probably a similar method to that used in other simulators.
Display the Measurement Cursors, position two over a cycle of
oscillation, and read the result. Did you try reading the Help? Here's
a detailed extract:

"If both cursors are enabled, Cursor 2 - Cursor 1 values (x and y
cursor deltas) can be displayed. If both the cursors are assigned to
the same waveform, then the Minimum or Maximum y value between the
cursors is displayed. Other options for a single waveform include
Average, RMS and Frequency. Average and RMS values are based on the
average of the data between the cursors, so for an accurate
measurement, it is important to measure complete cycles or a large
number of cycles. Also, be sure that the waveform you are measuring
has stabilized between the cursors (i.e., it is not drifting toward or
away from some DC offset.) See Figures 6.8 and 6.9 in the user manual.
Frequency is measured by placing the cursors exactly one cycle apart
(Frequency = 1/period.)"

 

[Alt Beer]

Yes. Probably a similar method to that used in other simulators.
Display the Measurement Cursors, position two over a cycle of
oscillation, and read the result. Did you try reading the Help? Here's
a detailed extract:

Thanks a lot. I tried looking in Instruments and also searching help for
frequency and measurement and right clicking on the output waveform
display... cursors will do the trick.

 

[Kevin Aylward]

Yes. Probably a similar method to that used in other simulators.

nah...SuperSpice is much better for this sort of thing.

Display the Measurement Cursors, position two over a cycle of
oscillation, and read the result. Did you try reading the Help? Here's
a detailed extract:

"If both cursors are enabled, Cursor 2 - Cursor 1 values (x and y
cursor deltas) can be displayed. If both the cursors are assigned to
the same waveform, then the Minimum or Maximum y value between the
cursors is displayed. Other options for a single waveform include
Average, RMS and Frequency. Average and RMS values are based on the
average of the data between the cursors, so for an accurate
measurement, it is important to measure complete cycles or a large
number of cycles. Also, be sure that the waveform you are measuring
has stabilized between the cursors (i.e., it is not drifting toward or
away from some DC offset.) See Figures 6.8 and 6.9 in the user manual.
Frequency is measured by placing the cursors exactly one cycle apart
(Frequency = 1/period.)"

--

I'll pop in my usual 10 cents marketing worth

This is such a useful feature that in SS there is direct GUI support for
this. You use the transient set-up dialog to select a signal, and a stop
and start zero x-ing count, and after each run it will display the
frequency in the message bar at the bottom of the main frame. It also
does this for rise/fall times, delay from a a reference etc, as well as
for rms, rms ripple, averages of a waveform etc. So, you don't need to
fiddle with cursors at all. Once its set up, each run will display new
measurements with no intervention by the user. There are some examples
that demonstrate these features.

AnalogJKDTest.sss - automatic tr, tf, period, width, delay, measurements
(Signal Analysis setup)

ColpitsOsc.sss - automatic frequency measurement (Transisent setup)

DCToACPS.sss - automatic rms, rms ripple, average, pk-pk measurements
(Signal Analysis setup)

Kevin Aylward
[email protected]
http://www.anasoft.co.uk
SuperSpice, a very affordable Mixed-Mode
Windows Simulator with Schematic Capture,
Waveform Display, FFT's and Filter Design.