1. What is a Counter IC?
A counter IC is an IC that counts externally input clock pulses.
Data counted by an ABLIC counter IC can be accessed using the I2C-BUS interface.
The I2C-BUS interface shrinks the size of the counter IC package, which helps simplify peripheral circuits.
2. The Strength of ABLIC’s Products
The strength of ABLIC’s counter ICs lies in their accurate counting of clock pulses.
They are able to accurately count clock pulses for the following reasons.
Use of expertise in analog quartz IC and real-time clock development
ABLIC has gained expertise in designing high-reliability ICs through long experience in developing analog quartz ICs and real-time clocks. This expertise has been used as a component technology in the design of ABLIC’s counter ICs.
| A representative component technology | Description |
|---|---|
| Power-on detection circuit | When a counter IC is turned on, this circuit initializes an internal register to ensure accurate operation after powering up. |
| Schmitt trigger circuit | This circuit correctly recognizes when the clock rises and falls to enable a correct clock count. |
| Noise suppression circuit | This circuit suppresses noise with a 50 nsec pulse width or less to prevent communication errors in the I2C interface and enables accurate reading of count data. |
Hardware-enabled IC ensures accurate counting
Unlike software-controlled counters integrated into a microcontroller (MCU), ABLIC’s hardware-enabled counter IC does not hang-up or freeze.
ABLIC has shipped a total of 175 million timer ICs worldwide (Based on our research as of 2022)
With annual shipments of 175 million counter ICs, real-time clocks and analog quartz ICs, ABLIC has gained the trust of its customers.
3. Counter IC Characteristics
The small TMSOP-8 package makes the system compact
A compact system has the following advantages.
- ・It makes portable devices lighter and easier to carry
- ・It relaxes the restrictions on installation of outdoor IoT devices
- ・Effective use of space in device enclosures
- ・Compact size means there is less area in contact with the outside world, which means improved immunity to external electromagnetic interference (EMI)
- ・Fewer constraints when integrated in a large-scale system
1. 2-wire I2C interface for low-pin count output specifications
2. Use of small packages
3. Minimized wiring for a more compact system
Max. 24-bit (16,777,215) up count that operates as an auxiliary function of the MCU
Most counter functions for general-purpose microcontroller units (MCUs) are 8 to 16-bits.
By contrast, ABLIC's Counter ICs provide 24-bit counting (25-bit when using the LOOP function). Thus, ABLIC's Counter ICs deliver an error accuracy of 0.1 ppm or less when comparing count values.
The amount of bacteria in organisms or particles in the air is larger than the maximum amount that 8 to 16-bit counters can count (65,536).
ABLIC counter ICs when used alone or together with MCU counters can measure such quantities to an accuracy of 1/10,000,000 or less.
Contributing to good MCU compatibility and simplification of peripheral circuit configuration
The I2C interface of ABLIC's Counter IC enables connection to a wide variety of microcontrollers (MCU).
A large number of MCUs use the I2C interface. For that reason, ABLIC's Counter IC can be connected to a great number of MCUs. Thus, customers can select the MCU that best suits their application and connect an ABLIC counter IC to that MCU. The I2C interface is an SCL and SDA 2-wire interface, which simplifies wiring and peripheral component requirements allowing customers to slim down their systems.
4. Counter IC Proposal
Usage examples
Using the IC as both a timer and a counter
A microcontroller (MCU) timer can be used with an ABLIC counter IC.
The counter or timer function has to be selected on the MCU.
Select the timer function on the MCU and use an ABLIC counter IC to measure the amount of water and rice in a rice cooker or other device and set the rice cooker timer, or measure the flow rate per hour of water pipes.
Using the IC to create a low power consumption system
Set the microcontroller (MCU) to intermittent operation and use a standalone ABLIC counter IC with low current consumption.
The intermittent operation of the MCU slows down battery power consumption and is ideal for battery-operated systems.
Using MCU extended functions
Connect the LOOP pin on the counter IC to the microcontroller (MCU) counter to go beyond 24-bit.
Expanding the MCU beyond 24-bit increases the resolution of the counter by 1-bit enabling comparison of count quantities with an accuracy even higher than 0.1 ppm.
For example, 1 mg of dental plaque is said to contain about 100 million bacteria of around 300 types (based on research by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan).
To detect these using a microbe detector and count them all with a counter IC, you need 24-bit or higher resolution.
Using an MCU connected to multiple counters
A multiplexer (MUX) allows you to connect multiple counters.
The connection of multiple counters makes it possible to simultaneously count two or more independent events.
Connect motors and Hall effect ICs to the x, y and z axes and use a counter IC to count the output from the Hall effect ICs to enable motion control.
It is also possible to connect multiple counters and use a microcontroller (MCU) to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division on counter output to calculate the total and the differences of independent events.
Application examples
*Use automotive quality compliant products for automotive devices.
Consumer devices
| Application examples | Using a counter IC |
|---|---|
| PC board application | On a PC, a counter IC is used to count communication interruptions and similar events, and count number of memory access events. |
| Key and other authentication | Unique clock data can be counted by a counter IC to authenticate a device. Register data in the counter IC is compared to database data to determine that a device is what it says it is. |
| RFID reader Transceiver |
A counter IC is used for counting radio wave frequencies. |
| Dispenser | A sensor detects whenever an amount of liquid is removed and the counter IC counts the pulses output by the sensor as clock pulses to detect what is left in the dispenser. |
| Coffee maker | A counter IC is used to count the number of coffee makers used to notify the user when consumables should be repaired or replaced. A counter IC counts and displays the number of cups brewed. A flow sensor detects the amount of hot water and generates pulses as clock pulses that are counted by the counter IC. |
| Rice cooker | A sensor is used to detect the amount of rice and water in a rice cooker and a counter IC is used to count these quantities. |
Industrial equipment
| Application examples | Using a counter IC |
|---|---|
| Fan motor air flow rate adjustment | The counter detects fan motor rpm to adjust air flow rate. A Hall effect IC is used to generate an electric pulse for each rotation of the motor and the counter IC counts this pulse as a clock pulse to detect motor rpm. |
| Automation of agricultural work | A counter IC is used to automatically adjust the amount of water in an irrigation system. Sensors that generate pulses when water flows are installed on water pipes in an irrigation system. A counter IC counts these pulses as clock pulses. A counter IC is used to count cattle feeding times to maintain the health of cattle. Sensors and cameras can be used to detect grain growth and the counter IC will count grain growth events to control growth. An IC for counting the number of captured insects. |
| Digital counter | A counter IC counts and displays the pulses it receives. |
| Capsule endoscopy system | A counter IC is used to count the number of digestive system photos captured by a capsule endoscopy system. |
| Power SCADA (Power Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) |
SCADA is used to measure electricity in a system or used in applications to measure generated power. A wattmeter integrates a pulse generator whose pulses a counter IC can count to calculate consumed electric energy. A counter IC can also be used to count breaker operation, system failures and other events. |
| Bacteria counter Particle counter |
A counter IC receives and counts pulses from a biosensor as clock pulses to detect the number of bacteria present. A counter IC receives and counts pulses from a particle sensor as clock pulses to detect the number of particles. |
| Radiation measurement (Geiger counter) |
A counter IC receives and counts pulses from a Geiger-Mueller tube to measure radiation. |
| Drone control | The IC detects the rpm of a drone propeller to control propeller rpm and drone behavior. To go into detail, a Hall effect IC is used to generate an electric pulse for each rotation of the motor and the counter IC counts this pulse as a clock pulse to detect propeller rpm. In addition, the rpm of the three x, y and z axis motors used to control propeller direction is detected by Hall effect ICs. The pulses output by the Hall effect ICs are counted by the counter IC to control propeller direction and drone behavior. |
| 3D printer control Robot control |
Three counter ICs are used on the x, y and z axes. Each counter IC performs x, y and z axis tracking. The rpm of the motors that control the x, y and z axes are detected by Hall effect ICs. The pulses output by the Hall effect ICs are counted as clock pulses by the counter ICs on the x, y and z axes to detect locations on the x, y and z axes. This means it can be used for motion control on a 3D printer. |
| Weather observation | A counter IC can count sunny, cloudy, rainy and other meteorological events as well as count the number of temperature and humidity measurements. It can also be used to adjust sampling rates. |
| Disaster counter | Use a sensor to detect water levels in rivers and streams and a counter IC to count flooding and other disaster events. Combined with a sensor, a counter IC can be used for counting fires or gas leaks. |
| Automatic fish counting system | Use a camera or sensor to detect fish and a counter IC for counting them. |
| Detecting congestion in a coworking space Security solution |
When combined with a thermo sensor, the counter IC can be used for counting people to detect congestion in coworking spaces. Such usage can be applied to security solutions. |
| Money counter | A counter IC for counting bills and coins. |
Automotive devices
| Application examples | Using a counter IC |
|---|---|
| ECU (Engine Control Unit)* | Counter ICs can be used for controlling the amount of fuel that is injected, the opening and closing of the injector, controlling transmission, and counting failures. |
| Automotive mmWave radar* | A counter IC for counting driving events and traffic events. |
| Automotive digital recorder* | A counter IC for counting accident events, traffic events and driving events. |
*Use automotive quality compliant products for automotive devices.
5. Try ABLIC’s Counter ICs
| S-35770 | for General use 2-wire (I2C-bus) |
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| S-35770 A | for Automotive 2-wire (I2C-bus) |
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