ES441 Counter and Frequency Module

The ES441 counter and frequency module provides 4 digital input channels and is able to derive multiple types of measurement signals simultaneously from the same physical input, namely counter, frequency, duty cycle, state, and time interval measurements. All signals are provided with identical time stamps.

To support typical automotive specific applications, the measurement of the average rotational speed is supported for many different types of components, such as camshaft, crankshaft, fan, and turbine. Rotational speed can be used to calculate the vehicle speed or flow rates.

Two different thresholds are used for switching from the active to the inactive level and vice versa (hysteresis). The difference between the threshold levels determines the range of noise suppression. The adjustment of the hysteresis relative to the noise level of the incoming signals provides an efficient and convenient means to enhance the quality of the measurement signals.

Additionally, a software configurable glitch filter can be deployed to eliminate spikes caused by bouncing effects of switches.

It is possible to combine two input channels for signal evaluation. The main input channel is used for generating the signal, whereas the qualifying hardware channel controls the operation. The four input channels can be freely combined.

The ES441 counter and frequency module can be used in a daisy chain arrangement with other ES4xx, ES63x and ES93x measurement modules and connected either to an ES600 network module or directly to the PC via XCP on Ethernet.

Note

It is possible to use a sensor catalog, thus reducing the effort that is required for configuration. You can simply read the parameter settings from the catalog by selecting a channel and selecting Import from sensor catalog in the context menu.

Module parameters in the INCA Hardware Configuration Editor

Enter any name for the hardware module.

Shows the serial number of the device which is used for identification.

  • Online mode (direct access to the measurement hardware):

    If the hardware is connected and operating, the serial number is automatically read upon initialization or a search for hardware.

  • Offline mode (no access to the measurement hardware):

    If the hardware is not connected or if it was not found during the hardware search, you can enter the complete number by hand (to be found on the device).

    The serial number is stored in the hardware configuration.

Enter an internal name of the device. It is stored in the device like the serial number and helps you to distinguish between devices of the same type. By assigning a unique name which expresses the role of the device, it can be used more conveniently than the serial number, especially when you link the devices in the Hardware Mapping dialog box. The alias name is used, for example, if you switch between different vehicles when measuring with the laptop or if you have installed different devices of the same type in the vehicle.

Specifies how the system should react if the connection between INCA and the hardware module is interrupted at measuring start or during measurement.

  • Abort after failure

    The measurement using this hardware module will be terminated in any case of measurement failure (at measuring start or during measurement). The system does not try to reinitialize the hardware module. After the connection has been interrupted, you have to reinitialize manually.

    This option is appropriate when, e.g., the measured values are not essential for the experiment, as the module will be ignored after any failure. This option is the default.

  • Abort at start, try again later

    INCA stops measurement of this module in case of failure at measuring start, assuming the module is disconnected or has any systematic problem.

    It continues to try measurement in case of failure during the measurement assuming the failure is temporal and can be resolved via retries.

  • Retry always

    INCA continues to try measurement of this module in any case of measurement failure (at measuring start or during measurement).

    This option is useful if you want to conduct quick start or cold start measurements.

Note

To modify this setting, you must click Configure to open the Daisy Chain Configuration program and set the measurement failure behavior via the corresponding command in the Hardware menu, see Setting the Behavior in Case of Measurement Failures.

The same setting applies to all devices in all chains of the current configuration.

This specifies whether timestamps are to be rounded or not.

If rounding is enabled, the precision is determined according the following rule:

Divide the acquisition rate by 10 and round to the next smaller power of 10.

Example:

Acquisition rate

Resolution

10 µs

1 µs

20 µs

1 µs

50 µs

1 µs

0,1 ms

0,01 ms

0,2 ms

0,01 ms

0,5 ms

0,01 ms

1 ms

0,1 ms

2 ms

0,1 ms

5 ms

0,1 ms

10 ms

1 ms

20 ms

1 ms

50 ms

1 ms

100 ms

10 ms

200 ms

10 ms

500 ms

10 ms

1 s

0,1 s

2 s

0,1 s

5 s

0,1s

Note

There are two data types for the timestamp format:
UINT32 (32Bit) and REAL64 (64Bit).
Define the data type in the Database Manager:
Options –> User options –> Hardware tab using the Time stamp data type option).

Shows the name of the measurement variable catalog used.

The measurement variable catalog allows you to read the channel parameters for desired measurement variables from a file, thereby reducing the effort required for parameterizing the channel, since channel parameters such as:

  • Measure variable name
  • Unit
  • Sensor calibration information
  • Normal measuring range (min./max.)
  • Comment

are already specified in the measurement variable catalog.

To select a measurement variable catalog: in the Value column, double-click the field next to Catalog.

Shows a consecutive number.

You cannot edit this field.

Shows the name of the measurement variable.

You cannot edit this field.

Defines the physical unit for displaying the measure variable.

The selected unit appears in the corresponding measure windows.

Shows the lower physical value.

You can not edit this field.

Shows the upper physical value.

You can not edit this field.

Shows the conversion formula used for the hardware module.

You cannot edit this field.

See also

Parameters for ES441 Counter and Frequency Module