Pulse Counter

Introduction

The PCNT (Pulse Counter) module is designed to count the number of rising and/or falling edges of an input signal. Each pulse counter unit has a 16-bit signed counter register and two channels that can be configured to either increment or decrement the counter. Each channel has a signal input that accepts signal edges to be detected, as well as a control input that can be used to enable or disable the signal input. The inputs have optional filters that can be used to discard unwanted glitches in the signal.

Functionality Overview

Description of functionality of this API has been broken down into four sections:

  • Configuration - describes counter’s configuration parameters and how to setup the counter.
  • Operating the Counter - provides information on control functions to pause, measure and clear the counter.
  • Filtering Pulses - describes options to filtering pulses and the counter control signals.
  • Using Interrupts - presents how to trigger interrupts on specific states of the counter.

Configuration

The PCNT module has eight independent counting “units” numbered from 0 to 7. In the API they are referred to using pcnt_unit_t. Each unit has two independent channels numbered as 0 and 1 and specified with pcnt_channel_t.

The configuration is provided separately per unit’s channel using pcnt_config_t and covers:

  • The unit and the channel number this configuration refers to.
  • GPIO numbers of the pulse input and the pulse gate input.
  • Two pairs of parameters: pcnt_ctrl_mode_t and pcnt_count_mode_t to define how the counter reacts depending on the the status of control signal and how counting is done positive / negative edge of the pulses.
  • Two limit values (minimum / maximum) that are used to establish watchpoints and trigger interrupts when the pulse count is meeting particular limit.

Setting up of particular channel is then done by calling a function pcnt_unit_config() with above pcnt_config_t as the input parameter.

To disable the pulse or the control input pin in configuration, provide PCNT_PIN_NOT_USED instead of the GPIO number.

Operating the Counter

After doing setup with pcnt_unit_config(), the counter immediately starts to operate. The accumulated pulse count can be checked by calling pcnt_get_counter_value().

There are couple of functions that allow to control the counter’s operation: pcnt_counter_pause(), pcnt_counter_resume() and pcnt_counter_clear()

It is also possible to dynamically change the previously set up counter modes with pcnt_unit_config() by calling pcnt_set_mode().

If desired, the pulse input pin and the control input pin may be changed “on the fly” using pcnt_set_pin(). To disable particular input provide as a function parameter PCNT_PIN_NOT_USED instead of the GPIO number.

注解

For the counter not to miss any pulses, the pulse duration should be longer than one APB_CLK cycle (12.5 ns). The pulses are sampled on the edges of the APB_CLK clock and may be missed, if fall between the edges. This applies to counter operation with or without a filer.

Filtering Pulses

The PCNT unit features filters on each of the pulse and control inputs, adding the option to ignore short glitches in the signals.

The length of ignored pulses is provided in APB_CLK clock cycles by calling pcnt_set_filter_value(). The current filter setting may be checked with pcnt_get_filter_value(). The APB_CLK clock is running at 80 MHz.

The filter is put into operation / suspended by calling pcnt_filter_enable() / pcnt_filter_disable().

Using Interrupts

There are five counter state watch events, defined in pcnt_evt_type_t, that are able to trigger an interrupt. The event happens on the pulse counter reaching specific values:

  • Minimum or maximum count values: counter_l_lim or counter_h_lim provided in pcnt_config_t as discussed in Configuration
  • Threshold 0 or Threshold 1 values set using function pcnt_set_event_value().
  • Pulse count = 0

To register, enable or disable an interrupt to service the above events, call pcnt_isr_register(), pcnt_intr_enable(). and pcnt_intr_disable(). To enable or disable events on reaching threshold values, you will also need to call functions pcnt_event_enable() and pcnt_event_disable().

In order to check what are the threshold values currently set, use function pcnt_get_event_value().

Application Example

Pulse counter with control signal and event interrupt example: peripherals/pcnt.

API Reference

Functions

esp_err_t pcnt_unit_config(const pcnt_config_t *pcnt_config)

Configure Pulse Counter unit.

Note
This function will disable three events: PCNT_EVT_L_LIM, PCNT_EVT_H_LIM, PCNT_EVT_ZERO.
Return
  • ESP_OK Success
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_STATE pcnt driver already initialized
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG Parameter error
Parameters
  • pcnt_config: Pointer of Pulse Counter unit configure parameter

esp_err_t pcnt_get_counter_value(pcnt_unit_t pcnt_unit, int16_t *count)

Get pulse counter value.

Return
  • ESP_OK Success
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_STATE pcnt driver has not been initialized
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG Parameter error
Parameters
  • pcnt_unit: Pulse Counter unit number
  • count: Pointer to accept counter value

esp_err_t pcnt_counter_pause(pcnt_unit_t pcnt_unit)

Pause PCNT counter of PCNT unit.

Return
  • ESP_OK Success
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_STATE pcnt driver has not been initialized
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG Parameter error
Parameters
  • pcnt_unit: PCNT unit number

esp_err_t pcnt_counter_resume(pcnt_unit_t pcnt_unit)

Resume counting for PCNT counter.

Return
  • ESP_OK Success
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_STATE pcnt driver has not been initialized
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG Parameter error
Parameters
  • pcnt_unit: PCNT unit number, select from pcnt_unit_t

esp_err_t pcnt_counter_clear(pcnt_unit_t pcnt_unit)

Clear and reset PCNT counter value to zero.

Return
  • ESP_OK Success
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_STATE pcnt driver has not been initialized
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG Parameter error
Parameters
  • pcnt_unit: PCNT unit number, select from pcnt_unit_t

esp_err_t pcnt_intr_enable(pcnt_unit_t pcnt_unit)

Enable PCNT interrupt for PCNT unit.

Note
Each Pulse counter unit has five watch point events that share the same interrupt. Configure events with pcnt_event_enable() and pcnt_event_disable()
Return
  • ESP_OK Success
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_STATE pcnt driver has not been initialized
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG Parameter error
Parameters
  • pcnt_unit: PCNT unit number

esp_err_t pcnt_intr_disable(pcnt_unit_t pcnt_unit)

Disable PCNT interrupt for PCNT unit.

Return
  • ESP_OK Success
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_STATE pcnt driver has not been initialized
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG Parameter error
Parameters
  • pcnt_unit: PCNT unit number

esp_err_t pcnt_event_enable(pcnt_unit_t unit, pcnt_evt_type_t evt_type)

Enable PCNT event of PCNT unit.

Return
  • ESP_OK Success
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_STATE pcnt driver has not been initialized
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG Parameter error
Parameters
  • unit: PCNT unit number
  • evt_type: Watch point event type. All enabled events share the same interrupt (one interrupt per pulse counter unit).

esp_err_t pcnt_event_disable(pcnt_unit_t unit, pcnt_evt_type_t evt_type)

Disable PCNT event of PCNT unit.

Return
  • ESP_OK Success
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_STATE pcnt driver has not been initialized
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG Parameter error
Parameters
  • unit: PCNT unit number
  • evt_type: Watch point event type. All enabled events share the same interrupt (one interrupt per pulse counter unit).

esp_err_t pcnt_set_event_value(pcnt_unit_t unit, pcnt_evt_type_t evt_type, int16_t value)

Set PCNT event value of PCNT unit.

Return
  • ESP_OK Success
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_STATE pcnt driver has not been initialized
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG Parameter error
Parameters
  • unit: PCNT unit number
  • evt_type: Watch point event type. All enabled events share the same interrupt (one interrupt per pulse counter unit).
  • value: Counter value for PCNT event

esp_err_t pcnt_get_event_value(pcnt_unit_t unit, pcnt_evt_type_t evt_type, int16_t *value)

Get PCNT event value of PCNT unit.

Return
  • ESP_OK Success
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_STATE pcnt driver has not been initialized
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG Parameter error
Parameters
  • unit: PCNT unit number
  • evt_type: Watch point event type. All enabled events share the same interrupt (one interrupt per pulse counter unit).
  • value: Pointer to accept counter value for PCNT event

esp_err_t pcnt_isr_register(void (*fn)(void *), void *arg, int intr_alloc_flags, pcnt_isr_handle_t *handle, )

Register PCNT interrupt handler, the handler is an ISR. The handler will be attached to the same CPU core that this function is running on. Please do not use pcnt_isr_service_install if this function was called.

Return
  • ESP_OK Success
  • ESP_ERR_NOT_FOUND Can not find the interrupt that matches the flags.
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG Function pointer error.
Parameters
  • fn: Interrupt handler function.
  • arg: Parameter for handler function
  • intr_alloc_flags: Flags used to allocate the interrupt. One or multiple (ORred) ESP_INTR_FLAG_* values. See esp_intr_alloc.h for more info.
  • handle: Pointer to return handle. If non-NULL, a handle for the interrupt will be returned here. Calling esp_intr_free to unregister this ISR service if needed, but only if the handle is not NULL.

esp_err_t pcnt_set_pin(pcnt_unit_t unit, pcnt_channel_t channel, int pulse_io, int ctrl_io)

Configure PCNT pulse signal input pin and control input pin.

Note
Set the signal input to PCNT_PIN_NOT_USED if unused.
Return
  • ESP_OK Success
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_STATE pcnt driver has not been initialized
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG Parameter error
Parameters
  • unit: PCNT unit number
  • channel: PCNT channel number
  • pulse_io: Pulse signal input GPIO
  • ctrl_io: Control signal input GPIO

esp_err_t pcnt_filter_enable(pcnt_unit_t unit)

Enable PCNT input filter.

Return
  • ESP_OK Success
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_STATE pcnt driver has not been initialized
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG Parameter error
Parameters
  • unit: PCNT unit number

esp_err_t pcnt_filter_disable(pcnt_unit_t unit)

Disable PCNT input filter.

Return
  • ESP_OK Success
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_STATE pcnt driver has not been initialized
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG Parameter error
Parameters
  • unit: PCNT unit number

esp_err_t pcnt_set_filter_value(pcnt_unit_t unit, uint16_t filter_val)

Set PCNT filter value.

Note
filter_val is a 10-bit value, so the maximum filter_val should be limited to 1023.
Return
  • ESP_OK Success
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_STATE pcnt driver has not been initialized
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG Parameter error
Parameters
  • unit: PCNT unit number
  • filter_val: PCNT signal filter value, counter in APB_CLK cycles. Any pulses lasting shorter than this will be ignored when the filter is enabled.

esp_err_t pcnt_get_filter_value(pcnt_unit_t unit, uint16_t *filter_val)

Get PCNT filter value.

Return
  • ESP_OK Success
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_STATE pcnt driver has not been initialized
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG Parameter error
Parameters
  • unit: PCNT unit number
  • filter_val: Pointer to accept PCNT filter value.

esp_err_t pcnt_set_mode(pcnt_unit_t unit, pcnt_channel_t channel, pcnt_count_mode_t pos_mode, pcnt_count_mode_t neg_mode, pcnt_ctrl_mode_t hctrl_mode, pcnt_ctrl_mode_t lctrl_mode)

Set PCNT counter mode.

Return
  • ESP_OK Success
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_STATE pcnt driver has not been initialized
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG Parameter error
Parameters
  • unit: PCNT unit number
  • channel: PCNT channel number
  • pos_mode: Counter mode when detecting positive edge
  • neg_mode: Counter mode when detecting negative edge
  • hctrl_mode: Counter mode when control signal is high level
  • lctrl_mode: Counter mode when control signal is low level

esp_err_t pcnt_isr_handler_add(pcnt_unit_t unit, void (*isr_handler)(void *), void *args, )

Add ISR handler for specified unit.

Call this function after using pcnt_isr_service_install() to install the PCNT driver’s ISR handler service.

The ISR handlers do not need to be declared with IRAM_ATTR, unless you pass the ESP_INTR_FLAG_IRAM flag when allocating the ISR in pcnt_isr_service_install().

This ISR handler will be called from an ISR. So there is a stack size limit (configurable as “ISR stack size” in menuconfig). This limit is smaller compared to a global PCNT interrupt handler due to the additional level of indirection.

Return
  • ESP_OK Success
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_STATE pcnt driver has not been initialized
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG Parameter error
Parameters
  • unit: PCNT unit number
  • isr_handler: Interrupt handler function.
  • args: Parameter for handler function

esp_err_t pcnt_isr_service_install(int intr_alloc_flags)

Install PCNT ISR service.

Note
We can manage different interrupt service for each unit. This function will use the default ISR handle service, Calling pcnt_isr_service_uninstall to uninstall the default service if needed. Please do not use pcnt_isr_register if this function was called.
Return
  • ESP_OK Success
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_STATE pcnt driver has not been initialized
  • ESP_ERR_NO_MEM No memory to install this service
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_STATE ISR service already installed
Parameters
  • intr_alloc_flags: Flags used to allocate the interrupt. One or multiple (ORred) ESP_INTR_FLAG_* values. See esp_intr_alloc.h for more info.

void pcnt_isr_service_uninstall(void)

Uninstall PCNT ISR service, freeing related resources.

esp_err_t pcnt_isr_handler_remove(pcnt_unit_t unit)

Delete ISR handler for specified unit.

Return
  • ESP_OK Success
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_STATE pcnt driver has not been initialized
  • ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG Parameter error
Parameters
  • unit: PCNT unit number

Type Definitions

typedef intr_handle_t pcnt_isr_handle_t