
NI cDAQ-9172 User Guide and Specifications 44 ni.com
You can route the signal to measure to the Source input of Counter0, as 
shown in Figure27. Assume this signal to measure has frequency F1. 
Configure Counter0 to generate a si ngle pulse that is the width of N periods 
of the source input signal.
Figure 27.  Frequency Measurement—Method 3
Then route the Counter 0 Internal Output signal to the Gate input of 
Counter 1. You can route a signal of known frequency (F2) to the Counter1 
Source input. F2 can be 80MHzTimebase. For signals that might be slower 
than 0.02Hz, use a slower known timebase. Configure Counter 1 to 
perform a single pulse-width measurement. Suppose the result is that the 
pulse width is J periods of the F2 clock.
From Counter 0, the length of the pulse is N/F1. From Counter 1, the length 
of the same pulse is J/F2. Therefore, the frequency of F1 is given by 
F1 = F2 * (N/J).
SOURCE OUT
COUNTER 0
SOURCE
GATE
OUT
COUNTER 1
Signal to 
Measure (F1)
Signal of Known 
Frequency (F2)
CTR_0_SOURCE
(Signal to Measure)
CTR_0_OUT
(CTR_1_GATE)
CTR_1_SOURCE
Interval to
Measure
0123…
N