difference between timer and counter

mik3

Joined Feb 4, 2008
4,843
hi , anybody can establish the real difference between timer and counter?
Basically, a timer can produce time delays (monostable operation) or continues pulses (astable operation) and a counter can count from zero up to a number or from a number down to zero every time it gets an input signal.
 

hgmjr

Joined Jan 28, 2005
9,027
Often these two functions are consolidated into one device. These devices have the capability to derive their clock from an internal oscillator when used in the timer mode or they can take their clock source from an external signal in which case it behaves as a counter.

hgmrj
 

Wendy

Joined Mar 24, 2008
23,415
It can be confusing. Since the term has been around a very long time, and actually describes several different classes of circuits it is probably a good idea to add a preface word to narrow it down. For example a digital timer uses flip flops, a digital second timer would likely have a numberical display. The oldest definition is something I've been working on for a submission.
 

Papabravo

Joined Feb 24, 2006
21,159
The hardware for a timer and a counter are the same. The distinction is in the input source. If the input is a signal with a known, constant period, then the hardware is being used as a timer. In other word you can establish a 1-to-1 correspondence between edges and elapsed time.

If the input signal is aperiodic then you are using the hardware as a counter. In this case you cannot establish a 1-to-1 correspondence between edges and elapsed time.
 
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