Electronics > Microcontrollers

MCU based PWM meter input isolation

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RoadRunner:
hi guys
     i have created a PWM meter based on a PIC microcontroller, the software is working fine and very accurate.

but my problem is who to isolate the input pin of the mcu from the external  circuitry?

what are possible ways to do that?

and one more thing , the current range of the meter is  1 to 64 Khz accuracy with >0.1% accuracy  and  >64khz to 640 khz with 1% accuracy
is that much range is fine or should i do some improvements
like should i go to more higher in mhz frequency like 6 mhz

Psi:
I think up to 1-2mhz would be nice, that would cover most switch mode pwm circuits.

An opto-isolator sounds like a good idea for isolation but you may have to look around for the right one, or add some input amplification, if you want high impedance inputs.

Bored@Work:
If you can't isolate the input to the PIC, consider isolating all outputs in use. I.e. move the PIC to the "hot" side.

Regarding accuracy, this depends very much on your frequency reference. Assuming you got the measurement circuitry and algorithm right. If you use a crystal, then your accuracy values don't seem to be too great.

RoadRunner:
Sir,
    i think the optocoupler will not be a good solution for a signal that can go high up to 5-6 MHz(i have increased the range up to this level with 0.01% accuracy) . the optocoupler are really very slow.
and moving the pic hot side is not quite a possible thing  for this type of condition.

did any one has some other better Design solution.

gxti:
Traditional optocouplers might be too slow but there is no shortage of digital isolator chips that can run to hundreds of megabits per second. This is the first thing I found on Digi-Key, it goes to 150Mbit/sec and is available in up to 4 channels in various configurations: http://search.digikey.com/us/en/products/SI8410BB-D-IS/336-1752-5-ND/2170659

You should consider a hot-side MCU, it doesn't make a difference for basic PWM but it gets you a high-impedance input and if you add any analog capability then it makes the front-end design much simpler. If you need a hot-side power supply, there are reasonably inexpensive (about 5 USD) potted devices that will bring the power across with isolation.

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