Kit 36.

4 1/2 DIGIT COUNTER

This Kit is designed to be a building block where a displayed count as it is pulled high again by the pullup
counter is required as part of a larger system. The Harris resistor.
7224 IC and a liquid crystal display driven by it form the
main part of the system. All of the pins available in the COUNT/INHIBIT is used to stop the normal counting
7224 have been brought out for easy connection for any operation without the need to physically disconnect the
required purpose such as a counter or frequency meter. COUNT input. Take it to ground to activate it in a similar
way described in the previous paragraph for the STORE
The display has been constructed so that it may be cut off input. These signals can demonstrate the principle of how
and located away from the main circuit board connected a frequency meter operates. Attach the Count input and
by flat ribbon cable. The PCB has a printed overlay on it Reset the system. After exactly one second take
so that the position of all the components is clearly Count/inhibit to low (to stop the counter) then take Store
indicated and construction only takes a few minutes. to low (to freeze the number on the LCD.) The number on
the display will show the frequency of the Count input
Note that you should study the Data Sheet on the 7224 between 1 Hz and 19,999 Hz. By using a crystal oscillator
before you use the Kit. You can get it from to measure the count in smaller time periods (0.1 seconds,
0.01 seconds) then higher frequencies can be measured. In
www.intersil.com addition some control logic can be added to put the
decimal point in the right position. Such a frequency meter
By making the Kit completely general purpose the input was published in Popular Electronics, 7/1992, p 53.
pins have not been buffered or protected so that it is
relatively easy to damage the IC with out-of-range high All the functional pins of the 7224 have been brought out
input signals. Some hints are given below but it is up to for maximum flexibility in design. Large tracks and pads are
you to design the necessary protection circuit on the used to make the Kit as robust as possible.
input before you turn it on.
The Kit has its own 5V regulated supply on board for the
The kit is constructed on a single-sided printed circuit 7224. This allows a relatively wide range of voltage inputs
board (PCB). Protel Autotrax and Schematic were used to to the Kit from +6V to 10V secured into the terminal block.
design the board. Make sure to connect them the correct way around. The
+5V is made available at one of the connector pins.
ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS
Assembly is a matter of following the overlay to tell you Decimal Point. A jumper selects the decimal point or
where to put the components. There are several important minus sign in the LCD. Displays are driven by applying a
points to watch. symmetrical square wave to the back plane (BP.) To turn
on a segment a waveform 180o out of phase with the BP
1. The LCD is mounted on two 40 pin IC sockets which (but of equal amplitude) is applied to that segment. To get
you must cut apart using your side cutters. This allows the dp/- the external circuit inverts the BP output with an
the LCD to sit above the 7224 chip and save space. Make FET and applies it to the required input by the jumper. Pull
sure you get the LCD and the 7224 chip around the correct down resistors in an SIL package are applied to the
way. These two components should be the last items unused inputs. This is necessary if the counter is used in
added to the PCB. high static field environments.

2. Note the 9 links to connect on top of the PCB. Six of the Buffered Inputs. As mentioned in the Introduction by
links are under the LCD and 7224. making the Kit completely general purpose the inputs to
the 7224 have been left relatively unprotected. If input
CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION potential differences greater than 6.5V are applied to the
The schematic diagram is shown in on the next page. inputs then damage to the IC may result. Simple input
To see if the Kit works connect STORE (pin 34) and buffering circuits like that shown in Figure 2 should be
LZBIN (pin 29) both to ground and then switch on the connected to the RESET, COUNT INHIBIT and COUNT
power supply. Touch the RESET to ground (the 0V on the lines if inputs from sources operating on other power
terminal block.) The LCD should reset to zero. supply units are used. Inputs of a wide range of voltages
(typically 2 to 20V) can then be applied. Of course these
STORE controls internal latches which transfer decoded are inverting buffers so, for example, RESET must now be
display data from the count decoders to the display taken high to reset the unit.
drivers. When pin 34 is pulled high (as in this circuit) the
latches are transparent and the display updates in real WHAT TO DO IF IT DOES NOT WORK
time. If STORE is taken low then the last count value Poor soldering is the most likely reason that the Kit will
is latched and displayed while actual counting still not work. Check all solder joints carefully under a good
continues. Taking STORE off low will update the light. Next check that all components are in their correct
 Kit 36. 4 1/2 DIGIT COUNTER

position on the PCB. Thirdly, follow the track with a

voltmeter to check the potential differences at various arts Components
of the circuit. Did you add the 9 jumper links on top of the Resistors 5%, 1/4W
PCB? Is the battery fully charged? 100K brown black yellow 1
SIL1 100K resistor network 1
WHAT TO LEARN FROM THIS KIT SIL2 100K resistor network 1
The Kit shows how much of electronics today can be FET 1
contained in a single chip. Many commercial low to 78L05 regulator 1
medium cost frequency meters are nothing more than this 2 pole terminal block 1
kit, some switches and passive components and a plastic 7224 IC 1
case. The main reason today for the failure of meters is 40 pin IC sockets 3
more likely due to switch contact and mechanical failure LCD VI-509-DP-RC 1
rather than failure of the electronics itself. 6 pin header & harness 1
10 pin dual header x 5 position 1
jumper 1
Kit 36 pcb 1
SPDT pcb-mounted switch 1
9V battery snap 1