High frequency generation ( 100K ) and above using Simulink and deploying it on Arduino

I trying to experment with simulink and interface it with arduino , my goal is to generate high frequency , but there is a limit and i know I saw a high frequency generated by arduino before , but how , is there any tutorial .

[MUSTAFA]

I have arduino Mega 2560

[Walter Roberson]

I am not clear on what it is that you wish to have happen at 100K? Is that 100K samples per second input? If so then how many channels, how many bits per channel, and what is the the acceptable latency?

Or is it a pwm output signal? If so then how frequently does it need to change pattern? If it is reacting to input, then how much latency of reaction is acceptable?

[Ovaga Technologies]

When it comes to generating high frequencies using Arduino and Simulink, there are a few considerations to keep in mind. Although Arduino boards are generally not designed for high-frequency applications, it is possible to generate relatively high frequencies with certain techniques. Here's a general approach you can follow:

1. Select the right Arduino board: Some Arduino boards, like the Arduino Uno, have limited processing power and may struggle to generate high frequencies. Consider using a board with a faster clock speed, such as the Arduino Mega or Arduino Due, as they are better suited for high-frequency applications.

2. Utilize timer/counters: Arduino boards have built-in timer/counters that can be configured to generate square wave signals at specific frequencies. By utilizing the timer/counters, you can achieve higher frequencies than using general-purpose I/O pins.

3. Employ direct port manipulation: If you require even higher frequencies, you can utilize direct port manipulation techniques to bypass the Arduino's digitalWrite() function, which can introduce significant overhead. Direct port manipulation allows for faster I/O operations, enabling you to generate higher frequencies.

4. Utilize external libraries: Arduino community libraries can provide additional functionalities for generating high frequencies. Libraries like the TimerOne and TimerThree libraries can help you leverage the built-in timer/counters more efficiently and generate precise high-frequency signals.

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

If you are using the USB connector, and if you are transfering each sample individually, not many people manage to get more than 40 Hz or so. The theoretical limit is 1000 packets per second (with roughly 1000 bytes of data each time.)

If you are using an ethernet connection, the theoretical rate is significantly higher. I do not know what the practical limit is.

Some people are getting higher serial port rates with add-on ports; https://www.avrfreaks.net/forum/mega2560-board-usb-connection-speed

[MUSTAFA]

Can u please put a link for hardware and any other detachment that will be needed for this , another question after getting all of these ,can I still use simulink for flushing the codes , or there more thinks i may need to do in order to use the simulink , thanks

Answer 2

[Arun Kumar]

Hi Mustafa,

Don you mean the PWM frequency?

If yes, then you can specify the PWM frequency in the PWM block by selecting the specify option.

Hope this helps!

[Walter Roberson]

The maximum PWM frequency for the Arduino Mega appears to be 62.5 kHZ; https://www.etechnophiles.com/how-to-change-pwm-frequency-of-arduino-mega/ -- at least for the built-in pins.

[Arun Kumar]

Yes Walter Roverson, you are right. The default frequency is 62.5 KHz. But using PWM block from Simulink library, we can increase this frequency.

To do this, select Specify option in the Frequency property. And enter the desired frequency in Hz. The block calculates the closest achievable frequency and displays it.

Refer the following doc for more details:

https://www.mathworks.com/help/supportpkg/arduino/ref/pwm.html

Thanks,

Arun

[Walter Roberson]

That table says that the upper limit for the Mega 2560 using pin 9 or pin 10 is 31372.55 Hz and explicitly lists 980.4 for pins 4 and 13 (which the page says can go to 62500 Hz)

[Arun Kumar]

The table lists pins that have some constraints due to internal implementation of the pwm drivers. For the pins that are not listed in the table, all the frequencies are supported.

[Walter Roberson]

The documentation linked to on supported frequencies https://www.arduino.cc/reference/en/language/functions/analog-io/analogwrite/ indicates only 490 Hz for the Mega, and does not hint at any possibility of other frequencies.

It is not clear what "all the frequencies" would mean in this case. For example is 32 megahertz PWM supported for the Mega? Even though the standard clock rate is only 16 megahertz ?

[Arun Kumar]

Hi Walter,

By all frequencies, it means all valid positive numbers.

Based on the desired frequency, closest achievable frequency is calculated which takes all the details into account.

For example, for pin 2 on Arduino mega, if you try to input the desired frequency beyond 4MHz, the achievable frequency will be limited to 4MHz.

This is because

1. PWM on Arduino mega runs in phase correct mode. Which decreases the maximum output frequency to half of the Clock. More details here: https://docs.arduino.cc/tutorials/generic/secrets-of-arduino-pwm
2. At 8MHz clock, the max frequency you can get is 4MHz. Because two cycles are required to generate 1 PWM signal.

Because these details are not very useful for a normal arduino user, the block takes care of all these internal details and provides a simple GUI for generating PWM.

[MUSTAFA]

Thank u all for ur reply , The question is , can I generate 100 K Hz with arduino . ?

How ?

[Arun Kumar]

In MATLAB 2020a and later releases, it is possible to generate PWM with higher frequencies on Arduino.

Simply change the desired frequency parameter of the PWM block.

Some pins have certain limitations which is mentioned in the following page: https://www.mathworks.com/help/supportpkg/arduino/ref/pwm.html

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

[Veswin Tang]

Choose the Right Arduino Board: Some Arduino boards, like the Arduino Uno, have a limited clock speed (16 MHz), which restricts the achievable frequencies. Consider using boards with higher clock speeds, such as Arduino Due (84 MHz) or Arduino Zero (48 MHz), for higher-frequency applications.

Use Timer/Counter Hardware: To generate higher frequencies, utilize the built-in Timer/Counter hardware of the Arduino. It allows precise and efficient control over pulse width and frequency.

Timer Libraries: Arduino libraries like "TimerOne" or "TimerThree" can help you set up timers for generating PWM signals and higher frequencies.

Direct Port Manipulation: By manipulating the digital pins' states directly using port registers, you can generate simple square wave signals with higher frequencies.

Simulink Arduino Support Package: Simulink has an Arduino Support Package that allows you to interact with Arduino boards and run Simulink models on the hardware. This package provides blocks to control the Arduino's digital and analog pins and can be utilized to generate high-frequency signals.

Use External Oscillator: If higher frequencies are needed, consider using an external oscillator or clock source that can drive the Arduino's clock input.

My website: https://www.veswin.com/

Answer 4

[Avaq Semiconductor]

Generating high-frequency signals with an Arduino can be challenging due to the limitations of the microcontroller's hardware. The Arduino Uno, for example, is based on the ATmega328P microcontroller, which has a maximum clock speed of 16 MHz. This clock speed determines the maximum frequency you can generate using the Arduino's built-in functions.

If you need higher frequencies, you can use techniques such as pulse width modulation (PWM) to generate square wave signals at frequencies higher than the Arduino's clock speed. However, the actual achievable frequency will depend on various factors, including the specific Arduino board you are using and the accuracy and stability of the generated signal.