Improving time measurement precision in embedded systems with a hybrid measuring method

We present a hybrid method for increasing the precision of time intervals measurement based on microcontrollers. The method combines the direct counting and the time-to-voltage conversion in a way that suppress most of the errors produced by the direct counting when used with a microcontroller, yet allowing a much larger time range measurement than the time-to-voltage method. While the combination of the two measuring methods is not new, several novel technical solutions were needed to implement both methods on a single low end microcontroller. The experimental results demonstrate the improvement in time measurement precision.