PidiMet
=======
Small universal multimeter with 25 functions and CH32V006 processor
Version 1.0; Last update: 01/27/2026

Copyright (c) 2026 Miroslav Nemecek

Panda38@seznam.cz
hardyplotter2@gmail.com
https://github.com/Panda381/PidiMet
https://www.breatharian.eu/hw/pidimet/index_en.html

PidiMet is part of the library CH32LibSDK:
https://github.com/Panda381/CH32LibSDK/tree/main/ch32/DEVICE/PidiMet
https://www.breatharian.eu/hw/ch32libsdk/index_en.html#pidimet


Description
===========
PidiMet is small, low-cost, universal multimeter with 25 functions and CH32V006
processor. It includes measure of voltage, current, power, charging,
resistance, capacitance, inductance, oscilloscope, logic analyzer, frequency
generator, function generator, voltage regulator, frequency meter, spectrum
analyzer, counter, timer, time gate, duty cycle, UART communication, I2C
scanner, noise generator, analog noise, pulse histogram, repeater, and battery
meter.

Although it is not a precise and perfect device, it can be very useful in
amateur practice as a basic measuring and testing device. For analog functions,
the accuracy is usually in the range of 5 to 10%, for digital functions around
50ppm, which is sufficient for normal amateur practice. The dimensions of the
PidiMet are 55x60 mm.

PidiMet requires the CH32LibSDK library for compilation and is included in the
library as a sample application. All schematics and printed circuit boards are
in Eagle 9.2.0 Free format.


Control and usage
=================
PidiMet can be powered either from an external 5V USB source or via an
external universal connector with an external voltage in the range of 3 to 5V,
through the VDD pin. When powered from a USB source, it is possible to select
3.3V or 5V power supply using the "USB Power" jumper. When working with
signals, it is important to remember that PidiMet must be switched to the same
voltage as the tested device. If you select 3.3V power supply and input signals
with 5V levels, there is a risk of damaging PidiMet. Conversely, if you select
5V power and the device under test is 3.3V, there is a risk of damage to the
device under test. If you are unsure, it is advisable to power the PidiMet from
the device under test via the VDD pin.

If it is necessary to measure the current inside the device circuits, it may be
necessary to power the PidiMet from a separate 5V charger to ensure a floating
ground, as the current is measured against the GND ground in the PidiMet.
Alternatively, the PidiMet can be powered from a battery with a 3.3V converter,
which also ensures an isolated ground.

Functions are switched in PidiMet using the PREV and NEXT buttons - you can
select one of 25 functions, a detailed list of which is provided below. The
FAST, SLOW, and HOLD buttons have different meanings depending on the selected
function. Test cables are connected to the PidiMet using an adapter via a
20-pin connector with a pin strip. This allows for easy cable replacement
according to the selected function by simply changing the adapter.

After turning on the PidiMet power supply, a message about the current power
supply voltage will appear on the display for a moment. It is advisable to note
this information - to check that the power supply has not been accidentally
switched to the wrong power supply, which could damage either the PidiMet or
the device under test.
 

Bugs
====
Due to the simplicity of PidiMet, errors may occur that need to be pointed
out. The processor itself is susceptible to unwanted external pulses and high
frequencies. When handling PidiMet, an accidental pulse with a higher voltage
than the internal power supply may reach the contacts - a typical case is
electrostatic pulses. PidiMet should not be damaged in most cases – there are
protective resistors on the inputs and the processor contains protective
diodes. However, if these pulses reach the power supply branch, they can cause
the processor to malfunction. This may manifest itself in the processor
freezing or exhibiting unusual behavior. In such a case, it may be necessary
to reset the PidiMet by disconnecting the power supply. For the same reason,
the firmware contains an active watchdog - if the processor does not respond
for 3 seconds, the watchdog resets the processor. In such a case, an emergency
reset message appears on the display.

Another manifestation of incorrect behavior (e.g., after incorrectly connecting
5V to the input with a 3.3V power supply) may be that the crystal does not
start. In this case, PidiMet will display a warning that the crystal is not
working when it starts up. PidiMet works even without a crystal, using the
internal 24 MHz HSI clock source, but the accuracy of time measurements
(including capacitor and coil measurements) will decrease by 1%. In this case,
turning PidiMet off and on again will help. The same message will appear when
PidiMet is turned on if the crystal is not installed at all. PidiMet can still
be used, but it will have lower accuracy.

In addition to random pulses, the processor may also crash due to high
frequency. This can happen, for example, when generating frequencies of 24 MHz
and 48 MHz (especially with a 5V power supply) or when such frequencies are
applied to the input. The reason may be an incorrect PCB design. The printed
circuit board was designed only for prototype development purposes and may not
properly handle signal connections. If you are skilled at designing printed
circuit boards, I recommend designing your own printed circuit board with a
better design. This may eliminate errors related to high frequencies.
 

Functions
=========
Functions are switched in PidiMet using the PREV and NEXT buttons. A detailed
list and description of functions follows.


1 U Voltage
Voltage measurement. Voltage can be measured at 2 connector inputs. At input
"15 U1", positive voltage can be measured in the range from zero to the
supply voltage VDD. If PidiMet is switched to 3.3V, voltage up to 3.3V can be
measured. If it is switched to 5V, voltages up to 5V can be measured. The upper
row shows the voltage that can be measured. The value is derived from the
current supply voltage, so it may vary. Negative voltages cannot be measured -
in this case, 0V will remain on the display and there is a risk of damage to
the PidiMet. At the "13 U2" input, positive voltages in the range from zero to
11 times the VDD supply voltage can be measured. The maximum measurable voltage
is again displayed on the top row of the display. For safety reasons, to
prevent damage to the PidiMet by failing to select the correct power supply,
measurements up to 3V are typically specified for input U1 and measurements up
to 30V for input U2. Applying 5V to U1 or 50V to U2 with a 3.3V power supply
may damage the PidiMet.

However, PidiMet cannot recognize which pin is used to measure voltage, nor can
it switch inputs. Measurements are performed via an input divider with 2M2 and
220K resistors. It is necessary to connect the measured voltage to the correct
connector pin and switch the range in PidiMet. The FAST button selects input
U2, and the SLOW button selects input U1. Changing the input only changes the
multiplication coefficient of the measured voltage. Input U1 loads the measured
circuit with an input impedance of 220 Kohm. Input U2 loads the measured
circuit with an input impedance of 2.2 Mohm.

Voltage measurement is performed using an ADC converter, utilizing the
processor's internal voltage reference. The accuracy of the voltage reference
is typically around 1%. Any inaccuracy of the resistors in the input divider
must also be added to the reference error. Another error is caused by the
non-linearity of the ADC converter. Therefore, a relative accuracy of around
5% can realistically be expected. The absolute error of input U1 is 3 mV and
the minimum measurable voltage is 1 mV. The absolute error of input U2 is 30 mV
and the minimum measurable voltage is 10 mV. The voltage measurement time is
approximately 500 ms - during the measurement time, the measured data is
integrated to filter out noise.

When measuring small voltages, it may be necessary to perform "taring". The
ADC converter may exhibit deviations, manifested by the indication of a small
voltage even when the wires are disconnected. Disconnect the measuring wires,
preferably by completely disconnecting the measuring adapter. Press the HOLD
button - PidiMet will remember the current voltage value and subtract this
value from the measured value. Inputs U1 and U2 each have their own tare value.
The current "tare" value is shown on the bottom line of the display - this is
to check whether the tare has been performed or not. After turning off the
PidiMet, the tare returns to the default value of 0V.

Taring can also be used to memorize the reference voltage. If you press HOLD
during measurement, the current measured value will be used as a reference
value and other voltages will be displayed relative to this reference voltage
level. This may also display a negative voltage value - but be careful not to
confuse this with a negative input voltage, it is only a correction of the
displayed data.

Note: Input U2 is physically located between signals OSC1 and OSC2 on the EXT
connector. This is for safety reasons. The OSC1 and OSC2 inputs are equipped
with 100nF capacitors, which protect the processor in the event of accidental
contact between the U2 high-voltage wires and adjacent connector pins. For
this reason, the capacitors on the OSC1 and OSC2 inputs should be rated for
a sufficiently high voltage (100V).


2 I Current
Current measurement. The current is measured at the "16 I" input. The
measurement is performed against ground GND by measuring the voltage across a
1 ohm load resistor. If you want to measure the current inside the device's
circuits and not against ground, you must use a separate power supply with
isolated ground - either a 5V USB charger or a battery with a 3.3V converter.
Caution with USB chargers - some chargers may provide a voltage higher than 5V,
or the voltage may be significantly ripple. In this case, it is better to use
only 3.3V voltage so that the voltage is stabilized by the internal stabilizer.

The range of the measured current is primarily determined by the permissible
power loss on the internal load resistor. The power loss is calculated as the
square of the current (calculated with a resistor value of 1 ohm). If you equip
the PidiMet with a 0.6W resistor, you can measure currents up to 0.75A
(0.75*0.75=0.56W). If you use a 2W resistor, you can measure currents up to
1.4A (1.4*1.4=1.96W). Measure higher currents only for a short time. A heavy
load can cause the resistor to overheat and burn out. The theoretical upper
limit is the supply voltage - the voltage across the measured resistor must not
exceed the supply voltage. Negative current cannot be measured - in this case,
the display will show 0A and there is a risk of damage to the PidiMet.

The accuracy of current measurement is approximately 5%. It is affected by
inaccuracies of the ADC converter, inaccuracies of the internal voltage
reference, and inaccuracies of the reference resistor. The minimum measurable
current is 1mA. The absolute measurement error is 3mA.

When measuring small currents, it may be necessary to perform "taring". The ADC
converter may exhibit deviations, manifested by the indication of a small
current even when the wires are disconnected. Short-circuit the measuring wire
"I" to ground "GND". Press the HOLD button - PidiMet will remember the current
value of the current, and this value will be subtracted from the measured
value. The current "tare" value will be displayed on the bottom row of the
display - this is to check whether taring has been performed or not. After
turning off PidiMet, taring will return to the default value of 0A.

Taring can also be used to memorize the reference current. If you press HOLD
during measurement, the current measured value will be used as a reference
value and the next current will be displayed relative to this reference current
level. This may also display a negative current value - but be careful not to
confuse this with a negative input current, it is only a correction of the
displayed data.


3 P Power Meter
Circuit power consumption measurement. Both inputs are used for power
consumption measurement - voltage measurement (inputs "15 U1" or "13 U2") and
current measurement (input "16 I"). Power consumption is measured for 500 ms -
the current measured voltage and current values are multiplied together, with a
time step of approximately 400 µs. This allows the actual power consumption to
be measured even when the voltage and current phases are different. However,
the measurement can only be used within the ranges given by the voltage and
current measurements, as described in modes "1 U" and "2 I" - typically
positive voltage up to 3V (U1) or 30V (U2) and current up to 1A (input I).

During measurement, the current power consumption of the measured circuit in
watts is displayed on the first row. The accumulated energy in watt-hours is
displayed on the second row. The energy increases gradually over time. After
each 500 ms measurement cycle, the current data is displayed. No measurement
takes place during display operation - after the display ends, the energy
consumed during the display time is calculated using the last known value. You
can reset the energy consumption data by short pressing the HOLD button.

The selection of input U1 or U2 is not made on this page for power measurement,
but on the voltage measurement page "1 U". When measuring power, connect the
measured voltage to input U1 or U2 (depending on the required range) and
connect the current to input I. Again, note that the current is measured
against ground GND. Switch to the "1 U" page, select the U1 or U2 range, and
check visually the measured voltage. Switch to the "2 I" page and check the
measured current. Finally, switch to the "3 P" page, where the measurement
takes place.

The power measurement does not use the taring values selected on pages "1 U"
and "2 I". It uses its own taring. If you observe that some power is being
measured even though the current or voltage is zero, it is probably necessary
to perform taring. Disconnect the voltage measurement cable and short-circuit
the current measurement input to ground. Press and hold the HOLD button (for
at least 1/2 second). Taring will be performed - the current power consumption
value will be recorded and subtracted from the measured data.

The measurement error depends on the conditions specified on pages "1 U" and
"2 I". The minimum measurable power is 1uW (input U1) or 10uW (input U2).


4 CH Charging Meter
Current consumption measurement. When measuring current consumption, the
"16 I" input is used similarly to the "2 I" current measurement page, with
the same limitation - only positive current can be measured, it is measured
against GND ground, and the current can be a maximum of approximately 1A.
However, it is necessary to expect a lower current, because prolonged loading
can cause overheating and destruction of the 1 ohm reference resistor in the
PidiMet.

During measurement, the current is displayed on the first row. The
accumulated consumed current in ampere-hours is displayed on the second row.
The consumed current gradually increases. After each 500 ms measurement cycle,
the current data is displayed. No measurement takes place during display
operation - after the display ends, the current consumed during the display
time is calculated using the last known value. You can reset the current
consumption data by short pressing the HOLD button.

When measuring current, taring is performed together with the current
measurement page. Taring may be necessary due to ADC converter deviations.
You can perform taring on the "2 I" current measurement page or on this page.
Connect the "I" input to ground "GND" and press and hold the HOLD button (for
at least 1/2 second). Taring will be performed - the current value of the
current will be recorded, which will be subtracted from the measured data.
The current "tare" value is shown on the bottom row of the display.


5 R Resistance Meter
Resistor value measurement. Five internal reference resistors with values
ranging from 220 to 2M2 are used to measure the resistor value. The measured
resistor is connected between pin "20 R/C" and ground GND. A test current is
applied to the measured resistor using the reference resistors. The voltage
across the resistor is measured using an ADC converter. Resistors in the range
of 0.1 ohms to 100 Mohms can be measured, with a resolution of 0.1 ohms. The
measurement accuracy is typically 5%. Among other things, it depends on the
reference resistors - they should therefore have an accuracy of at least 1%,
or even 0.1%. At the ends of the range, below 10 ohms and above 10 Mohms, a
deterioration in accuracy of more than 5% must be expected.

The resistor meter can also be used to test LEDs - in the forward direction,
the LED flashes at a rate of approximately 2 Hz and the PidiMet shows a lower
measured resistance than in the reverse direction. Similarly, the polarity of
the diodes can also be tested - the measuring pin "20 R/C" has positive
polarity of the test voltage.

The pins otherwise used for programming the processor are also used to control
the reference resistors. If you are using a programmer, disconnect it during
the measurement of resistors and capacitors, otherwise the measured data will
be distorted. Another consequence is that the processor cannot be reprogrammed
by the programmer if the page selected is for measuring resistors or
capacitors. It is necessary to switch to another page to enable programming.

When measuring small resistance values, it may be necessary to perform
"taring". The ADC converter may exhibit deviations, manifested by the
indication of low resistance even when the wires are short-circuited. In
addition, the resistance of the measuring wires used also has an effect.
Short-circuit the "R/C" measuring wire to ground "GND". Press the HOLD button
- PidiMet will remember the current resistance value and subtract this value
from the measured value. The current "tare" value is shown on the bottom row of
the display - this is to check whether taring has been performed or not. After
turning off PidiMet, taring returns to the default value of 0.1 ohms.

Taring can also be used to memorize the reference resistance. If you press HOLD
during measurement, the current measured value will be used as the reference
value and the next value will be displayed relative to this reference
resistance level. This means that a negative resistance value can also be
displayed.


6 C Capacitance Meter
Capacitance and ESR measurement of capacitors. When measuring capacitors,
5 internal reference resistors with values ranging from 220 to 2M2 are used,
similar to resistor measurement. The measured capacitor is connected between
pin "20 R/C" and ground GND. A test current is applied to the measured
capacitor using reference resistors. The voltage across the capacitor is
measured using an ADC converter. Both the charging and discharging
characteristics of the capacitor are measured. The capacitor value is
calculated from the measured curves using logarithmic regression. The measured
capacitance value is displayed in the middle row of the display. The ESR value
is determined by measuring the step change in voltage after applying the
charging current to the capacitor. The ESR value is displayed in the top row
of the display.

When measuring capacitors, be careful not to connect a capacitor charged with
a higher voltage, which could damage the PidiMet.

Capacitors can be measured in the range from 1 pF (assuming zero calibration)
to 4 mF, with a resolution of 1 pF. The measurement accuracy is typically 10%.
ESR is measured in the range from 0.1 ohms to 100 ohms. ESR measurement is only
indicative and very inaccurate - it is used only for a basic assessment of the
quality of the capacitor; the measured value cannot be taken as a reference
value.

The pins otherwise used for programming the processor are also used to control
the reference resistors. If you are using a programmer, disconnect it during
the measurement of resistors and capacitors, otherwise the measured data will
be distorted. Another consequence is that the processor cannot be reprogrammed
by the programmer if the page selected is for measuring resistors or
capacitors. It is necessary to switch to another page to enable programming.

When measuring small capacities, it may be necessary to perform "taring". The
ADC converter may exhibit deviations, manifested by the indication of a small
capacity even when the wires are disconnected. In addition, the capacity of the
measuring wires used also has an effect. Disconnect the "R/C" measuring wire.
Press the HOLD button - PidiMet will remember the current capacity value and
subtract this value from the measured value. The current "tare" value is shown
on the bottom row of the display - this is to check whether taring has been
performed or not. After turning off the PidiMet, taring returns to the default
value of 40 pF. The ESR value does not have taring.

Taring can also be used to memorize the reference capacity. If you press HOLD
during measurement, the current measured value will be used as the reference
value and the next value will be displayed relative to this reference capacity
level. This means that a negative capacity value can also be displayed.


7 L Inductance Meter
Measuring coil inductance. An oscillator with an LM311D comparator is used to
measure the coils. The coil being measured is connected between pin "18 L" and
ground "GND". The oscillator oscillates at a frequency given by a parallel
reference capacitor of 1nF and a series reference coil of 68uH. The processor
measures the generated frequency and calculates the inductance of the coil from
it.

The lowest measurable inductance is 100nH (assuming zero tare calibration). The
resolution of the data is 10nH. The relative error is approximately 10% and
depends primarily on the accuracy of the 1nF reference capacitor. The absolute
error is 50nH. The upper limit of measurable inductance is unknown - during
testing, the oscillator oscillated reliably even at an inductance of 20H.

The 68uH reference coil is connected in series with the measured coil and
serves to limit the upper frequency of the oscillator so that the oscillator
operates in a stable range. When measuring, it is necessary to subtract the
inductance of the reference coil from the measured data. The value of the
reference coil does not have to be accurate, but it may be necessary to perform
zero calibration more often than with other measurements when measuring coils.

When taring, connect the "L" measuring wire to the "GND" ground and press the
HOLD button. PidiMet will remember the current inductance value and subtract
this value from the measured value. The current "tare" value will be displayed
on the bottom line of the display - this is to check whether taring has been
performed or not. After turning off the PidiMet, taring will return to the
default value of 68 uH.

Taring can also be used to memorize reference inductance. If you press HOLD
during measurement, the current measured value will be used as a reference
value and the next value will be displayed relative to this reference
inductance level. This means that negative inductance values can also be
displayed.


8 OSC Oscilloscope
The "8 OSC" page is a simple oscilloscope. Despite its simplicity, it can be
very useful for amateur practice. You can use 1-channel, 2-channel, and XY
display modes. The input signal can be DC (positive only) or AC. In 1-channel
mode, the input signal is fed either to input "10 IN1" or to input "12 OSC1".
The IN1 input is a DC input. The input voltage must be in the range of 0 to
VDD. The display does not show the specific voltage value, but the voltage
range relative to the supply voltage. If the input voltage is VDD, it is
displayed at the top of the curve. The OSC1 input is connected to the IN1
input via a 100nF capacitor. Using the artificial center of the supply voltage
from two 470K resistors, it is possible to display an AC voltage signal in the
range of -VDD/2 to +VDD/2. The same applies to the second channel of the
oscilloscope - either the "11 IN2" input can be used for a positive DC signal,
or the "14 OSC2" input for an AC signal. The OSC1 and OSC2 inputs are the only
cases where a negative voltage (within the permitted range) can be applied to
the PidiMet.

The oscilloscope input loads the measured circuit with an impedance of 220kohm.
For DC inputs IN1 and IN2, it is necessary to take into account that the input
circuit contains a voltage divider to create an artificial center. Therefore,
when unloaded, the voltage at inputs IN1 and IN2 will be equal to half the
supply voltage. The measured circuit should have a sufficiently low impedance
so that it is not affected by the voltage divider.

The FAST and SLOW buttons switch the oscilloscope time base and oscilloscope
mode (1 channel, 2 channels, and XY mode). A dashed line is displayed in the
middle of the channel on the display, representing the zero point of the AC
signal or half the voltage of the DC signal. There are 5 marks on the zero
axis, indicating the time scale interval. The time scale can be switched
between 10us, 30us, 100us, 300us, 1ms, 3ms, 10ms, 30ms, and 100ms. At a scale
of 10 µs, the total displayed time is 42.7 µs. At a scale of 100 ms, the total
displayed time is 427 ms. In the fastest 10us mode, the signal is sampled at a
frequency of 3Msps. In two-channel mode and XY mode, the upper sampling rate is
limited, and therefore in these modes the first two fastest modes have times of
20us and 40us (instead of 10us and 30us).

Unlike analog oscilloscopes, switching speeds is also important in XY mode. The
selected speed determines both the signal sampling rate and the time during
which the signal is sampled. If the speed is too high, only a short section of
the curve will be displayed. If the speed is too low, many curves will be
displayed on top of each other. At very low speeds, only segmented lines are
displayed instead of a curve.

In XY mode, the first channel IN1/OSC1 controls the horizontal axis, while the
second channel IN2/OSC2 controls the vertical axis. The image is stretched
across the entire display area. If both input signals are in the range of 0 to
VDD, a curve measuring 128x48 pixels is displayed (i.e., stretched sideways).

A short press of the HOLD button stops the display from redrawing. This is
particularly useful in the case of an unstable signal, making it easier to
examine the displayed waveform. Holding down the HOLD button for at least 1/2
second switches to AUTO mode, i.e., automatic synchronization of the start of
the curve. When automatic synchronization is turned off, only the most
necessary short section of data is recorded and immediately displayed. This
FREE mode is used for quick redrawing of the display. When automatic mode is
turned on, a section of the signal 2x to 4x longer than the display is loaded.
After the data is recorded, the recorded curve is searched. The steepest point
is searched for (through a longer interval - integration with "prefix sum" is
used), with preference given to the curve passing through the center (zero).

Note: Input U2 is physically located between signals OSC1 and OSC2 on the EXT
connector. This is for safety reasons. The OSC1 and OSC2 inputs are equipped
with 100nF capacitors, which protect the processor in the event of accidental
contact between the U2 high-voltage wires and adjacent connector pins. For this
reason, the capacitors on the OSC1 and OSC2 inputs should be rated for a
sufficiently high voltage (100V).


9 LA Logic Analyzer
The logic analyzer allows you to display digital signals in one or two input
channels. In single-channel mode, the input signal is fed to input "10 IN1".
In dual-channel mode, the second signal is fed to input "11 IN2". In
single-channel mode, the signal is displayed divided into 8 lines. There are
16 marks on each line. Each mark represents one time interval. The total
duration of the displayed signal corresponds to 128 marks.

The FAST and SLOW buttons switch between one or two channels and between time
bases of 1us, 10us, 100us, 1ms, and 10ms, representing the length of one
segment (1 time mark). In 1us mode, the total time of the displayed interval
is 128us. In 10ms mode, the entire time interval representing 1.28 seconds is
displayed. In two-channel mode, the channels are displayed in pairs of
timelines. Each displayed channel is thus only 64 time stamps long. This means
that at a speed of 1us, the displayed interval is 64us, and at a speed of 10ms,
the displayed interval is 640ms. In the fastest mode, the sampling rate is
8 MHz.

A short press of the HOLD button stops the display from redrawing, allowing you
to view the signals. A long press of the HOLD button (for at least 1/2 second)
activates AUTO mode. In this state, the analyzer waits for a change in the
signal state in channel 1 (also valid for two-channel mode). When an edge
arrives, the signal begins to be recorded. When the buffer is full, recording
stops and the analyzer enters HOLD mode, displaying the recorded signal.
Pressing the HOLD button shortly returns to FREE mode, where the signal is
constantly redrawn, or pressing it long activates a new start with AUTO.


10 GEN Frequency Generator
The frequency generator generates a digital signal at the "9 GEN" output.
The SLOW and FAST buttons are used to switch frequencies. The HOLD button is
used to switch between frequency sets. The first set, labeled "Frequency", is
a set of frequencies with a decimal base: 1 Hz, 2 Hz, 3 Hz, ... 12 MHz, 16 MHz,
24 MHz, 48 MHz. The highest frequency of 48 MHz is obtained by directly
connecting the system clock to the output pin.

Please note possible instability - in some cases, the prototype exhibited
instability at higher frequencies, manifested by the processor freezing. With
a 3.3V power supply, there was sometimes a problem with the 48 MHz frequency,
while with a 5V power supply, the 24 MHz and 48 MHz frequencies sometimes
caused problems. The reason could be an incorrect PCB design, where higher
frequencies can be induced into the free pins of the processor - it seemed that
the oscillation of the crystal oscillator was being disrupted. If you are
skilled at designing PCBs, I recommend using your own design.

The second frequency set, labeled "Note", generates frequencies in musical
tones. Tones are generated in a range of 10 octaves, from C0 to B9. This
corresponds to a frequency range of 16.3516 Hz to 15804.3 Hz.
 

11 PWM Function Generator
The function generator generates analog signals at the "8 PWM" output. The
SLOW and FAST buttons switch the frequency. The HOLD button switches both the
frequency set and the signal shape - sine, triangle, and sawtooth. The first
set, labeled "Frequency", is a set of frequencies with a decimal base: 1 Hz,
2 Hz, 3 Hz, ... 10 kHz, 15 kHz, 20 kHz, 30 kHz. The second frequency set,
labeled "Note", generates frequencies in musical tones. Tones are generated in
a range of 10 octaves, from C0 to B9. This corresponds to a frequency range of
16.3516 Hz to 15804.3 Hz.

PWM modulation is used to generate the signal. The basic carrier frequency of
PWM is 375 kHz. The PWM cycle is 128 cycles of the 48 MHz system clock. The PWM
output passes through an RC filter consisting of a 470 ohm resistor and a 22nF
capacitor. The RC filter filters out the carrier frequency of the PWM
modulation. This is a simple low-pass filter, so its imperfection must be taken
into account - the carrier frequency still appears in the generated signal,
with an amplitude of about 5%, and at generated frequencies of 10 kHz and
above, amplitude attenuation already occurs - the 30 kHz frequency is already
attenuated to about 50%. The generated signal can only be used for rough
testing; it is definitely not suitable for testing the quality of an audio
transmission system.


12 DAC Voltage Regulator
The voltage regulator is used to control the output voltage. The regulated
voltage output is connected to pin "8 PWM". The SLOW and FAST buttons are used
to select the output voltage level in the range of 0 to 100%. The output
voltage ranges from 0V to the maximum supply voltage VDD. PWM modulation is
used to generate the output voltage, with carrier frequency filtering via an
RC filter.

The HOLD button switches the carrier frequency. You can select a carrier
frequency of 480kHz, 1kHz, or 50Hz. At a carrier frequency of 480kHz, the
carrier frequency is almost completely filtered out - the carrier frequency
manifests itself in the voltage only as slight noise. It can therefore be used
where a continuously adjustable analog voltage is required. The 1kHz carrier
frequency is suitable for motor control, for example. The carrier frequency is
no longer suppressed by the RC filter; the output has a rectangular shape with
adjustable width. With motors, however, be careful of reverse surges from the
coils to avoid damaging the processor.

The third option, 50 Hz, is suitable, for example, for controlling dimmers or
regulating LED lighting. Another possible use is testing RC model servos. At a
frequency of 50 Hz, the signal period is 20 ms. You can obtain the neutral
position of the servo (1.5 ms) by setting the DAC to 7 or 8%. The first end
position of the servo (0.5 to 1 ms) can be set by selecting 2 to 5%. The second
end position of the servo (2 to 2.5 ms) can be obtained by setting the DAC to
10 to 13%.


13 FT Frequency Meter
Frequency and period measurement. This mode is used to measure the frequency
and period of a digital signal fed to the "10 IN1" input. Frequencies up to
24 MHz can be measured. The lower frequency limit is not specified - it depends
on the measurement time. PidiMet needs to see two signal edges to measure slow
frequencies, which means that with very slow signals, the measured value may
only be displayed after a while.

The measured frequency is displayed on the first row of the display, and the
signal period - calculated as the reciprocal of the frequency - is displayed on
the second row. The accuracy of the frequency measurement depends primarily on
the frequency of the crystal used. The measured data is displayed to 6 valid
digits. Common crystals have an accuracy of approximately 50 ppm (which is
0.005%). This can result in an error in the last 2 digits of the measured data.

If the crystal does not work (an error message appears at startup) or if you do
not install the crystal at all, the internal 48 MHz HSI oscillator is used,
which has a frequency accuracy of around 1%. In this case, you must expect
significantly poorer accuracy of the measured data.


14 FFT Spectrum Analyzer
The spectrum analyzer is used to display the spectrum of the analog signal fed
to input "10 IN1". The spectrum is displayed in 16 bands with logarithmic
frequency distribution in the range of 16 Hz to 16 kHz. Second-order IIR biquad
filters with Q=10 are used for signal analysis. The ADC sampling frequency is
44100 Hz. The display refresh rate is 22 FPS. The displayed graphs use attack
and decay filtering (fast rise and slow fall).

The FAST and SLOW buttons switch between display modes - "smooth bars",
"curve line" and "peak bars". In "smooth bars" mode, 16 columns with smooth
height are displayed. In "curve line" mode, a curve is displayed. In
"peak bars" mode, columns divided into segments are displayed. This last mode
also supports "peaks" - indications of the maximum position reached by the
column.

The HOLD button can be used to temporarily pause changes in the graph.


15 CNT Counter
The counter counts the rising edges of the digital signal fed to the "10 IN1"
input. Signal pulses with frequencies up to 24 MHz can be counted. Pulse
counting takes place on the top row of the display. Press the SLOW button to
record the current counter status in the bottom row. The FAST button
temporarily pauses the update of the data in the top row to make it easier to
read. Meanwhile, the counter continues to count. The display update is resumed
by pressing the FAST button again. The HOLD button resets the counter and the
displayed data.


16 TIM Timer
The timer measures elapsed time. It is not connected to any external signal.
It is the only process that runs in PidiMet throughout the entire power-on
period. Its time corresponds to the time elapsed since power-on. Press the
SLOW button to record the current status of the time counter in the bottom row.
The FAST button temporarily pauses the update of the data in the upper row to
make it easier to read. Meanwhile, the time counter continues to count. The
display update is resumed by pressing the FAST button again. The HOLD button
resets both the time counter and the displayed data.


17 TG Time Gate
The time gate measures the time keyed by the level of the input digital signal
on pin "10 IN1". The first row counts the time when the input signal is at the
HIGH level. The second row counts the time when the input signal is at the LOW
level. The input signal is sampled at a frequency of 100kHz, with intervals of
10us. The timers overflow after 11 hours and 55 minutes. The HOLD button pauses
the display update - but the counters continue to run in the meantime. The SLOW
button resets the counters and the displayed values.


18 DUT Duty Cycle
Signal duty cycle measurement. This function measures the ratio of the pulse
width of the HIGH level of the digital signal fed to the "10 IN1" input to the
signal period. The first row shows the signal duty cycle in percent, the second
row shows the approximate signal frequency. Signals with frequencies from 4Hz
to 400kHz can be measured. However, for frequencies around 400kHz, it is
necessary to take into account that these frequencies are at the limit of this
measurement mode's capabilities. It may happen that at high signal frequencies,
the interrupt handler becomes overloaded, causing the program to be unable to
service the main program loop. In this case, the watchdog will reset the
PidiMet after 3 seconds of inactivity. It is also necessary to take into
account that in the case of high frequencies, or if the signal source is "soft"
(has high output impedance), signal edge distortion may occur, which will
result in inaccurate measurements.


19 COM UART Communication
Communication via UART. The "COM" page is used to test communication via the
UART (or USART) serial port. Transmitted data is fed to pin "6 TX/SCL" - the
receiving pin "RX" of the opposite device is connected to this pin. Data is
received on pin "5 RX/SDA" - the transmit pin "TX" of the opposite device is
connected to this pin. The signal levels must correspond to the selected supply
voltage (3.3V or 5V). Do not connect an RS232 interface that uses 12V directly
to the pins, as this could damage the PidiMet processor. In the simplest case,
you can interconnect pins "6 TX" and "5 RX" - this allows you to monitor your
own data transmitted to the transmission line.

During the test, test samples containing the text "Test" and a number that is
incremented sequentially are sent to the TX transmit pin. The samples are sent
at 1-second intervals. The data received from the RX receive pin is displayed
on the screen. The program interprets the control codes CR (reset the display
position to the beginning of the current row) and LF (move to the beginning of
the next row). Other data is displayed as valid characters. Characters with a
code of 128 and above are displayed as inverted characters.

Communication uses the UART protocol with default settings - word length 8
bits, no parity, 1 stop bit. Only the transmission speed can be selected using
the FAST and SLOW buttons in the range from 900 baud to 3 Mbaud. The output to
the display is not in real time - if a large amount of data arrives at the
receiver, the program processes it all and displays the final content on the
screen. This mode can also be used as a terminal to display serial data from
devices with high transmission speeds.

A short press of the HOLD button stops the display from updating to make it
easier to read the data on the display. Communication continues during this
time - when the displaying is restored by pressing the HOLD button again, the
new current display content is shown. Pressing and holding the HOLD button (for
at least 1/2 second) clears the display content and resets the transmitted data
counter.


20 I2C Scanner
I2C address scanner. The I2C scanner is used to detect the addresses of
devices connected to the I2C bus. The SDA signal of the I2C bus is connected
to pin "5 RX/SDA", and the SCL signal of the I2C bus is connected to pin
"6 TX/SCL". Communication via the I2C bus takes place in open collector mode,
with a pull-up resistor of approximately 45 kOhm. The voltage corresponds to
the selected supply voltage - be careful not to damage devices that only
support 3.3V by connecting them to a 5V bus.

Detection is performed by monitoring the ACK signal confirmation during a
connection request. If you see a large number of devices detected (addresses
0x01, 0x02, etc.), this indicates a short circuit of the SDA signal to ground.


21 NG Noise Generator
The noise generator generates a digital signal with random LOW and HIGH pulse
widths on the "7 GEN" output pin. The SLOW and FAST buttons can be used to
select the range of generated pulse widths from 2us to 50ms. The HOLD button
can be used to select whether the SLOW/FAST buttons set the upper or lower
limit of the generated pulse range. If the minimum value is higher than the
maximum, the program will swap the values. The first row of the display shows
the currently set limits of the generated pulses. The middle row shows the
corresponding center frequency as it would be detected by a frequency meter
with a long measurement time. The bottom row shows the setting mode, whether
the minimum (first limit) or maximum (second limit) of the generated pulses
is being set. It is not possible to set both limits to 2us - the program would
not be able to generate pulses fast enough.


22 NA Noise Analog
Analog noise generator. The analog noise generator generates an analog signal
on the "8 PWM" output pin, using PWM modulation with a modulation frequency of
240 kHz. This is not real noise, but a voltage with a randomly varying value,
suitable for testing the response of the device to a variable input.
A pseudo-random sequence of levels is generated in a buffer of 2048 entries
using Perlin noise with 11 octaves.

The SLOW and FAST keys can be used to select the playback speed of the sample
buffer, thereby selecting both the lowest voltage oscillation period and the
proportion of the highest harmonic components. The playback speed is
determined by the time of one buffer playback in the range of 17 seconds to
17 ms.


23 PH Pulse Histogram
The pulse histogram is similar to a spectrum analyzer for digital signals. The
input digital signal is fed to the "10 IN1" input. Two graphs (histograms) are
displayed on the screen. The upper histogram represents the number of pulses
with a HIGH level. The lower histogram represents the number of pulses with a
LOW level. The horizontal axis represents pulse lengths on a logarithmic scale.
The axis has marks representing pulse lengths of 10us, 100us, 1ms, 10ms, and
100ms. Between the marks, there are also shorter marks representing pulse
lengths of 5us, 50us, 500us, 5ms, and 50ms. The HOLD button resets the
histograms.

Pulse lengths are measured with a minimum resolution of 2 µs. For this reason,
values of 10 µs and below may not be accurate, as pulses may also appear at
adjacent positions. The longest measurable length is 131 ms. The program does
not check for pulse length overflow - in such a case, an undetectable long
pulse may appear anywhere randomly on the timeline.


24 REP Repeater
The repeater is used to record a section of a digital signal and repeat it.
The recorded input digital signal is fed to pin "10 IN1". The reproduced output
signal is on pin "7 GEN". A buffer with a length of 2048 samples is used for
recording. One sample represents the length of the HIGH or LOW pulse level in
the range of 10us to 100ms. For example, if you record a signal with a
frequency of 1 kHz, the recording will take approximately 1 second and each
sample will contain a pulse length of 500us. Recording a signal with a
frequency of 50 Hz can take up to 20 seconds.

Press the FAST button to start recording. The input signal must have LOW and
HIGH pulses in the range of 10us to 100ms - this information is displayed on
the first line of the display. The program does not check for pulse length
overflow. If a pulse length overflows, it may have a random length during
reproduction (as a modulo operation with a maximum interval of 131 ms).
Recording begins when the first signal edge arrives. The program records the
initial steady state of the input and later sets this state as the default
state for the output as well.

The time between pressing the FAST button and the first edge of the signal is
stored as the length of the first pulse, and this length is also used during
playback. Again, no overflow check is performed - this means that signal
playback may start with a delay of up to 100 ms after pressing the play button.
During signal recording, the buffer fill counter is incremented in percent on
the display. Recording ends either when the buffer is full or when any of the
buttons is pressed.

Press the SLOW button to start playback of the recorded signal. The middle row
of the display shows the percentage of the recording that has been played back.
Playback ends either when all data has been played back or when any button is
pressed. Before playback, the output is set to the same LOW or HIGH signal
level as was present at the input at the start of recording.

The HOLD button starts repeated playback of the recorded signal. The function
is similar to single playback of the recording, with the difference that
playback is automatically repeated after a delay of 50 to 150 ms.


25 BAT Battery
The BAT page displays the current value of the PidiMet power supply voltage.
The accuracy of the voltage measurement depends primarily on the accuracy of
the processor's internal reference, which is typically around 1%. The battery
value is also displayed on the start screen when the PidiMet is powered on - to
check what voltage the PidiMet is powered by, as this also determines, for
example, what voltage levels of the tested device can be worked with.
 

Connector
=========
All necessary PidiMet measurement signals are connected to an external
connector - a 20-pin pin header. Measurement cables are connected by replacing
the adapter for the external connector. Description of connector pins:


1 VDD ... PidiMet power supply voltage. When connecting PidiMet to USB power,
          voltage can also be drawn from this pin for the tested device. The
          voltage level can be selected using the "USB Power" jumper, either
          3.3V or 5V. If USB power is not used, PidiMet can be powered via this
          pin from an external source or directly from the tested device.

2 GND ... Ground.

3 SWIO ... Data programming input. Used to program the processor with a
           programmer. Internally, this signal is also used to control resistor
           R5 when measuring resistors and capacitors. For this reason, the
           processor cannot be programmed when the page for measuring resistors
           or capacitors is selected.

4 SWCLK ... Clock programming input. Can be used to program the processor in
            2-wire mode. However, it is not necessary to use it, as the
            processor also allows programming in 1-wire mode. Internally, this
            signal is also used to control resistor R4 when measuring resistors
            and capacitors. For this reason, the processor cannot be programmed
            when the page for measuring resistors or capacitors is selected.

5 RX/SDA ... USART RX serial data input for page "19 COM", I2C SDA data line
             for page "20 I2C".

6 TX/SCL ... USART TX serial data output for page "19 COM", I2C SCL clock line
             for page "20 I2C".

7 GEN ... Digital signal output for pages "10 GEN", "21 NG", and "24 REP".

8 PWM/DAC ... Analog signal output (via RC filter) for pages "11 PWM",
              "12 DAC", and "22 NA".

9 GND ... Ground.

10 IN1 ... Digital and analog signal inputs for pages "8 OSC" channel 1 DC,
           "9 LA" channel 1, "13 FT", "14 FFT", "15 CNT", "17 TG", "18 DUT",
           "23 PH" and "24 REP".

11 IN2 ... Digital and analog signal inputs for pages "8 OSC" channel 2 DC and
           "9 LA" channel 2.

12 OSC1 ... Analog signal input for page "8 OSC" channel 1 AC.

13 U2 ... Voltage measurement input in the range of 0..30V (or 0..11*VDD) for
          page "1 U". The input has an impedance of 2.2 Mohms. This pin is
          intentionally located between pins "12 OSC1" and "14 OSC2" because
          these pins are separated by 100nF capacitors and can thus serve as
          protection for the processor against high voltage breakdown in the
          event of unwanted contact between the wire and the adjacent pin.

14 OSC2 ... Analog signal input for page "8 OSC" channel 2 AC.

15 U1 ... Voltage measurement input in the range of 0..3V (or 0..VDD) for page
          "1 U". The input has an input impedance of 220 kOhm.

16 I ... Current measurement input for page "2 I". It is recommended to use pin
         "17 GND" as the second pole of the current measurement, which is
         connected by a reinforced conductor to a 1 ohm reference resistor.

17 GND ... Ground.

18 L ... Coil measurements for page "7 L".

19 GND ... Ground.

20 R/C ... Measuring resistors and capacitors for pages "5 R" and "6 C".
 

Wiring diagram and construction
===============================
The PidiMet multimeter is controlled by an cheap Chinese processor
CH32V006E8R6.

The display used is a 0.96" OLED I2C display with an SSD1306 controller and a
resolution of 128x64, powered by 3 to 5V. I recommend using a two-color display
with 16 yellow lines and 48 blue lines, for which the software was designed.
You can find the display here, for example:
https://www.hadex.cz/m508c-displej-oled-096-128x64-znaku-iici2c-4piny-modrozluty/.

The processor is controlled by a 24 MHz crystal. If you do not require precise
timing functions (frequency generator, frequency meter), you can omit the
crystal and the corresponding capacitors C2 and C3. In this case, the processor
will use the internal HSI clock source, which has a frequency accuracy of
around 1%.

An oscillator with an LM311D comparator is used to measure the coils.
A reference capacitor C1 with a capacity of 1nF is connected in parallel to the
measured inductance. Use a foil capacitor, which is more stable and accurate
than a ceramic capacitor. The accuracy of the coil measurement depends on the
accuracy of the reference capacitor - therefore, use the most accurate
capacitor possible, at least 5%. An auxiliary coil L1 68uH is connected in
series to the measured coil. This coil serves to limit the upper frequency
limit of the oscillator. Its value is subtracted from the measured value. The
value of the auxiliary coil does not have to be accurate - its value is
corrected during measurement taring (zeroing). If you do not require coil
measurement, you can omit the entire circuit marked "Optional L-oscillator".

Resistors R1 to R5 are used to measure resistors and capacitors. Use accurate
resistors if possible, with an accuracy of 0.1% or at least 1%. The accuracy of
the measurement of resistors and capacitors depends on their accuracy.

Resistor R6 has a value of 1 ohm and is used to measure current. It should have
the highest possible accuracy, 0.1% or at least 1%, because the accuracy of the
current measurement depends on its accuracy. In addition, it should also be
dimensioned for sufficient power loss. If you use a 0.6W resistor, it will be
possible to measure currents up to 0.75A. With a 2W resistor, it will be
possible to measure currents of 1A.

Resistors R7 and R8 are part of the voltage divider when measuring voltages up
to 30V via pin U2. Again, use the most accurate ones possible, as their
accuracy determines the accuracy of voltage measurements in the 30V range.

The OSC1 and OSC2 inputs are equipped with 100nF capacitors, allowing AC
voltage to be displayed on an oscilloscope. In addition, they have an
auxiliary function - they protect the processor from high voltage if the U2
input conductor accidentally comes into contact with adjacent connector pins.
Therefore, these capacitors should be rated for a higher voltage, e.g., 100V.

Two positions are reserved for the display on the printed circuit board,
differing in the order of the VDD and GND signals. The recommended OLED display
has a GND-VCC pin order, so it is placed in the lower position. A front cover
with labels is also prepared for the same position. Some OLED displays have a
VCC-GND pin order and must therefore be placed in the upper position. There is
no front cover for the upper position - the display cutout must be moved.

When assembling the printed circuit board, first install the USB power supply
section, i.e., the USB connector and HT7533 stabilizer. Pay close attention to
the pin order for the stabilizer, as different manufacturers use different pin
orders for this stabilizer. Even retailers may sometimes provide a datasheet
from another manufacturer and therefore with the wrong pin order. Therefore,
first install the USB power supply part and check the voltage - the voltage
must be 5V before the stabilizer and 3.3V after the stabilizer. If this is not
the case, the stabilizer is probably soldered in the wrong direction.

I recommend using the printed circuit board shown here only if you have no
other option with a better design. The purpose of this design was to create a
prototype for the possibility of programming PidiMet. However, the design is
adapted to the fact that I manufacture printed circuit boards at home using a
photochemical process - i.e., unnecessary through-holes and wiring are used,
which would not be the case with a professional double-sided PCB. Probably due
to poor design, there is also an error - sensitivity to high frequencies, such
as occasional processor freezing when generating 24 and 48 MHz with a 5V power
supply.

Schematics and printed circuit boards are in Eagle 9.2.0 Free format.