How to count GPIO pin (Raising/Falling) with Timer Counter through PPI

In this blog, I would like to show an example how to count the number of raising / falling edge on particular GPIO pin without running the MCU.

For example, we need to count how many pulse from the MCU through GPIO.

By using the GPIOTE and Timer Counter Mode through PPI, it can count without the MCU involve.

GPIOTE — GPIO tasks and events

The GPIO tasks and events (GPIOTE) module provides functionality for accessing GPIO pins using tasks and events. Each GPIOTE channel can be assigned to one pin.

A GPIOTE block enables GPIOs to generate events on pin state change which can be used to carry out tasks through the PPI system. A GPIO can also be driven to change state on system events using the PPI system. Low power detection of pin state changes is possible when in System ON or System OFF.

Up to three tasks can be used in each GPIOTE channel for performing write operations to a pin. Two tasks are fixed (SET and CLR), and one (OUT) is configurable to perform following operations:

Set
Clear
Toggle

An event can be generated in each GPIOTE channel from one of the following input conditions:

Rising edge
Falling edge
Any change

PPI — Programmable peripheral interconnect

The PPI allows precise synchronization between peripherals when real-time application constraints exist and eliminates the need for CPU activity to implement behavior which can be predefined using PPI.