Zero Cross Detect
Zero Cross Detect (ZCD) The ZCD module is a peripheral within select PIC® Microcontrollers, that can be used to
monitor when an A/C signal crosses through a zero cross detect threshold. It is connected to the designated ZCD
pin on the device through a current limiting series resistor.
The ZCD module is useful when monitoring an AC waveform for, but not limited to, the following purposes:
A/C period measurement
Accurate long term time measurement
Dimmer phase delayed drive
Low EMI cycle switching
On the PIC Microcontroller, the zero cross detect threshold is offset slightly from true zero volts. The actual zero
crossing threshold is defined in the electrical characteristics of the device data sheet as the ZCPINV value. This
value is the voltage level that sets the zero cross detection point. Any signal above that value will require the PIC®
MCU ZCD pin to sink current and any voltage below it will require the PIC® MCU ZCD pin to source current.
ZCD Output Operation
The ZCDOUT bit in the ZCDCON Register will switch between a logic zero and logic one setting when the ZCPINV
threshold is crossed. The output polarity may be changed through the ZCD control register setup but the main
output of the ZCD is a logical bit setting that can be monitored in software or trigger an interrupt.
Current Sink/Source
The ZCD relies on circuitry inside the ZCD module to either sink or source current to maintain the VCPINV voltage
at the I/O pin. This is key to understanding how to use the ZCD module and there are limitations on how much
current the ZCD module can sink or source.
When the external applied voltage is greater than the ZCPINV voltage, the ZCD module sinks current.
When the external applied voltage is less than the ZCPINV voltage, the ZCDmodule sources current.
The ZCD module is shown in the simplified block diagram below. The zero cross point voltage is set by the
comparator input which is shown here as the ZCPINV voltage.
ZCDxCON: Zero Cross Detection Control Register
All operations of the ZCD are controlled through the Zero Cross Detection Control Register (ZCDCON). It's through
bit settings in this register that the ZCD can be enabled and also the output indicator signals controlled.
Enabling ZCD
The ZCD module can be enabled in software by setting the Zero Cross Detect Enable (ZCDEN) bit in the Zero
Cross Detect Control (ZCDxCON) register. It can also be automatically enabled after a Power On Reset (POR) by
clearing the Zero Cross Detect Disable (ZCDDIS) bit in the Configuration register.
Selecting the Current Limiting Resistor
The ZCD module requires a current limiting resistor in series with the external voltage source. Its through this
current limiting resistor that the ZCD module applies a current source, or sink, to maintain a constant voltage on the
ZCD pin. The series resistance needs to be sized to limit the input current to 300 microamps (300 ua).
The resistance and rating of this series resistor depends on the external signal source peak voltage. Select a
resistor value that will drop all of the peak voltage when the current through the resistor is 300 uA. An example of
the resistor calculation is given below.
If a 240 Vpp sine wave signal is being detected;
(1)
SeriesResistor = 240/0.0003 = 800k
(2)
P owerRating = i2 ∗ r = (0.0003)2 ∗ 800k = 0.072watt(use1watt)
Logic Output
The ZCD can be monitored through a bit in the ZCDCON register. The bits is the ZCDxOUT bit and it will indicate if
the ZCD pin is sinking or sourcing current. The state of the bits can be controlled by the polarity bit ZCDxPOL in the
ZCDCON register.
If ZCDxPOL = 0 then:
ZCDxOUT = 1 when the ZCD pin is sinking current which means the input signal is higher than the the ZCD
threshold.
ZCDxOUT = 0 when the ZCD pin is sourcing current which means the input signal is lower than the ZCD threshold.
If ZCDxPOL = 1 then:
ZCDxOUT = 0 when the ZCD pin is sinking current which means the input signal is higher than the the ZCD
threshold.
ZCDxOUT = 1 when the ZCD pin is sourcing current which means the input signal is lower than the ZCD threshold.
Interrupts
The ZCD can trigger an interrupt to indicate that a zero cross has been detected. The Zero Cross Detect Interrupt
Flag (ZCDIF) in the Peripheral Interrupt Register 3 (PIR3) will be set to a one if a zero cross occurs.
Further, the interrupt circuitry can control what signal is indicated by the ZCDIF bit.
Rising and Falling Edge Interrupts
To only set the ZCDIF bit on a rising edge crossing then the ZCDxINTP bit in the ZCDxCON register is set to a one.
To only set the ZCDIF bit on the falling edge crossing then the ZCDxINTN bit that is set to a one in the ZCDxCON
register.
Setting both ZCDxINTP and ZCDxINTN bits will trigger an interrupt in either direction.
Interrupt Enable
The Zero Cross Detect Interrupt Enable (ZCDIE) bit must be set in the Peripheral Interrupt Enable 3 (PIE3) register
to enable ZCD interrupts. The Peripheral Interrupt Enable (PIE) and Global Interrupt Enable (GIE) bits must also be
set for the ZCD interrupts to work.
Correcting for ZCPINV offset
The ZCPINV threshold voltage prevents the zero cross from being detected at true zero volts. This can cause
detections that are too early or too late relative to the the true zero voltage crossing. This may be critical to low input
voltages such as 24 volts or less.To correct for this a pull-up resistor placed between the current limiting resistor and
the Zero Cross Input pin can erase the ZCPINV offset.
The formula for sizing that resistor is as follows:
(3)
Rpullup = Rseries(V pullup − ZCP I N V )/ZCP I N V
First we calculate the series resistance for the 24 Vpp sine wave:
(4)
Resistor = 24/0.0003 = 80k
Then calculate the Rpullup value using a ZCPINV value of 0.75v and pull-up resistor connection to a Vdd of 5v:
(5)
Rpullup = 80k(5v − 0.75v)/0.75v = 453.3kohms
Therefore, for this example a 453k 1% resistor works well.
Setting a Zero Cross Offset
For higher voltages there may be times when the cross indicator is actually desired at a higher voltage than zero.
This can be accomplished with a pull-down resistor. For example, consider a design where the input signal has a
peak voltage of 300 V. This would require a 1 meg ohm resistor to limit the current to the 300 ua the ZCD module
requires. The zero cross point will occur when the the input voltage at the ZCPINV voltage of 0.75 volts or near zero
relative to the 300v peak.
Now if a 7.5k resistor were added from the input pin to ground, the 7.5k resistor would require the ZCP module to
source current through the 7.5k resistor to maintain the 0.75 volts ZCPINV level. That current would be equal to:
(6)
0.75v/7.5k = 100ua
The input signal would need to supply that 100 ua extra current to balance out the ZCD input so it will not source or
sink current. When the input signal is at 100 volts, then the 1 meg resistor will limit the current to 100 ua thus
supplying the 100 ua for the 7.5k pull-down. The ZCD can consequently maintain the ZCPINV voltage without
sourcing or sinking current.
The pull-down resistor has shifted the zero cross point from near zero volts to near 100 volts thus offsetting the
zero cross detection point.
The same technique can be used to offset the zero cross detect point in the negative direction with a pull-up from
the ZCD pin and Vdd of the PIC MCU.
Sleep and Reset
Sleep
The ZCD input will still sink and source as normal and will trigger an interrupt during sleep mode.
Reset
A reset will disable the ZCD unless the ZCDDIS bit is cleared in the configuration register. If cleared the ZCD will
start operating after a POR. If this configuration bit is set, then the initialization software must set the ZCDxEN bit in
the ZCDxCON register to enable the ZCD module.