Delay on Counter Output Task when Outputting One Sample with Implicit Timing

Updated Apr 23, 2025

Reported In

Hardware

  • USB-6341

Software

  • LabVIEW Full
  • LabVIEW Base
  • LabVIEW Professional

Operating System

  • Windows

Issue Details

I am using Counter Output Task with a start trigger and configured as retriggerable. I set the timing VI to finite samples and implicit timing. As long as I use more than 1 samples for the output, it fires on time with the trigger. When I set the output to 1 sample, there is a delay after the start trigger and before the pulse. Why is this happening?

Solution

Implicit timing tells DAQmx that the pulse train to generate dictates when the counter updates its output. With a single pulse output in your counter task, there is no pulse train to use for implicit timing, so there is no guarantee that your single pulse will start on time. In this case, it is recommended to use either multiple pulses or to output the single pulse without specifying implicit timing.