ESP32C3, PCNT cannot be used due to linking problem

[0x0fe]

Board

ESP32-C3 dev module

Device Description

dna

Hardware Configuration

dna

Version

latest master

IDE Name

arduino IDE

Operating System

windows 10

Flash frequency

80M

PSRAM enabled

no

Upload speed

CDC

Description

I append to need the PCNT peripheral for an application where a very high number of pulse, at high rate has to be achieved, this cannot be done by interrupt of other means. When trying to compile anything using PCNT functions on C3, the linking fails, if i select another target such as esp32s2 or the legacy esp32 no problem.
The sketch below does not include everything required to use PCNT, it only calls a function from PCNT which should not lead to any failure compilation, on ESP32C it fails to compile, on other cores it compiles fine.

Sketch

#include "driver/pcnt.h" 

void setup() {
  pcnt_counter_clear(PCNT_UNIT_0);
}

void loop() {

}

Debug Message

Compiling core...
Using precompiled core: C:\Users\dev\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_cache_262863\core\core_425de0670e0bc3760c532d5e5e148473.a
Linking everything together...
"C:\\Users\\dev\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\esp32\\tools\\riscv32-esp-elf-gcc\\gcc8_4_0-esp-2021r1/bin/riscv32-esp-elf-g++" "-Wl,--Map=C:\\Users\\dev\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_732385/sketch_mar27b.ino.map" "-LC:\\Users\\dev\\Documents\\Arduino\\hardware\\espressif\\esp32/tools/sdk/esp32c3/lib" "-LC:\\Users\\dev\\Documents\\Arduino\\hardware\\espressif\\esp32/tools/sdk/esp32c3/ld" -T memory.ld -T sections.ld -T esp32c3.rom.ld -T esp32c3.rom.api.ld -T esp32c3.rom.libgcc.ld -T esp32c3.rom.newlib.ld -T esp32c3.rom.version.ld -T esp32c3.rom.eco3.ld -T esp32c3.peripherals.ld -nostartfiles -march=rv32imc --specs=nosys.specs -Wl,--cref -Wl,--gc-sections -fno-rtti -fno-lto -u _Z5setupv -u _Z4loopv -u esp_app_desc -u pthread_include_pthread_impl -u pthread_include_pthread_cond_impl -u pthread_include_pthread_local_storage_impl -u pthread_include_pthread_rwlock_impl -u start_app -u __ubsan_include -u __assert_func -u vfs_include_syscalls_impl -Wl,--undefined=uxTopUsedPriority -u app_main -u newlib_include_heap_impl -u newlib_include_syscalls_impl -u newlib_include_pthread_impl -u newlib_include_assert_impl -Wl,--wrap=_Unwind_SetEnableExceptionFdeSorting -Wl,--wrap=__register_frame_info_bases -Wl,--wrap=__register_frame_info -Wl,--wrap=__register_frame -Wl,--wrap=__register_frame_info_table_bases -Wl,--wrap=__register_frame_info_table -Wl,--wrap=__register_frame_table -Wl,--wrap=__deregister_frame_info_bases -Wl,--wrap=__deregister_frame_info -Wl,--wrap=_Unwind_Find_FDE -Wl,--wrap=_Unwind_GetGR -Wl,--wrap=_Unwind_GetCFA -Wl,--wrap=_Unwind_GetIP -Wl,--wrap=_Unwind_GetIPInfo -Wl,--wrap=_Unwind_GetRegionStart -Wl,--wrap=_Unwind_GetDataRelBase -Wl,--wrap=_Unwind_GetTextRelBase -Wl,--wrap=_Unwind_SetIP -Wl,--wrap=_Unwind_SetGR -Wl,--wrap=_Unwind_GetLanguageSpecificData -Wl,--wrap=_Unwind_FindEnclosingFunction -Wl,--wrap=_Unwind_Resume -Wl,--wrap=_Unwind_RaiseException -Wl,--wrap=_Unwind_DeleteException -Wl,--wrap=_Unwind_ForcedUnwind -Wl,--wrap=_Unwind_Resume_or_Rethrow -Wl,--wrap=_Unwind_Backtrace -Wl,--wrap=__cxa_call_unexpected -Wl,--wrap=__gxx_personality_v0 -u __cxa_guard_dummy -u __cxx_fatal_exception -DESP32 -DCORE_DEBUG_LEVEL=0 -DARDUINO_HW_CDC_ON_BOOT=0 -Wl,--start-group "C:\\Users\\dev\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_732385\\sketch\\sketch_mar27b.ino.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\dev\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_cache_262863\\core\\core_425de0670e0bc3760c532d5e5e148473.a" -lesp_ringbuf -lefuse -lesp_ipc -ldriver -lesp_pm -lmbedtls -lapp_update -lbootloader_support -lspi_flash -lnvs_flash -lpthread -lesp_gdbstub -lespcoredump -lesp_phy -lesp_system -lesp_rom -lhal -lvfs -lesp_eth -ltcpip_adapter -lesp_netif -lesp_event -lwpa_supplicant -lesp_wifi -lconsole -llwip -llog -lheap -lsoc -lesp_hw_support -lriscv -lesp_common -lesp_timer -lfreertos -lnewlib -lcxx -lapp_trace -lasio -lbt -lcbor -lunity -lcmock -lcoap -lnghttp -lesp-tls -lesp_adc_cal -lesp_hid -ltcp_transport -lesp_http_client -lesp_http_server -lesp_https_ota -lesp_https_server -lesp_lcd -lprotobuf-c -lprotocomm -lmdns -lesp_local_ctrl -lsdmmc -lesp_serial_slave_link -lesp_websocket_client -lexpat -lwear_levelling -lfatfs -lfreemodbus -ljsmn -ljson -llibsodium -lmqtt -lopenssl -lspiffs -lwifi_provisioning -lesp_littlefs -lfb_gfx -lasio -lcbor -lcmock -lunity -lcoap -lesp_lcd -lesp_local_ctrl -lesp_https_server -lesp_websocket_client -lexpat -lfreemodbus -ljsmn -llibsodium -lmqtt -lesp_adc_cal -lesp_hid -lfatfs -lwear_levelling -lopenssl -lspiffs -lwifi_provisioning -lprotocomm -lbt -lbtdm_app -lprotobuf-c -lmdns -ljson -lcat_face_detect -lhuman_face_detect -lcolor_detect -lmfn -ldl -lesp_ringbuf -lefuse -lesp_ipc -ldriver -lesp_pm -lmbedtls -lapp_update -lbootloader_support -lspi_flash -lnvs_flash -lpthread -lesp_gdbstub -lespcoredump -lesp_phy -lesp_system -lesp_rom -lhal -lvfs -lesp_eth -ltcpip_adapter -lesp_netif -lesp_event -lwpa_supplicant -lesp_wifi -lconsole -llwip -llog -lheap -lsoc -lesp_hw_support -lriscv -lesp_common -lesp_timer -lfreertos -lnewlib -lcxx -lapp_trace -lnghttp -lesp-tls -ltcp_transport -lesp_http_client -lesp_http_server -lesp_https_ota -lsdmmc -lesp_serial_slave_link -lmbedtls -lmbedcrypto -lmbedx509 -lcoexist -lcore -lespnow -lmesh -lnet80211 -lpp -lsmartconfig -lwapi -lesp_ringbuf -lefuse -lesp_ipc -ldriver -lesp_pm -lmbedtls -lapp_update -lbootloader_support -lspi_flash -lnvs_flash -lpthread -lesp_gdbstub -lespcoredump -lesp_phy -lesp_system -lesp_rom -lhal -lvfs -lesp_eth -ltcpip_adapter -lesp_netif -lesp_event -lwpa_supplicant -lesp_wifi -lconsole -llwip -llog -lheap -lsoc -lesp_hw_support -lriscv -lesp_common -lesp_timer -lfreertos -lnewlib -lcxx -lapp_trace -lnghttp -lesp-tls -ltcp_transport -lesp_http_client -lesp_http_server -lesp_https_ota -lsdmmc -lesp_serial_slave_link -lmbedtls -lmbedcrypto -lmbedx509 -lcoexist -lcore -lespnow -lmesh -lnet80211 -lpp -lsmartconfig -lwapi -lesp_ringbuf -lefuse -lesp_ipc -ldriver -lesp_pm -lmbedtls -lapp_update -lbootloader_support -lspi_flash -lnvs_flash -lpthread -lesp_gdbstub -lespcoredump -lesp_phy -lesp_system -lesp_rom -lhal -lvfs -lesp_eth -ltcpip_adapter -lesp_netif -lesp_event -lwpa_supplicant -lesp_wifi -lconsole -llwip -llog -lheap -lsoc -lesp_hw_support -lriscv -lesp_common -lesp_timer -lfreertos -lnewlib -lcxx -lapp_trace -lnghttp -lesp-tls -ltcp_transport -lesp_http_client -lesp_http_server -lesp_https_ota -lsdmmc -lesp_serial_slave_link -lmbedtls -lmbedcrypto -lmbedx509 -lcoexist -lcore -lespnow -lmesh -lnet80211 -lpp -lsmartconfig -lwapi -lesp_ringbuf -lefuse -lesp_ipc -ldriver -lesp_pm -lmbedtls -lapp_update -lbootloader_support -lspi_flash -lnvs_flash -lpthread -lesp_gdbstub -lespcoredump -lesp_phy -lesp_system -lesp_rom -lhal -lvfs -lesp_eth -ltcpip_adapter -lesp_netif -lesp_event -lwpa_supplicant -lesp_wifi -lconsole -llwip -llog -lheap -lsoc -lesp_hw_support -lriscv -lesp_common -lesp_timer -lfreertos -lnewlib -lcxx -lapp_trace -lnghttp -lesp-tls -ltcp_transport -lesp_http_client -lesp_http_server -lesp_https_ota -lsdmmc -lesp_serial_slave_link -lmbedtls -lmbedcrypto -lmbedx509 -lcoexist -lcore -lespnow -lmesh -lnet80211 -lpp -lsmartconfig -lwapi -lesp_ringbuf -lefuse -lesp_ipc -ldriver -lesp_pm -lmbedtls -lapp_update -lbootloader_support -lspi_flash -lnvs_flash -lpthread -lesp_gdbstub -lespcoredump -lesp_phy -lesp_system -lesp_rom -lhal -lvfs -lesp_eth -ltcpip_adapter -lesp_netif -lesp_event -lwpa_supplicant -lesp_wifi -lconsole -llwip -llog -lheap -lsoc -lesp_hw_support -lriscv -lesp_common -lesp_timer -lfreertos -lnewlib -lcxx -lapp_trace -lnghttp -lesp-tls -ltcp_transport -lesp_http_client -lesp_http_server -lesp_https_ota -lsdmmc -lesp_serial_slave_link -lmbedtls -lmbedcrypto -lmbedx509 -lcoexist -lcore -lespnow -lmesh -lnet80211 -lpp -lsmartconfig -lwapi -lesp_ringbuf -lefuse -lesp_ipc -ldriver -lesp_pm -lmbedtls -lapp_update -lbootloader_support -lspi_flash -lnvs_flash -lpthread -lesp_gdbstub -lespcoredump -lesp_phy -lesp_system -lesp_rom -lhal -lvfs -lesp_eth -ltcpip_adapter -lesp_netif -lesp_event -lwpa_supplicant -lesp_wifi -lconsole -llwip -llog -lheap -lsoc -lesp_hw_support -lriscv -lesp_common -lesp_timer -lfreertos -lnewlib -lcxx -lapp_trace -lnghttp -lesp-tls -ltcp_transport -lesp_http_client -lesp_http_server -lesp_https_ota -lsdmmc -lesp_serial_slave_link -lmbedtls -lmbedcrypto -lmbedx509 -lcoexist -lcore -lespnow -lmesh -lnet80211 -lpp -lsmartconfig -lwapi -lphy -lbtbb -lesp_phy -lphy -lbtbb -lesp_phy -lphy -lbtbb -lm -lnewlib -lstdc++ -lpthread -lgcc -lcxx -lapp_trace -lgcov -lapp_trace -lgcov -lc -Wl,--end-group -Wl,-EL -o "C:\\Users\\dev\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_732385/sketch_mar27b.ino.elf"
c:/users/dev/appdata/local/arduino15/packages/esp32/tools/riscv32-esp-elf-gcc/gcc8_4_0-esp-2021r1/bin/../lib/gcc/riscv32-esp-elf/8.4.0/../../../../riscv32-esp-elf/bin/ld.exe: C:\Users\dev\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_732385\sketch\sketch_mar27b.ino.cpp.o: in function `setup()':
C:\Users\dev\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_modified_sketch_981409/sketch_mar27b.ino:4: undefined reference to `pcnt_counter_clear'
collect2.exe: error: ld returned 1 exit status
exit status 1

Other Steps to Reproduce

No response

I have checked existing issues, online documentation and the Troubleshooting Guide

• I confirm I have checked existing issues, online documentation and Troubleshooting guide.

[0x0fe]

The C3 does not have PCNT peripheral at all. That is why it can not work :)

Why is pcnt.h present in the c3 core then? is there another way, for example with ledc or timer capture?

[0x0fe]

well, there is some conflicting information, the datasheet diagram shows a pulse counter block, but not much mention of it later on. So the question remains, what is the best way to count pulses, comming at a too high rate to use interrupts (say 1 to 3 MHz).

[0x0fe]

is there a way to do it with an RMT RX channel? my need is to count pulses occuring between fixed intervals. Pulses frequency is 1 to 4MHz. I will count at 100ms interval at first. If the RMT does not allow this maybe it can trig an interrupt after a defined number of pulses?

[igrr]

Indeed there is no PCNT in the ESP32-C3. There are also no LCD and Camera interfaces. Our documentation team is now aware of this issue and will fix the diagram in the next version of the datasheet.

Regarding the RMT — yes, you can do this. RMT works by recording time intervals between low and high values in a memory buffer. So you can't exactly count for 100ms, you can count up to a certain number of low/high transitions. Please check the ESP32 technical reference manual and https://docs.espressif.com/projects/esp-idf/en/latest/esp32/api-reference/peripherals/rmt.html#receive-data and see if RMT can meet your requirements.

[VojtechBartoska]

Hello, can I consider this as solved @0x0fe?

[VojtechBartoska]

Closing as expired, if needed please reopen the issue.