ATMEGA168A - Using timer - c

Question

I am trying to understand how to use timers with my ATMEGA168A, however the example I have (link) doesn't seem to work since it returns 0 all the time.
My idea is to make a HC-SR04 (link) ultra sound sensor work.
#define F_CPU 1000000UL
#include <avr/io.h>
#include <util/delay.h>
long measure(){
//Setting up the timer
TCCR1B |= (1 << CS12) | (1 << CS11) | (1 << CS10);
//Setting trigger as output
DDRD |= (1 << PD1);
//Setting echo as input
PORTD |= (1 << PD2);
//Triggering the hardware
PORTD ^= (1 << PD1);
_delay_us(10);
PORTD ^= (1 << PD1);
//Waiting until echo goes low
TCNT1 = 0;
while(bit_is_clear(PIND, PD2));
long timer_value = TCNT1;
//Calculating and returning the distance
long distance = timer_value / 58.82;
return distance;
}
How can I successfully measure the amount of time the PD2 was high?

Answer 1

To measure the amount of time the PD2 was high, write some code to do so, compile, write it to your microcontroller and turn on it.
Not tested, try this:
#define F_CPU 1000000UL
#include <avr/io.h>
#include <util/delay.h>
long measure(){
//Setting up the timer
TCCR1B |= (1 << CS12) | (1 << CS11) | (1 << CS10);
//Setting trigger as output
DDRD |= (1 << PD1);
//Setting echo as input
PORTD |= (1 << PD2);
//Triggering the hardware
PORTD ^= (1 << PD1);
_delay_us(10);
PORTD ^= (1 << PD1);
//Waiting until echo goes low (after Initiate)
while(!bit_is_clear(PIND, PD2));
//Waiting until echo goes high (Echo back starts)
while(bit_is_clear(PIND, PD2));
TCNT1 = 0;
//Waiting until echo goes low (Echo back ends)
while(!bit_is_clear(PIND, PD2));
long timer_value = TCNT1;
//Calculating and returning the distance
long distance = timer_value / 58.82;
return distance;
}