Timer/Counter0 And Timer/Counter1 Prescalers; Internal Clock Source; Prescaler Reset; External Clock Source - Atmel ATmega32M1 Manual

11. Timer/Counter0 and Timer/Counter1 Prescalers

11.1

Internal Clock Source

11.2

Prescaler Reset

11.3

External Clock Source

7647H–AVR–03/12
Timer/Counter1 and Timer/Counter0 share the same prescaler module, but the Timer/Counters
can have different prescaler settings. The description below applies to both Timer/Counter1 and
Timer/Counter0.
The Timer/Counter can be clocked directly by the system clock (by setting the CSn2:0 = 1). This
provides the fastest operation, with a maximum Timer/Counter clock frequency equal to system
clock frequency (f
CLK_I/O
clock source. The prescaled clock has a frequency of either f
f /1024.
CLK_I/O
The prescaler is free running, i.e., operates independently of the Clock Select logic of the
Timer/Counter, and it is shared by Timer/Counter1 and Timer/Counter0. Since the prescaler is
not affected by the Timer/Counter's clock select, the state of the prescaler will have implications
for situations where a prescaled clock is used. One example of prescaling artifacts occurs when
the timer is enabled and clocked by the prescaler (6 > CSn2:0 > 1). The number of system clock
cycles from when the timer is enabled to the first count occurs can be from 1 to N+1 system
clock cycles, where N equals the prescaler divisor (8, 64, 256, or 1024).
It is possible to use the prescaler reset for synchronizing the Timer/Counter to program execu-
tion. However, care must be taken if the other Timer/Counter that shares the same prescaler
also uses prescaling. A prescaler reset will affect the prescaler period for all Timer/Counters it is
connected to.
An external clock source applied to the Tn pin can be used as Timer/Counter clock (clk
The Tn pin is sampled once every system clock cycle by the pin synchronization logic. The syn-
chronized (sampled) signal is then passed through the edge detector.
functional equivalent block diagram of the Tn/T0 synchronization and edge detector logic. The
registers are clocked at the positive edge of the internal system clock (
parent in the high period of the internal system clock.
The edge detector generates one clk
(CSn2:0 = 6) edge it detects.
Figure 11-1. Tn Pin Sampling
D Q
Tn
LE
clk
I/O
The synchronization and edge detector logic introduces a delay of 2.5 to 3.5 system clock cycles
from an edge has been applied to the Tn/T0 pin to the counter is updated.
Atmel ATmega16/32/64/M1/C1
). Alternatively, one of four taps from the prescaler can be used as a
/clk pulse for each positive (CSn2:0 = 7) or negative
T1 T 0
D Q
Synchronization
/8, f /64, f
CLK_I/O CLK_I/O CLK_I/O
Figure 11-1
). The latch is trans-
clk
I/O
Tn_sync
D Q
(To Clock
Select Logic)
Edge Detector
/256, or
/clk ).
T1 T0
shows a
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