Definitions, Timer/counter clock sources, Counter unit – Rainbow Electronics ATmega64L User Manual
Page 68: Atmega16(l)

68
ATmega16(L)
2466B–09/01
The double buffered Output Compare Register (OCR0) is compared with the
Timer/Counter value at all times. The result of the compare can be used by the wave-
form generator to generate a PWM or variable frequency output on the Output Compare
Pin (OC0). See “Output Compare Unit” on page 69. for details. The compare match
event will also set the compare flag (OCF0) which can be used to generate an output
compare interrupt request.
Definitions
Many register and bit references in this document are written in general form. A lower
case “n” replaces the Timer/Counter number, in this case 0. However, when using the
register or bit defines in a program, the precise form must be used i.e., TCNT0 for
accessing Timer/Counter0 counter value and so on.
The definitions in Table 37 are also used extensively throughout the document.
Timer/Counter Clock
Sources
The Timer/Counter can be clocked by an internal or an external clock source. The clock
source is selected by the clock select logic which is controlled by the clock select
(CS02:0) bits located in the Timer/Counter control register (TCCR0). For details on
clock sources and prescaler, see “Timer/Counter0 and Timer/Counter1 Prescalers” on
page 81.
Counter Unit
The main part of the 8-bit Timer/Counter is the programmable bidirectional counter unit.
Figure 28 shows a block diagram of the counter and its surroundings.
Figure 28. Counter Unit Block Diagram
Signal description (internal signals):
count
Increment or decrement TCNT0 by 1.
direction
Select between increment and decrement.
clear
Clear TCNT0 (set all bits to zero).
clk
Tn
Timer/counter clock, referred to as clk
T0
in the following.
TOP
Signalize that TCNT0 has reached maximum value.
BOTTOM
Signalize that TCNT0 has reached minimum value (zero).
Table 37. Definitions
BOTTOM
The counter reaches the BOTTOM when it becomes 0x00
MAX
The counter reaches its MAXimum when it becomes 0xFF (decimal 255).
TOP
The counter reaches the TOP when it becomes equal to the highest
value in the count sequence. The TOP value can be assigned to be the
fixed value 0xFF (MAX) or the value stored in the OCR0 register. The
assignment is dependent on the mode of operation.
DATABUS
TCNTn
Control Logic
count
TOVn
(Int. Req.)
Clock Select
TOP
Tn
Edge
Detector
( From Prescaler )
clk
Tn
BOTTOM
direction
clear