90
8023F–AVR–07/09
ATmega325P/3250P
The double buffered Output Compare Register (OCR0A) is compared with the Timer/Counter
value at all times. The result of the compare can be used by the Waveform Generator to gener-
ate a PWM or variable frequency output on the Output Compare pin (OC0A).
See Section “14.5”on page 92. for details. The compare match event will also set the Compare Flag (OCF0A)
which can be used to generate an Output Compare interrupt request.
14.2.2
Definitions
Many register and bit references in this section are written in general form. A lower case “n”
replaces the Timer/Counter number, in this case 0. A lower case “x” replaces the Output Com-
pare unit number, in this case unit A. 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 14-1 are also used extensively throughout the document.
14.3
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 (TCCR0A). For details on clock sources and pres-
14.4
Counter Unit
The main part of the 8-bit Timer/Counter is the programmable bi-directional counter unit.
Figure14-2 shows a block diagram of the counter and its surroundings.
Figure 14-2. 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).
Table 14-1.
Definitions of Timer/Counter values.
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 OCR0A Register. The assignment is depen-
dent on the mode of operation.
DATA BUS
TCNTn
Control Logic
count
TOVn
(Int.Req.)
Clock Select
top
Tn
Edge
Detector
( From Prescaler )
clk
Tn
bottom
direction
clear