2545M–AVR–09/07

ATmega48/88/168

The OCR0x Register access may seem complex, but this is not case. When the double buffering

is enabled, the CPU has access to the OCR0x Buffer Register, and if double buffering is dis-

abled the CPU will access the OCR0x directly.

14.5.1 Force Output Compare

In non-PWM waveform generation modes, the match output of the comparator can be forced by

writing a one to the Force Output Compare (FOC0x) bit. Forcing compare match will not set the

OCF0x Flag or reload/clear the timer, but the OC0x pin will be updated as if a real compare

match had occurred (the COM0x1:0 bits settings define whether the OC0x pin is set, cleared or

toggled).

14.5.2 Compare Match Blocking by TCNT0 Write

All CPU write operations to the TCNT0 Register will block any compare match that occur in the

next timer clock cycle, even when the timer is stopped. This feature allows OCR0x to be initial-

ized to the same value as TCNT0 without triggering an interrupt when the Timer/Counter clock is

enabled.

14.5.3 Using the Output Compare Unit

Since writing TCNT0 in any mode of operation will block all compare matches for one timer clock

cycle, there are risks involved when changing TCNT0 when using the Output Compare Unit,

independently of whether the Timer/Counter is running or not. If the value written to TCNT0

equals the OCR0x value, the compare match will be missed, resulting in incorrect waveform

generation. Similarly, do not write the TCNT0 value equal to BOTTOM when the counter is

downcounting.

The setup of the OC0x should be performed before setting the Data Direction Register for the

port pin to output. The easiest way of setting the OC0x value is to use the Force Output Com-

pare (FOC0x) strobe bits in Normal mode. The OC0x Registers keep their values even when

changing between Waveform Generation modes.

Be aware that the COM0x1:0 bits are not double buffered together with the compare value.

Changing the COM0x1:0 bits will take effect immediately.

14.6 Compare Match Output Unit

The Compare Output mode (COM0x1:0) bits have two functions. The Waveform Generator uses

the COM0x1:0 bits for defining the Output Compare (OC0x) state at the next compare match.

Also, the COM0x1:0 bits control the OC0x pin output source. Figure 14-4 shows a simplified

schematic of the logic affected by the COM0x1:0 bit setting. The I/O Registers, I/O bits, and I/O

pins in the figure are shown in bold. Only the parts of the general I/O port control registers (DDR

and PORT) that are affected by the COM0x1:0 bits are shown. When referring to the OC0x

state, the reference is for the internal OC0x Register, not the OC0x pin. If a system reset occur,

the OC0x Register is reset to “0”.

2545M–AVR–09/07

ATmega48/88/168

Figure 14-4. Compare Match Output Unit, Schematic

The general I/O port function is overridden by the Output Compare (OC0x) from the Waveform

Generator if either of the COM0x1:0 bits are set. However, the OC0x pin direction (input or out-

put) is still controlled by the Data Direction Register (DDR) for the port pin. The Data Direction

ble on the pin. The port override function is independent of the Waveform Generation mode.

The design of the Output Compare pin logic allows initialization of the OC0x state before the out-

put is enabled. Note that some COM0x1:0 bit settings are reserved for certain modes of

operation. See “Register Description” on page 102.

14.6.1 Compare Output Mode and Waveform Generation

The Waveform Generator uses the COM0x1:0 bits differently in Normal, CTC, and PWM modes.

For all modes, setting the COM0x1:0 = 0 tells the Waveform Generator that no action on the

OC0x Register is to be performed on the next compare match. For compare output actions in the

non-PWM modes refer to Table 14-2 on page 102. For fast PWM mode, refer to Table 14-3 on

page 102, and for phase correct PWM refer to Table 14-4 on page 103.

A change of the COM0x1:0 bits state will have effect at the first compare match after the bits are

written. For non-PWM modes, the action can be forced to have immediate effect by using the

FOC0x strobe bits.

14.7 Modes of Operation

The mode of operation, i.e., the behavior of the Timer/Counter and the Output Compare pins, is

defined by the combination of the Waveform Generation mode (WGM02:0) and Compare Output

mode (COM0x1:0) bits. The Compare Output mode bits do not affect the counting sequence,

while the Waveform Generation mode bits do. The COM0x1:0 bits control whether the PWM out-

put generated should be inverted or not (inverted or non-inverted PWM). For non-PWM modes

the COM0x1:0 bits control whether the output should be set, cleared, or toggled at a compare

match (See “Compare Match Output Unit” on page 94.).

For detailed timing information refer to “Timer/Counter Timing Diagrams” on page 100.

PORT

DDR

OCnx

Waveform

Generator

COMnx1

COMnx0

DATA BUS

FOCn

clk

I/O

2545M–AVR–09/07

ATmega48/88/168

14.7.1 Normal Mode

The simplest mode of operation is the Normal mode (WGM02:0 = 0). In this mode the counting

direction is always up (incrementing), and no counter clear is performed. The counter simply

overruns when it passes its maximum 8-bit value (TOP = 0xFF) and then restarts from the bot-

tom (0x00). In normal operation the Timer/Counter Overflow Flag (TOV0) will be set in the same

timer clock cycle as the TCNT0 becomes zero. The TOV0 Flag in this case behaves like a ninth

bit, except that it is only set, not cleared. However, combined with the timer overflow interrupt

that automatically clears the TOV0 Flag, the timer resolution can be increased by software.

There are no special cases to consider in the Normal mode, a new counter value can be written

anytime.

The Output Compare unit can be used to generate interrupts at some given time. Using the Out-

put Compare to generate waveforms in Normal mode is not recommended, since this will

occupy too much of the CPU time.

14.7.2 Clear Timer on Compare Match (CTC) Mode

In Clear Timer on Compare or CTC mode (WGM02:0 = 2), the OCR0A Register is used to

manipulate the counter resolution. In CTC mode the counter is cleared to zero when the counter

value (TCNT0) matches the OCR0A. The OCR0A defines the top value for the counter, hence

also its resolution. This mode allows greater control of the compare match output frequency. It

also simplifies the operation of counting external events.

The timing diagram for the CTC mode is shown in Figure 14-5. The counter value (TCNT0)

increases until a compare match occurs between TCNT0 and OCR0A, and then counter

(TCNT0) is cleared.

Figure 14-5. CTC Mode, Timing Diagram

An interrupt can be generated each time the counter value reaches the TOP value by using the

OCF0A Flag. If the interrupt is enabled, the interrupt handler routine can be used for updating

the TOP value. However, changing TOP to a value close to BOTTOM when the counter is run-

ning with none or a low prescaler value must be done with care since the CTC mode does not

have the double buffering feature. If the new value written to OCR0A is lower than the current

value of TCNT0, the counter will miss the compare match. The counter will then have to count to

its maximum value (0xFF) and wrap around starting at 0x00 before the compare match can

occur.

For generating a waveform output in CTC mode, the OC0A output can be set to toggle its logical

level on each compare match by setting the Compare Output mode bits to toggle mode

(COM0A1:0 = 1). The OC0A value will not be visible on the port pin unless the data direction for

CNTn

(

Toggle)

OCnx Interrupt Flag Set

1 4

eriod

2 3

(COMnx1:0 = 1)

Part #	ATMEGA48-20AU
Description	MCU 8BIT ATMEGA RISC 4KB FLASH 3.3V/5V 32TQFP - Trays
Category	IC
Availability	Out of Stock
Qty	0

ATMEGA48-20AU

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