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113
8183F–AVR–06/12
ATtiny24A/44A/84A
13. Timer/Counter Prescaler
Timer/Counter0 and Timer/Counter1 share the same prescaler module, but the Timer/Counters
can have different prescaler settings. The description below applies to both Timer/Counters. Tn
is used as a general name, n = 0, 1.
The Timer/Counter can be clocked directly by the system clock (by setting the CSn[2:0] = 1).
This provides the fastest operation, with a maximum Timer/Counter clock frequency equal to
system clock frequency (f
CLK_I/O). Alternatively, one of four taps from the prescaler can be used
as a clock source. The prescaled clock has a frequency of either f
CLK_I/O/8, fCLK_I/O/64,
f
CLK_I/O/256, or fCLK_I/O/1024.
13.1
Prescaler Reset
The prescaler is free running, i.e., operates independently of the Clock Select logic of the
Timer/CounterCounter, and it is shared by the Timer/Counter Tn. 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 (CSn[2:0] = 2, 3, 4, or 5). The number of system
clock cycles from when the timer is enabled to the first count occurs can be from 1 to N+1 sys-
tem 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
execution.
13.2
External Clock Source
An external clock source applied to the Tn pin can be used as Timer/Counter clock (clk
Tn). The
Tn pin is sampled once every system clock cycle by the pin synchronization logic. The synchro-
shows a functional equivalent block diagram of the Tn synchronization and edge detector logic.
The registers are clocked at the positive edge of the internal system clock (clk
I/O). The latch is
transparent in the high period of the internal system clock.
The edge detector generates one clk
T0 pulse for each positive (CSn[2:0] = 7) or negative
(CSn[2:0] = 6) edge it detects.
Figure 13-1.
T0 Pin Sampling
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 pin to the counter is updated.
Tn_sync
(To Clock
Select Logic)
Edge Detector
Synchronization
DQ
LE
DQ
Tn
clk
I/O