AT89C5115
Timers/Counters
The T89C5115 implements two general-purpose, 16-bit Timers/Counters. Such are
identified as Timer 0 and Timer 1, and can be independently configured to operate in a
variety of modes as a Timer or an event Counter. When operating as a Timer, the
Timer/Counter runs for a programmed length of time, then issues an interrupt request.
When operating as a Counter, the Timer/Counter counts negative transitions on an
external pin. After a preset number of counts, the Counter issues an interrupt request.
The various operating modes of each Timer/Counter are described in the following
sections.
Timer/Counter
Operations
A basic operation is Timer registers THx and TLx (x = 0, 1) connected in cascade to
form a 16-bit Timer. Setting the run control bit (TRx) in TCON register (See Figure 37)
turns the Timer on by allowing the selected input to increment TLx. When TLx overflows
it increments THx; when THx overflows it sets the Timer overflow flag (TFx) in TCON
register. Setting the TRx does not clear the THx and TLx Timer registers. Timer regis-
ters can be accessed to obtain the current count or to enter preset values. They can be
read at any time but TRx bit must be cleared to preset their values, otherwise the behav-
ior of the Timer/Counter is unpredictable.
The C/Tx# control bit selects Timer operation or Counter operation by selecting the
divided-down peripheral clock or external pin Tx as the source for the counted signal.
TRx bit must be cleared when changing the mode of operation, otherwise the behavior
of the Timer/Counter is unpredictable.
For Timer operation (C/Tx# = 0), the Timer register counts the divided-down peripheral
clock. The Timer register is incremented once every peripheral cycle (6 peripheral clock
periods). The Timer clock rate is fPER/6, i.e. fOSC/12 in standard mode or fOSC/6 in X2
Mode.
For Counter operation (C/Tx# = 1), the Timer register counts the negative transitions on
the Tx external input pin. The external input is sampled every peripheral cycles. When
the sample is high in one cycle and low in the next one, the Counter is incremented.
Since it takes 2 cycles (12 peripheral clock periods) to recognize a negative transition,
the maximum count rate is fPER/12, i.e. fOSC/24 in standard mode or fOSC/12 in X2 Mode.
There are no restrictions on the duty cycle of the external input signal, but to ensure that
a given level is sampled at least once before it changes, it should be held for at least
one full peripheral cycle.
Timer 0
Timer 0 functions as either a Timer or event Counter in four modes of operation.
Figure 24 through Figure 27 show the logical configuration of each mode.
Timer 0 is controlled by the four lower bits of TMOD register (See Figure 38) and bits 0,
1, 4 and 5 of TCON register (See Figure 37). TMOD register selects the method of
Timer gating (GATE0), Timer or Counter operation (T/C0#) and mode of operation (M10
and M00). TCON register provides Timer 0 control functions: overflow flag (TF0), run
control bit (TR0), interrupt flag (IE0) and interrupt type control bit (IT0).
For normal Timer operation (GATE0 = 0), setting TR0 allows TL0 to be incremented by
the selected input. Setting GATE0 and TR0 allows external pin INT0# to control Timer
operation.
Timer 0 overflow (count rolls over from all 1s to all 0s) sets TF0 flag generating an inter-
rupt request.
It is important to stop Timer/Counter before changing mode.
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4128F–8051–05/06
ATMEL [ ATMEL ]
