AT89C51RB2/RC2
Hardware Watchdog
Timer
The WDT is intended as a recovery method in situations where the CPU may be sub-
jected to software upset. The WDT consists of a 14-bit counter and the Watchdog Timer
Reset (WDTRST) SFR. The WDT is by default disabled from exiting reset. To enable
the WDT, user must write 01EH and 0E1H in sequence to the WDTRST, SFR location
0A6H. When WDT is enabled, it will increment every machine cycle while the oscillator
is running and there is no way to disable the WDT except through reset (either hardware
reset or WDT overflow reset). When WDT overflows, it will drive an output RESET HIGH
pulse at the RST-pin.
Using the WDT
To enable the WDT, user must write 01EH and 0E1H in sequence to the WDTRST, SFR
location 0A6H. When WDT is enabled, the user needs to service it by writing to 01EH
and 0E1H to WDTRST to avoid WDT overflow. The 14-bit counter overflows when it
reaches 16383 (3FFFH) and this will reset the device. When WDT is enabled, it will
increment every machine cycle while the oscillator is running. This means the user must
reset the WDT at least every 16383 machine cycle. To reset the WDT the user must
write 01EH and 0E1H to WDTRST. WDTRST is a write only register. The WDT counter
cannot be read or written. When WDT overflows, it will generate an output RESET pulse
at the RST-pin. The RESET pulse duration is 96 x TCLK PERIPH, where TCLK PERIPH= 1/FCLK
PERIPH. To make the best use of the WDT, it should be serviced in those sections of code
that will periodically be executed within the time required to prevent a WDT reset.
To have a more powerful WDT, a 27 counter has been added to extend the Time-out
capability, ranking from 16 ms to 2 s @ FOSCA = 12 MHz. To manage this feature, see
WDTPRG register description, Table 59.
Table 59. WDTRST Register
WDTRST - Watchdog Reset Register (0A6h)
7
-
6
-
5
-
4
-
3
-
2
-
1
-
0
-
Reset Value = XXXX XXXXb
Write only, this SFR is used to reset/enable the WDT by writing 01EH then 0E1H in
sequence.
77
4180E–8051–10/06
ATMEL [ ATMEL ]
