23. USART in SPI Mode
The Universal Synchronous and Asynchronous serial Receiver and Transmitter (USART) can be
set to a master SPI compliant mode of operation. The Master SPI Mode (MSPIM) has the follow-
ing features:
• Full Duplex, Three-wire Synchronous Data Transfer
• Master Operation
• Supports all four SPI Modes of Operation (Mode 0, 1, 2, and 3)
• LSB First or MSB First Data Transfer (Configurable Data Order)
• Queued Operation (Double Buffered)
• High Resolution Baud Rate Generator
• High Speed Operation (fXCKmax = fCK/2)
• Flexible Interrupt Generation
23.1 Overview
Setting both UMSELn1:0 bits to one enables the USART in MSPIM logic. In this mode of opera-
tion the SPI master control logic takes direct control over the USART resources. These
resources include the transmitter and receiver shift register and buffers, and the baud rate gen-
erator. The parity generator and checker, the data and clock recovery logic, and the RX and TX
control logic is disabled. The USART RX and TX control logic is replaced by a common SPI
transfer control logic. However, the pin control logic and interrupt generation logic is identical in
both modes of operation.
The I/O register locations are the same in both modes. However, some of the functionality of the
control registers changes when using MSPIM.
23.2 USART MSPIM vs. SPI
The AVR USART in MSPIM mode is fully compatible with the AVR SPI regarding:
•
•
•
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Master mode timing diagram.
The UCPOLn bit functionality is identical to the SPI CPOL bit.
The UCPHAn bit functionality is identical to the SPI CPHA bit.
The UDORDn bit functionality is identical to the SPI DORD bit.
However, since the USART in MSPIM mode reuses the USART resources, the use of the
USART in MSPIM mode is somewhat different compared to the SPI. In addition to differences of
the control register bits, and that only master operation is supported by the USART in MSPIM
mode, the following features differ between the two modules:
•
The USART in MSPIM mode includes (double) buffering of the transmitter. The SPI has no
buffer.
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•
•
The USART in MSPIM mode receiver includes an additional buffer level.
The SPI WCOL (Write Collision) bit is not included in USART in MSPIM mode.
The SPI double speed mode (SPI2X) bit is not included. However, the same effect is
achieved by setting UBRRn accordingly.
•
•
Interrupt timing is not compatible.
Pin control differs due to the master only operation of the USART in MSPIM mode.
232
ATmega640/1280/1281/2560/2561
2549L–AVR–08/07
ATMEL [ ATMEL ]
