ATmega8U2/16U2/32U2
Figure 18-1. USART Block Diagram(1)
Clock Generator
UBRR[H:L]
OSC
BAUD RATE GENERATOR
SYNC LOGIC
PIN
XCK
CONTROL
Transmitter
TX
CONTROL
UDR (Transmit)
PARITY
GENERATOR
PIN
TxD
TRANSMIT SHIFT REGISTER
CONTROL
Receiver
CLOCK
RX
RECOVERY
CONTROL
DATA
RECOVERY
PIN
CONTROL
RECEIVE SHIFT REGISTER
RxD
PARITY
CHECKER
UDR (Receive)
UCSRA
UCSRB
UCSRC
Note:
1. See Figure 1-1 on page 2, Table 12-9 on page 79 and for USART pin placement.
The dashed boxes in the block diagram separate the three main parts of the USART (listed from
the top): Clock Generator, Transmitter and Receiver. Control Registers are shared by all units.
The Clock Generation logic consists of synchronization logic for external clock input used by
synchronous slave operation, and the baud rate generator. The XCKn (Transfer Clock) pin is
only used by synchronous transfer mode. The Transmitter consists of a single write buffer, a
serial Shift Register, Parity Generator and Control logic for handling different serial frame for-
mats. The write buffer allows a continuous transfer of data without any delay between frames.
The Receiver is the most complex part of the USART module due to its clock and data recovery
units. The recovery units are used for asynchronous data reception. In addition to the recovery
units, the Receiver includes a Parity Checker, Control logic, a Shift Register and a two level
receive buffer (UDRn). The Receiver supports the same frame formats as the Transmitter, and
can detect Frame Error, Data OverRun and Parity Errors.
18.3 Clock Generation
The Clock Generation logic generates the base clock for the Transmitter and Receiver. The
USARTn supports four modes of clock operation: Normal asynchronous, Double Speed asyn-
chronous, Master synchronous and Slave synchronous mode. The UMSELn bit in USART
Control and Status Register C (UCSRnC) selects between asynchronous and synchronous
operation. Double Speed (asynchronous mode only) is controlled by the U2Xn found in the
UCSRnA Register. When using synchronous mode (UMSELn = 1), the Data Direction Register
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7799D–AVR–11/10
ATMEL [ ATMEL ]
