ATmega640/1280/1281/2560/2561
The transmit buffer can only be written when the UDREn Flag in the UCSRnA Register
is set. Data written to UDRn when the UDREn Flag is not set, will be ignored by the
USART Transmitter. When data is written to the transmit buffer, and the Transmitter is
enabled, the Transmitter will load the data into the Transmit Shift Register when the
Shift Register is empty. Then the data will be serially transmitted on the TxDn pin.
The receive buffer consists of a two level FIFO. The FIFO will change its state whenever
the receive buffer is accessed. Due to this behavior of the receive buffer, do not use
Read-Modify-Write instructions (SBI and CBI) on this location. Be careful when using bit
test instructions (SBIC and SBIS), since these also will change the state of the FIFO.
USART Control and Status
Register A – UCSRnA
Bit
7
RXCn
R
6
TXCn
R/W
0
5
4
FEn
R
3
DORn
R
2
UPEn
R
1
U2Xn
R/W
0
0
MPCMn
R/W
0
UDREn
UCSRnA
Read/Write
Initial Value
R
1
0
0
0
0
• Bit 7 – RXCn: USART Receive Complete
This flag bit is set when there are unread data in the receive buffer and cleared when the
receive buffer is empty (i.e., does not contain any unread data). If the Receiver is dis-
abled, the receive buffer will be flushed and consequently the RXCn bit will become
zero. The RXCn Flag can be used to generate a Receive Complete interrupt (see
description of the RXCIEn bit).
• Bit 6 – TXCn: USART Transmit Complete
This flag bit is set when the entire frame in the Transmit Shift Register has been shifted
out and there are no new data currently present in the transmit buffer (UDRn). The
TXCn Flag bit is automatically cleared when a transmit complete interrupt is executed,
or it can be cleared by writing a one to its bit location. The TXCn Flag can generate a
Transmit Complete interrupt (see description of the TXCIEn bit).
• Bit 5 – UDREn: USART Data Register Empty
The UDREn Flag indicates if the transmit buffer (UDRn) is ready to receive new data. If
UDREn is one, the buffer is empty, and therefore ready to be written. The UDREn Flag
can generate a Data Register Empty interrupt (see description of the UDRIEn bit).
UDREn is set after a reset to indicate that the Transmitter is ready.
• Bit 4 – FEn: Frame Error
This bit is set if the next character in the receive buffer had a Frame Error when
received. I.e., when the first stop bit of the next character in the receive buffer is zero.
This bit is valid until the receive buffer (UDRn) is read. The FEn bit is zero when the stop
bit of received data is one. Always set this bit to zero when writing to UCSRnA.
• Bit 3 – DORn: Data OverRun
This bit is set if a Data OverRun condition is detected. A Data OverRun occurs when the
receive buffer is full (two characters), it is a new character waiting in the Receive Shift
Register, and a new start bit is detected. This bit is valid until the receive buffer (UDRn)
is read. Always set this bit to zero when writing to UCSRnA.
223
2549A–AVR–03/05
ATMEL [ ATMEL ]
