AVR CPU Core
Introduction
This section discusses the AVR core architecture in general. The main function of the
CPU core is to ensure correct program execution. The CPU must therefore be able to
access memories, perform calculations, control peripherals, and handle interrupts.
Architectural Overview
Figure 3. Block Diagram of the AVR MCU Architecture
Data Bus 8-bit
Program
Counter
Status
and Control
Flash
Program
Memory
Interrupt
Unit
32 x 8
General
Purpose
Registrers
Instruction
Register
SPI
Unit
Instruction
Decoder
Watchdog
Timer
ALU
Analog
Comparator
Control Lines
I/O Module1
I/O Module 2
I/O Module n
Data
SRAM
EEPROM
I/O Lines
In order to maximize performance and parallelism, the AVR uses a Harvard architecture
– with separate memories and buses for program and data. Instructions in the program
memory are executed with a single level pipelining. While one instruction is being exe-
cuted, the next instruction is pre-fetched from the program memory. This concept
enables instructions to be executed in every clock cycle. The program memory is In-
System Reprogrammable Flash memory.
The fast-access Register File contains 32 x 8-bit general purpose working registers with
a single clock cycle access time. This allows single-cycle Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
operation. In a typical ALU operation, two operands are output from the Register File,
the operation is executed, and the result is stored back in the Register File – in one
clock cycle.
Six of the 32 registers can be used as three 16-bit indirect address register pointers for
Data Space addressing – enabling efficient address calculations. One of the these
address pointers can also be used as an address pointer for look up tables in Flash Pro-
gram memory. These added function registers are the 16-bit X-, Y-, and Z-register,
described later in this section.
The ALU supports arithmetic and logic operations between registers or between a con-
stant and a register. Single register operations can also be executed in the ALU. After
8
ATmega32(L)
2503J–AVR–10/06
ATMEL [ ATMEL ]
