The transmit buffer can only be written when the UDRE Flag in the UCSRA Register is
set. Data written to UDR when the UDRE 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 TxD 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 – UCSRA
Bit
7
RXC
R
6
5
UDRE
R
4
FE
R
3
DOR
R
2
PE
R
1
0
MPCM
R/W
0
TXC
R/W
0
U2X
R/W
0
UCSRA
Read/Write
Initial Value
0
1
0
0
0
• Bit 7 – RXC: 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 RXC bit will become zero.
The RXC Flag can be used to generate a Receive Complete interrupt (see description of
the RXCIE bit).
• Bit 6 – TXC: 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 (UDR). The TXC
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 TXC Flag can generate a Transmit
Complete interrupt (see description of the TXCIE bit).
• Bit 5 – UDRE: USART Data Register Empty
The UDRE Flag indicates if the transmit buffer (UDR) is ready to receive new data. If
UDRE is one, the buffer is empty, and therefore ready to be written. The UDRE Flag can
generate a Data Register empty Interrupt (see description of the UDRIE bit).
UDRE is set after a reset to indicate that the transmitter is ready.
• Bit 4 – FE: 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 (UDR) is read. The FE bit is zero when the stop
bit of received data is one. Always set this bit to zero when writing to UCSRA.
• Bit 3 – DOR: 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 (UDR) is
read. Always set this bit to zero when writing to UCSRA.
160
ATmega32(L)
2503J–AVR–10/06
ATMEL [ ATMEL ]
