ATmega8(L)
When configured as a Master, the SPI interface has no automatic control of the SS line. This
must be handled by user software before communication can start. When this is done, writing a
byte to the SPI Data Register starts the SPI clock generator, and the hardware shifts the eight
bits into the Slave. After shifting one byte, the SPI clock generator stops, setting the end of
Transmission Flag (SPIF). If the SPI interrupt enable bit (SPIE) in the SPCR Register is set, an
interrupt is requested. The Master may continue to shift the next byte by writing it into SPDR, or
signal the end of packet by pulling high the Slave Select, SS line. The last incoming byte will be
kept in the Buffer Register for later use.
When configured as a Slave, the SPI interface will remain sleeping with MISO tri-stated as long
as the SS pin is driven high. In this state, software may update the contents of the SPI Data
Register, SPDR, but the data will not be shifted out by incoming clock pulses on the SCK pin
until the SS pin is driven low. As one byte has been completely shifted, the end of Transmission
Flag, SPIF is set. If the SPI interrupt enable bit, SPIE, in the SPCR Register is set, an interrupt is
requested. The Slave may continue to place new data to be sent into SPDR before reading the
incoming data. The last incoming byte will be kept in the Buffer Register for later use.
Figure 58. SPI Master-Slave Interconnection
MSB
MASTER
LSB
MSB
SLAVE
LSB
MISO
MOSI
MISO
MOSI
8 BIT SHIFT REGISTER
8 BIT SHIFT REGISTER
SHIFT
ENABLE
SPI
SCK
SS
SCK
CLOCK GENERATOR
SS
VCC
The system is single buffered in the transmit direction and double buffered in the receive direc-
tion. This means that bytes to be transmitted cannot be written to the SPI Data Register before
the entire shift cycle is completed. When receiving data, however, a received character must be
read from the SPI Data Register before the next character has been completely shifted in. Oth-
erwise, the first byte is lost.
In SPI Slave mode, the control logic will sample the incoming signal of the SCK pin. To ensure
correct sampling of the clock signal, the minimum low and high periods should be:
Low period: longer than 2 CPU clock cycles
High period: longer than 2 CPU clock cycles.
When the SPI is enabled, the data direction of the MOSI, MISO, SCK, and SS pins is overridden
according to Table 47. For more details on automatic port overrides, refer to “Alternate Port
Functions” on page 56.
Table 47. SPI Pin Overrides(1)
Pin
Direction, Master SPI
Direction, Slave SPI
MOSI
User Defined
Input
125
2486T–AVR–05/08
ATMEL [ ATMEL ]
