C8051F336/7/8/9
24.3. Timer 3
Timer 3 is a 16-bit timer formed by two 8-bit SFRs: TMR3L (low byte) and TMR3H (high byte). Timer 3 may
operate in 16-bit auto-reload mode or (split) 8-bit auto-reload mode. The T3SPLIT bit (TMR3CN.3) defines
the Timer 3 operation mode.
Timer 3 may be clocked by the system clock, the system clock divided by 12, the external oscillator source
divided by 8, or the internal low-frequency oscillator divided by 8. The external clock mode is ideal for real-
time clock (RTC) functionality, where the internal high-frequency oscillator drives the system clock while
Timer 3 is clocked by an external oscillator source. Note that the external oscillator source divided by 8 and
the LFO source divided by 8 are synchronized with the system clock when in all operating modes except
suspend. When the internal oscillator is placed in suspend mode, The external clock / 8 signal or the LFO /
8 output can directly drive the timer. This allows the use of an external clock or the LFO to wake up the
device from suspend mode. The timer will continue to run in suspend mode and count up. When the timer
overflow occurs, the device will wake from suspend mode, and begin executing code again. The timer
value may be set prior to entering suspend, to overflow in the desired amount of time (number of clocks) to
wake the device. If a wake-up source other than the timer wakes the device from suspend mode, it may
take up to three timer clocks before the timer registers can be read or written. During this time, the
STSYNC bit in register OSCICN will be set to '1', to indicate that it is not safe to read or write the timer reg-
isters.
Important Note: In internal LFO / 8 mode, the divider for the internal LFO must be set to 1 for proper
functionality. The timer will not operate if the LFO divider is not set to 1.
24.3.1. 16-bit Timer with Auto-Reload
When T3SPLIT (TMR3CN.3) is zero, Timer 3 operates as a 16-bit timer with auto-reload. Timer 3 can be
clocked by SYSCLK, SYSCLK divided by 12, or the external oscillator clock source divided by 8. As the
16-bit timer register increments and overflows from 0xFFFF to 0x0000, the 16-bit value in the Timer 3
reload registers (TMR3RLH and TMR3RLL) is loaded into the Timer 3 register as shown in Figure 24.7,
and the Timer 3 High Byte Overflow Flag (TMR3CN.7) is set. If Timer 3 interrupts are enabled (if EIE1.7 is
set), an interrupt will be generated on each Timer 3 overflow. Additionally, if Timer 3 interrupts are enabled
and the TF3LEN bit is set (TMR3CN.5), an interrupt will be generated each time the lower 8 bits (TMR3L)
overflow from 0xFF to 0x00.
CKCON
T T T T T T S S
3 3 2 2 1 0 C C
T3XCLK[1:0]
M M M M M M A A
H L H L
1 0
SYSCLK / 12
External Clock / 8
Internal LFO / 8
00
To ADC
0
01
11
TCLK
TR3
TF3H
TF3L
TF3LEN
TF3CEN
T3SPLIT
TR3
TMR3L
TMR3H
Interrupt
1
T3XCLK1
T3XCLK0
SYSCLK
TMR3RLL TMR3RLH
Reload
Figure 24.7. Timer 3 16-Bit Mode Block Diagram
Rev. 0.2
203
SILICON [ SILICON ]
