111
ATmega16M1/32M1/64M1 [DATASHEET]
8209E–AVR–11/2012
The Timer/Counter Overflow Flag (TOVn) is set each time the counter reaches TOP. In addition the OCnA or ICFn
Flag is set at the same timer clock cycle as TOVn is set when either OCRnA or ICRn is used for defining the TOP
value. If one of the interrupts are enabled, the interrupt handler routine can be used for updating the TOP and com-
pare values.
When changing the TOP value the program must ensure that the new TOP value is higher or equal to the value of
all of the Compare Registers. If the TOP value is lower than any of the Compare Registers, a compare match will
never occur between the TCNTn and the OCRnx. Note that when using fixed TOP values the unused bits are
masked to zero when any of the OCRnx Registers are written.
The procedure for updating ICRn differs from updating OCRnA when used for defining the TOP value. The ICRn
Register is not double buffered. This means that if ICRn is changed to a low value when the counter is running with
none or a low prescaler value, there is a risk that the new ICRn value written is lower than the current value of
TCNTn. The result will then be that the counter will miss the compare match at the TOP value. The counter will
then have to count to the MAX value (0xFFFF) and wrap around starting at 0x0000 before the compare match can
occur. The OCRnA Register however, is double buffered. This feature allows the OCRnA I/O location to be written
anytime. When the OCRnA I/O location is written the value written will be put into the OCRnA Buffer Register. The
OCRnA Compare Register will then be updated with the value in the Buffer Register at the next timer clock cycle
the TCNTn matches TOP. The update is done at the same timer clock cycle as the TCNTn is cleared and the
TOVn Flag is set.
Using the ICRn Register for defining TOP works well when using fixed TOP values. By using ICRn, the OCRnA
Register is free to be used for generating a PWM output on OCnA. However, if the base PWM frequency is actively
changed (by changing the TOP value), using the OCRnA as TOP is clearly a better choice due to its double buffer
feature.
In fast PWM mode, the compare units allow generating of PWM waveforms on the OCnx pins. Setting the
COMnx1:0 bits to two will produce a non-inverted PWM and an inverted PWM output can be generated by setting
the COMnx1:0 to three (see
Table on page 118). The actual OCnx value will only be visible on the port pin if the
data direction for the port pin is set as output (DDR_OCnx). The PWM waveform is generated by setting (or clear-
ing) the OCnx Register at the compare match between OCRnx and TCNTn, and clearing (or setting) the OCnx
Register at the timer clock cycle the counter is cleared (changes from TOP to BOTTOM).
The PWM frequency for the output can be calculated by the following equation:
The N variable represents the prescaler divider (1, 8, 64, 256, or 1024).
The extreme values for the OCRnx Register represents special cases when generating a PWM waveform output in
the fast PWM mode. If the OCRnx is set equal to BOTTOM (0x0000) the output will be a narrow spike for each
TOP+1 timer clock cycle. Setting the OCRnx equal to TOP will result in a constant high or low output (depending
on the polarity of the output set by the COMnx1:0 bits).
A frequency (with 50% duty cycle) waveform output in fast PWM mode can be achieved by setting OCnA to toggle
its logical level on each compare match (COMnA1:0 = 1). This applies only if OCR1A is used to define the TOP
value (WGM13:0 = 15). The waveform generated will have a maximum frequency of f
OCnA = fclk_I/O/2 when OCRnA
is set to zero (0x0000). This feature is similar to the OCnA toggle in CTC mode, except the double buffer feature of
the Output Compare unit is enabled in the fast PWM mode.
15.9.4
Phase correct PWM mode
The phase correct Pulse Width Modulation or phase correct PWM mode (WGMn3:0 = 1, 2, 3, 10, or 11) provides a
high resolution phase correct PWM waveform generating option. The phase correct PWM mode is, like the phase
and frequency correct PWM mode, based on a dual-slope operation. The counter counts repeatedly from BOT-
f
OCnxPWM
f
clk_I/O
N
1
TOP
+
-----------------------------------
=