85
ATmega8A [DATASHEET]
8159E–AVR–02/2013
counter, hence also its resolution. This mode allows greater control of the Compare Match output frequency. It also
simplifies the operation of counting external events.
The timing diagram for the CTC mode is shown in
Figure 17-6. The counter value (TCNT1) increases until a Com-
pare Match occurs with either OCR1A or ICR1, and then counter (TCNT1) is cleared.
Figure 17-6. CTC Mode, Timing Diagram
An interrupt can be generated at each time the counter value reaches the TOP value by either using the OCF1A or
ICF1 Flag according to the register used to define the TOP value. If the interrupt is enabled, the interrupt handler
routine can be used for updating the TOP value. However, changing the TOP to a value close to BOTTOM when
the counter is running with none or a low prescaler value must be done with care since the CTC mode does not
have the double buffering feature. If the new value written to OCR1A or ICR1 is lower than the current value of
TCNT1, the counter will miss the Compare Match. The counter will then have to count to its maximum value
(0xFFFF) and wrap around starting at 0x0000 before the Compare Match can occur. In many cases this feature is
not desirable. An alternative will then be to use the fast PWM mode using OCR1A for defining TOP (WGM13:0 =
15) since the OCR1A then will be double buffered.
For generating a waveform output in CTC mode, the OC1A output can be set to toggle its logical level on each
Compare Match by setting the Compare Output mode bits to toggle mode (COM1A1:0 = 1). The OC1A value will
not be visible on the port pin unless the data direction for the pin is set to output (DDR_OC1A = 1). The waveform
generated will have a maximum frequency of f
OC1A = fclk_I/O/2 when OCR1A is set to zero (0x0000). The waveform
frequency is defined by the following equation:
The N variable represents the prescaler factor (1, 8, 64, 256, or 1024).
As for the Normal mode of operation, the TOV1 Flag is set in the same timer clock cycle that the counter counts
from MAX to 0x0000.
17.9.3
Fast PWM Mode
The fast Pulse Width Modulation or fast PWM mode (WGM13:0 = 5, 6, 7, 14, or 15) provides a high frequency
PWM waveform generation option. The fast PWM differs from the other PWM options by its single-slope operation.
The counter counts from BOTTOM to TOP then restarts from BOTTOM. In non-inverting Compare Output mode,
the Output Compare (OC1x) is cleared on the Compare Match between TCNT1 and OCR1x, and set at BOTTOM.
In inverting Compare Output mode output is set on Compare Match and cleared at BOTTOM. Due to the single-
slope operation, the operating frequency of the fast PWM mode can be twice as high as the phase correct and
phase and frequency correct PWM modes that use dual-slope operation. This high frequency makes the fast PWM
TCNTn
OCnA
(Toggle)
OCnA Interrupt Flag Set
or ICFn Interrupt Flag Set
(Interrupt on TOP)
1
4
Period
2
3
(COMnA1:0 = 1)
fOCnA
f
clk_I/O
2
N
1
OCRnA
+
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=