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ATtiny40 [DATASHEET]
8263B–AVR–01/2013
13. Timer/Counter Prescaler
Timer/Counter0 and Timer/Counter1 share the same prescaler module, but the Timer/Counters can have different
prescaler settings. The description below applies to both Timer/Counters. Tn is used as a general name, n = 0, 1.
The Timer/Counter can be clocked directly by the system clock (by setting the CSn[2:0] = 1). This provides the
fastest operation, with a maximum Timer/Counter clock frequency equal to system clock frequency (f
CLK_I/O). Alter-
natively, one of four taps from the prescaler can be used as a clock source. The prescaled clock has a frequency of
either f
CLK_I/O/8, fCLK_I/O/64, fCLK_I/O/256, or fCLK_I/O/1024.
13.1
Prescaler Reset
The prescaler is free running, i.e., operates independently of the Clock Select logic of the Timer/CounterCounter,
and it is shared by the Timer/Counter Tn. Since the prescaler is not affected by the Timer/Counter’s clock select,
the state of the prescaler will have implications for situations where a prescaled clock is used. One example of
prescaling artifacts occurs when the timer is enabled and clocked by the prescaler (CSn[2:0] = 2, 3, 4, or 5). The
number of system clock cycles from when the timer is enabled to the first count occurs can be from 1 to N+1 sys-
tem clock cycles, where N equals the prescaler divisor (8, 64, 256, or 1024).
It is possible to use the Prescaler Reset for synchronizing the Timer/Counter to program execution.
13.2
External Clock Source
An external clock source applied to the Tn pin can be used as Timer/Counter clock (clk
Tn). The Tn pin is sampled
once every system clock cycle by the pin synchronization logic. The synchronized (sampled) signal is then passed
through the edge detector.
Figure 13-1 shows a functional equivalent block diagram of the Tn synchronization and
edge detector logic. The registers are clocked at the positive edge of the internal system clock (clk
I/O). The latch is
transparent in the high period of the internal system clock.
The edge detector generates one clk
T0 pulse for each positive (CSn[2:0] = 7) or negative (CSn[2:0] = 6) edge it
detects.
Figure 13-1. T0 Pin Sampling
The synchronization and edge detector logic introduces a delay of 2.5 to 3.5 system clock cycles from an edge has
been applied to the Tn pin to the counter is updated.
Enabling and disabling of the clock input must be done when Tn has been stable for at least one system clock
cycle, otherwise it is a risk that a false Timer/Counter clock pulse is generated.
Each half period of the external clock applied must be longer than one system clock cycle to ensure correct sam-
pling. The external clock must be guaranteed to have less than half the system clock frequency (f
ExtClk < fclk_I/O/2)
given a 50/50% duty cycle. Since the edge detector uses sampling, the maximum frequency of an external clock it
can detect is half the sampling frequency (Nyquist sampling theorem). However, due to variation of the system
clock frequency and duty cycle caused by Oscillator source (crystal, resonator, and capacitors) tolerances, it is rec-
ommended that maximum frequency of an external clock source is less than f
clk_I/O/2.5.
An external clock source can not be prescaled.
Tn_sync
(To Clock
Select Logic)
Edge Detector
Synchronization
DQ
LE
DQ
Tn
clk
I/O