ATMEGA8U2_14 Datasheet, PDF (184/310 Pages) ATMEL Corporation – 125 Powerful Instructions – Most Single Clock Cycle Execution

ATmega8U2/16U2/32U2
However, since the USART in MSPIM mode reuses the USART resources, the use of the
USART in MSPIM mode is somewhat different compared to the SPI. In addition to differences of
the control register bits, and that only master operation is supported by the USART in MSPIM
mode, the following features differ between the two modules:
• The USART in MSPIM mode includes (double) buffering of the transmitter. The SPI has no
buffer.
• The USART in MSPIM mode receiver includes an additional buffer level.
• The SPI WCOL (Write Collision) bit is not included in USART in MSPIM mode.
• The SPI double speed mode (SPI2X) bit is not included. However, the same effect is
achieved by setting UBRRn accordingly.
• Interrupt timing is not compatible.
• Pin control differs due to the master only operation of the USART in MSPIM mode.
A comparison of the USART in MSPIM mode and the SPI pins is shown in Table 19-4 on page
184.
Table 19-4. Comparison of USART in MSPIM mode and SPI pins.
USART_MSPIM
SPI
Comment
TxDn
MOSI
Master Out only
RxDn
MISO
Master In only
XCKn
SCK
(Functionally identical)
(N/A)
SS
Not supported by USART in MSPIM
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