MC68HC08AZ32A Datasheet, PDF (242/312 Pages) Motorola, Inc – HCMOS Microcontroller Unit

Timer Interface Module A (TIMA)
17.3.4 Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)
By using the toggle-on-overflow feature with an output compare channel, the TIMA can generate a PWM
signal. The value in the TIMA counter modulo registers determines the period of the PWM signal. The
channel pin toggles when the counter reaches the value in the TIMA counter modulo registers. The time
between overflows is the period of the PWM signal.
As Figure 17-4 shows, the output compare value in the TIMA channel registers determines the pulse width
of the PWM signal. The time between overflow and output compare is the pulse width. Program the TIMA
to clear the channel pin on output compare if the state of the PWM pulse is 1. Program the TIMA to set
the pin if the state of the PWM pulse is 0.
OVERFLOW
OVERFLOW
OVERFLOW
PTEx/TCHx
PERIOD
PULSE
WIDTH
OUTPUT
COMPARE
OUTPUT
COMPARE
OUTPUT
COMPARE
Figure 17-4. PWM Period and Pulse Width
The value in the TIMA counter modulo registers and the selected prescaler output determines the
frequency of the PWM output. The frequency of an 8-bit PWM signal is variable in 256 increments. Writing
$00FF (255) to the TIMA counter modulo registers produces a PWM period of 256 times the internal bus
clock period if the prescaler select value is $000 (see 17.8.1 TIMA Status and Control Register).
The value in the TIMA channel registers determines the pulse width of the PWM output. The pulse width
of an 8-bit PWM signal is variable in 256 increments. Writing $0080 (128) to the TIMA channel registers
produces a duty cycle of 128/256 or 50%.
17.3.4.1 Unbuffered PWM Signal Generation
Any output compare channel can generate unbuffered PWM pulses as described in 17.3.4 Pulse Width
Modulation (PWM). The pulses are unbuffered because changing the pulse width requires writing the new
pulse width value over the value currently in the TIMA channel registers.
An unsynchronized write to the TIMA channel registers to change a pulse width value could cause
incorrect operation for up to two PWM periods. For example, writing a new value before the counter
reaches the old value but after the counter reaches the new value prevents any compare during that PWM
period. Also, using a TIMA overflow interrupt routine to write a new, smaller pulse width value may cause
the compare to be missed. The TIMA may pass the new value before it is written to the TIMA channel
registers.
Use the following methods to synchronize unbuffered changes in the PWM pulse width on channel x:
• When changing to a shorter pulse width, enable channel x output compare interrupts and write the
new value in the output compare interrupt routine. The output compare interrupt occurs at the end
of the current pulse. The interrupt routine has until the end of the PWM period to write the new
value.
MC68HC08AZ32A Data Sheet, Rev. 2
242
Freescale Semiconductor