M16C62A Datasheet, PDF (57/242 Pages) Mitsubishi Electric Semiconductor – SINGLE-CHIP 16-BIT CMOS MICROCOMPUTER

Watchdog Timer
Mitsubishi microcomputers
M16C / 62A Group (80-pin)
SINGLE-CHIP 16-BIT CMOS MICROCOMPUTER
Watchdog Timer
The watchdog timer has the function of detecting when the program is out of control. Therefore, we recom-
mend using the watchdog timer to improve reliability of a system. The watchdog timer is a 15-bit counter
which down-counts the clock derived by dividing the BCLK using the prescaler. A watchdog timer interrupt
is generated when an underflow occurs in the watchdog timer. When XIN is selected for the BCLK, bit 7 of
the watchdog timer control register (address 000F16) selects the prescaler division ratio (by 16 or by 128).
When XCIN is selected as the BCLK, the prescaler is set for division by 2 regardless of bit 7 of the watchdog
timer control register (address 000F16). Thus the watchdog timer's period can be calculated as given
below. The watchdog timer's period is, however, subject to an error due to the prescaler.
With XIN chosen for BCLK
Watchdog timer period =
prescaler dividing ratio (16 or 128) X watchdog timer count (32768)
BCLK
With XCIN chosen for BCLK
Watchdog timer period =
prescaler dividing ratio (2) X watchdog timer count (32768)
BCLK
For example, suppose that BCLK runs at 16 MHz and that 16 has been chosen for the dividing ratio of the
prescaler, then the watchdog timer's period becomes approximately 32.8 ms.
The watchdog timer is initialized by writing to the watchdog timer start register (address 000E16) and when
a watchdog timer interrupt request is generated. The prescaler is initialized only when the microcomputer is
reset. After a reset is cancelled, the watchdog timer and prescaler are both stopped. The count is started by
writing to the watchdog timer start register (address 000E16). In stop mode and wait mode, the watchdog
timer and prescaler are stopped. Counting is resumed from the held value when the modes are released.
Figure 1.11.1 shows the block diagram of the watchdog timer. Figure 1.11.2 shows the watchdog timer-
related registers.
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