PIC16F877 Timer Modules tutorials - Timer0
Many times, we plan and build
systems that perform various processes that depend on time.
Simple example of this process is
the digital wristwatch. The role of this electronic system is to display time
in a very precise manner and change the display every second (for seconds),
every minute (for minutes) and so on.
To perform the steps we've listed,
the system must use a timer, which needs to be very accurate in order to take
necessary actions.The clock is actually a core of any electronic system.
In this PIC timer module tutorial we
will study the existing PIC timer modules. The microcontroller PIC16F877 has 3
different timers:
We can use these timers for various
important purposes. So far we used “delay procedure” to implement some delay in
the program, that was counting up to a specific value, before the program could
be continued. "Delay procedure" had two disadvantages:
- we could not say exactly how long the Delay procedure was in progress
- we could not perform any further steps while the program executes the "delay procedure"
Now, using Timers we can build a
very precise time delays which will be based on the system clock and allow us
to achieve our desired time delay well-known in advance.
In order for us to know how to work with these timers, we need to learn some things about each one of them. We will study each one separately.
In order for us to know how to work with these timers, we need to learn some things about each one of them. We will study each one separately.
PIC
Timer0 tutorial
The Timer0 module timer/counter has
the following features:
- 8-bit timer/counter
- Readable and writable
- 8-bit software programmable prescaler
- Internal (4 Mhz) or external clock select
- Interrupt on overflow from FFh to 00h
- Edge select (rising or falling) for external clock
Let’s explain the features of PIC
Timer0 we have listed above:
Timer0 has a register called TMR0
Register, which is 8 bits of size.
We can write the desired value into the register which will be increment as the program progresses. Frequency varies depending on the Prescaler. Maximum value that can be assigned to this register is 255.
We can write the desired value into the register which will be increment as the program progresses. Frequency varies depending on the Prescaler. Maximum value that can be assigned to this register is 255.
TMR0IF - TMR0 Overflow Interrupt
Flag bit.
The TMR0 interrupt is generated when the TMR0 register overflows from FFh to 00h. This overflow sets bit TMR0IF (INTCON<2>). You can initialize the value of this register to what ever you want (not necessarily "0").
We can read the value of the register TMR0 and write into. We can reset its value at any given moment (write) or we can check if there is a certain numeric value that we need (read).
The TMR0 interrupt is generated when the TMR0 register overflows from FFh to 00h. This overflow sets bit TMR0IF (INTCON<2>). You can initialize the value of this register to what ever you want (not necessarily "0").
We can read the value of the register TMR0 and write into. We can reset its value at any given moment (write) or we can check if there is a certain numeric value that we need (read).
Prescaler - Frequency divider.
We can use
Prescaler for further division of the system clock. The options are:
- 1:2
- 1:4
- 1:8
- 1:16
- 1:32
- 1:64
- 1:128
- 1:256
The structure of the OPTION_REG register
We perform
all the necessary settings with OPTION_REG Register. The size of the register
is 8 bits. Click the link to explore the relevant bits of OPTION_REG
Register
Initializing the OPTION_REG register
The
following is an example how we can initialize the OPTION_REG:
- PSA=0; // Prescaler is assigned to the Timer0 module
- PS0=1; // Prescaler rate bits
- PS1=1; // are set to “111”
- PS2=1; // which means divide by 256
- TOSE=0; // rising edge
- TOCS=0; // Internal instruction cycle clock
Block diagram of the PIC Timer0 / WDT prescaler
PIC TIMER0 block diagram
Calculating Count, Fout, and TMR0 values
If using INTERNAL crystal as clock, the division is
performed as follow:
PIC TIMER0 formula for internal clock
Fout– The output frequency after the
division.
Tout – The Cycle Time after the division.
4 - The division of the original clock (4 MHz) by 4, when using internal crystal as clock (and not external oscillator).
Count - A numeric value to be placed to obtain the desired output frequency - Fout.
(256 - TMR0) - The number of times in the timer will count based on the register TMR0.
Tout – The Cycle Time after the division.
4 - The division of the original clock (4 MHz) by 4, when using internal crystal as clock (and not external oscillator).
Count - A numeric value to be placed to obtain the desired output frequency - Fout.
(256 - TMR0) - The number of times in the timer will count based on the register TMR0.
An example of INTERNAL crystal as clock
Suppose we
want to create a delay of 0.5 second in the our program using Timer0. What is the value of Count?
Calculation:
First, let’s assume that the frequency division by the Prescaler will be 1:256. Second, let’s set TMR0=0. Thus:
First, let’s assume that the frequency division by the Prescaler will be 1:256. Second, let’s set TMR0=0. Thus:
Formula to calculate Cout using Timer0
If using EXTERNAL clock source (oscillator), the
division is performed as follow:
PIC TIMER0 formula for external clock
In this case
there is no division by 4 of the original clock. We use the external frequency
as it is.
An example of EXTERNAL clock source (oscillator):
What is the output frequency - Fout, when the external oscillator is
100kHz and Count=8?
Calculation:
First, let’s assume that the frequency division by the Prescaler will be 1:256. Second, let’s set TMR0=0. Thus:
First, let’s assume that the frequency division by the Prescaler will be 1:256. Second, let’s set TMR0=0. Thus:
Formula to calculate Fout for Timer0
Delay of 1 sec using Timer0
The
following simple program creates a delay of 1 sec using Timer0:
1 sec delay using Timer0
