2001 Microchip Technology Inc.
Advance Information
DS39541A-page 129
PIC18C601/801
10.1
Timer0 Operation
Timer0 can operate as a timer or as a counter.
Timer mode is selected by clearing the T0CS bit. In
Timer mode, the Timer0 module will increment every
instruction cycle (without prescaler). If the TMR0L reg-
ister is written, the increment is inhibited for the follow-
ing two instruction cycles. The user can work around
this by writing an adjusted value to the TMR0L register.
Counter mode is selected by setting the T0CS bit. In
Counter mode, Timer0 will increment either on every
rising, or falling edge, of pin RA4/T0CKI. The incre-
menting edge is determined by the Timer0 Source
Edge Select bit (T0SE). Clearing the T0SE bit selects
the rising edge. Restrictions on the external clock input
are discussed below.
When an external clock input is used for Timer0, it must
meet certain requirements. The requirements ensure
the external clock can be synchronized with the internal
phase clock (TOSC). Also, there is a delay in the actual
incrementing of Timer0 after synchronization.
10.2
Prescaler
An 8-bit counter is available as a prescaler for the
Timer0 module. The prescaler is not readable or
writable.
The PSA and T0PS2:T0PS0 bits determine the
prescaler assignment and prescale ratio.
Clearing bit PSA will assign the prescaler to the Timer0
module. When the prescaler is assigned to the Timer0
module, prescale values of 1:2, 1:4, ..., 1:256 are
selectable.
When assigned to the Timer0 module, all instructions
writing to the TMR0 register (e.g. CLRF
TMR0,
MOVWF TMR0, BSF TMR0, x
.... etc.) will clear the
prescaler count.
10.2.1
SWITCHING PRESCALER
ASSIGNMENT
The prescaler assignment is fully under software con-
trol (i.e., it can be changed “on-the-fly” during program
execution).
10.3
Timer0 Interrupt
The TMR0 interrupt is generated when the TMR0 reg-
ister overflows from FFh to 00h in 8-bit mode, or FFFFh
to 0000h in 16-bit mode. This overflow sets the TMR0IF
bit. The interrupt can be masked by clearing the
TMR0IE bit. The TMR0IF bit must be cleared in soft-
ware by the Timer0 module Interrupt Service Routine
before re-enabling this interrupt. The TMR0 interrupt
cannot awaken the processor from SLEEP, since the
timer is shut-off during SLEEP.
10.4
16-Bit Mode Timer Reads and
Writes
Timer0 can be set in 16-bit mode by clearing T0CON
T08BIT. Registers TMR0H and TMR0L are used to
access 16-bit timer value.
TMR0H is not the high byte of the timer/counter in
16-bit mode, but is actually a buffered version of the
of the Timer0 counter/timer is not directly readable nor
writable. TMR0H is updated with the contents of the
high byte of Timer0 during a read of TMR0L. This pro-
vides the ability to read all 16-bits of Timer0 without
having to verify that the read of the high and low byte
were valid, due to a rollover between successive reads
of the high and low byte.
A write to the high byte of Timer0 must also take place
through the TMR0H buffer register. Timer0 high byte is
updated with the contents of the buffered value of
TMR0H, when a write occurs to TMR0L. This allows all
16-bits of Timer0 to be updated at once.
TABLE 10-1:
REGISTERS ASSOCIATED WITH TIMER0
Note:
Writing to TMR0 when the prescaler is
assigned to Timer0, will clear the prescaler
count but will not change the prescaler
assignment.
Name
Bit 7
Bit 6
Bit 5
Bit 4
Bit 3
Bit 2
Bit 1
Bit 0
Value on
POR, BOR
Value on
all other
RESETS
TMR0L
Timer0 Module’s Low Byte Register
xxxx xxxx
uuuu uuuu
TMR0H
Timer0 Module’s High Byte Register
0000 0000
INTCON
GIE/GIEH
PEIE/GIEL TMR0IE INT0IE
RBIE
TMR0IF INT0IF
RBIF
0000 000x
0000 000u
T0CON
TMR0ON
T08BIT
T0CS
T0SE
PSA
T0PS2
T0PS1 T0PS0
1111 1111
TRISA
—
PORTA Data Direction Register
--11 1111
Legend: x = unknown, u = unchanged, - = unimplemented locations read as '0'. Shaded cells are not used by Timer0.