44.6.2.1 Initialization

The following registers are enable-protected, meaning that they can only be written when the TC is disabled (CTRLA.ENABLE = 0):

  • The Control A register (CTRLA), except the Enable (ENABLE) and Software Reset (SWRST) bits
  • The Drive Control register (DRVCTRL)
  • The Wave register (WAVE)
  • The Event Control register (EVCTRL)

Writing to Enable-Protected bits and setting the CTRLA.ENABLE bit can be performed in a single 32-bit access of the CTRLA register. Writing to Enable-Protected bits and clearing the CTRLA.ENABLE bit cannot be performed in a single 32-bit access.

Before enabling the TC, the peripheral must be configured using the following steps:
  1. Enable the TC bus clock (CLK_TCx_APB).
  2. Select 8-bit, 16- bit, or 32-bit counter mode through the TC Mode bit group in the Control A register (CTRLA.MODE). The default mode is 16-bit.
  3. Select one wave generation operation in the Waveform Generation Operation bit group in the WAVE register (WAVE.WAVEGEN).
  4. If desired, the GCLK_TCx clock can be prescaled via the Prescaler bit group in the Control A register (CTRLA.PRESCALER).
    • If the prescaler is used, select a prescaler synchronization operation via the Prescaler and Counter Synchronization bit group in the Control A register (CTRLA.PRESYNC).
  5. If desired, select one-shot operation by writing a '1' to the One-Shot bit in the Control B Set register (CTRLBSET.ONESHOT).
  6. If desired, configure the counting direction 'down' (starting from the TOP value) by writing a '1' to the Counter Direction bit in the Control B register (CTRLBSET.DIR).
  7. For capture operation, enable the individual channels to capture in the Capture Channel x Enable bit group in the Control A register (CTRLA.CAPTEN).
  8. If desired, enable inversion of the waveform output or IO pin input signal for individual channels via the Invert Enable bit group in the Drive Control register (DRVCTRL.INVEN).