34.6.2.7 Double Buffering

The Compare Channels (CCx) registers, and the Period (PER) register in 8-bit mode are double buffered. Each buffer register has a buffer valid bit (CCBUFVx or PERBUFV) in the STATUS register, which indicates that the buffer register contains a new valid value that can be copied into the corresponding register. As long as the respective buffer valid status flag (PERBUFV or CCBUFVx) are set to '1', related syncbusy bits are set (SYNCBUSY.PER or SYNCBUSY.CCx), a write to the respective PER/PERBUF or CCx/CCBUFx registers will generate a PAC error, and access to the respective PER or CCx register is invalid.

When the buffer valid flag bit in the STATUS register is '1' and the Lock Update bit in the CTRLB register is set to '0', (writing CTRLBCLR.LUPD to '1'), double buffering is enabled: the data from buffer registers will be copied into the corresponding register under hardware UPDATE conditions, then the buffer valid flags bit in the STATUS register are automatically cleared by hardware.

Note: The software update command (CTRLBSET.CMD=0x3) is acting independently of the LUPD value.

A compare register is double buffered as in the following figure.

Figure 34-7. Compare Channel Double Buffering

Both the registers (PER/CCx) and corresponding buffer registers (PERBUF/CCBUFx) are available in the I/O register map, and the double buffering feature is not mandatory. The double buffering is disabled by writing a '1' to CTRLBSET.LUPD.

Note: In NFRQ, MFRQ or PWM down-counting counter mode (CTRLBSET.DIR=1), when double buffering is enabled (CTRLBCLR.LUPD=1), PERBUF register is continously copied into the PER independently of update conditions.

Changing the Period

The counter period can be changed by writing a new TOP value to the Period register (PER or CC0, depending on the waveform generation mode), any period update on registers (PER or CCx) is effective after the synchronization delay, whatever double buffering enabling is.

Figure 34-8. Unbuffered Single-Slope Up-Counting Operation

A counter wraparound can occur in any operation mode when up-counting without buffering, see Figure 34-8.

COUNT and TOP are continuously compared, so when a new TOP value that is lower than current COUNT is written to TOP, COUNT will wrap before a compare match.

Figure 34-9. Unbuffered Single-Slope Down-Counting Operation

When double buffering is used, the buffer can be written at any time and the counter will still maintain correct operation. The period register is always updated on the update condition, as shown in Figure 34-10. This prevents wraparound and the generation of odd waveforms.

Figure 34-10. Changing the Period Using Buffering