36.2.6 Transfer Counter

In all Host modes, the transfer counter can be used to determine how many data transfers the SPI will send/receive. The transfer counter is comprised of the SPIxTCNT registers and is also partially controlled by the SPIxTWIDTH register.

The transfer counter has two primary modes, determined by the BMODE bit. Each mode uses the SPIxTCNT and SPIxTWIDTH registers to determine the number and size of the transfers. In both modes, when the transfer counter reaches zero, the TCZIF interrupt flag is set.
Important:

In all Client modes and when BMODE = 1 in Host modes, the transfer counter will still decrement as transfers occur and can be used to count the number of messages sent/received, control SS_out, and trigger TCZIF. Also, when BMODE = 1, the SPIxTWIDTH register can be used in Host and Client modes to determine the size of messages sent and received by the SPI, even if the transfer counter is not being actively used to control the number of messages being sent/received by the SPI module.