Introduction


Author: Bogdan-Alexandru Mariniuc Microchip Technology Inc.

The AVR® EB family of devices contains powerful timers that enable them to cover a range of applications. The Timer/Counter type F (TCF) functions include frequency and waveform generation.

The timer is asynchronous and can be connected to an external clock source of up to 80 MHz. One of the main characteristics which differentiates it from other timers is the Numerical Controller Oscillator (NCO) operation mode.

This technical brief familiarizes the reader with TCF operating modes, emphasizing the timer’s unique features, such as NCO mode and 24-bit resolution. To better understand the functionality, consult the data sheet in the References section.

This document covers two specific use cases:

Generate Two Constant-On-Time PWM Signals:
Initialize the timer in NCO Pulse-Frequency Mode to generate two PWM signals with a variable duty cycle that creates a Constant-On-Time effect.
Generate Two Variable-Frequency Signals:
Initialize the timer in NCO Fixed Duty Cycle Mode to generate two variable frequency signals.

Note: There are two code examples for each use case described in this document. One bare metal developed on AVR16EB32, and one generated with MPLAB® Code Configurator (MCC) developed on AVR16EB32.

Find bare metal code examples for AVR16EB32 with the same functionality as the ones described in this technical brief here:

Find MCC Melody generated code examples for AVR16EB32 with the same functionality as the ones described in this technical brief here: