48.6.2.6.1 Waveform Output Operations

The compare channels can be used for waveform generation on output port pins. To make the waveform available on the connected pin, the following requirements must be fulfilled:

Choose a Waveform Generation mode in the Waveform Generation Operation bit in Waveform register (WAVE.WAVEGEN).
Optionally invert the waveform output WO[x] by writing the corresponding Output Waveform x Invert Enable bit in the Driver Control register (DRVCTRL.INVENx).
Configure the pins with the I/O Pin Controller. Refer to PORT - I/O Pin Controller for details.
Note: Event must not be used when the compare channel is set in waveform output operating mode.

The counter value is continuously compared with each CCx value. On a comparison match, the Match or Capture Channel x bit in the Interrupt Flag Status and Clear register (INTFLAG.MCx) will be set on the next zero-to-one transition of CLK_TCx_CNT (see Normal Frequency Operation). An interrupt/and or event can be generated on comparison match if enabled. The same condition generates a DMA request.

There are four waveform configurations for the Waveform Generation Operation bit group in the Waveform register (WAVE.WAVEGEN). This will influence how the waveform is generated and impose restrictions on the top value. The configurations are:

Normal frequency (NFRQ)
Match frequency (MFRQ)
Normal pulse-width modulation (NPWM)
Match pulse-width modulation (MPWM)

When using NPWM or NFRQ configuration, the TOP will be determined by the counter resolution. In 8-bit Counter mode, the Period register (PER) is used as TOP, and the TOP can be changed by writing to the PER register. In 16- and 32-bit Counter mode, TOP is fixed to the maximum (MAX) value of the counter.

Normal Frequency Generation (NFRQ)

For Normal Frequency Generation, the period time (T) is controlled by the period register (PER) for 8-bit Counter mode and MAX for 16- and 32-bit mode. The waveform generation output (WO[x]) is toggled on each compare match between COUNT and CCx, and the corresponding Match or Capture Channel x Interrupt Flag (INTFLAG.MCx) will be set.

Match Frequency Generation (MFRQ)

For Match Frequency Generation, the period time (T) is controlled by the CC0 register instead of PER or MAX. WO[0] toggles on each Update condition.

Normal Pulse-Width Modulation Operation (NPWM)

NPWM uses single-slope PWM generation.

For single-slope PWM generation, the period time (T) is controlled by the TOP value, and CCx controls the duty cycle of the generated waveform output. When up-counting, the WO[x] is set at start or compare match between the COUNT and TOP values, and cleared on compare match between COUNT and CCx register values. When down-counting, the WO[x] is cleared at start or compare match between the COUNT and ZERO values, and set on compare match between COUNT and CCx register values.

The following equation calculates the exact resolution for a single-slope PWM (R_{PWM_SS}) waveform: 

R_{PWM_SS} = \frac{log(TOP+1)}{log(2)}

The PWM frequency (f_{PWM_SS}) depends on TOP value and the peripheral clock frequency (f_{GCLK_TCx}), and can be calculated by the following equation:

f_{PWM_SS} = \frac{f_{GCLK_TCx}}{N(TOP+1)}

Where N represents the prescaler divider used (1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 64, 256, 1024).

Match Pulse-Width Modulation Operation (MPWM)

In MPWM, the output of WO[1] is depending on CC1 as shown in the figure below. On every overflow/underflow, a one-TC-clock-cycle negative pulse is put out on WO[0] (not shown in the figure).

The table below shows the Update Counter and Overflow Event/Interrupt Generation conditions in different operation modes.

Table 48-4. Counter Update and Overflow Event/interrupt Conditions in TC
Name	Operation	TOP	Update	Output Waveform		OVFIF/Event
				On Match	On Update	Up	Down
NFRQ	Normal Frequency	PER	TOP/ ZERO	Toggle	Stable	TOP	ZERO
MFRQ	Match Frequency	CC0	TOP/ ZERO	Toggle	Stable	TOP	ZERO
NPWM	Single-slope PWM	PER	TOP/ ZERO	See description above.		TOP	ZERO
MPWM	Single-slope PWM	CC0	TOP/ ZERO	Toggle	Toggle	TOP	ZERO