Datasheet

ATmega48/88/168 Automotive [DATASHEET]
7530K–AVR–07/14
208
The ADC generates a 10-bit result which is presented in the ADC data registers, ADCH and ADCL. By default, the result is
presented right adjusted, but can optionally be presented left adjusted by setting the ADLAR bit in ADMUX.
If the result is left adjusted and no more than 8-bit precision is required, it is sufficient to read ADCH. Otherwise, ADCL must
be read first, then ADCH, to ensure that the content of the data registers belongs to the same conversion. Once ADCL is
read, ADC access to data registers is blocked. This means that if ADCL has been read, and a conversion completes before
ADCH is read, neither register is updated and the result from the conversion is lost. When ADCH is read, ADC access to the
ADCH and ADCL registers is re-enabled.
The ADC has its own interrupt which can be triggered when a conversion completes. When ADC access to the data registers
is prohibited between reading of ADCH and ADCL, the interrupt will trigger even if the result is lost.
21.2 Starting a Conversion
A single conversion is started by disabling the power reduction ADC bit, PRADC, in
Section 7.7.1 “Power Reduction Register - PRR” on page 35 by writing a logical zero to it and writing a logical one to the
ADC start conversion bit, ADSC. This bit stays high as long as the conversion is in progress and will be cleared by hardware
when the conversion is completed. If a different data channel is selected while a conversion is in progress, the ADC will
finish the current conversion before performing the channel change.
Alternatively, a conversion can be triggered automatically by various sources. Auto triggering is enabled by setting the ADC
auto trigger enable bit, ADATE in ADCSRA. The trigger source is selected by setting the ADC trigger select bits, ADTS in
ADCSRB (see description of the ADTS bits for a list of the trigger sources). When a positive edge occurs on the selected
trigger signal, the ADC prescaler is reset and a conversion is started. This provides a method of starting conversions at fixed
intervals. If the trigger signal still is set when the conversion completes, a new conversion will not be started. If another
positive edge occurs on the trigger signal during conversion, the edge will be ignored. Note that an interrupt flag will be set
even if the specific interrupt is disabled or the global interrupt enable bit in SREG is cleared. A conversion can thus be
triggered without causing an interrupt. However, the interrupt flag must be cleared in order to trigger a new conversion at the
next interrupt event.
Figure 21-2. ADC Auto Trigger Logic
Using the ADC interrupt flag as a trigger source makes the ADC start a new conversion as soon as the ongoing conversion
has finished. The ADC then operates in free running mode, constantly sampling and updating the ADC data register. The
first conversion must be started by writing a logical one to the ADSC bit in ADCSRA. In this mode the ADC will perform
successive conversions independently of whether the ADC interrupt flag, ADIF is cleared or not.
If auto triggering is enabled, single conversions can be started by writing ADSC in ADCSRA to one. ADSC can also be used
to determine if a conversion is in progress. The ADSC bit will be read as one during a conversion, independently of how the
conversion was started.
Edge
Detector
Conversion
Logic
Prescaler
ADIF
ADSC
ADATE
START CLK
ADC
ADTS[2:0]
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SOURCE 1
SOURCE n