Datasheet

the CPU, the high byte of the 16-bit register is copied into the TEMP register in the same clock cycle as
the low byte is read, and must be read subsequently.
Note: To perform a 16-bit write operation, the high byte must be written before the low byte. For a 16-bit
read, the low byte must be read before the high byte.
Not all 16-bit accesses use the temporary register for the high byte. Reading the OCRnA/B 16-bit
registers does not involve using the temporary register.
16-bit Access
The following code examples show how to access the 16-bit timer registers assuming that no interrupts
updates the temporary register. The same principle can be used directly for accessing the OCRnA/B and
ICRn registers. Note that when using C, the compiler handles the 16-bit access.
Assembly Code Example
(1)
...
; Set TCNTn to 0x01FF
ldi r17,0x01
ldi r16,0xFF
out TCNTnH,r17
out TCNTnL,r16
; Read TCNTn into r17:r16
in r16,TCNTnL
in r17,TCNTnH
...
The assembly code example returns the TCNTn value in the r17:r16 register pair.
C Code Example
(1)
unsigned int i;
...
/* Set TCNTn to 0x01FF */
TCNTn = 0x1FF;
/* Read TCNTn into i */
i = TCNTn;
...
Note:
1. The example code assumes that the part specific header file is included. For I/O registers located in
extended I/O map, “IN”, “OUT”, “SBIS”, “SBIC”, “CBI”, and “SBI” instructions must be replaced with
instructions that allow access to extended I/O. Typically “LDS” and “STS” combined with “SBRS”,
“SBRC”, “SBR”, and “CBR”.
Atomic Read
It is important to notice that accessing 16-bit registers are atomic operations. If an interrupt occurs
between the two instructions accessing the 16-bit register, and the interrupt code updates the temporary
register by accessing the same or any other of the 16-bit timer registers, then the result of the access
outside the interrupt will be corrupted. Therefore, when both the main code and the interrupt code update
the temporary register, the main code must disable the interrupts during the 16-bit access.
The following code examples show how to perform an atomic read of the TCNTn register contents. The
OCRnA/B or ICRn registers can be ready by using the same principle.
ATmega328PB
TC1, 3, 4 - 16-bit Timer/Counter1, 3, 4 with PWM
© 2018 Microchip Technology Inc.
Datasheet Complete
DS40001906C-page 160