Datasheet

Power Conditions Start-Up Time from Power-down
and Power-save
Additional Delay from Reset (V
CC
=
5.0V)
SUT[1:0]
Slowly rising power 6 CK 14CK + 65ms 10
Reserved 11
When applying an external clock, it is required to avoid sudden changes in the applied clock frequency to
ensure stable operation of the MCU. A variation in frequency of more than 2% from one clock cycle to the
next can lead to unpredictable behavior. If changes of more than 2% is required, ensure that the MCU is
kept in Reset during the changes.
The System Clock Prescaler can be used to implement run-time changes of the internal clock frequency
while still ensuring stable operation.
Related Links
System Clock Prescaler on page 51
10.9. Timer/Counter Oscillator
The device uses the same crystal oscillator for Low-frequency Oscillator and Timer/Counter Oscillator.
See Low Frequency Crystal Oscillator for details on the oscillator and crystal requirements.
On this device, the Timer/Counter Oscillator Pins (TOSC1 and TOSC2) are shared with XTAL1 and
XTAL2. When using the Timer/Counter Oscillator, the system clock needs to be four times the oscillator
frequency. Due to this and the pin sharing, the Timer/Counter Oscillator can only be used when the
Calibrated Internal RC Oscillator is selected as system clock source.
Applying an external clock source to TOSC1 can be done if the Enable External Clock Input bit in the
Asynchronous Status Register (ASSR.EXCLK) is written to '1'. See the description of the Asynchronous
Operation of Timer/Counter2 for further description on selecting external clock as input instead of a
32.768kHz watch crystal.
Related Links
Low Frequency Crystal Oscillator on page 47
OCR2B on page 209
ASSR on page 212
10.10. Clock Output Buffer
The device can output the system clock on the CLKO pin. To enable the output, the CKOUT Fuse has to
be programmed. This mode is suitable when the chip clock is used to drive other circuits on the system.
The clock also will be output during reset, and the normal operation of I/O pin will be overridden when the
fuse is programmed. Any clock source, including the internal RC Oscillator, can be selected when the
clock is output on CLKO. If the System Clock Prescaler is used, it is the divided system clock that is
output.
10.11. System Clock Prescaler
The device has a system clock prescaler, and the system clock can be divided by configuring the Clock
Prescale Register (CLKPR). This feature can be used to decrease the system clock frequency and the
power consumption when the requirement for processing power is low. This can be used with all clock
Atmel ATmega644A [DATASHEET]
Atmel-42716C-ATmega644A_Datasheet_Complete-10/2016
51