PIC TIMER CALCULATOR

Beta Version 4

NB. This is the beta version of this tool. If you find any errors or mistakes please let me know by contacting HighcoPic on the Proton forum. Please dont distribute until its proven to be correct! Code examples are based on the Proton compiler from Crownhill and associates.

The program was written using Easy Tools from www.easyvitools.com. The whole program expands to under 1.6 Mb and doesn't alter Windows or add any superfluous *.dll files. To remove the program, just delete the folder\directory you installed it to.

Before updating from an older version please delete the old version (directory\folder) first.

REVISION LIST:

Beta Version 1 (23/04/05)

1.First release

Beta Version 2 (29/04/05)

1.Slider bars made larger to allow for finer mouse control.

2.Timer frequency box and calculation added.

3.Timer0 Calculation modified to show proper 2 cycle delay if timer register wriitten to, or loaded with a value other than 0.

Beta Version 4 (1/05/05)

1.Timer1 calculation corrected.

2.High and low byte combined into single slider

3.Display altered for bigger sliders

4.Code example running for Timer0 and Timer1

5.Display Code settings Button added

Download the latest file by clicking on this link : Download PicTimercalcV4.zip

INTRODUCTION

The Pic Timer Calculator will calculate the real time period of the various timers associated with most of the PIC 16F series. No longer will you need to adjust and load a PIC with your code to get the timer periods right, the Pic Timer calculator will do that for you!

USER INSTRUCTIONS: Contents: 1. Timer Type 2. Oscillator Frequency 3. Timer Offset 4. Low/High Byte Offset 5. Prescaler Ratio 6. Post Scaler Ratio

7. PR2 Offset 8. Instruct Cycle Time 9. Timer Period 10.Timer Frequency 11.Help 12.Display Code Example 13.Question\Answers\Problems

1. TIMER TYPE

Use the "Timer Type" drop down box to select the timer you wish to calculate. There are three Timers associated with the 16F series Pics and each one has different features. These features will appear as you select the required timer.

2. OSCILLATOR FREQUENCY

Set the "Oscillator frequency" by enetering the freq. in the box in megahertz. Frequencies accepetd are 0.000001 Mhz (1 hz) up to 999 Mhz. This is so that external clock frequencies of any value can calculated.

The default setting is 4 Mhz. 

3.TIMER OFFSET

The 3 timers,(Timer0, Timer1, Timer2) are all readable and writable timers. This means that you can load or offset a timer with a preset ammount, making the timer period shorter than default. i.e. timer 0 counts from 0 to 255, sets its rollover flag (which must be cleared in software) and counts again from 0 to 255. If you set the offset to, for example 100, the timer would count from 100 to 255, sets its rollover flag, you then load the timer in software with the offset and it counts from 100 again.The above example is for timer 0.Adjust the offset amount by moving the slider up or down with the up/down arrows for fine steps or the mouse.

4.LOW BYTE OFFSET / HIGH BYTE OFFSET

Timer 1 has two registers, low and high, making it a 16 bit timer. (counts from 0 to 65535). Both of these are readable and writable as per above in "Timer offset". By adjusting these values, very fine adjustments can be made to the timing algorithim. As above, these values have to be loaded in software. Adjust the offset amount by moving the slider up or down with the up/down arrows for fine steps or the mouse.

5. PRESCALER RATIO

All three timers have a pre-scaler. With the prescaler set to off or 1:1 the timer increments on every clock instruction cycle. With the prescaler set to, i.e. 4:1, the timer increments once for every 4 clock instruction cycles. This increases the timer period. Adjust the prescaler setting by moving the slider switch up or down.

6.POST SCALER RATIO

The post scaler is only available on timer 2. The post scaler operates on a similar principal to the above, but occurs after the timer has rolled over, and "post scales" the rollovers to the timer flag section. With it set to 4:1 for example, 4 "rollovers" would occur before the timer flag was set.This increases the timer period. Adjust the prescaler setting by moving the slider switch up or down.

7. PR2 OFFSET

Timer 2 has an 8 bit period register that is adjustable from 0 to 255. You can set this so that the timer counts up to the PR2 value, then rolls over.i.e. setting this to 100 , the timer would count from 0 to 100, then rollover back to 0.Adjust the offset amount by moving the slider up or down.

8. INSTRUCT CYCLE TIME

This displays the instruction cycle time and is dependant only on the Oscillator Frequency. Higher the frequency, quicker the instruction cycle time.

9. TIMER PERIOD

This displays the timer period result after setting/selecting the required parameters. Occurs instantly so you can see the effects of changing the register settings.

10. TIMER FREQUENCY

This displays the number of times the timer "flags" or "rolls over" per second. (i.e. hertz). This is usefull for working out accurate timer durations while adjusting the values.

11. HELP

Displays the help window with this text that you are reading now. Click again to hide the help window.

12. DISPLAY CODE EXAMPLE

Displays a sample of code that uses the settings that you have selected in the Pic Timer Calculator. This code can be cut and pasted into your Proton compiler.

13. DISPLAY CODE SETTINGS

Displays as code the settings that you have selected in the Pic Timer Calculator. This code can be cut and pasted into your Proton compiler.

14. QUESTION\ANSWERS

Q.Timer 0 calculation is out by 2?

A. This is correct. In 16F series Pics, Timer 0 has a 2 count delay if written to or if the prescaler is changed. If this is a problem, adjust it by two in your code. Timer 1 & 2, as far as I can see, dont have this problem.

Q. The timers have different pre-scaler settings.Is this correct?

A. Yes, this is correct (check data sheets for the device you are using)