Hardware Limit Timer

Hardware Limit Timer (HLT)

The Hardware Limit Timer (HLT) module is a watchdog timer designed for the Complementary Output Generator (COG) but its interrupt output can be used to trigger other actions. It has a set point and a running counter that is incremented by the system instruction clock (Fosc/4). When the running counter value matches the set point, the output of the HLT triggers an external shutdown input to the COG module operation. External shutdown inputs provide the fastest way to safely suspend COG operation in the event of a fault condition. The match also triggers an interrupt which can then be used in an interrupt service routine to take action on other peripherals.

The structure of the HLT is similar to a Timer2 module as seen in the lower portion of the block diagram below. The upper portion shows the signals that can cause the HLT to reset the incremental counter.

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Hardware Limit Timer (HLT) Operation

The Hardware Limit Timer (HLT) is similar to any PIC® MCU Timer 2 module. The clock input to the HLT module is the system instruction clock (Fosc/4). The Hardware Limit Timer (HLTMRx) register increments on each rising clock edge. The value of the HLTMRx register is compared to that of the Hardware Limit Timer Period (HLTPRx) register, on each clock cycle. When the two values match, the comparator generates a match signal as the HLTimerx output. This signal also resets the value of HLTMRx to 00h on the next clock rising edge and drives Complimentary Output Generator (COG) output along with the output counter/postscaler.

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The HLT can be turned off or on at any point by clearing or setting the HLT On bit in the Hardware Limit Timer Control 0 (HLTxCON0) register. The clock input to the HLT can be slowed down by using the optional 4-bit counter/prescaler at the clock input. This prescaler provides the following prescale options:

• Divide-by-1
• Divide-by-4
• Divide-by-16
• Divide-by-64

The prescale options are selected by the prescaler control bits, HxCKPS<1:0> of the HLTxCON0 register. The output of the HLT can be directed to the COG module and also to the HLT output postscaler. The postscaler can also be set to delay the HLT Interrupt from one match on up to 16 matches. This is selected by the HxOUTPS<3:0> bits in the HLTxCON0 register.

HLTxCON0: HARDWARE LIMIT TIMER CONTROL 0 REGISTER

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The HLTMRx and HLTPRx registers are both directly readable and writable. The HLTMRx register is cleared on any device Reset, whereas the HLTPRx register initializes to FFh. Both the prescaler and postscaler counters are cleared on any of the following events:

  • A write to the HLTMRx register
  • A write to the HLTxCON0 register
  • Power-On Reset (POR)
  • Brown-Out Reset (BOR)
  • MCLR Reset
  • Watchdog Timer (WDT) Reset
  • Stack Overflow Reset
  • Stack Underflow Reset
  • RESET Instruction

Hardware Limit Timer (HLT) Reset Options

The Hardware Limit Timer (HLT) can be reset by several selected peripheral outputs to prevent the Hardware Limit Timer (HLTMRx) register from matching the Hardware Limit Timer Period (HLTPRx) register and generating an output. In this manner, the HLT can be used as a hardware time limit to other peripherals.

The HLTMRx can be reset by one of several selectable peripheral sources:

  • CCP1 output
  • Comparator 1 output
  • Comparator 2 output
  • COGxFLT pin
  • COG1OUT0
  • COG1OUT1

The HLT can be reset by various external sources which are selected via the HLT External Reset Sources Select bits (HxERS <2:0>) in the HLT Control 1 (HLTxCON1) register. The edge sensitivity can also be selected with the HLTxCON1 register. High and low reset enables are selected with the Hardware Limit Timerx Rising Event Reset Enable (HxREREN) bit and Hardware Limit Timerx Failing Event Reset Enable (HxFEREN) bit, respectively. Setting the Hardware Limit Timerx Rising Edge Sensitivity (HxRES) and Hardware Limit Timerx Falling Edge Sensitivity (HxFES) bits make the respective rising and falling reset events edge sensitive. Reset inputs that are not edge sensitive are level sensitive.

HLTMRx resets are synchronous with the HLT clock. In other words, HLTMRx is cleared on the rising edge of the HLT clock after the enabled reset event occurs. If an enabled external reset occurs at the same time as a write occurs to the HLTMRx register, the write to the timer takes precedence and pending resets are cleared.

HLTxCON1: HARDWARE LIMIT TIMER CONTROL REGISTER 1

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HLT Operation During Sleep

The HLT cannot be operated while the processor is in Sleep mode. The contents of the HLTMRx register will remain unchanged while the processor is in Sleep mode.

Hardware Limit Timer (HLT) Interrupt

The Hardware Limit Timer (HLT) can generate an optional device interrupt. The Hardware Limit Timer (HLTMRx) register output signal provides the input for the 4-bit postscaler. The overflow output of the postscaler sets the HLTMRxIF bit of the Peripheral Interrupt Register (PIR1).

The interrupt is enabled by setting the HLTMRx Match Interrupt Enable (HLTMRxIE) bit of the Peripheral Interrupt Enable (PIE1) register.

Only devices that have the HLT peripheral will have the Interrupt Enable bits. For more information on 8-Bit PIC® MCU Interrupts visit the interrupts page.

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