Microcontrollers: Architecture, Programming, Interfacing and System Design, 2nd Edition

6

Real-time Control: Timers

Chapter Outline

• Obtain understanding of features in the timers in MCUs 8051,8096 and 68HC11 and their applications for real-time controls
• Learn programming of timers in assembly and C
• Learn software timers and real-time clock interrupts
• Understand the interrupt latency-intervals and timing constraints

If a clock is not there, managing our day-to-day tasks in real time will be impossible. Similarly, a system invariably needs timers. System tasks can be scheduled in real time using the timers.

Timers have a number of applications. A system can be programmed for measuring durations of the events. The system can initiate the actions or a chain of actions at the scheduled instants or sequences. The system can capture ...