8051 Timer Counter

Sections
9.1 Programming 8051 timers
9.2 Counter programming

Section 9.1
Programming 8051 Timers

Inside Architecture of 8051

External interrupts
Interrupt
Control

On-chip
ROM for
program
code

Timer/Counter

On-chip
RAM

Timer 1
Timer 0

Counter
Inputs

CPU

OSC

Bus
Control

4 I/O Ports

P0 P1 P2 P3

Serial
Port

TxD RxD

Address/Data
Figure 1-2. Inside the 8051 Microcontroller Block Diagram

Timers /Counters

The 8051 has 2 timers/counters: timer/counter 0 and

timer/counter 1. They can be used as
1. The timer is used as a time delay generator.

The clock source is the internal crystal frequency of the 8051.

2. An event counter.

External input from input pin to count the number of events

on registers.
These clock pulses cold represent the number of people
passing through an entrance, or the number of wheel rotations,
or any other event that can be converted to pulses.
5

Timer
8051 timers use 1/12 of XTAL frequency as the
input of timers, regardless of machine cycle.
Because the input of timer is a regular, fixedperiodic square wave, we can count the number of
pulses and calculate the time delay.
XTAL
oscillator

8051
12

Timer

P1
TH0

Set
Timer 0

TL0

to
LCD
6

Counter
Count the number of events
External input from Tx input pin (x=0 or 1).
We use Tx to denote T0 or T1.
External input from T0 input pin (P3.4) for Counter 0
External input from T1 input pin (P3.5) for Counter 1
8051
TH0
TL0
Vcc

a switch

T0

P1

to
LCD

P3.4
7

Figure 4-1. 8051 Pin Diagram

PDIP/Cerdip

P1.0
P1.1
P1.2
P1.3
P1.4
P1.5
P1.6
P1.7
RST
(RXD)P3.0
(TXD)P3.1
(INT0)P3.2
(INT1)P3.3
(T0)P3.4
(T1)P3.5
(WR)P3.6
(RD)P3.7
XTAL2
XTAL1
GND

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

8051
(8031)

40
39
38
37
36
35
34
33
32
31
30
29
28
27
26
25
24
23
22
21

Vcc
P0.0(AD0
)P0.1(AD1)
P0.2(AD2
)P0.3(AD3)
P0.4(AD4)
P0.5(AD5)
P0.6(AD6)
P0.7(AD7)
EA/VPP
ALE/PROG
PSEN
P2.7(A15)
P2.6(A14)
P2.5(A13)
P2.4(A12)
P2.3(A11)
P2.2(A10)
P2.1(A9)
P2.0(A8)

Figure 9-8: Timer/Counter 0

timer input
XTAL
oscillator

12
C/T = 0
TH0 TL0

T0 Pin
Pin 3.4

counter input

C/T = 1
1:start

TR0

Gate
INT0 Pin
Pin 3.2
hardware control

0:stop

TF0

1. monitor by JNB
2. interrupt

Sec 9.2

Figure 9-9: Timer/Counter 1

timer input
XTAL
oscillator

12
C/T = 0
TH1 TL1

T1 Pin
Pin 3.5

counter input
TR1

Gate
INT1 Pin
Pin 3.3

C/T = 1
1:start
0:stop

TF1

1. monitor by JNB
2. interrupt

hardware control
10

Registers Used in Timer/Counter

TH0, TL0 (Timer 0 registers)

TH1, TL1 (Timer 1 registers)
TMOD (Timer mode register)
TCON (Timer control register)
You can see Appendix H (pages 607-611) for details.
Since 8052 has 3 timers/counters, the formats of these
control registers are different.
T2CON (Timer 2 control register), TH2 and TL2 used for
8052 only.
11

Basic Registers of the Timer

Both Timer 0 and Timer 1 are 16 bits wide.
Each 16-bit timer can be accessed as two separate registers
of low byte and high byte.
Timer 0: TH0 & TL0
Timer 0 high byte, timer 0 low byte

Timer 1: TH1 & TL1

Timer 1 high byte, timer 1 low byte

These registers stores

the time delay as a timer
the number of events as a counter
12

Timer Registers

TH0

TL0

D15 D14 D13 D12 D11 D10 D9 D8

D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D0

Timer 0

TH1

TL1

D15 D14 D13 D12 D11 D10 D9 D8

D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D0

Timer 1
13

TCON Register (1/2)

Timer control register: TCON
Upper nibble for timer/counter, lower nibble for interrupts

TR (run control bit)

TR0 for Timer/counter 0; TR1 for Timer/counter 1.
TRx is set by programmer to turn timer/counter on/off.
TRx=0: off (stop)
TRx=1: on (start)

(MSB)
TF1 TR1
Timer 1

TF0 TR0
Timer0

IE1

IT1 IE0
for Interrupt

(LSB)
IT0
14

TCON Register (2/2)

TF (timer flag, control flag)
TF0 for timer/counter 0; TF1 for timer/counter 1.
TFx is like a carry. Originally, TFx=0. When TH-TL roll
over to 0000 from FFFFH, the TFx is set to 1.
TFx=0 : not reach
TFx=1: reach
If we enable interrupt, TFx=1 will trigger ISR.

(MSB)
TF1 TR1
Timer 1

TF0 TR0
Timer0

IE1

IT1 IE0
for Interrupt

(LSB)
IT0
15

Table 9-2: Equivalent Instructions for the

Timer Control Register
For timer 0
SETB TR0
CLR TR0

=
=

SETB TCON.4
CLR TCON.4

SETB TF0
CLR TF0

=
=

SETB TCON.5
CLR TCON.5

SETB TR1
CLR TR1

=
=

SETB TCON.6
CLR TCON.6

SETB TF1
CLR TF1

=
=

SETB TCON.7
CLR TCON.7

For timer 1

TCON: Timer/Counter Control Register

TF1

TR1

TF0

TR0

IE1

IT1

IE0

IT0

16

TMOD Register
Timer mode register: TMOD
MOV TMOD,#21H
An 8-bit register
Set the usage mode for two timers
Set lower 4 bits for Timer 0
Set upper 4 bits for Timer 1

(Set to 0000 if not used)

(Set to 0000 if not used)

Not bit-addressable

(MSB)
GATE C/T M1
Timer 1

M0 GATE C/T M1
Timer 0

(LSB)
M0
17

Figure 9-3. TMOD Register

GATE Gating control when set. Timer/counter is enabled only
while the INTx pin is high and the TRx control pin is set.
When cleared, the timer is enabled whenever the TRx
control bit is set.
C/T
Timer or counter selected cleared for timer operation
(input from internal system clock). Set for counter
operation (input from Tx input pin).
M1
Mode bit 1
M0
Mode bit 0
(MSB)
GATE

(LSB)
C/T
M1
Timer 1

M0

GATE

C/T
M1
Timer 0

M0
18

C/T (Clock/Timer)
This bit is used to decide whether the timer is used as
a delay generator or an event counter.
C/T = 0 : timer
C/T = 1 : counter

19

Gate
Every timer has a mean of starting and stopping.
GATE=0
Internal control
The start and stop of the timer are controlled by software.
Set/clear the TR0 (or TR1) for start/stop timer.

GATE=1
External control
The hardware way of starting and stopping the timer by software
and an external source.
Timer/counter is enabled only while the INT0 (or INT1) pin has an 1
to 0 transition and the TR0 (or TR1) control pin is set.
INT0: P3.2, pin 12; INT1: P3.3, pin 13.
20

M1, M0
M0 and M1 select the timer mode for timers 0 & 1.
M1 M0 Mode Operating Mode
0 0
0
13-bit timer mode
8-bit THx + 5-bit TLx (x= 0 or 1)
0 1
1
16-bit timer mode
8-bit THx + 8-bit TLx (x= 0 or 1)
1 0
2
8-bit auto reload
8-bit auto reload timer/counter;
THx holds a value which is to be reloaded into
TLx each time it overflows.
1 1
3
Split timer mode

21

Example 9-1
Indicate which mode and which timer are selected for each of the
following.
(a) MOV TMOD,#01H (b) MOV TMOD,#20H
(c) MOV TMOD,#12H
(LSB)
Solution: (MSB)
GATE

timer 1

C/T
M1
Timer 1

M0

GATE

C/T
M1
Timer 0

M0

timer 0

(a) TMOD = 00000001, mode 1 of timer 0 is selected.

(b) TMOD = 00100000, mode 2 of timer 1 is selected.
(c) TMOD = 00010010
mode 2 of timer 0, and mode 1 of timer 1 are selected.

22

Example 9-2
Find the timers clock frequency and its period for various 8051based systems, with the following crystal frequencies.
(a) 12 MHz
(b) 16 MHz
(c) 11.0592 MHz
Solution:
XTAL
oscillator

12

(a) 1/12 12 MHz = 1 MHz and T = 1/1 MHz = 1 s

(b) 1/12 16 MHz = 1.333 MHz and
T = 1/1.333 MHz = 0.75 s
(c) 1/12 11.0592 MHz = 921.6 KHz;
T = 1/921.6 KHz = 1.085 s

23

Example 9-3
Find the value for TMOD if we want to program timer 0 in mode 2,
use 8051 XTAL for the clock source, and use instructions to start
and stop the timer.
Solution:

(MSB)
GATE

C/T
M1
Timer 1

M0

GATE

C/T
M1
Timer 0

(LSB)
M0

TMOD= 0000 0010 Timer 1 is not used.

Timer 0, mode 2,
C/T = 0 to use XTAL clock source (timer)
gate = 0 to use internal (software)
start and stop method.

24

Timer Mode 1
In following, we all use timer 0 as an example.
16-bit timer (TH0 and TL0)
TH0-TL0 is incremented continuously when TR0 is set to
1. And the 8051 stops to increment TH0-TL0 when TR0 is
cleared.
The timer works with the internal system clock. In other
words, the timer counts up every 12 clocks from XTAL.
When the timer (TH0-TL0) reaches its maximum of
FFFFH, it rolls over to 0000, and TF0 is raised.
Programmer should check TF0 and stop the timer 0.
25

Mode 1 Programming

XTAL
oscillator

12
C/T = 0

TH
Start timer

TR

TL

TF goes high
when FFFF 0

TF
overflow
flag
26

Steps of Mode 1 (1/3)

1. Chose mode 1 timer 0
MOV TMOD,#01H

2. Set the original value to TH0 and TL0.

MOV TH0,#0FFH
MOV TL0,#0FCH

3. You had better to clear the flag to monitor: TF0=0.

CLR TF0

4. Start the timer.

SETB TR0
27

Steps of Mode 1 (2/3)

5. The 8051 starts to count up by incrementing the TH0TL0.
TH0-TL0= FFFCH,FFFDH,FFFEH,FFFFH,0000H
TR0=1
Start timer

FFFC

TH0

TR0=0

TL0

Stop timer

FFFD

FFFE

FFFF

0000

Roll over

TF0=0

TF0=0
TF0

TF0=0

TF0=0

Monitor TF01 until TF0=1

TF0=1
28

Steps of Mode 1 (3/3)

6. When TH0-TL0 rolls over from FFFFH to 0000, the
8051 set TF0=1.
TH0-TL0= FFFEH, FFFFH, 0000H (Now TF0=1)

7. Keep monitoring the timer flag (TF) to see if it is

raised.
AGAIN:

JNB TF0, AGAIN

8. Clear TR0 to stop the process.

CLR TR0

9. Clear the TF flag for the next round.

CLR TF0
29

Initial Count Values

The initial count value = FFFC.
The number of counts = FFFFH-FFFCH+1 = 4
we add one to 3 because of the extra clock needed when it rolls over
from FFFF to 0 and raises the TF flag.

The delay = 4 MCs for 89C51

If MC=1.085 s, then the delay = 4.34 s
Figure 9-4 show a formula for delay calculations using mode 1
of the timer for a crystal frequency of XTAL=11.0592 MHz.
Examples 9-4 to 9-9 show how to calculations the delay
generated by timer.
30

Figure 9-4. Timer Delay Calculation for

XTAL = 11.0592 MHz
(a) in hex

(b) in decimal

(FFFF YYXX + 1)
1.085 s where YYXX are
TH, TL initial values
respectively.
Notice that values YYXX are in
hex.

Convert YYXX values of the

TH, TL register to
decimal to get a NNNNN
decimal number, then
(65536 NNNNN) 1.085
s
31

Find Timer Values

Assume XTAL = 11.0592 MHz .
How to find the inter values needed for the TH, TL?
Divide the desired time delay by 1.085 s.
20ms 1.085 s = 18433
Perform 65536 n, where n is the decimal value we got in
Step 1.
65536-18433=47103=B7FFH
Convert the result of Step 2 to hex, where yyxx is the initial
hex value to be loaded into the timers registers.
Set TH = yy and TL = xx.
TH=B7H, TL=FFH
Example 9-10

32

Example 9-4 (1/4)

In the following program, we are creating a square wave of 50%
duty cycle (with equal portions high and low) on the P1.5 bit.
Timer 0 is used to generate the time delay.
Analyze the program.
;each loop is a half clock
MOV TMOD,#01
;Timer 0,mode 1(16-bit)
HERE: MOV TL0,#0F2H ;Timer value = FFF2H
MOV TH0,#0FFH
P1.5
CPL P1.5
50%
50%
ACALL DELAY
whole clock
SJMP HERE

33

Example 9-4 (2/4)

;generate delay using timer 0
DELAY:
SETB TR0
;start the timer 0
AGAIN:JNB TF0,AGAIN
CLR TR0
;stop timer 0
CLR TF0
;clear timer 0 flag
RET
FFF2

FFF3

FFF4

FFFF

0000

TF0 = 0

TF0 = 0

TF0 = 0

TF0 = 0

TF0 = 1
34

Example 9-4 (3/4)

Solution:
In the above program notice the following steps.
1. TMOD = 0000 0001 is loaded.
2. FFF2H is loaded into TH0 TL0.
3. P1.5 is toggled for the high and low portions of the pulse.
4. The DELAY subroutine using the timer is called.
5. In the DELAY subroutine, timer 0 is started by the SETB TR0
instruction.
6. Timer 0 counts up with the passing of each clock, which is
provided by the crystal oscillator.
As the timer counts up, it goes through the states of FFF3, FFF4,
FFF5, FFF6, FFF7, FFF8, FFF9, FFFA, FFFB, FFFC, FFFFD,
FFFE, FFFFH. One more clock rolls it to 0, raising the timer flag
(TF0 = 1). At that point, the JNB instruction falls through.

35

Example 9-4 (4/4)

7. Timer 0 is stopped by the instruction CLR TR0. The
DELAY subroutine ends, and the process is repeated.
8. Remember to clear TF0 by the instruction CLR TF0.
Notice that to repeat the process, we must reload the TL and TH
registers, and start the timer again (in the main program).

36

Example 9-5
In Example 9-4, calculate the amount of time delay in the DELAY
subroutine generated by the timer. Assume that XTAL = 11.0592
MHz.
Solution:
The timer works with the internal system clock.
frequency of internal system clock = 11.0592/12 = 921.6 KHz
machine cycle = 1 /921.6 KHz = 1.085 s (microsecond)
The number of counts = FFFFH FFF2H +1 = 14 (decimal).
The delay = number of counts 1.085 s = 14 1.085 s = 15.19
s for half the clock.
For the entire period of a clock, it is T = 2 15.19 s = 30.38 s
as the time delay generated by the timer.
37

Example 9-6 (1/2)

In Example 9-5, calculate the accurate frequency of the square
wave
generated on pin P1.5.
Solution:
In the time delay calculation of Example 9-5, we did not include
the overhead due to instructions in the loop.
To get a more accurate timing, we need to add clock cycles from
Table A-1 in Appendix A, as shown below.
38

Example 9-6 (2/2)

HERE:

MOV TL0,#0F2H
MOV TH0,#0FFH
CPL P1.5
ACALL DELAY
SJMP HERE
;----------delay using timer 0
DELAY:
SETB TR0
AGAIN:
JNB TF0,AGAIN
CLR TR0
CLR TF0
RET

2
2
1
2
2

Total

1
14
1
1
2 0
28

T = 2 28 1.085 s = 60.76 s, and F = 16458.196 Hz.

39

Example 9-7 (1/2)

Find the delay generated by timer 0 in the following code, using
both of the methods of Figure 9-4. Do not include the overhead due
to instructions.
CLR P2.3
MOV TMOD,#01 ;Timer 0,mode 1(16-bit)
HERE: MOV TL0,#3EH ;Timer value=B83EH
MOV TH0,#0B8H
SETB P2.3
SETB TR0
;start the timer 0
AGAIN:JNB TF0,AGAIN
CLR TR0
P2.3
CLR TF0
CLR P2.3

40

Example 9-7 (2/2)

Solution:
(a) or (b) is OK.
(a) (FFFF B83E + 1) = 47C2H = 18370 in decimal and 18370
1.085 s = 19.93145 ms.
(b) Since TH-TL = B83EH = 47166 (in decimal ) we have
65536 47166 = 18370. This means that the timer counts from
B83EH to FFFF. This plus rolling over to 0 goes through a
total of 18370 clock cycles, where each clock is 1.085 s in
duration. Therefore, we have 18370 1.085 s = 19.93145 ms
as the width of the pulse.
41

Example 9-8 (1/2)

Modify TL and TH in Example 9-7 to get the largest time delay
possible. Find the delay in ms. In your calculation, exclude the
overhead due to the instructions in the loop.
Solution:
TH0=TL0=0 means that
the timer will count from 0000 to FFFF, and then roll over to raise
the TF0 flag.
As a result, it goes through a total of 65536 states. Therefore, we
have delay = (65536 0) 1.085 s = 71.1065 ms.
42

Example 9-8 (2/2)

CLR
MOV
HERE: MOV
MOV
SETB
SETB
AGAIN: JNB
CLR
CLR
CLR

P2.3
TMOD,#01
TL0,#0
TH0,#0
P2.3
TR0
TF0,AGAIN
TR0
TF0
P2.3

;clear P2.3
;Timer 0,mode1(16-bit)
;TL0=0, the low byte
;TH0=0, the high byte
;SET high P2.3
;start timer 0
;monitor timer Flag 0
;stop timer 0
;clear timer 0 flag
43

Example 9-9 (1/2)

The following program generates a square wave on pin P1.5
continuously using timer 1 for a time delay. Find the frequency of
the square wave if XTAL = 11.0592 MHz. In your calculation do
not include the overhead due to instructions in the loop.
MOV
AGAIN:MOV
MOV
SETB
BACK: JNB
CLR
CPL
CLR
SJMP

TMOD,#10H
TL1,#34H
TH1,#76H
TR1
TF1,BACK
TR1
P1.5
TF1
AGAIN

;timer 1, mode 1
;timer value=3476H
;start
;stop
;next half clock
;clear timer flag 1
;reload timer1

44

Example 9-9 (2/2)

Solution:
In mode 1, the program must reload the TH1, TL1 register every
timer if we want to have a continuous wave.
FFFFH 7634H + 1 = 89CCH = 35276 clock count
Half period = 35276 1.085 s = 38.274 ms
Whole period = 2 38.274 ms = 76.548 ms
Frequency = 1/ 76.548 ms = 13.064 Hz.
Also notice that the high portion and low portion of the square
wave are equal.
In the above calculation, the overhead due to all the instructions in
the loop is not included.

45

Example 9-10 (1/2)

Assume that XTAL = 11.0592 MHz.
What value do we need to load into the timers registers if we
want to have a time delay of 5 ms (milliseconds)?
Show the program for timer 0 to create a pulse width of 5 ms on
P2.3.
Solution:
XTAL = 11.0592 MHz MC = 1.085 s.
5 ms / 1.085 s = 4608 MCs.
To achieve that we need to load into TL0 and TH0 the value
65536 4608 = 60928 = EE00H.
Therefore, we have TH0 = EE and TL0 = 00.

46

Example 9-10 (2/2)

CLR
MOV
HERE: MOV
MOV
SETB
SETB
AGAIN: JNB
CLR
CLR
CLR

P2.3
TMOD,#01
TL0,#0
TH0,#0EEH
P2.3
TR0
TF0,AGAIN
TR0
TF0
P2.3

;Timer 0,mode 1

;SET high P2.3

;start
;stop
5ms
P2.3
47

Example 9-11 (1/2)

Assuming that XTAL = 11.0592 MHz, write a program to
generate a square wave of 2 kHz frequency on pin P1.5.
Solution:
This is similar to Example 9-10, except that we must toggle the
bit to generate the square wave. Look at the following steps.
(a) The period of square wave = 1 / frequency
= 1 / 2 kHz = 500 s.
(b) The half period = 500 s /2 = 250 s.
(c) 250 s / 1.085 s = 230
65536 230 = 65360 = FF1AH.
(d) TL1 = 1AH and TH1 = FFH
48

Example 9-11 (2/2)

MOV
AGAIN:MOV
MOV
SETB
BACK: JNB
CLR
CPL
CLR
SJMP

TMOD,#10H
TL1,#1AH
TH1,#0FFH
TR1
TF1,BACK
TR1
P1.5
TF1
AGAIN

;timer 1, mode 1
;timer value = FF1AH
;start
;stop
;clear timer flag 1

49

Example 9-12 (1/2)

Assuming XTAL = 11.0592 MHz, write a program to generate a
square wave of 50 Hz frequency on pin P2.3.
Solution:
Look at the following steps.
(a) The period of the square wave = 1 / 50 Hz = 20 ms.
(b) The high or low portion of the square wave = 10 ms.
(c) 10 ms / 1.085 s = 9216
65536 9216 = 56320 in decimal = DC00H in hex.
(d) TL1 = 00H and TH1 = DCH.
50

Example 9-12 (2/2)

MOV
AGAIN: MOV

BACK:

MOV
SETB
JNB
CLR
CPL
CLR
SJMP

TMOD,#10H
TL1,#00
TH1,#0DCH
TR1
TF1,BACK
TR1
P2.3
TF1
AGAIN

;timer 1, mode 1
;Timer value = DC00H

;start
;stop
;clear timer flag 1
;reload timer since
;mode 1 is not
;auto-reload
51

Example 9-13
Examine the following program and find the time delay in seconds.
Exclude the overhead due to the instructions in the loop.
MOV TMOD,#10H
MOV R3,#200
AGAIN: MOV TL1,#08
MOV TH1,#01
SETB TR1
BACK: JNB TF1,BACK
CLR TR1
CLR TF1
DJNZ R3,AGAIN
Solution:
TH1-TL1 = 0108H = 264 in decimal
65536 264 = 65272.
One of the timer delay = 65272 1.085 s = 70.820 ms
Total delay = 200 70.820 ms = 14.164024 seconds

52

Timer Mode 0
Mode 0 is used to compatible with MSC-48
Mode 0 is exactly like mode 1 except that it is a 13bit timer instead of 16-bit.
The counter can hold values between 0000 to 1FFF
213-1= 2000H-1=1FFFH

When the timer reaches its maximum of 1FFFH, it

rolls over to 0000, and TF0 is raised.
TH0

TL0

D15 D14 D13 D12 D11 D10 D9 D8 D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D0

Timer 0

53

Timer Mode 3
For Timer/Counter 0
As a Timer:
TH0 and TL0 can be 8-bit timers.

As a Counter:
TL0 can be an 8-bit counter.

For Timer/Counter 1
Not available

54

Timer Mode 2
8-bit timer
TL0 is incremented (or roll over) continuously when TR0=1.

Auto-reloading
TH0 is loaded into TL0 automatically when TL0=00H.
TH0 is not changed.
You need to clear TF0 after TL0 rolls over.

In the following example, we want to generate a delay

with 200 MCs on timer 0.
See Examples 9-14 to 9-16
55

Mode 2 programming

XTAL
oscillator

12
C/T = 0

TL
reload

TR

TH

overflow
flag
TF goes high
when FF
0

TF

56

Steps of Mode 2 (1/3)

1. Chose mode 2 timer 0
MOV TMOD,#02H

2. Set the original value to TH0.

MOV TH0,#FCH

3. Clear the flag to TF0=0.

CLR TF0

4. Start the timer.

SETB TR0
Note that the instruction SETB TR0 dose not load TH0 to
TL0. So TL0 still is 00H.
57

Steps of Mode 2 (2/3)

5. The 8051 starts to count up by incrementing the
TL0.
TL0= ..., FCH,FDH,FEH,FFH,FCH
TL0=FCH
TH0=FCH

TF0=10

TR0=1

auto reload

Start timer

00

01

...

FF

FE

Clear TF0

FC

FD

roll over 00H

TF0 = 0

TF0 = 0

TF0 = 0 TF0 = 0

TH0=FCH
TL0=00H

TF0 = 1 TF0 = 1 TF0 =0

roll over 00H

FE
TF0 = 0

FF
TF0 = 0

FC
TF0 = 1

FD
TF0 = 1

auto reload: TL=-FCH immediately

58

Steps of Mode 2 (3/3)

6. When TL0 rolls over from FFH to 00, the 8051 set
TF0=1. Also, TL0 is reloaded automatically with the
00H
value kept by the TH0.
TL0= FCH, FDH, FEH, FFH, FCH(Now TF0=1)
The 8051 auto reload TL0=TH0=FCH.
Go to Step 6 (i.e., TL0 is incrementing continuously).

Note that we must clear TF0 when TL0 rolls over.

Thus, we can monitor TF0 in next process.
Clear TR0 to stop the process.
59

Example 9-14 (1/2)

Assuming that XTAL = 11.0592 MHz, find
(a) the frequency of the square wave generated on pin P1.0 in the
following program
(b) the smallest frequency achievable in this program, and the TH
value to do that.
MOV TMOD,#20H ;Timer 1,mode 2
MOV TH1,#5
;not load TH1 again
SETB TR1
;start (no stop TR1=0)
BACK:JNB TF1,BACK
CPL P1.0
CLR TF1
;clear timer flag 1
SJMP BACK
;mode 2 is auto-reload

60

Example 9-14 (2/2)

Solution:
(a) First notice that target address of SJMP. In mode 2 we do not
need to reload TH since it is auto-reload.
Half period = (FFH 05 +1) 1.085 s = 272.33 s
Total period = 2 272.33 s = 544.67 s
Frequency = 1.83597 kHz.
(b) To get the smallest frequency, we need the largest period and
that is achieved when TH1 = 00.
Total period = 2 256 1.085 s = 555.52 s
Frequency = 1.8kHz.
61

Example 9-15
Find the frequency of a square wave generated on pin P1.0.
Solution:
MOV TMOD,#2H ;Timer 0,mode 2
MOV TH0,#0
AGAIN:MOV R5,#250
;count 250 times
ACALL DELAY
CPL P1.0
SJMP AGAIN
DELAY:SETB TR0
;start
BACK: JNB TF0,BACK
CLR TR0
;stop
CLR TF0
;clear TF
DJNZ R5,DELAY ;timer 2: auto-reload
RET
T = 2 (250 256 1.085 s) = 138.88 ms, and frequency = 72 Hz.

62

Assemblers and Negative Values

Since the timer is 8-bit in mode 2, we can let the
assembler calculate the value for TH.
For example (AT89C51), if we want to generate a time
delay with 200 MCs, then we can use
MOV TH1,#38H

or
MOV TH1,#-200

Way 1: 256-200 = 56 = 38H

Way 2: -200 = -C8H 2s complement of 200 = 100H
C8H = 38 H
63

Example 9-16
Assuming that we are programming the timers for mode 2, find the
value (in hex) loaded into TH for each of the following cases.
(a) MOV TH1,#-200 (b) MOV TH0,#-60 (c) MOV TH1,#-3
(d) MOV TH1,#-12 (e) MOV TH0,#-48
Solution:
Some 8051 assemblers provide this way.
-200 = -C8H 2s complement of 200 = 100H C8H = 38 H
Decimal
-200 = - C8H
- 60 = - 3CH
- 3
- 12
- 48

2s complement (TH value)

38H
C4H
FDH
F4H
D0H

64

Example 9-17 (1/2)

Find (a) the frequency of the square wave generated in the
following code, and (b) the duty cycle of this wave.
Solution:
MOV TH0,#-150 uses 150 clocks.
The DELAY subroutine = 150 1.085 s = 162 s.
The high portion of the pulse is twice that of the low portion
(66% duty cycle).
The total period = high portion + low portion
= 325.5 s + 162.25 s = 488.25 s
Frequency = 2.048 kHz.

65

Example 9-17 (2/2)

MOV TMOD,#2H
MOV TH0,#-150
AGAIN:SETB P1.3
ACALL DELAY
ACALL DELAY
CLR P1.3
ACALL DEALY
SJMP AGAIN

;Timer 0,mode 2
;Count=150

DELAY:SETB
BACK: JNB
CLR
CLR
RET

;start

TR0
TF0,BACK
TR0
TF0

high
period
low
period

;stop
;clear TF
66

Section 9.2
Counter Programming

67

Counter (1/2)
These timers can also be used as counters counting
events happening outside the 8051 by setting C/T=1.
The counter counts up as pulses are fed from
T0: timer 0 input (Pin 14, P3.4)
T1: timer 1 input (Pin 15, P3.5)
8051
Counter 0

TH0
TL0

Vcc

a switch

T0

P1
to
LCD

P3.4
68

Counter (2/2)
When the timer is used as a counter, it is a pulse
outside of the 8051 that increments
TH0 & TL0 for counter 0.
TH1 & TL1 for counter 1.
8051
Counter 1

TH1
TL1

Vcc

a switch

T1

P1
to
LCD

P3.5
69

Table 9-1: Port 3 Pins Used For Timers 0 and 1

Pin

Port Pin

Function

Description

14
15

P3.4
P3.5

T0
T1

Timer/Counter 0 external input

Timer/Counter 1 external input

(MSB)
GATE

(LSB)
C/T=1
M1
Timer 1

M0

GATE

C/T=1
M1
Timer 0

M0

70

Counter Mode 1
16-bit counter (TH0 and TL0)
TH0-TL0 is incremented when TR0 is set to 1 and an
external pulse (in T0) occurs.
When the counter (TH0-TL0) reaches its maximum of
FFFFH, it rolls over to 0000, and TF0 is raised.
Programmers should monitor TF0 continuously and stop
the counter 0.
Programmers can set the initial value of TH0-TL0 and
let TF0 as an indicator to show a special condition. (ex:
100 people have come).
71

Figure 9-5. (a) Counter 0 with External Input

(Mode 1)

Timer 0
external
input
Pin 3.4
C/T = 1 TR0

overflow
flag
TH0

TL0

TF0

TF0 goes high

when FFFF 0

72

Figure 9-5. (b) Counter 1 with External Input

(Mode 1)

Timer 1
external
input
Pin 3.5
C/T = 1 TR1

overflow
flag
TH1

TL1

TF1

TF1 goes high

when FFFF 0

73

Counter Mode 2
8-bit counter.
TL0 is incremented if TR0=1 and external pulse occurs.

Auto-reloading
TH0 is loaded into TL0 when TF0=1.
It allows only values of 00 to FFH to be loaded into TH0.
You need to clear TF0 after TL0 rolls over.

See Figure 9.6, 9.7 for logic view

See Examples 9-18, 9-19

74

Figure 9.6: Counter 0 with External Input

(Mode 2)

Timer 0
external
input
Pin 3.4
C/T = 1

TL0

overflow flag
TF0
reload

TR0

TH0
TF0 goes high
when FF
0

75

Figure 9.7: Counter 1 with External Input

(Mode 2)

Timer 1
external
input
Pin 3.5
C/T = 1

TL1

overflow flag
TF1
reload

TR1

TH1
TF1 goes high
when FF
0

76

Example 9-18 (1/2)

Assuming that clock pulses are fed into pin T1, write a program for
counter 1 in mode 2 to count the pulses and display the state of the
TL1 count on P2.
Solution:
We use timer 1 as an event counter where it counts up as clock pulses are fed into
pin3.5.

8051
P2

P2 is connected to 8 LEDs
and input T1 to pulse.

T1

to
LEDs

P3.5

77

Example 9-18 (2/2)

MOV TMOD,#01100000B ;mode 2, counter 1
MOV TH1,#0
SETB P3.5
;make T1 input port
AGAIN:SETB TR1
;start
BACK: MOV A,TL1
MOV P2,A
;display in P2
JNB TF1,BACK
;overflow
CLR TR1
;stop
CLR TF1
;make TF=0
SJMP AGAIN
;keep doing it
Notice in the above program the role of the instruction SETB
P3.5. Since ports are set up for output when the 8051 is powered
up , we must make P3.5 an input port by making it high.

78

Example 9-19 (1/3)

Assume that a 1-Hz frequency pulse is connected to input pin 3.4.
Write a program to display counter 0 on an LCD. Set the initial
value of TH0 to -60.
Solution:
Note that on the first round, it starts from 0 and counts 256 events,
since on RESET, TL0=0. To solve this problem, load TH0 with
-60 at the beginning of the program.
8051
P1
1 Hz clock

T0

P3.4

to
LCD
R4

R3

R2
79

Example 9-19 (2/3)

ACALL LCD_SET_UP
;initialize the LCD
MOV TMOD,#00000110B ;Counter 0,mode2
MOV TH0,#C4H
;C4H=-60
SETB P3.4
;make T0 as input
AGAIN:SETB TR0
;starts the counter
BACK: MOV A,TL0
; every 60 events
ACALL CONV
;convert in R2,R3,R4
JNB TF0,BACK
;loop if TF0=0
CLR TR0
;stop
CLR TF0
SJMP AGAIN

80

Example 9-19 (3/3)

;converting 8-bit binary to ASCII
CONV: MOV
DIV
MOV
MOV
DIV
ORL
MOV
MOV
ORL
MOV
MOV
ORL
MOV
RET

B,#10
AB
R2,B
B,#10
AB
A,#30H
R4,A
A,B
A,#30H
R3,A
A,R2
A,#30H
R2,A

;divide by 10
;save low digit
;divide by 10 once more
;make it ASCII

R4

R3

R2

;ACALL LCD_DISPLAY here

81

A Digital Clock
Example 9-19 shows a simple digital clock.
If we feed an external square wave of 60 Hz frequency into
the timer/counter, we can generate the second, the minute,
and the hour out of this input frequency and display the result
on an LCD.

You might think that the use of the instruction JNB

TF0,target to monitor the raising of the TF0 flag
is a waste of the microcontrollers time.
The solution is the use of interrupt. See Chapter 11.
In using interrupts we can do other things with the 8051.

When the TF flag is raised, interrupt service routine starts.

82

GATE=1 in TMOD
All discuss so far has assumed that GATE=0.
The timer is stared with instructions SETB TR0 and SETB
TR1 for timers 0 and 1, respectively.

If GATE=1, we can use hardware to control the start and

stop of the timers.
SETB TR0 and SETB TR1 for timers 0 and 1 are
necessary.
INT0 (P3.2, pin 12) starts and stops timer 0
INT1 (P3.3, pin 13) starts and stops timer 1
This allows us to start or stop the timer externally at any time
via a simple switch.
83

Example for GATE=1

The 8051 is used in a product to sound an alarm every
second using timer 0.
Timer 0 is turned on by the software method of using
the SETB TR0 instruction and is beyond the control
of the user of that product.
The timer is turned ON/OFF by the 1 to 0 transition on
INT0 (P3.2) when TR0 =1 (hardware control).
However, a switch connected to pin P3.2 can be used
to turn on and off the timer, thereby shutting down the
alarm.
84

Section 9.3
Programming Timers 0 and 1 in
8051 C

85

8051 Timers in C
In 8051 C we can access the timer registers TH, TL,
and TMOD directly using the reg51.h header file.
See Example 9-20

Timers 0 and 1 delay using mode 1

See Example 9-22 and Example 9-25

Timers 0 and 1 delay using mode 2

See Examples 9-23 and 9-24
Look by yourself

86

Example 9-20 (1/2)

Write an 8051 C program to toggle bits of P1 continuously
with some time delay. Use Timer 0, 16-bit mode.
Solution:
#include <reg51.h>
void T0Delay(void);
void main(void) {
while(1) {
//repeat forever
P1=0x55;
T0Delay(); //time delay
P1=0xAA;
T0Delay();
}}

87

Example 9-20 (2/2)

Assume XTML=11.0592MHz for the AT89C51
FFFFH-3500H+1=CB00H=51968
1.085s 51968 56.384ms
void T0Delay() {
TMOD=0x01; //Timer 0, Mode 1
TL0=0x00; TH0=0x35; //initial value
TR0=1;
//turn on T0
while (TF0==0); //text TF to roll over
TR0=0;
//turn off T0
TF0=0; }
//clear TF0

88

Example 9-25 (1/3)

A switch is connected to P1.7. Write an 8051 C program to
monitor SW and create the following frequencies on P1.5.
SW=0: 500 Hz; SW=1: 750 Hz. Using Timer 0, mode 1.
Assume XTML=11.0592MHz for the AT89C51
Solution:
#include <reg51.h>
sbit mybit=P1^5;
sbit SW=P1^7;
void T0Delay(void);

89

Example 9-25 (2/3)

void main(void) {
SW=1;
//make P1.7 an input pin
while(1) {
//repeat forever
mybit=~mybit; //toggle
if (SW==0)
T0Delay(0); //500Hz time delay
else
T0Delay(1); //750Hz time delay
}}
90

Example 9-25 (3/3)

void T0Delay(unsigned char c) {
TMOD=0x01; //Timer 0, Mode 1
if (c==0) { TL0=0x67; TH0=0xFC };
// FFFFH-FC67H+1=921, about 999.285s, 500 Hz
else
{ TL0=0x9A; TH0=0xFD };
// FFFFH-FD9AH+1=614, about 666.19s, 750 Hz
TR0=1;
while (TF==0);
TR0=0;
TF0=0;
}

91

Time Delay with Different Chips

Although the numbers of clocks per machine cycle are
vary with different versions, the frequency for the
timer is always 1/12 the frequency of the crystal.
To maintain compatibility with the original 8051

The same codes put on AT89C51 and DS89C420 will

generate different time delay.
The factors of C compiler and MC of others instructions

The C compiler is a factor in the delay size since

various 8051 C compilers generate different hex code
sizes. So, we still have approximate delay only.
See Examples 9-21
92

Example 9-21 (1/3)

Write an 8051 C program to toggle bits P1.5 continuously
every 50 ms. Use Timer 0, mode 1 for (a) AT89C51 and
(b) DS89C420.
Solution:
#include <reg51.h>
void T0Delay(void);
sbit mybit=P1^5;
void main(void) {
while(1) {
//repeat forever
mybit=~mybit;
T0Delay(); }}

93

Example 9-21 (2/3)

(a) Assume XTML=11.0592MHz for the AT89C51
FFFFH-4BFDH+1=B403H=46083
1.085s 46083 50ms
void T0Delay() {
TMOD=0x01; //Timer 0, Mode 1
TL0=0xFD; TH0=0x4B; //initial value
TR0=1;
//turn on T0
while (TF0==0); //BACK: JNZ TF0,BACK
TR0=0;
//turn off T0
TF0=0; }
//clear TF0

94

Example 9-21 (3/3)

(b) Assume XTML=11.0592MHz for the DS89C4x0
FFFFH-4BFDH+1=B403H=46083
1.085s 46083 50ms
void T0Delay() {
TMOD=0x01; //Timer 0, Mode 1
TL0=0xFD; TH0=0x4B; //initial value
TR0=1;
//turn on T0
while (TF0==0); //BACK: JNZ TF0,BACK
TR0=0;
//turn off T0
TF0=0; }
//clear TF0

95

8051 Counters in C
External pulses to T0 (P3.4) and T1 (P3.5).
See Examples 9-26 to 9-29.

96

Example 9-26 (1/2)

Assume that a 1-Hz external clock is being fed into T1 (P3.5).
Write a C program for counter 1 in mode 2 to count up and
display the state of the TL1 count on P1. Start the count at
0H.
Solution:
P1 is connected to 8 LEDs.

TH1

T1 is connected to 1Hz external clock.

1Hz

T1

TL1

P1

LEDs

P3.5
97

Example 9-26 (2/2)

#include <reg51.h>
sbit T1=P3^5;
void main(void) {
T1=1;
//make T1 an input pin
TMOD=0x60;
//counter 1, mode 2
TH1=0;
//reload value
while(1) {
//repeat forever
do {TR1=1; P1=TL1;} while (TF1==0);
TR1=0; TF1=0;
//clear flags
}}
98