Understanding Microcontroller Clocks

The Ultimate Guide for Embedded Developers

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MCU Clock Configuration Guide 1

Contents
1 Introduction to MCU Clock Systems ò 2

2 Clock System Fundamentals  2

3 Clock Sources & Their Characteristics = 3

4 Power Management Strategies D 4

5 Clock Timing Calculations y 5

6 Troubleshooting Clock Issues q 6

7 Clock Configuration Best Practices ¥ 6

8 Configuration Cheat Sheet for Embedded Developers O 7

9 Final Thoughts  7

10 Resources [ 8
MCU Clock Configuration Guide 2

1 Introduction to MCU Clock Systems ò

What are MCU Clock Systems?

Clock systems are the fundamental timing mechanisms in microcontrollers that:

• Synchronise all digital operations

• Define processing speed and overall performance

• Control power consumption

• Enable precise timing for peripheral interfaces

Why Understanding Clock Configuration Matters:

• Optimises system performance

• Maximises power efficiency

• Ensures reliable operation

• Facilitates advanced functionality

2 Clock System Fundamentals Â

Basic Clock Concepts

1. Clock Frequency:

• Measured in Hz (cycles per second)

• Sets the processing speed
• Influences power consumption
• Typical ranges: 1 MHz to 200+ MHz

2. Clock Stability:

• Expressed in parts per million (ppm)

• Temperature-sensitive and critical for communication
• Directly impacts system reliability

3. Clock Distribution:

• Involves system clocks, peripheral clocks, and bus clocks (e.g., AHB, APB)
• Includes dedicated real-time clock (RTC) circuits
MCU Clock Configuration Guide 3

3 Clock Sources & Their Characteristics =

Primary Clock Sources

1. High-Speed External (HSE):

• Crystal oscillator or resonator

• Frequencies typically 4–25 MHz
• Excellent stability (±20ppm)
• Preferred for precise timing and high-speed communications

2. High-Speed Internal (HSI):

• RC oscillator circuit
• Commonly available at 8 or 16 MHz
• Moderate accuracy (±1%)
• Eliminates external component requirements

3. Low-Speed External (LSE):

• Typically a 32.768 kHz crystal

• Low power consumption and high accuracy
• Ideal for RTC and watchdog applications

4. Low-Speed Internal (LSI):

• RC oscillator in the 32–40 kHz range

• Suited for backup timing and watchdog functions
• Offers lower precision compared to external sources

5. Phase-Locked Loop (PLL):

• Frequency multiplier circuit

• Generates higher frequencies from a given source
• Provides configurable outputs at the cost of increased power consumption

Note: Other microcontrollers might use alternative names, but the underlying principles
remain similar.
MCU Clock Configuration Guide 4

4 Power Management Strategies D

Clock-Based Power Optimisation

1. Dynamic Clock Scaling:

• Adjust clock frequency based on workload demands

• Incorporate sleep modes to conserve power
• Utilise peripheral clock gating to disable unused circuits
• Configure appropriate wake-up sources

2. Sleep Mode Configurations:

• Sleep: CPU clock halted while peripherals may run

• Stop: Nearly all clocks disabled except critical ones (e.g., LSI/LSE)
• Standby: Minimal clock operation to maintain essential functions
• Consider the trade-off between wake-up time and power saving

3. Peripheral Clock Management:

• Enable clocks only when peripherals are actively used

• Optimise prescaler settings to balance speed with energy consumption
• Monitor system power consumption continuously
MCU Clock Configuration Guide 5

5 Clock Timing Calculations y

Important Timing Calculations (Generic for All Microcontrollers)

1. PLL Output Frequency:

FIN × N
FP LL =
M ×P
where:

• FIN : Input frequency from the primary source (e.g., HSE/HSI)

• N : PLL multiplication factor
• M : PLL input divider
• P : PLL output divider

2. UART Baud Rate:

FCLK
BRR =
16 × BaudRate
where:

• FCLK : Clock frequency supplied to the UART peripheral

• BaudRate: Desired communication speed

3. Timer Period:
FCLK
P eriod =
(P rescaler + 1)(P eriod + 1)
where:

• FCLK : Timer clock frequency

• Prescaler: Timer prescaler value
• Period: Auto-reload register value
MCU Clock Configuration Guide 6

6 Troubleshooting Clock Issues q

Common Clock Problems and Solutions

1. System Fails to Start:

• Symptoms: No code execution, debugger connection failure, erratic behaviour.

• Common Causes: Incorrect oscillator configuration, crystal startup failure, im-
proper PLL settings.
• Solutions: Verify hardware connections, check startup timeouts, recalculate and
validate PLL parameters.

2. Communication Issues:

• Symptoms: UART/SPI/USB errors and data corruption.

• Diagnostics: Measure actual clock frequencies, verify peripheral clock enables,
and review prescaler/divider settings.

7 Clock Configuration Best Practices ¥

Design Guidelines

1. Initialization Sequence:

• Set appropriate flash wait states

• Enable necessary power interfaces and voltage regulators
• Start oscillators with proper timeouts
• Configure PLL settings before switching to high-speed modes
• Transition between clock sources in a controlled manner

2. Error Handling:

• Implement timeout mechanisms during clock switching

• Monitor clock stability continuously
• Prepare fallback configurations for failures
• Log errors robustly for easier debugging

3. Implementation Note:
Consult your microcontroller’s reference manual for specific register settings and feature
availability.
MCU Clock Configuration Guide 7

8 Configuration Cheat Sheet for Embedded Developers

O

Microcontroller Clock Sources Frequency Range Common Peripherals

STM32 (ARM Cortex-M) HSI, HSE, LSE, PLL HSI: 16 MHz, HSE: 25 UART, SPI, I2C, ADC,
MHz, LSE: 32.768 kHz, DAC, USB, CAN, Timers
PLL: Variable
AVR (ATmega, ATtiny) Internal RC, External Internal: 1–8 MHz, USART, TWI, SPI, ADC,
Crystal External: 1–20 MHz Timer/Counter, PWM
ESP32 XTAL, PLL, APB CLK, XTAL: 40 MHz, PLL: 240 Wi-Fi, BLE, UART, SPI,
REF TICK MHz, APB CLK: 80 MHz I2C, ADC, DAC, Touch
Atmel (SAM Series) Internal RC, External Internal: 4–8 MHz, UART, TWI, SPI, ADC,
Crystal, PLL External: 32 kHz–20 MHz, USB, CAN, Ethernet
PLL: 120 MHz
TI (MSP430, Tiva C) DCO, XTAL, VLO, PLL DCO: 1–16 MHz, XTAL: UART, I2C, SPI, ADC,
25 MHz, VLO: 12 kHz, Timer, Comparator
PLL: 80 MHz
NXP (LPC, Kinetis) IRC, FRO, PLL, External IRC: 12 MHz, FRO: 48 UART, I2C, SPI, ADC,
Crystal MHz, PLL: 180 MHz USB, Ethernet, CAN
PIC (Microchip PIC32) Internal Oscillator, Internal: 4–8 MHz, UART, I2C, SPI, ADC,
External Crystal, PLL External: 4–20 MHz, PLL: Timer, DMA, USB
80 MHz
RISC-V (GD32VF103, Internal RC, External Internal: 8–16 MHz, UART, I2C, SPI, ADC,
SiFive) Crystal, PLL External: 8–25 MHz, PLL: Timer, PWM, DMA
Variable
Renesas (RX, RL78, RZ) Internal Oscillator, Main Internal: 4 MHz, Crystal: UART, I2C, SPI, ADC,
Crystal, PLL 10–20 MHz, PLL: 240 MHz Timer, RTC, DMA

9 Final Thoughts 

Clock configuration is a fundamental aspect of microcontroller programming that directly

impacts system performance, power consumption, and reliability. Understanding and
properly implementing clock settings is crucial for developing robust embedded systems.
Key takeaways:

• Always consider the application requirements

• Plan for power optimisation from the start

• Implement proper error handling

• Test thoroughly under various conditions

• Document your clock configuration choices

MCU Clock Configuration Guide 8

10 Resources [

Official Documentation & References:

• STM32F1 Reference Manual - Clock Configuration Guide

• ATmega328P Complete Datasheet with Clock System Details

• MSP430x2xx Family User’s Guide - Clock System

• ESP32 Technical Reference Manual

• Renesas RX Family Clock Generation Application Note

Development Tools:

• STM32CubeMX - Clock Configuration Tool

• MPLAB Code Configurator

• ModusToolbox™ Software

Note: These resources include direct links to official documentation, datasheets, and tools
that provide detailed technical specifications and implementation guidelines. All links were
verified as of 2024.