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Watchdog Timer

The Watchdog Timer ensures that code executes within a predefined time frame by resetting the system if it times out. It can be configured using registers to set the time frame. On the ATmega16, the WDTCR register sets the prescaler to determine the timeout period from microseconds to seconds. When the timeout occurs, the system resets and restarts the program from the beginning.

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207 views

Watchdog Timer

The Watchdog Timer ensures that code executes within a predefined time frame by resetting the system if it times out. It can be configured using registers to set the time frame. On the ATmega16, the WDTCR register sets the prescaler to determine the timeout period from microseconds to seconds. When the timeout occurs, the system resets and restarts the program from the beginning.

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Nishit Kumar
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The Watchdog Timer is a special timer which can be enabled in any section of the code and when

enabled it ensures that a certain number of instructions execute within a pre-defined time frame. This
time frame or the time delay can be configured/set using the registers of the watchdog timer. In case
the instructions execute within the time frame, watchdog timer needs to be turned off and the program
execution continues. However, if the instructions fail to execute within this time frame (this conditions
is called time out condition) the entire system reboots thus avoiding any system crash or hang up.
Watchdog Timer in ATmega16:
The Watchdog timer of Atmega16 can be configured by using WDTCR register of AVR
microcontroller. When the time out condition is set, the watchdog timer starts counting clock cycles.
The watchdogs timer is clocked from separate on-chip watchdog oscillator of 1MHz frequency. The
time out condition is set by configuring prescaler bits of WDTCR register.
WDTCR (Watch Dog Timer Control Register):
WDTOE
Bit 7
Bit 6
Bit 5
Bit 4

WDE
Bit 3

WDP2
Bit 2

WDP1
Bit 1

WDP0
Bit 0

WDTOE (Watch Dog Turn-Off Enable) The watchdog timer is disabled by configuring WDTOE and
WDE bits (explained later in the article).
WDE (Watch Dog Enable) Watchdog timer is enabled by writing 1 to WDE bit.
WDP [2:0] (Watch Dog Prescaler) bits - These three bits determine the watchdog time out condition.
The table below shows prescaler bits combination and their corresponding time out period:
WDP2

WDP1

WDP0

0
0
0
0
1
1
1
1

0
0
1
1
0
0
1
1

0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1

Number of WDT
oscillator cycles
16K (16,384)
32K (32,768)
64K (65,536)
128K (131,072)
256K (262,144)
512K (524,288)
1024K (1,048,576)
2048K (2,097,152)

Typical Time-out
at Vcc=3.0V
17.1 ms
34.3 ms
68.5 ms
0.14 s
0.27 s
0.55 s
1.1 s
2.2 s

Typical Time-out
at Vcc=5.0V
16.3 ms
32.5 ms
65 ms
0.13 s
0.26 s
0.52 s
1.0 s
2.1 s

How Watchdog Timer works:


The watchdog timer starts when the WDE bit is enabled and prescaler bits are configured for time-out
condition. As watchdog timer reaches time-out condition, watchdog timer is reset and generates a
pulse of one clock cycle which resets the program counter. When watch dog timer resets the timer,
the WDRF (Watch Dog Reset Flag) bit in MCUCSR register is set by the hardware. To disable the
watchdog timer following steps must be followed:
1. Set the WDE and WDTOE bits in same clock cycle WDTCR register. The logic one must be written
to WDE bit even though it is set to one already.
2. After four clock pulses, write logic 0 to the WDE bit. Otherwise watchdog timer will not be disabled.
Objective:
To set watchdog timer condition at 2 seconds (approx.) and check the reset condition.
Circuit diagram:

The connection for above mentioned objective is shown in circuit diagram. An LED is connected at pin
PB0 which blinks continuously. Another LED is connected to PB1 pin. This LED will glow when
watchdog time out condition occurs.
Programming steps:
1. Check the status of WDRF bit. If this bit is high, set the PB1 pin of the controller.
2. Set the WDE bit in WDTCR register to activate the watchdog timer.
3. Set the prescaler bits WDP [2:0] = 111 for the time-out condition of 2 sec.
4. Write an infinite loop to toggle the PB0 bits toggles with a certain delay.
5. On time-out condition, watchdog timer resets the controller and this event reinitialize the program
counter to go back at step 1

// Program to configure watchdog timer in ATmega16 Microcontroller


#include<avr/io.h>
#include<util/delay.h>
int main()

{
DDRB=0x03;
if(bit_is_set(MCUCSR,WDRF))
{
PORTB|=(1<<PB1);
_delay_ms(1000);
}
PORTB&=~(1<<PB1);
WDTCR=0x0F;
while(1)
{
PORTB|=(1<<PB0);
_delay_ms(400);
PORTB&=~(1<<PB0);
_delay_ms(400);
}
}

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